Marquette Rail

Sub forum for Paper Railroads
User avatar
heartlandguy
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 752
Joined: Sun Oct 14, 2012 5:31 pm

Re: Marquette Rail

Unread post by heartlandguy »

MQT3001 wrote:C-BUFWOL-28, Marquette for CIL 833, rounded the curve at CP Hoosier at 15:25 EDT. Arrived in New Buffalo at 14:01, and once recrewed they took off north, well sorta. Waited for one at New Buffalo, siding to main at 16:31. Then got put into the hole at Sawyer for another one, siding to main at 17:15. They got by Livingston alright, before meeting 3 at Riverside, and just going Main 2 to single main at 19:05. They're meeting M-GRRCHI2 at Kirk, who is in the hole, then will take the siding themselves at Gross for PCHIGRR-28 eastward, then for PGRRCHI-28 as well as they come west after hopefully a rolling meet at Grand Junction.
833 ran today, because the Bear Run Loader will be down most of Wednesday for maitnence. Power was CIL 3333 (SD45), CIL 3388 (C420), and CIL 3389 (C420) with 68 loads of Indiana Coal. 824 went north this morning before T-MNB, so the Monon power could be taken back south...

Today's T-MNB dropped 42 cars in New Buffalo this morning, and went back with 38 cars.
"Alright, uh, get to a stop here and we'll order you a party bus for Lima" -12/30/16

"He ain't one of them terrorists, is he?" "Nah, just some paparazzi. We never get them out here!" -03/12/19

59caddy
bag of holding
Posts: 848
Joined: Sun May 12, 2013 6:55 pm
Location: Ann Arbor, MI

Re: Marquette Rail

Unread post by 59caddy »

MQT3001 wrote:Marquette is leasing it's Detroit-area assets to startup Great Lakes Transportation. All Lines east of Milepost 23 on the Detroit sub are under this agreement. Under the plan, Marquette retains 100% of Detroit Intermodal and Passenger Rights, and maintains trackage rights between Plymouth and Delray. The agreement goes into effect on 6-1-13 at midnight, and is good for 10 years. There is an option to buy after 5 years.

Marquette personnel have been offered jobs at the new company, and can tryout there for 12 months, and return to MQT with full seniority anytime in that span, or stay right with MQT and be re-assigned.

Motive power will be moved out on 6-1.
We will be glad to take your crews, who will pay them?

We do not want to dispatch, we have enough things to worry about already. But, you can look forward to seeing my train list tonight 8)

User avatar
Saturnalia
Authority on Cat
Posts: 15385
Joined: Wed Sep 28, 2011 7:54 pm
Location: Michigan City, IN
Contact:

Re: Marquette Rail

Unread post by Saturnalia »

59caddy wrote:
MQT3001 wrote:Marquette is leasing it's Detroit-area assets to startup Great Lakes Transportation. All Lines east of Milepost 23 on the Detroit sub are under this agreement. Under the plan, Marquette retains 100% of Detroit Intermodal and Passenger Rights, and maintains trackage rights between Plymouth and Delray. The agreement goes into effect on 6-1-13 at midnight, and is good for 10 years. There is an option to buy after 5 years.

Marquette personnel have been offered jobs at the new company, and can tryout there for 12 months, and return to MQT with full seniority anytime in that span, or stay right with MQT and be re-assigned.

Motive power will be moved out on 6-1.
We will be glad to take your crews, who will pay them?

We do not want to dispatch, we have enough things to worry about already. But, you can look forward to seeing my train list tonight 8)
Okay, you can pay us to dispatch the line until 1-1-14 for now. It will streamline Delray anyway, as we're the ones staffing the tower currently. Deed says owner of track operate tower, so if we lease it out, we're still responsible for staffing the Delray towerQ :lol:
Thornapple River Rail Series - YouTube
Safety today is your investment for tomorrow

59caddy
bag of holding
Posts: 848
Joined: Sun May 12, 2013 6:55 pm
Location: Ann Arbor, MI

Re: Marquette Rail

Unread post by 59caddy »

MQT3001 wrote:Marquette retains 100% of Detroit Intermodal...rights
Is the yard at I-96 and M-39 (can't remember the name) an intermodal yard? And is that branch that goes east from there in existence?

