Huron & Eastern Railway Overview
Huron and Eastern Railway is a short line railroad operating 394 miles of track in The Thumb and Flint/Tri-Cities area of the lower peninsula of Michigan. It is currently owned by Genesee & Wyoming, Inc., who purchased it from RailAmerica in 2012. The railroad is headquartered in the former Michigan Central Railroad depot in Vassar.
Huron and Eastern's locomotive power is a mix of former Central Michigan, Saginaw Valley, and original HESR rolling stock.
The railway's main line extends northeast from Saginaw to Bad Axe, and then southeast to Croswell.
HESR's other line extends from Midland east to Bay City, and then south, through Saginaw to Durand. The line was former Central Michigan Railroad and Grand Trunk Western Railroad track.
The railroad's traffic comes largely from agricultural products, as well as industrial goods, such as cement, fly ash, and chemicals. The HESR hauled around 34,000 carloads in 2008.
Interchanges
Huron & Eastern interchanges with:
Huron & Eastern Railway Frequencies
|
|
| Frequency
|
AAR Channel
|
Notes
|
| 161.355
|
83
|
Dispatcher
|
| 160.440
|
22
|
Road and Yard
|
| 161.280
|
78
|
Road
|
| 161.310
|
80
|
Yard
|
| 160.380
|
18
|
FCC Base & Mobile
|
| 161.400
|
86
|
FCC Base & Mobile
|
|
Huron & Eastern Railway Trains
|
|
| Symbol
|
Origin/Base
|
Destination/Turn Location
|
Frequency
|
Notes
|
| 701
|
Durand
|
Bay City
|
Mon-Fri
|
|
| 702
|
Bay City
|
Durand
|
Mon-Fri
|
|
| 703
|
Bay City
|
Midland
|
Mon-Fri Nights
|
Occasionally 701 dies on hours before reaching Bay City and 703's crew will pick up in Genesee Yard in Saginaw before going to Bay City/Midland
|
| 704
|
Midland
|
Bay City
|
Mon-Fri Nights
|
|
| 740
|
Bay City
|
Saginaw
|
Mon-Fri
|
Works all customers between Bay City and Saginaw
|
| 767
|
Durand
|
Durand
|
Mon-Fri
|
Durand Yard job and Owosso local. There are day and night shifts.
|
| 770
|
Bay City
|
Durand
|
Varies
|
Grain extras as needed
|
| 800
|
Vassar
|
Saginaw
|
Mon-Sat
|
Interchanges with LSRC in Saginaw. Occasionally works Gavilon in Zilwaukee or Tri-City Lumber on the remnant of the Harger Spur.
|
| 805
|
Varies
|
Saginaw
|
Varies
|
Grain extra
|
| 810
|
Vassar
|
Vassar
|
As needed
|
Works various industries on the Colling, Denmark Jct. and Port Huron Subdivisions.
Occasionally also will take a loaded unit grain train to Durand.
|
| 820
|
|
|
|
|
|
Huron & Eastern Railway Locomotives
|
|
| Number
|
Model
|
Year Built
|
Paint Scheme
|
Heritage
|
Notes
|
| HESR 2026
|
GP38-3
|
1969
|
G&W w/HESR Logos
|
Ex-CMGN 8804/BO 3720.
|
Currently stored.
Built as a GP40, rebuilt by Helm Pacific into GP38AC for CMGN in 1988
|
| HESR 2028
|
GP38-2
|
1982
|
CMGN Gray & Red Scheme
|
Ex-CMGN 2014/DVR 227.
|
|
| HESR 2144
|
GP38-2
|
1974
|
G&W w/HESR Logos
|
Ex-NS 5112/SOU 5112.
|
|
| HESR 2145
|
GP38-2
|
1973
|
G&W w/HESR Logos
|
Ex-NS 5072/SOU 5072.
|
|
| HESR 3390
|
SD40-2
|
1972
|
G&W w/MQT Logos
|
Ex-MQT 3390/GLLX 3002/CP 5638.
|
Currently being stored until sold.
Reassigned to HESR from MQT Apr-2016; to HESR Reporting Marks Q2-2016.
|
| GEXR 3393
|
SD40-2
|
1975
|
G&W w/GEXR Logos
|
Ex-GSCX 7362/GATX 7362/MP 3176.
|
Assigned to HESR Apr-2024.
|
| HESR 3414
|
SD40-2
|
1979
|
G&W w/HESR Logos
|
Ex-LTEX 3280/UP 3280/MKT 616.
|
Currently stored.
