Coopersville & Marne Railway History
- ARR Reporting Marks - CPMY
- The Coopersville & Marne Railway was formed in 1989 with the purchase of the ex Grand Trunk Western trackage from Coopersville to Marne from the Grand Trunk Western RR. Originally reffered to as Coopersville & Eastern, the name "Coopersville & Marne" was seen as a more fitting monicker. Operations on the C&M began in July of 1990 with a leased locomotive, a leased passenger car and a borrowed caboose. Eventually, the railroad acquired 4 coaches and an ex GTW caboose. Also purchased was a former GTW SW9, #7014, that served for years at GTW's large classification yard in Battle Creek. Run by a 100% volunteer workforce, the C&M operates passenger excursions every Saturday and most Wednesdays from April to December. The railroad also handles limited freight service after the purchase of the line from Marne to Walker (just west of Grand Rapids) known as the Kent Division (Coopersville to Marne is known as the "Ottawa" Division). Standard Lumber in Walker, MI is the only active freight customer on the line, and they take small quantities (1-3 cars) of centerbeam cars as needed. Until recently, freight over the Kent Division was handled by Grand Rapids Eastern, though the contract has expired. C&M currently interchanges freight with the GRE at the old St. Mary's Cement siding, just west of Ann St. yard, which gets forwarded to either CSX or Grand Elk. The freight trains are currently run under the symbol X7014.
Coopersville & Marne Locomotives
|
Number
|
Model
|
Year(s) Built
|
Notes
|
CPMY 7014
|
SW9
|
1952
|
Ex GTW 7014, primary locomotive, spent most of its GTW career in Battle Creek and Kalamazoo.
|
CPMY 3049
|
50 Ton
|
1957
|
Ex Dupont switcher from Montague, MI plant. Secondary locomotive, used mostly in the yard operations and in plowing runs.
|
CPMY 5208
|
NW2
|
1949
|
Ex-C&O, stored in Coopersville, used as a parts donor for 7014. No plans in place to restore.
|
TSBY 2394
|
RS1
|
1951
|
Ex SB&N 402 / Vermont (Rutland) 402. Stored in Coopersville, privately owned. Sits with no traction motors and a seized engine block. No restoration planned by owner.
|
CN 1395
|
4-6-0
|
1913
|
Stored in Coopersville, privately owned. Not operable. No restoration plans in place by owner.
|
CPMY 20
|
20 Ton
|
1941
|
Ex-US Army (USAX). Built by Whitcomb, propane powered. Not operable, no plans for restoration, currently.
|
Augusta 300
|
2-6-0
|
1924
|
Named the "John Engler," it was privately owned and stored in Coopersville. Now sold and moved to the Historic White Pine Village in Ludington, with plans to restore and display.
|
|
Coopersville & Marne Frequencies
|
Frequency
|
AAR Channel
|
Notes
|
160.695
|
039
|
General Operations
|
|
Coopersville & Marne Timetable
Ottowa Division Westward
|
Sidings In Feet
|
Mile Post
|
Stations
|
Notes
|
1153
|
166.57
|
Marne Platform
|
Siding
|
|
170.06
|
Titusville
|
|
1370
|
172.50
|
Coopersville Station
|
Siding
|
|
Coopersville & Marne Mileposts
Ottawa Division Westward
|
Location
|
From Detroit
|
From Penn Junction
|
Penn Junction
|
165.30
|
0.00
|
Private Crossing
|
165.34
|
0.04
|
Private Crossing
|
165.36
|
0.06
|
Private Crossing
|
165.43
|
0.13
|
8th Ave
|
165.86
|
0.56
|
Klein Switch (Out Of Service)
|
166.43
|
1.13
|
Marne - Franklin St - East YL
|
166.46
|
1.16
|
Marne - East Switch
|
166.47
|
1.17
|
Marne - West Switch
|
166.77
|
1.47
|
Marne - 16th Ave - West YL
|
166.80
|
1.50
|
Sand Creek
|
166.92
|
1.62
|
24th Ave
|
167.96
|
2.66
|
32nd Ave
|
169.03
|
3.73
|
Little Deer Creek
|
169.06
|
3.76
|
Titusville - 40th Ave
|
170.06
|
4.76
|
Private Crossing
|
170.54
|
5.24
|
Coopersville - 48th Ave
|
171.10
|
5.80
|
Coopersville - Stiles Crek
|
171.58
|
6.28
|
Coopersville - Randall St
|
171.75
|
6.45
|
Coopersville - East St
|
172.17
|
6.87
|
Coopersville - Deer Creek - East YL
|
172.28
|
6.98
|
Coopersville - East End Station Switch
|
172.40
|
7.10
|
Coopersville - First St
|
172.48
|
7.18
|
Coopersville - Station
|
172.60
|
7.30
|
Coopersville - Eastmanville St
|
172.61
|
7.31
|
Coopersville - West End Station Switch
|
172.85
|
7.55
|
Coopersville - West Main St
|
172.90
|
7.60
|
Coopersville - 64th Ave
|
173.22
|
7.92
|
Coopersville - Delphi Switch
|
173.24
|
7.94
|
Coopersville - End Of Track
|
173.30
|
8.01
|
|
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