Jackson & Lansing (J&LG)

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AARR
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Jackson & Lansing (J&LG)

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Jackson & Lansing acquired 44.5 miles from NS in late 2010 which are comprised of:
(1) the Lansing Secondary. Located between the connection with NSR"s Michigan Main Line at milepost LZ 0.0 in Jackson and milepost LZ 36.9 in Lansing (36.9 miles in length):
(2) the Lansing Manufacturers Railroad, located between milepost XF 0.0 and milepost XF 5.1 in Lansing (5.1 miles in length):
(3) the Lansing Industrial track segment located between milepost XM 57.1 and milepost XM 58.9 in Lansing (1.8 miles in length)
(4) the Lansing Industrial track segment between milepost UA 60.7 and milepost UA 61.4 in Lansing (0 7 miles in length).

NS had cut service down to two round trips per week and most of the customers had either reduced or stopped rail service as a response. Their round trip would often take three days to complete.

The track was rated for 286,000 lbs cars but at only 10 mph due to deferred maintenance.

J&LG acquired three GP9R's from CN to operate the lines.
Owner: Jackson & Lansing 4603
Model: Rebuilt EMD GP9R Built As: GTW 1755 (GP9)
Serial Number: 19669 Order No: 5343
Frame Number: 5343-5 Built: 8/1954
Notes: Acquired from MEI in 2011
Other locos with this serial: GTW 4603(GP9R) GTW 4431(GP9)
Image

Owner: Jackson & Lansing 4607
Model: Rebuilt EMD GP9R Built As: CV 4550 (GP9)
Serial Number: 22839 Order No: 5512
Frame Number: 5512-4 Built: 3/1957
Notes: Acquired from MEI in 2011
Other locos with this serial: GTW 4607(GP9R) CV 4550(GP9)
Image

Owner: Jackson & Lansing 4609
Model: Rebuilt EMD GP9R Built As: CV 4925 (GP9)
Serial Number: 22831 Order No: 5510
Frame Number: 5510-3 Built: 3/1957
Notes: Acquired from MEI in 2011
Other locos with this serial: GTW 4609(GP9R) CV 4925(GP9)
Image

Initially J&LG had a handful of customers with Regional Steel Distribution Center in Holt being the largest receiving 5-10 cars of coil steel each weekday.
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AARR
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Re: Jackson & Lansing (J&LG)

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J&LG set up shop in Mason building a two stall engine house.

Other customers, besides Regional Steel Distribution Center (RSDC) were:
Leslie - Mason Elevator: Inactive
Wickes - Michigan Packaging: Inbound cardboard feedstock
Wickes – Shafer Redi Mix / Capital Excavating & Paving: Inactive (at one time received coal for MSU among other commodities)
Wickes – Capital Steel & Wire: Inactive
Wickes – Spartan Barricading & Traffic: Inactive
Wickes – Kent Feeds: Inactive
Mason – Mason Elevator: Inactive
Mason – Team: Inbound chemicals for Americhem
Holt – Regional Steel Distribution Center: Inbound steel flat rolls 5-10 cars per weekday
Holt – Capital Drywall Supply: Inbound wallboard
Lansing – Ambassador Steel: Inbound steel rebar
Lansing – QDC Plastic Container: Inbound plastic pellets
Lansing – Reid Machinery: Inbound machinery and outbound metal scrap (switched several times per year)
Lansing – Friedland: Inactive
Lansing – Padnos Lansing Recycling: Outbound scrap metal
Lansing – Alro Steel: Inbound steel rebar

Most of the cars arrived on NS and were interchanged in Jackson Yard. A few cars came in on CSX (Ensel Yard) or CN (Lansing's Hollow Yard).

Initial operations was a turn from Mason to Jackson 3-5 x per week and several trips per week into Lansing. With the track rated at 10mph it was common for a 6th day of service to complete the weeks switching and tie down back in Mason.
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...

