Algoma Central Railway

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Saturnalia
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Algoma Central Railway

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Press Release 5-4-13

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Marquette Rail has filed with the Canadian & US Governments to acquire the Algoma Central Railway, a freight & tourist line running north from Sault St Marie, Ontario to the line's terminus in Hearst, Ontario.

Marquette has said in filing they intend to takeover and continue operations on the line, with hopes to increase traffic on the line, both in the passenger and freight sectors.

Marquette Rail's President remarked "We are hopeful this deal will go through, as we would love to add the Algoma Central to our assets, improving our portfolio with this fine railroad."

Marquette also noted in the filings that they plan to retain all current employees on the Algoma Central. Such employees will be offered a share of the company, continuing Marquette's long tradition of employee-ownership. Marquette is 100% Private, with the company being owned to a 92% degree by employees.

Marquette Rail is a US Class 2 Common Carrier operating in the States of Michigan and Indiana. Based in Grand Rapids, MI, it operates several hundred miles of railroad, with primary traffic being in the agriculture, consumer goods, mining, and energy sectors. Marquette also operates the Pere Marquette passenger service between Grand Rapids and Chicago, taking over for Amtrak. In addition, Marquette operates some excursion passenger services like the Grand Rapidian Dinner trains and other various trains such as the ones pulled by former Pere Marquette 2-8-4 "Berkshire" steam locomotives.

Note: Please remember that this is a fictitious railroad with no affiliation to any company or organization.
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Re: Algoma Central Railway

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The Canadian Gov't is scheduled to rule on Monday
The United States Gov't is scheduled to rule on Tuesday
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Re: Algoma Central Railway

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A few new developments to note: CN will file to absorb the line east of the SOO for their use. If everything falls into place, CN will own most trackage in the SOO, and the Algoma Central will begin at the SOO city limits, but have trackage rights over all CN trackage in the city, own the yard shops and control the yard.
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Re: Algoma Central Railway

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Today, the Canadian authorities accepted Marquette Rail's acquiring of the Algoma Central, but not the absorption of the Huron Central Ry by Canadian National, citing monopoly and service concerns. As a result, The AC will grant trackage rights to CN for 1 train each way or 20,000 tons (whichever comes first) per day for free, with a fee by ton mile afterward.

Marquette Representatives rode the line today in hi-rails and were very happy to have bidded on the route. They are optimistic they can grow the freight and passenger businesses.
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Re: Algoma Central Railway

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The Surface Transportation Board has ruled. Marquette Rail can acquire the Algoma Central. The AC will be transferred to us effective 5-11-13. We are working to develop a locomotive roster, and we are dealing with CN to figure it out. There is currently no real power painted for the AC, besides a few passenger F-units. Management will decide this evening weather to pay for power from CN or just furnish our own. We are looking at the MQTX roster for options on our end.
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Re: Algoma Central Railway

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The AC becomes part of MQT in about 48 minutes, at the stroke of midnight. Operations will not change, the only thing different now is the power, but changes will be coming down the pipe soon.
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Re: Algoma Central Railway

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The AC has been running pretty smoothly since we took it over. One minor derailment at Algoma Steel, but it was caused by a broken switchpoint. Agawa Canyon and the Hearst Local Passenger Trains are running daily (Hearst Trains run one in each direction, since it takes all day). The Hearst Local Freight runs North on Monday, Wednesday & Friday, and runs south Tue, Thur & Sat.

Current power arrangement on the Hearst Passenger and Local is a pair of GP35s, with the Agawa Trains running with two F40s, with one in the SOO as backup. The three SW9s and one GP35 are the Algoma Steel switching power,

Power Setups:
- GP35-3s (2): Northbound Hearst Passenger
- GP35-3s (2): Southbound Hearts Passenger
- GP35-3s (2): Hearst Local Freight
- F40PHs (2): Agawa Canyon Passenger
- SW9s (3) & GP35-3 (1): Algoma Steel Switcher
- GP35-3 (2): SOO Yard switching power
- Trackmobile (1): SOO Yard shop power
- GP35-3 (1) & F40PH (1): Reserve Power

Train Symbols: Same Alpha-numeric system as MQT symbols, but first, here are the Symbols for each town:
- SOO : Sault St. Marie, Can
- AGA : Agawa Canyon
- FRA : Franz
- OBA : Oba
- HEA : Hearst

Symbol / Frequency / Normal Call Time / Notes
P-SOOAGA1 / Daily / 630 EDT / Depart SOO 8:00 EDT TURN @ AGA
P-SOOAGA2 / Sat & Sun / 700 EDT / Depart SOO 8:30 EDT TURN @ AGA
P-SOOHEA / Daily / 730 EDT / Depart SOO 9:00 EDT
P-HEASOO / Daily / 730 EDT / Depart HEA 9:00 EDT
M-SOOHEA / Mo, We, Fr / 800 EDT
M-HEASOO / Tu, Th, Sa / 800 EDT
Y-SOO1 / Daily / 700 EDT / 1st Trick
Y-SOO2 / Weekdays / 1500 EDT / 2nd Trick
Y-SOO3 / As Needed / 2300 EDT / 3rd Trick
L-SOO1 / Daily / 700 EDT / Algoma Steel Switcher 1st Trick
L-SOO2 / Daily / 1500 EDT / Algoma Steel Switcher 2nd Trick
L-SOO3 / Weekdays / 2300 EDT / Algoma Steel Switcher 3rd Trick
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Re: Algoma Central Railway

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Here is the write-up of our passenger services.

P-HEASOO : Southbound Algoma Central Flyer
-Consist: 2 GP35-3s, 5-15 passenger cars, depending on demand
-Schedule:
Departs Hearst 9:00 ET
Arrives Sault St Marie by 19:00 ET
-Notes:
-> Meets NB Flyer at Oba
-> Like the NB Flyer, it is subject to Flag-stops along the entire route at certain points or by pre-arranged appointment.

P-SOOHEA : Northbound Algoma Central Flyer
-Consist: 2 GP35-3s, 5-15 passenger cars, depending on demand
-Schedule:
Departs Sault St Marie by 9:00 ET
Arrives Hearst by 19:00 ET
-Notes:
-> Meets SB Flyer at Oba
-> Like the SB Flyer, it is subject to Flag-stops along the entire route at certain points or by pre-arranged appointment.

P-SOOAGA1 : Agawa Canyon Express
-Consist: 2 F40PHs, 5-25 passenger cars, depending on demand
-Schedule:
-> Departs Sault 8:00 ET
-> Arrives Sault 18:30 ET
-Notes:
-> Meets NB Flyer at Agawa
-> 2-hour layover at Canyon


P-SOOAGA2-4 *EXTRA* : Agawa Canyon Express
-Consist: 2 4-axles, 5-25 passenger cars, depending on demand
-Schedule:
-> Departs Sault 30 minutes after previous Canyon Train
-> Arrives Sault 30 minutes after previous Canyon Train
-Notes:
-> 2-hour layover at Canyon
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Re: Algoma Central Railway

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The AC invites all Private/Business trains for any length of the route. Just call and we'll set up pilots!
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Re: Algoma Central Railway

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PHEASOO ran with 4 GP35-3s and a massive 35 passenger cars--5 cars short of the entire fleet--today. Boy Scouts are having a big gathering up there. The train actually topped out at 46 cars if you count the boxcars of supplies. Cars will be needed again next Sunday.
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