Rogers City and the D&M....

[MIGN-Todd]

Sorry I haven't posted in a while..... Had a question regarding Rogers City. That City plays host to the largest quarry of its kind in the world so, why did they stop shipping via rail? After that shipper in Cheboygan closed (diapers?) it seems as though they pulled up the tracks fast as the machines would allow it all the way down to Alpena..... What up with RC?

[AARR]

As amazing as it is nothing was shipped by rail since 1984. Everything goes out by ship and maybe some by truck. Like you I am astounded that an operation that big shipping a bulk product can't find one use for railroads but that's the way it is.

[SD80MAC]

Likely a victim of the D&M and old LSRC way of trying to drive off as much business as they could.

[SousaKerry]

Was this the Quarry that the D&M 10, GE 44 tonner operated out of? I have heard it spent most of it's days moving rock trains in a quarry but was never sure where that quarry was.

[MP73point4]

Was this the Quarry that the D&M 10, GE 44 tonner operated out of? I have heard it spent most of it's days moving rock trains in a quarry but was never sure where that quarry was.

Not the same quarry. #10 worked at the D&M's Big Cut quarry near Hawks. The Rogers City Quarry had its own railroad on site with US Steel (Michigan Limestone & Chemical) locomotives. Alco RSs and Baldwins. At least one Baldwin ended up on SMS in New Jersey. http://baldwindiesels.railfan.net/sms/pjrl116sept04.jpg. They even had an RS painted up in Red-White-Blue for the bi-centennial back in'76.
They weren't photographed much as they stayed in the quarry and it was very difficult to gain access.

[Steve B]

MIGN-Todd, the original D&M south from Cheboygan to Big Cut wasn't used after 1979, according to Ron Cady in a 1992 Trains article. The Procter & Gamble diaper factory shipped down the old NYC instead. The factory closed in 1990. The line from Gaylord to Cheboygan wasn't removed until 1994, presumably a decent waiting period, although the plant subsequently reopened.

[AARR]

The new operator of the plant, Great Lakes Tissue Paper, produces far less product than the P&G plant did.

although the plant subsequently reopened.

[James Sofonia]

#10 worked at the D&M's Big Cut quarry near Hawks.
They weren't photographed much as they stayed in the quarry and it was very difficult to gain access.

I found this shot of #10 on the RRHX site.



Too bad they pulled up that rail North of Alpena. I had walked on the line a few times in the Aloha area South of Cheboygan. The track looked to be in very good condition.

QUESTION: What is "The Big Cut" ?

[AARR]

Big Cut was the gravel pit about 9ish miles northwest of Rogers City Jct. It was a steady customer for D&M until the early 1980's IIRC .

QUESTION: What is "The Big Cut" ?

[MP73point4]

#10 worked at the D&M's Big Cut quarry near Hawks.
They weren't photographed much as they stayed in the quarry and it was very difficult to gain access.

I found this shot of #10 on the RRHX site.



Too bad they pulled up that rail North of Alpena. I had walked on the line a few times in the Aloha area South of Cheboygan. The track looked to be in very good condition.

QUESTION: What is "The Big Cut" ?

My reference to rarely photographed was directed at the locomotives in the pit at Rogers City.
You could photograph the #10 pretty easily as Big Cut Rd. went right across the tracks there and #10 (or #646) would move into view frequently. It's a few miles east of Millersburg in Presque Isle county, kind of in the middle of nowhere.

[kenN]

Here is a picture of RS-? #123 at the Rogers City Pit on June 29, 1964. It was taken before I knew much about train photography, and I remember that I wanted to get the Bucyrus Erie shovel in the picture so I didn't get a decent shot of the locomotive. If I knew then what I know now......KJN