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AARR
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Re: Jackson & Lansing (J&LG)

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Their trackage rights on CSX from MA (MP 36.9) to their own tracks again at XF (MP 0 - approximately 1 mile) when a J&LG engineer went through a stop signal at MA onto CSX tracks. Although they did not lose the trackage rights, the CSX dispatchers were very strict for a while.

Interchanges with CN and CSX became busy soon after starting up when J&LG landed deals for their three big customers: RSDC, Michigan Packaging and Padnos. All three started using CN and CSX lanes for additional business. Traffic from CSX included for RSDC 15-23 cars of coil steel per week and 4-6 cars per week each for Michigan Packaging and Padnos. CN was interchanging 5-8 cars per week of coil steel and about a car a week each for Michigan Packaging and Padnos.

The next large new customer was Capital Excavating & Paving. They began receiving 50-car blocks of stone. It would take all three GP9R's to pull the 50-car block down to CE&P. Then they would be unloaded in three 16-17 car blocks. The empties would be returned to CSX within 24 hours.
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...

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AARR
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Re: Jackson & Lansing (J&LG)

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RSDC switched from receiving their cars in daily blocks of 5-10 to receiving a 50-car block from NS 2-4 times per month. J&LG needed all three of their GP9R's to pull the 50 cars from Jackson to Holt. RSDC would unload the cars within 24 hours and J&LG would have them back to Jackson within 48 hours after picking them up.

In 2012 Eaton Rapids Casting opened a windmill production plant at Rives Junction. A mile of track was built on the old ROW toward Eaton Rapids. Business started slowly but by 2014 they were producing 160,000 tons per year of windmill components and shipping out about 60 cars a week.

In 2016 an oil company selected J&LG to haul crude oil from its pumps to CN in Lansing. Five cars per weekday would be transloaded into tank cars and hauled north to CN in Lansing who would deliver it to a short line railroad out east that serviced a refinery. A pair of team tracks were laid just north of Jackson, near a pair of oil tank terminals, and the transloading began quickly.
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...

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Re: Jackson & Lansing (J&LG)

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In 2018 Eaton Farm Bureau (who had bought Mason Elevator in 2015) built a large elevator (2,075,000-bushel capacity) and small fertilizer terminal at North Leslie. A single siding was built between Kinneville Rd. and Covert Rd. that could hold up to 90 covered hoppers. When an 85 or 90 car unit train was loaded the main line would have to be utilized. They shipped 530-700 outbound cars annually of corn, soybeans and wheat and received 25-30 cars annually of dry and liquid fertilizer combined. CSX and NS engines were often used on unit trains. Due to very limited interchange tracks, there are no unit trains exchanged with CN.

Through a combination of re-investing, grants and loans the line from Jackson to Lansing was upgraded to 25 mph and 286,000 lbs. cars. The Lansing Manufacturers Line was rated for 10 mph and the two Industrial Tracks 5mph.

The engine roster was evaluated in 2020. The GP9R's were around 30 years old and serving the railroad well. However, they lacked some modern conveniences for the crews and were a little light for some of jobs which were now equipped with 286,000 lbs. cars rather than 263,000 lbs. like the unit trains of grain, steel and stone. It was decided that one of the GP9R's (4609) would be retained for work on the two Industrial Branches, but new engines would be acquired to replace the other two GP9R's (4603 & 4607).
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...

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AARR
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Re: Jackson & Lansing (J&LG)

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In early 2022 two new engines were acquired and put into service.
Owner: Jackson & Lansing 6410
Model: EMD GP38-2 Built As: DTI 410 (GP40-2)
Serial Number: 7359-5 Order No: 7359
Frame Number: 7359-5 Built: 10/1972
Notes: Acquired from DLCX 2022, derated to 2000 hp and removed turbocharger.
Other locos with this serial: DLCX 6410(GP40-2) RMPX 6410(GP40-2) GTW 6410(GP40-2) DTI 410(GP40-2)
Image

Owner: Jackson & Lansing 2002
Model: EMD SD38-2 Built As: BLE 869 (SD38AC)
Serial Number: 37708 Order No: 7327
Frame Number: 7327-6 Built: 7/1971
Notes: Acquired from RLGX 2022. RLGX rebuilt to -2 standards.
Other locos with this serial: RLGX 2002(SD38-2) RLGX 2002(SD38AC) NREX 869(SD38AC) DMIR 869(SD38AC) BLE 869(SD38AC)
Image
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...