User avatar
Saturnalia
Authority on Cat
Posts: 15385
Joined: Wed Sep 28, 2011 7:54 pm
Location: Michigan City, IN
Contact:

Re: Marquette Rail

Unread post by Saturnalia »

LPLYTOL-29 is currently setting out three side-dump ballast cars at Carleton for the interchange project there. They're putting them on the stub track workers made today when they installed our switch and 150 feet of panel track.

Also, we will be running five wind turbine trains in the coming months to Pinconning for a soon to be built wind farm. They will be coming out of CSX Barr, and routed CHI - GRR - PLY - SAG - PIN as WCHISAG. Crew changes in GR & Plymouth. They will be unloaded from a TEAM track in Pinconning. Due to space limits on that track, the unit trains of around 65 cars will be broken up into 10-car segments and delivered to Pinconning daily by LSAGTAW. New unit trains should arrive weekly beginning Sunday.

Trains will likely be run at off-peak times due to clearance, as the meeting speed on tracks with centers of less than 15 feet at 10mph, and no more than 25 on farther ajacent tracks.
Thornapple River Rail Series - YouTube
Safety today is your investment for tomorrow

User avatar
Saturnalia
Authority on Cat
Posts: 15385
Joined: Wed Sep 28, 2011 7:54 pm
Location: Michigan City, IN
Contact:

Re: Marquette Rail

Unread post by Saturnalia »

The First Wind turbine train is just about to Kanasas City on BNSF
Thornapple River Rail Series - YouTube
Safety today is your investment for tomorrow

User avatar
Saturnalia
Authority on Cat
Posts: 15385
Joined: Wed Sep 28, 2011 7:54 pm
Location: Michigan City, IN
Contact:

Re: Marquette Rail

Unread post by Saturnalia »

MQT3001 wrote:The First Wind turbine train is just about to Kanasas City on BNSF
The train has cleared KC, now on approach to Chicagoland. Still not expecting arrival to BNSF's yard until Midnight, and tomorrow they'll move it to Barr, which means we'll get it on Saturday, ahead of schedule. Train will become WCHIISAG-1. Final Clearance certification was given by the engineers today as well.

In other news, YDET2 put a truck on the ground today in Rougemere. It has been attributed to a broken switchpoint on a RIP track. The engine has been rerailed, and no damage was found. The engine was 2021.
Thornapple River Rail Series - YouTube
Safety today is your investment for tomorrow

User avatar
Saturnalia
Authority on Cat
Posts: 15385
Joined: Wed Sep 28, 2011 7:54 pm
Location: Michigan City, IN
Contact:

Re: Marquette Rail

Unread post by Saturnalia »

WTOLBUF-30: Slow Approach Benton Harbor. MQT 4002 leading. Has 6 steam turbines for the Cook Nuke plant at Livingston, then lite to New Buffalo to supplement the power on L-BUFGRR tomorrow, which will be huge with around 50 cars expected from CIL, three dozen boxes being pulled from the Paw Paw Industrial Track for scrapping, and around 20 cars of the usual local stuff.
Thornapple River Rail Series - YouTube
Safety today is your investment for tomorrow

User avatar
Saturnalia
Authority on Cat
Posts: 15385
Joined: Wed Sep 28, 2011 7:54 pm
Location: Michigan City, IN
Contact:

Re: Marquette Rail

Unread post by Saturnalia »

Heads up for the GRP, DSRR & GTW: Maruqtte Rail's Saginaw Subdivision will be subject to a signal suspension for about an hour tomorrow afternoon around 1550. The signals will be dark for around an hour as a new power line is patched in north of Plymouth, and the N/S power connection at Plymouth is replaced with a switch instead of direct wire. This will help ensure power has two routes to the line instead of the one feeder at Carleton.

For crossing lines, all signals will be red, so you will have to call the Dispatcher for permission to cross. This is even for coumputer-controlled interlockings. Don't worry about waiting for trains or dispatch, as all MQT traffic will stop on the Saginaw sub for the outage, because by the time we get our Track Authorities out it will be time to put them away, so we will just stop them where they can fit. The dispatcher will thereby be able to route stuff right away without preoccupation.