Arrived on HESR 9-2018.
|
| CFE 3415
|
SD40-2
|
1979
|
G&W w/CFE Logos
|
Ex-NS 3541/HLCX 7171/BNSF 7171/BN 7171.
|
Reassigned to HESR in 2024.
|
| HESR 3484
|
SD40M-2
|
1966
|
G&W w/HESR Logos
|
Ex-HESR 2661/UP 2661/SP 9130.
|
Built as SP SD45 9130, rebuilt by MKM. Repainted June 2017.
|
| CFE 3486
|
SD40-2
|
1980
|
G&W w/CFE Logos
|
Ex-NS 3573/HLCX 8165/BN 8165.
|
Reassigned to HESR in 2024.
|
| HESR 3509
|
GP38-2
|
1974
|
G&W w/HESR Logos
|
Ex-HLCX 1844/UP 611/UP 2111/MP 2111.
|
|
| HESR 3526
|
GP38-2
|
1972
|
G&W w/HESR Logos
|
Ex-HLCX 1822/UP 322/UP 1822/MP 2385/MP 2059/MP 908.
|
|
| HESR 3865
|
GP38-2
|
1976
|
Rail America Red, White & Blue
|
Ex-HESR 201/PLE 2058/CRIP 4352.
|
|
| HESR 3866
|
GP38-2
|
1976
|
Rail America Red, White & Blue
|
Ex-HESR 202/PLE 2059/CRIP 4353.
|
|
| HESR 3867
|
GP38-2
|
1976
|
Rail America Red, White & Blue
|
Ex-HESR 203/PLE 2060/CRIP 4354.
|
|
|
Former Huron & Eastern Railway Locomotives
|
|
| Number
|
Model
|
Year Built
|
Heritage
|
Disposition/Notes
|
| HESR 100
|
GP9
|
1956
|
Ex-CO 6099.
|
Now SRNJ 100.
|
| HESR 101
|
GP9
|
1956
|
Ex-CO 6066.
|
Now POTB 101. Now used by Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad.
|
| HESR 102
|
GP9
|
1956
|
Ex-BO 6142/CO 6142.
|
Now SHRX 102. Used on Belton, Grandview & Kansas City Railroad.
|
| HESR 103
|
GP9
|
1956
|
Ex-HESR 6179/CO 6179.
|
Sold to INPR in 1993. Later sold to South Central Tennessee Railroad. Disposition unknown, presumably scrapped.
|
| HESR 104
|
GP9
|
1952
|
Ex-HESR 2064/ATSF 2064/ATSF 2719.
|
Leased to KLSC. Transferred to SCXY in 1997. Scrapped in Greenville, MI in 2007.
|
| HESR 105
|
GP9
|
1957
|
Ex-CV 4548/GTW 4548.
|
Sold to Delaware Valley/GETY. Now PREX 105.
|
| SGVY 998
|
SW1200
|
1965
|
Ex-WOHO 234/TRRA 1234.
|
Now BJRY 1510.
|
| SGVY 999
|
SW12
|
1953
|
Ex-SCTR 5323/BFC 5323.
|
Sold to Adrian and Blissfield, now ADBF 1223.
|
| HESR 1721
|
GP9
|
1959
|
Ex-MNN 1471/DME 1471/NW 2801/NKP 801.
|
Scrapped May 2016 in Bay City.
|
| CMGN 2001
|
B30-7AB
|
1983
|
Ex-BN 4054.
|
Retired in 2011 and sold to Ferrocarriles Chiapas-Mayab Railroad in Mexico.
|
| CMGN 2002
|
B30-7AB
|
1983
|
Ex-BN 4058.
|
Retired in 2011 and sold to Ferrocarriles Chiapas-Mayab Railroad in Mexico.
|
| HESR 2027
|
GP38
|
1969
|
Ex-NECR 3852/NECR 9534/IC 9534/ICG 9534/GMO 715.
|
Transferred to HESR in 2008. Sold to Metro East Industries in 2017.
|
| HESR 2029
|
GP38AC
|
1971
|
Ex-CORP 3838/CORP 5153/CSX 2153/SBD 6244/LN 4023.
|
Sold to MEI in 2018. Now BIP 378.
|
| HESR 2107
|
GP38-2
|
1972
|
Ex-NS 5029/SOU 5029.
|
Reassigned to TPW in Fall 2019.
|
| HESR 3034
|
GP40-2LW
|
1974
|
Ex-OTVR 3034/TPW 4054/CN 9475.
|
Arrived Oct. 2014 from OTVR. Returned to OTVR in 2018.
|
| HESR 3036
|
GP40-2W
|
1976
|
CMGN Black. Ex-HESR 9712/CMGN 9712/CN 9654.
|
CN received 35 GP40-2W’s between March and May of 1976 (numbers 9633 to 9667).
