Marquette Rail

[MQT3001]

MQT late last night made a deal with CP to drag their trains from Detroit all the way to Toranto via the trains normal route. MQT will also handle switching in and around Detroit. Thru this deal, CP will agree to pay double the usual trackage rights fee until the strike on their end is over. Even though we will technically "lose" money for the hopefully short time this strike will be on, we hope that this move will keep CP trains on our line (no customers will leave and the ## of train would drop), which is a major source of income for us at MQT. CP is moving many of the non-striking personell to Toranto to keep freight around there moving.

PC and TSCR, your interchainging with CP in Detroit should be back online by noontime.

[YpsiAmtrakBoy]

@MQT, when will i be able to send more then 4 axel power to Mackinaw?

[MQT3001]

@MQT, when will i be able to send more then 4 axel power to Mackinaw?

Crews are still busy on the GR sub.....probably in the fall sometime


I promise to resume work on here shortly

[MQT3001]

Double-Tracking Project Update:
The tracks to CP Annoyance have been completed and were patched in last Sunday. All tracks crews have this week off. Next segment to be completed will be the Annoyance-West End New Buffalo Segment. Work will start Monday.

[DT&I]

Double-Tracking Project Update:
The tracks to CP Annoyance have been completed and were patched in last Sunday. All tracks crews have this week off. Next segment to be completed will be the Annoyance-West End New Buffalo Segment. Work will start Monday.

Our tracks at CP Annoyance are already double tracked but just to let you know, when our auto facility out west in ND is done and once our branchline to a mine in Wyoming is done we will have about 10 more trains through there a day.

[MQT3001]

Double-Tracking Project Update:
The tracks to CP Annoyance have been completed and were patched in last Sunday. All tracks crews have this week off. Next segment to be completed will be the Annoyance-West End New Buffalo Segment. Work will start Monday.

Our tracks at CP Annoyance are already double tracked but just to let you know, when our auto facility out west in ND is done and once our branchline to a mine in Wyoming is done we will have about 10 more trains through there a day.

Yep, we have built it with double track, as the GR&P and later OC&M had planned it. Triple track between CP Annoyance and CP W/E Michigan City

[YpsiAmtrakBoy]

Hey MQT, the AA has intrest in buying your line from grayling to mackinaw we would like to make his on it of you will listen

[MQT3001]

Hey MQT, the AA has intrest in buying your line from grayling to mackinaw we would like to make his on it of you will listen

We would like to keep it for the time being, but we may sell it to you in the not so distant future

[YpsiAmtrakBoy]

Ok that's fine, just keep us in mind

[MQT3001]

Amtrak 373 okay to open up at Ann St at 15:06 EDT. This is the afternoon train to Chicago. It will be running early today thru Wednesday to allow bridge workers working on the Interstate 94 over the tracks near Porter Jct to work overnight and get more time. GR Sub will be shut down at that location from 18:00 thru 6:00 EDT Friday thru Wednesday Nights.

Sorry for the short warning there DT&I, but I know very few trains of yours run thru there anyway, and you can schedule them earlier, they have priority over most of our stuff.

[DT&I]

Amtrak 373 okay to open up at Ann St at 15:06 EDT. This is the afternoon train to Chicago. It will be running early today thru Wednesday to allow bridge workers working on the Interstate 94 over the tracks near Porter Jct to work overnight and get more time. GR Sub will be shut down at that location from 18:00 thru 6:00 EDT Friday thru Wednesday Nights.

Sorry for the short warning there DT&I, but I know very few trains of yours run thru there anyway, and you can schedule them earlier, they have priority over most of our stuff.

We have about 5 powder river coal trains that need to be in Detroit, it depends on when we get crews on them in Chicago. This may have screwed us over but it will all depend on how much traffic is on the Chicago Main.

[MQT3001]

Amtrak 373 okay to open up at Ann St at 15:06 EDT. This is the afternoon train to Chicago. It will be running early today thru Wednesday to allow bridge workers working on the Interstate 94 over the tracks near Porter Jct to work overnight and get more time. GR Sub will be shut down at that location from 18:00 thru 6:00 EDT Friday thru Wednesday Nights.