Thanks for the understanding.
Thornapple River Rail Series - YouTube
Safety today is your investment for tomorrow

User avatar
heartlandguy
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 752
Joined: Sun Oct 14, 2012 5:31 pm

Re: Marquette Rail

Unread post by heartlandguy »

MQT3001 wrote:Heads up for the GRP, DSRR & GTW: Maruqtte Rail's Saginaw Subdivision will be subject to a signal suspension for about an hour tomorrow afternoon around 1550. The signals will be dark for around an hour as a new power line is patched in north of Plymouth, and the N/S power connection at Plymouth is replaced with a switch instead of direct wire. This will help ensure power has two routes to the line instead of the one feeder at Carleton.

For crossing lines, all signals will be red, so you will have to call the Dispatcher for permission to cross. This is even for coumputer-controlled interlockings. Don't worry about waiting for trains or dispatch, as all MQT traffic will stop on the Saginaw sub for the outage, because by the time we get our Track Authorities out it will be time to put them away, so we will just stop them where they can fit. The dispatcher will thereby be able to route stuff right away without preoccupation.

Thanks for the understanding.
Roger. You picked a good time, a day before GR&P started running trackage rights trains...

Also, DSR ran a tie & rail train up to Carleton, which is sitting on a stub waiting for the connection project to start this weekend. The train also carried 3 panel switches up. Gonna build the connection and sidings first before putting in the switch to the main...
"Alright, uh, get to a stop here and we'll order you a party bus for Lima" -12/30/16

"He ain't one of them terrorists, is he?" "Nah, just some paparazzi. We never get them out here!" -03/12/19

User avatar
Saturnalia
Authority on Cat
Posts: 15385
Joined: Wed Sep 28, 2011 7:54 pm
Location: Michigan City, IN
Contact:

Re: Marquette Rail

Unread post by Saturnalia »

Wind Turbine train #1 has reached Barr Yard in Chicago. BNSF power is cut off and gone, ready for us to take. We have two extra six-axles on M-GRRCHI2 tonight, so that power will head WCHISAG-01. Crew called for 9:00 tomorrow, then a recrew in Grand Rapids for 18:00, then another recrew in Plymouth at 2:00 Sunday.
Thornapple River Rail Series - YouTube
Safety today is your investment for tomorrow

User avatar
Saturnalia
Authority on Cat
Posts: 15385
Joined: Wed Sep 28, 2011 7:54 pm
Location: Michigan City, IN
Contact:

Re: Marquette Rail

Unread post by Saturnalia »

10:58 EDT: WCHISAG-01 clear 485 on the NS Chicago Line main 2
11:00 EDT: WCHISAG-01 approach medium 483 on Main 2
11:03 EDT: WCHISAG-01 medium clear 482 main 2 to 1 to MQT main 2
11:04 EDT: WCHISAG-01 clear East Porter
11:07 EDT: WCHISAG-01 clear 133, M-GRRCHI1 on 1 stopped for the meet
11:10 EDT: WCHISAG-01 clear 130
11:14 EDT: WCHISAG-01 clear Michigan City
11:18 EDT: WCHISAG-01 clear Hoosier Jct. CSAGBUF (CIL 824) waiting on 1 to get onto the Monon's line
11:21 EDT: WCHISAG-01 approach slow Annoyance. Will meet WGRRCHI (rail train) at the switch
11:24 EDT: WCHISAG-01 all stop Annoyance, Main 2.
Thornapple River Rail Series - YouTube
Safety today is your investment for tomorrow

User avatar
Saturnalia
Authority on Cat
Posts: 15385
Joined: Wed Sep 28, 2011 7:54 pm
Location: Michigan City, IN
Contact:

Re: Marquette Rail

Unread post by Saturnalia »

11:35 EDT: WCHISAG medium clear 2 to single main after the meet
11:40 EDT: WCHISAG clear State Line
11:43 EDT: WCHISAG clear WE New Buffalo
11:46 EDT: WCHISAG clear EE New Buffalo
11:48 EDT: WCHISAG clear Union Pier
11:50 EDT: WCHISAG approach medium Lakeside
11:54 EDT: WCHISAG slow approach West End Sawyer, main to siding for meet with XDETCHI1
11:59 EDT: WCHISAG all stop EE Sawyer
Thornapple River Rail Series - YouTube
Safety today is your investment for tomorrow

User avatar
Saturnalia
Authority on Cat
Posts: 15385
Joined: Wed Sep 28, 2011 7:54 pm
Location: Michigan City, IN
Contact:

