Roscommon/Clare train watching

[hoborich]

Having moved to northern Michigan a few years ago, train watching opportunities have been severely curtailed. So.....when do trains come through Roscommon or Clare? Thanks

[AARR]

Roscommon - Probably about twice a week (both ways). If you see a pattern on the days I'd appreciate it if you post it. The frequency may increase after the particle board plant in Grayling is finished (I know how much you are looking forward to that ).

Clare gets trains at least three times a week and sometimes five usually late morning to early afternoon. GLC crews arrive from Owosso and Cadillac and swap trains in Clare.

[hoborich]

Thanks. I was down to Clare last week and rode a portion of the Pere Marquette rail trail, and around Clare, but no trains. Filled up for $2.59 a gallon though. BONUS!

[AARR]

Also, do you like donuts? I highly recommend Cops and Donuts in Clare! Yummy!

[hoborich]

Went right by there. One of the owners was sitting out on the sidewalk having coffee with some tourists, and explaining the concept. I forget his name. He was in that UTR piece on Cops And Donuts, on PBS. I think his name is Rainer or Raynor or something like that.

[railohio]

Last time I was in Roscommon a chartered steam excursion made a photo stop:

No4RoscommonIreland5-14-16 by Brian Schmidt, on Flickr

[hoborich]

Begorra!

[hoborich]

Was back to Clare today and caught both GLC trains switching the town, swapping trains and leaving back out of town. Action took place from around noon until 2:30. I couldn't figure out what they were trying to do with a bunch of covered hoppers. The gated south yard only has four dead end tracks. But they made a dozen or more back and forth moves, shuffling the cars around. Then they only took four of them with them out of town. Had the crossings tied up for quite a while with a few one minute breaks.
Took my gas jugs and scored a lot of gas for $2.50 a gallon, just as they were raising the price to $3:05! BONUS!

Handy little site here when planning a trip. http://www.michigangasprices.com/

[AARR]

The Clare transload (Polyterm) is used as a Sit in Transit (SIT) for local companies. It's my understanding they also store cars there. Often, GLC has to spend several hours there digging out cars from back in the yard to take with them.

[hoborich]

That's apparently what they were doing, digging out cars. They all looked alike to me, except of course for the reporting numbers. The four covered hoppers they finally took with them were loads, looking at the springs. Thanks for the info. Interesting watching the two crews working within sight of each other. Also, who ships wood chips out of Clare, and poles? They took a load of treated poles with them also, along with two open hoppers of wood chips, and dropped off an empty pole car.

[AARR]

Hydrolake in McBain receives (and maybe ships) wood poles.

Biewer Sawmill in McBain ships lumber and wood chips.

Both customers have increased business the last year or two.

Also, who ships wood chips out of Clare, and poles? They took a load of treated poles with them also, along with two open hoppers of wood chips, and dropped off an empty pole car.

[AANscaleRunner]

Hydrolake in McBain receives (and maybe ships) wood poles.

Biewer Sawmill in McBain ships lumber and wood chips.

Both customers have increased business the last year or two.

Also, who ships wood chips out of Clare, and poles? They took a load of treated poles with them also, along with two open hoppers of wood chips, and dropped off an empty pole car.

There have been a couple of empty pole flats come through Cadillac the past two weeks. And they head south the next day.

[hoborich]

Thanks for sharing your vast knowledge of Michigan railroading.