CN acquired ten more GP40-2W’s from GO Transit (the only other buyer of this version) in 1991.
|
| HESR 3037
|
GP40-2LW
|
1974
|
Ex-WGCR 9519/CN 9519.
|
Arrived in 2012. Sold to Metro East Industries in 2024.
|
| HESR 3038
|
GP40-2LW
|
1975
|
Ex-KXHR 9580/YVRR 9580/CN 9580.
|
Repainted from RA Black Scheme Late 2013. Left HESR in 2022 for NECR.
|
| HESR 3044
|
GP40
|
1971
|
Ex-ISRR 3044/ISRR 4037/ISRR 6554/CSX 6554/BO 3779.
|
Reassigned from ISRR to HESR Feb. 2015. Left HESR in 2019 for OTVR.
|
| HESR 3045
|
GP40
|
1971
|
Ex-ISRR 3045/ISRR 4039/ISRR 6560/CSX 6560/CO 3785.
|
Reassigned to HESR in 2015. Left HESR in 2019 for OTVR.
|
| HESR 3391
|
SD40-2
|
1974
|
Ex-MQT 3391/GLLX 3003/CP 5803.
|
Reassigned from MQT to HESR Feb. 2015. Returned to MQT Fall 2019.
|
| HESR 3485
|
SD40M-2
|
1966
|
Ex-HESR 2668/UP 2668/ACL 1025.
|
Built as ACL SD45 1025, rebuilt by MKM. Repainted June 2017. Left HESR in May 2020 for TPW.
|
| HESR 3510
|
GP38-2
|
1973
|
Ex-HLCX 1843/UP 363/UP 1863/UP 2108/MP 2108/MP 957.
|
Never arrived on HESR property. Sent to GEXR/GJR in Ontario.
|
| HESR 3868
|
GP38-2
|
1976
|
Ex-HESR 204/PLE 2057/CRIP 4351.
|
Transferred to MMRR in 2005/2006. Traded to MEI in 2021 for MMRR 2169. Now ECRX 2004.
|
| HESR 4065
|
B30-7AB
|
1983
|
Ex-CMGN 4065/BN 4065.
|
Retired in 2011 and sold to Ferrocarriles Chiapas-Mayab Railroad in Mexico.
|
| HESR 5086
|
C30-7
|
1980
|
Ex-CMGN 5086/BN 5086.
|
Retired in 2012. Scrapped at Bay City in September 2013.
|
| CMGN 5175
|
C30-7
|
1981
|
Ex-CMGN 5175/BNSF 5175/ATSF 8132.
|
Retired in 2012. Scrapped at Bay City in September 2013.
|
| HESR 5492
|
B30-7
|
1977
|
Ex-CMGN 5492/BN 5492/SLSF 870.
|
Retired in 2012. Scrapped at Bay City in September 2013.
|
| HESR 8802
|
GP38AC
|
1969
|
Ex-CMGN 8802/BO 3718.
|
Reassigned to IMRR in 2016. Then sold to PRLX as PRLX 8802. Now HSRX 3009.
|
| CMGN 8903
|
U23B
|
1973
|
Ex-UP 534/MP 4500/MP 2250/MP 668.
|
Retired in 2011 and sold to Ferrocarriles del Istmo de Tehuantepec in Mexico. Now BPMX 8903.
|
| CMGN 8905
|
U23B
|
1973
|
Ex-DM 4504/CMGN 4504/UP 538/MP 4504/MP 2254/MP 672.
|
Retired in 2012. Scrapped at Bay City in September 2013.
|
|
Huron & Eastern Rolling Stock
|
|
| Number
|
Type of Railcar
|
Built
|
History
|
Notes
|
| HESR 1
|
Caboose
|
197?
|
Ex-CMGN 1/GTW.
|
|
|
HESR Bad Axe Subdivision Customers
- Runs from Saginaw (via Bad Axe) to Croswell.
|
|
| Customer
|
Location
|
Company Description
|
Type of Railcar
|
Notes
|
| Flint Recycling
|
Buena Vista
|
Scrap Metal Recycling
|
Gondolas
|
|
| Nutrien
|
Arthur
|
Fertilizer Plant
|
Covered Hoppers/Tank Cars
|
|
| ADM Edible Bean
|
Arthur
|
Bean Elevator
|
Boxcars/Covered Hoppers
|
|
| Star of the West Milling
|
Gilford
|
Grain Elevator
|
Covered Hoppers
|
|
| Quality Roasting
|
Gilford
|
Soy Feed Mill
|
Covered Hoppers
|
|
| Star of the West Milling
|
Fairgrove
|
Grain & Bean Elevator
|
Covered Hoppers
|
|
| ADM Edible Bean
|
Fairgrove
|
Bean Elevator
|
Covered Hoppers
|
Inactive?