Re: Marquette Rail

Unread post by Saturnalia »

12:15 EDT: WCHISAG slow clear EE Sawyer siding to main. Hoping to make BH without stopping
12:18 EDT: WCHISAG clear Snow Lake
12:21 EDT: WCHISAG clear WE Livingston. LGRRBUF in the siding working Technisand
Thornapple River Rail Series - YouTube
Safety today is your investment for tomorrow

User avatar
Saturnalia
Authority on Cat
Posts: 15385
Joined: Wed Sep 28, 2011 7:54 pm
Location: Michigan City, IN
Contact:

Re: Marquette Rail

Unread post by Saturnalia »

12:24 EDT: WCHISAG clear EE Livingston
12:27 EDT: WCHISAG clear Stevensville
12:30 EDT: WCHISAG clear Vine. No defects at the Detector
12:33 EDT: WCHISAG approach slow Hiltop, Bridge is not open to trains currently
12:37 EDT: WCHISAG all stop St. Joseph, one more boat to go before the bridge closes
12:40 EDT: WCHISAG apprach medium St. Joseph, bridge now open
12:44 EDT: WCHISAG medium clear Benton Harbor, Single Main to 2
12:50 EDT: WCHISAG medium approach Paw Paw
12:54 EDT: WCHISAG medium approach slow Grey, 2 to 1
13:01 EDT: WCHISAG all stop Riverside on 1 for passing by XCHIDET2, then meeting XDETCHI3
13:35 EDT: WCHISAG medium clear Riverside, 1 to single main. Straight shot to Gross for meet with XDETCHI2
13:40 EDT: WCHISAG clear Coloma
13:53 EDT: WCHISAG clear Watervliet
13:58 EDT: WCHISAG clear WE Kirk
14:00 EDT: WCHISAG clear EE Kirk. Will not go in at Kirk for meet, CP train will to save time. Crew dies at 20:00
14:03 EDT: WCHISAG clear Hartford
14:06 EDT: WCHISAG clear McDonald
Thornapple River Rail Series - YouTube
Safety today is your investment for tomorrow

User avatar
Saturnalia
Authority on Cat
Posts: 15385
Joined: Wed Sep 28, 2011 7:54 pm
Location: Michigan City, IN
Contact:

Re: Marquette Rail

Unread post by Saturnalia »

14:09 EDT: WCHISAG slow approach WE Gross, CP train still getting in the siding
14:14 EDT: WCHISAG clear EE Gross
14:20 EDT: WCHISAG clear Breedsville
14:24 EDT: WCHISAG clear WE Grand Jct. Dead coal train in the siding
14:28 EDT: WCHISAG clear EE Grand Jct.
14:32 EDT: WCHISAG clear Lee
14:35 EDT: WCHISAG clear Pullman
14:37 EDT: WCHISAG approach medium Bravo
14:40 EDT: WCHISAG approach slow WE Wells, main to siding, rolling meet with CWOLCHI-1
14:49 EDT: WCHISAG slow clear EE Wells
14:55 EDT: WCHISAG clear Fennville
14:57 EDT: WCHISAG clear Helper
15:00 EDT: WCHISAG clear New Richmond
15:06 EDT: WCHISAG clear WE Saugatuck, XCHIDET dead in Siding
15:08 EDT: WCHISAG clear EE Saugatuck
15:09 EDT: MCHIGRR1, which was 1 train ahead (MCHIGRR1, ICHIGRR, WCHISAG) has nailed a fruit semi just west of Hudsonville. I train taking siding in Holland, W train to continue to Viresland and stop there and await clearance.
15:11 EDT: WCHISAG approach Boyd, getting too close behind ICHIGRR, who is taking siding in Holland...
15:16 EDT: WCHISAG restricting proceed 27, I train still not clear of main in Holland
15:24 EDT: WCHISAG clear Holland, I-train in pass
15:26 EDT: WCHISAG clear West Leg
15:27 EDT: WCHISAG clear East Leg
15:28 EDT: WCHISAG clear Waverly
15:32 EDT: WCHISAG clear East Waverly
15:40 EDT: WCHISAG approach Zeeland
15:55 EDT: WCHISAG stopped on main at milepost 17, waiting for further instructions. Mess ahead could take until 1800 to be cleaned up. Arrangements are being made for a crew change here instead of the tower in Wyoming.
Thornapple River Rail Series - YouTube
Safety today is your investment for tomorrow