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Re: Jackson & Lansing (J&LG)

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As of 2022 operations consists of a crew going on duty at 7am, M-F, and often on Saturdays, and go where ever work is required. They run south to the American Refinery transload north of Jackson daily and back north to the interchange with CN in Lansing Hollow Yard daily. In-between those points they perform whatever switching is required. Eaton Rapids Castings (now operated by Gust) gets switched nearly every day. Michigan Packaging (now operated by CorrChoice) is switched several times per week as is Padnos. The crew ties down at the end of their shift where ever they are and picks up from that point the next day.

The customer list looks like this in 2022:
Jackson - American Refining Transload: Loads five tank cars per weekday which are interchanged with CN in Lansing Hollow Yard. They tank cars are destined for a refinery in PA.
Rives Junction - Eaton Rapids Casting (Gust): Loads up to 60 cars a week with windmill parts (doesn't include buffer/spacer cars). All cars are interchanged with CSX in Ensel/Lansing or NS in Jackson due to curve/distance restrictions with CN in Hollow Yard.
N. Leslie - Caledonia Farmers Elevator (acquired from Eaton Farm Bureau in 2021): Receives 25-30 cars annually of dry and liquid fertilizer and ships out 530-700 cars annually of grain. All unit trains are interchanged with CSX in Ensel/Lansing or NS in Jackson due to curve/distance restrictions with CN in Hollow Yard. Unit trains are given 48 hours to pick up, load and return.
Wickes - Michigan Packaging (CorrChoice): Receives 7-10 box cars per week of cardboard feedstock. Most cars come from CSX, then NS and finally a few from CN.
Wickes – Capital Excavating & Paving: Receives 14-21 50-car blocks of stone from CSX annually. They can only unload up to 17 cars at a time so the crew must unload a block and re-spot the next group quickly. The commitment is to have the cars back to CSX in 24 hours.
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...

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Re: Jackson & Lansing (J&LG)

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Wickes – Capital Steel & Wire: Inactive
Wickes – Spartan Barricading & Traffic: Inactive
Mason – Caledonia Farmers Elevator: Inactive
Mason – Team: Receives 1-3 cars per month for Americhem
Holt – Regional Steel Distribution Center: Receives steel flat rolls (averages 50-75 per week). NS delivers anywhere from 5-10 cars per weekday up to an occasional 50-car block (NS averages 30-45 cars per week). CSX delivers 1-3 5-23 car blocks per week. CN delivers a 5-8 car block per week.
Holt – Capital Drywall Supply: Inactive
Lansing – Ambassador Steel: Receives a carload of steel rebar every two to three months
Lansing – QDC Plastic Container: Receives 1-2 cars of plastic pellets every other week or so
Lansing – Reid Machinery: Receives high and wide machinery loads a few times per year and ships out several gondolas of scrap several times a year.
Lansing – Friedland: Ships 1-2 cars of scrap metal per week
Lansing – Padnos Lansing Recycling: Ships out 6-10 cars of scrap per week. Most go to CSX, then NS and about 1 a week goes to CN.
Lansing – Alro Steel: Receives 2-3 cars per month of steel rebar

J&LG is projecting 8,000-11,050 carloads in 2022. Traffic has multiplied by over 350% in the 11 years J&LG has operated the lines. It is a lucrative railroad that can invest. Employee morale is good, and J&LG is active in the communities it serves.
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...

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Re: Jackson & Lansing (J&LG)

Unread post by AARR »

GP9R 4603 was transferred to the Charlotte Industrial (CHIN) replacing the GP18 4700

GP9R 4607 remains Stored Serviceable
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...