|
| Cooperative Elevator
|
Fairgrove
|
Fertilizer Plant
|
Covered Hoppers/Tank Cars
|
|
| Michigan Bean
|
Akron
|
Bean Elevator
|
Boxcars
|
A.k.a. Goodchild Trading.
|
| Cooperative Elevator
|
Akron
|
Grain Elevator
|
Covered Hoppers
|
|
| LaBudde Group
|
Akron
|
Bagged Sugar Beet Pellets
|
Boxcars
|
|
| Bayside Best Beans
|
Sebewaing
|
Bean Plant
|
Boxcars
|
|
| Michigan Sugar
|
Sebewaing
|
Sugar Products
|
Tank Cars/Covered Hoppers
|
|
| Cooperative Elevator
|
Sebewaing
|
Grain Elevator & Fertilizer Plant
|
Covered Hoppers/Tank Cars
|
|
| Wallace Stone
|
Bay Port
|
Stone Quarry & Windmill Transload
|
Stone Hoppers/Flatcars
|
|
| Active Feed
|
Pigeon
|
Feed Mill
|
Covered Hoppers
|
Inactive?
|
| Cooperative Elevator
|
Pigeon
|
Grain Elevator & Fertilizer Plant
|
Covered Hoppers
|
|
| Cooperative Elevator Bean Plant
|
Pigeon
|
Bean Plant
|
Boxcars
|
|
| Farmers Co-Op Grain
|
Elkton
|
Agricultural Warehouse
|
Boxcars
|
|
| Cooperative Elevator
|
Elkton
|
Grain Elevator
|
Covered Hoppers
|
|
| Autokiniton
|
Elkton
|
Automobile Structure & Frame Components
|
Gondolas
|
Formerly Tower.
|
| Cooperative Elevator Elkton Terminal
|
Elkton
|
Grain Elevator, Fertilizer Plant & Feed Mill
|
Covered Hoppers/Boxcars/Tank Cars
|
|
| Cooperative Elevator
|
Bad Axe
|
Fertilizer Plant
|
Covered Hoppers/Tank Cars
|
|
| Gemini Plastics
|
Ubly
|
Plastic Manufacturing
|
Covered Hoppers
|
|
| ADM Edible Bean
|
Ubly
|
Bean Elevator
|
Covered Hoppers
|
|
| Cooperative Elevator
|
Deckerville
|
Grain Elevator
|
Covered Hoppers
|
Inactive?
|
| Michigan Sugar
|
Croswell
|
Sugar Products
|
Tank Cars/Covered Hoppers
|
|
| Helena Chemical
|
Croswell
|
Fertilizer Supplier
|
Covered Hoppers
|
|
|
HESR Bay City Branch Customers
- Runs from Saginaw to Bay City.
|
|
| Customer
|
Location
|
Company Description
|
Type of Railcar
|
Notes
|
| Central Warehouse
|
Saginaw
|
Warehouse
|
Boxcars
|
Inactive.
Last used by Saginaw-based auto manufacturer to transload parts to boxcars (mostly blue GTW 60' hi-cubes).
|
| Michigan Sugar
|
Carrollton
|
Sugar Products
|
Tank Cars
|
|
| Gavilon Grain
|
Zilwaukee
|
Grain Elevator
|
Covered Hoppers
|
|
| Sargent Docks & Terminal
|
Zilwaukee
|
Transload & Dock Facility
|
Covered Hoppers/Open Hoppers/Coal Hoppers/Tank Cars
|
Receives various bulk commodities including unit trains of phosphate & potash.
|
| Michigan Sugar
|
Bay City
|
Sugar Products
|
Tank Cars/Covered Hoppers
|
|
| Saginaw Bay Fertilizer
|
Essexville
|
Fertilizer Terminal
|
Covered Hoppers
|
Jointly served with LSRC.
|
| Sequin Lumber
|
Bay City
|
Lumber Yard
|
Centerbeam Flatcars
|
|
| Bulk Liquid Transload
|
Bay City
|
Transload Facility
|
Tank Cars
|
At Wheeler Road.
|
|
HESR Colling Branch Customers
- Runs from Caro Jct. to Colling.