Sorry for the short warning there DT&I, but I know very few trains of yours run thru there anyway, and you can schedule them earlier, they have priority over most of our stuff.

We have about 5 powder river coal trains that need to be in Detroit, it depends on when we get crews on them in Chicago. This may have screwed us over but it will all depend on how much traffic is on the Chicago Main.

Well, it's only half the day.....let us know, we might be able to have MQT crews take them at no charge to you....over our line to DET if you wish....no charge

[MQT3001]

Amtrak 373 okay to open up at Ann St at 15:06 EDT. This is the afternoon train to Chicago. It will be running early today thru Wednesday to allow bridge workers working on the Interstate 94 over the tracks near Porter Jct to work overnight and get more time. GR Sub will be shut down at that location from 18:00 thru 6:00 EDT Friday thru Wednesday Nights.

Sorry for the short warning there DT&I, but I know very few trains of yours run thru there anyway, and you can schedule them earlier, they have priority over most of our stuff.

We have about 5 powder river coal trains that need to be in Detroit, it depends on when we get crews on them in Chicago. This may have screwed us over but it will all depend on how much traffic is on the Chicago Main.

Well, it's only half the day.....let us know, we might be able to have MQT crews take them at no charge to you....over our line to DET if you wish....no charge

The bridge crews will only need the authority on the tracks until 1:00 EDT tonight so you are okay to send anything thru. Also, no closure Sunday night because they will only be working on the abbutments, no need to block traffic

[MQT3001]

Canadian Pacific Railway and Marquette Rail LLC have announced a joint effort to study the possibility of building a new Tunnel or Bridge over the Detroit River in Detroit. Marquette Rail is paying 75% of the study and would have a 75% stake in the tunnel, if not more. Canadian Pacific will pay 20% and the State of Michigan and the Ontario Governments pitching in an equal share of the final 5%.

Other Railroads would be allowed to use the tunnel

[atrainguy60]

The Wabash would like to use it if it ends up being built.

[MQT3001]

The Wabash would like to use it if it ends up being built.

We can arrange that for ya!

[MQT3001]

Not much going on this week around Marquette Rail. Double tracking project was delayed this week due to a problem at the rolling mill getting welded rail over here. Loco Shop crews are in week 3 of their 4-week shop overhaul. Overhaul includes a new shop floor, new roof, new equipement, and break rooms, and even new windows.

Also, the tower in Wyoming is expected to be replaced shortly. The current one was getting old so we decided to build a new one in the Mickey Mouse Yard (small sub-yard in the MIDDLE of Wyoming Yard). The new tower will be able to see basically everything within the yard. New tower will be build with reinforced concrete with a brick exterior. 4 stories tall, it will include meeting rooms on the 2nd level as well as break and locker rooms on the lowest level. Uppermost floor will of course be the Yard Master's Office. The third level will be a Viewing area for railfans. MQT plans to sell annual & day passes that includes access to that floor from 6am to 10pm. Bathrooms are included along with drinking fountains.

These upgrades to Wyoming yard are part of a 4-year upgrade plan for the yard, complete with new welded rail and a general re-configuration of the yard.

[MQT3001]

Marquette Rail is hereby offering the Ann Arbor Railway Co. the following opprotunity to purchase the ex D&M/PC/NYC/something line from Gaylord to Mackinac:

AA gets ownership
MQT gets trackage rights*, including EXCLUSIVE Passenger Rights (exemptions can be made)

Price: $7,999,999.99**

*To access the Port at Mackinac. MQT has plans to haul stone from the UP. Any MQT trains would be run-through traffic, AA gets all customers

**I saved you 1 penny....be

[MQT3001]

The Mcakinac sub north of the connestion with the AA has been sold to the AA. MQT has trackage rights and exclusive passenger rights on the line.

[MQT3001]

Joint Canadian Pacific-Marquette Rail Press Conference at 18:00 EDT at the Ren Cen in Downtown Detroit.

Bridge/Tunnel plans to be announced, questions taken.