User avatar
Saturnalia
Authority on Cat
Posts: 15385
Joined: Wed Sep 28, 2011 7:54 pm
Location: Michigan City, IN
Contact:

Re: Marquette Rail

Unread post by Saturnalia »

17:03 EDT: The semi accident is nearly cleared up. The semi was leaving a local asparagus packing company just west of the Hudsonville Control Point, where the line splits in two for double track to Grand Rapids. The accident happened about a quarter mile west of the switch. Acutally, 90% of the train has cleared the switch. The only damage to railroad equipment was the obliteration of a crossbuck post at the private drive. Because it is a private drive, the accident scene will wrap up quicker. The train, MCHIGRR1, has a dead crew now, but a Wyoming Yard crew has arrived to haul it in as soon as we get the go-ahead. With the W-train's crew going dead at 18:00, we hope to change crews at Wyoming again, if the wreck site is released by 17:20.

17:13 EDT: Scene released, crew onboard pumping air. They will crawl down the 2nd Main track and let WCHISAG pass on the #1 track. The trains will need to coordinate speeds to stay within the 10-mph limit. Plan is for the manifest to go 20 and the turbine train 30. Once the train is clear of the manifest, the W-train will sprint to Wyoming as quick as possible to make crew time.
17:15 EDT: "MCHIGRR1-01, brakes released, highball down main 1, clear signal in sight at East Hudsonville"
17:16 EDT: "WCHISAG-01, approach, wait, just upgraded to approach medium at Viresland. Let's blow this Popsicle stand!"
17:17 EDT: Wyoming YM speaking to W-train: "Coming in on 1, run like wild down 4 track, pull up to the pedestrian bridge or as far as you can make it, and the hi-rail on 6 has your new crew. Hurry it up, I need you gone, as I have 3 westbounds, 3 eastbound that need Lamar Soon, and some trains to follow you east!"
17:19 EDT: MCHIGRR1 clear Port Jenison on 2
17:20 EDT: WCHISAG medium clear West Hudsonville, single main to #1.
Thornapple River Rail Series - YouTube
Safety today is your investment for tomorrow

User avatar
Saturnalia
Authority on Cat
Posts: 15385
Joined: Wed Sep 28, 2011 7:54 pm
Location: Michigan City, IN
Contact:

Re: Marquette Rail

Unread post by Saturnalia »

17:22 EDT: WDETGRR-01, with the power from Rougemere, clear Plymouth Jct.
Thornapple River Rail Series - YouTube
Safety today is your investment for tomorrow

User avatar
Saturnalia
Authority on Cat
Posts: 15385
Joined: Wed Sep 28, 2011 7:54 pm
Location: Michigan City, IN
Contact:

Re: Marquette Rail

Unread post by Saturnalia »

Over the next two weeks, Marquette will be upgrading sidings on the Grand Rapids Sub to increase the speed limit from 10 to 30 mph (slow to medium speed). Crews will do one per day, installing the switches in the wee hours then laying new CWR, dropped off today, in the sidings. Schedule:

6-3: New Buffalo
6-4: Sawyer
6-5: Livingston
6-6: Kirk
6-7: Gross
6-10: Grand Jct
6-11: Wells
6-12-14: Saugatuck (Siding to be extended to 8,000 ft from 5,000)
Thornapple River Rail Series - YouTube
Safety today is your investment for tomorrow

User avatar
Saturnalia
Authority on Cat
Posts: 15385
Joined: Wed Sep 28, 2011 7:54 pm
Location: Michigan City, IN
Contact:

Re: Marquette Rail

Unread post by Saturnalia »

While the rail crews are busy doing sidings, ground crews will be prepping several miles between CP annoyance and New Buffalo for a second main track. The 4-mile gap in second track is kinda annoying, so we're bridging the gap. After that project wraps up in Early July, crews will add a second track between Hudsonville and Holland.

These, coupled with increasing siding speeds, will cut precious time off meets and passing on the GR sub. Currently, 1 in 5 trains runs out of time between GRR and CHI, and we hope to reduce that number by 80% with these improvements. IT is quite a bit of money now, but we figure we will have paid for it in crew compensation by 2016.
Thornapple River Rail Series - YouTube
Safety today is your investment for tomorrow

Post Reply