|
|
| Customer
|
Location
|
Company Description
|
Type of Railcar
|
Notes
|
| POET Biorefining
|
Caro
|
Ethanol Plant
|
Covered Hoppers/Tank Cars
|
Receives inbound corn from local elevators called shuttles. Also ships out DDG and ethanol.
|
| Michigan Sugar
|
Caro
|
Liquid Sucrose Manufacturer
|
Tank Cars
|
|
| Vita Grain
|
Colling
|
Grain Elevator
|
Covered Hoppers
|
Inactive
|
|
HESR Denmark Junction Branch Customers
- Runs from Millington to Munger.
|
|
| Customer
|
Location
|
Company Description
|
Type of Railcar
|
Notes
|
| Wilkinson Minerals
|
Millington
|
Brine Well
|
Tank Cars
|
Calcium Chloride Solution and ASTM Liquid.
|
| LaBudde Group
|
Richville
|
Vegetable Products
|
Covered Hoppers
|
|
| Star of the West Milling
|
Richville
|
Grain Elevator & Fertilizer Plant
|
Covered Hoppers/Tank Cars
|
Richville Branch.
|
| Star of the West Milling
|
Reese
|
Bean & Grain Elevator
|
Boxcars/Covered Hoppers
|
|
|
HESR Harger Branch Customers
- Runs from Saginaw to Buena Vista.
|
|
| Customer
|
Location
|
Company Description
|
Type of Railcar
|
Notes
|
| Tri-State Forest Products
|
Buena Vista
|
Lumber Products
|
Centerbeam Flatcars
|
|
|
HESR Kinde Branch Customers
- Runs from Bad Axe to Kinde.
|
|
| Customer
|
Location
|
Company Description
|
Type of Railcar
|
Notes
|
| Midwestern BioAg
|
Kinde
|
Fertilizer Supplier
|
Covered Hoppers/Tank Cars
|
Inactive?
|
| ADM Edible Bean
|
Kinde
|
Bean Elevator
|
Covered Hoppers
|
|
| Farmers Co-Op
|
Kinde
|
Grain Elevator & Fertilizer Plant
|
Covered Hoppers/Tank Cars
|
|
|
HESR Midland Branch Customers
- Runs from Bay City to Midland.
|
|
| Customer
|
Location
|
Company Description
|
Type of Railcar
|
Notes
|
| Ittner Bean & Grain
|
Auburn
|
Grain & Bean Elevator
|
Covered Hoppers
|
Inactive.
|
| ADM Edible Bean
|
Auburn
|
Bean Elevator
|
Boxcars/Covered Hoppers
|
Inactive.
|
| The Andersons
|
Auburn
|
Grain Elevator
|
Covered Hoppers
|
|
| Dow Chemical
|
Midland
|
Chemical Company
|
Tank Cars/Covered Hoppers
|
|
|
HESR Owosso Branch Customers
- Runs from Durand to Owosso.
|
|
| Customer
|
Location
|
Company Description
|
Type of Railcar
|
Notes
|
| Advanced Drainage Systems
|
Owosso
|
Pipe & Drainage Products
|
Covered Hoppers
|
Switched every other week or so. Use 1-2 cars per week.
|
| Georgia-Pacific
|
Owosso
|
Corrugated Containers
|
Boxcars
|
Switched 3x per week, 3-4 cars per switch.
|
|
HESR Port Huron Subdivision Customers
- Runs from Saginaw (via Vassar) to Brown City.
|
|
| Customer
|
Location
|
Company Description
|
Type of Railcar
|
Notes
|
| Star of the West Milling
|
Gera
|
Grain & Bean Elevator
|
Boxcars/Covered Hoppers
|
Also transloads feed and flour from Frankenmuth on the south track
|
| MAC Elevator
|
Marlette
|
Grain Elevator
|
Covered Hoppers
|
|
| MAC Elevator
|
Brown City
|
Grain Elevator
|
Covered Hoppers
|
|
|
HESR Ruth Branch Customers
|
|
| Customer
|
Location
|
Company Description
|
Type of Railcar
|
Notes
|
| Cooperative Elevator
|
Ruth
|
Grain Elevator & Fertilizer Plant
|
Covered Hoppers/Tank Cars
|
|
|
HESR Saginaw Branch Customers
- Runs from Durand to Saginaw.
|
|
| Customer
|
Location
|
Company Description
|
Type of Railcar
|
Notes
|
| Sweney-Kern
|
Saginaw
|
Bird Feed, De-icer, Fertilizer, & Salt
|
Covered Hoppers
|
Inactive
|
|
Back to Genesee & Wyoming
Back to Michigan Shortlines
Back to Shortlines