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AARR
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Re: Jackson & Lansing (J&LG)

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JAIL is now part of the TOAD family of railroads which includes TOAD, WDIN, DIND, PHIN, LIND, PONB, JAIL and CHIN.

All former engines have been removed and replaced with the following roster:
Owner: Jackson Lansing Railroad
Model: Rebuilt EMD GP9R Built As: GTW 4545 (GP9)
Serial Number: 22853
Order No: 5513
Frame Number: 5513-7 Built: 3/1957
Notes: Ex-GTW
Other locos with this serial: JAIL 1751(GP9R) ADBF 1751(GP9) ADBF 1(GP9) GTW 4545(GP9)
Image

Owner: Jackson Lansing Railroad
Model: Rebuilt EMD GP9R Built As: GTW 1779 (GP9)
Serial Number: 21460
Order No: 5444
Frame Number: 5444-3 Built: 6/1956
Notes: ex-GTW 1779/4904 CN paint
Other locos with this serial: JAIL 1753 (GP9R) GTW 4610(GP9R) CV 4904(GP9) GTW 4904(GP9)
Image

Owner: Jackson Lansing Railroad
Model: Rebuilt EMD GP9R Built As: C&O 6002 (GP9)
Serial Number: 21186
Order No: 5426
Frame Number: 5426-5 Built: 12/1955
Notes:
Other locos with this serial: JAIL 1758 (GP9R) ADBF 1758(GP9R) NHN 1758 (GP9) C&O 6002 (GP9)
Image

In other news JAIL has lost several customers as follows:
• American Refining in Jackson moved its transload to Dundee on AA
• Eaton County Casting in Rives Junction closed its plant due to financial issues from improper bookkeeping and went bankrupt
• There was a major fire at the Caledonia Elevator in N. Leslie. Due to excess capacity at other nearby elevators, they have no plans to rebuild.
• Capital Excavating has reduced its limestone traffic by around half

JAIL picked up several new customers:
• Capital will receive 45-70 carloads a year of cement
• Dart Container will begin transloading 5-7 carloads of chemicals from the Wickes Team track (lead to Capital Excavating)

Operations consists of a crew reporting to Mason, Monday-Friday, and running to Jackson Monday, Wednesday and Friday and to Lansing Tuesday and Thursday.

Carloads for 2023 look to be in the 4,200-5,900 range.
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...

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AARR
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Re: Jackson & Lansing (J&LG)

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The Regional Steel Distribution Center in Holt has increased rail shipments up to 100 cars a week. 45-60 of them come from NS. 22-30 from CSX and the rest from CN.

GP9R’s 1751, 1753 and 1758 continue to run reliably. Usually, two are assigned to the daily job with the 3rd designated as the backup.

It is worth mentioning that JAIL does a substantial storage car business in its Lansing Saginaw Yard. It is common for several hundred cars to be in storage. This time of year, LPG tank cars are quite numerous.

There are no new customers forecasted at this time, but JAIL is always hunting for new customers.
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...

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AARR
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Re: Jackson & Lansing (J&LG)

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JAIL has accepted an offer from a new company, Transportation Holdings LLC. under their Adrian & Toledo (ADTO) division. This will include CHIN, DIND and LIND. They are led by Christopher Bagwell, a seasoned railroad executive.

JAIL worked hard to meet the 100 cars per one mile of track per year profitability level and felt that it would be in better hands with a professional short line company that has more operational experience and finances to invest. The transition dates is forecasted for 10/1/23.

Get your pictures of the venerable GP9’s while you can. The new owner will probably be replacing them soon with 38’s or 40’s and possibly SD units.

Many railfans are disappointed because some think Mr. Bagwell’s experience is offset by some personal issues. But no one is perfect, and his track record speaks for itself. Plus, the owners of JAIL have maxed out online opportunities and will need someone with experience in transloading to continue its growth.

There is a vicious fight at RailroadFan.com between the railroad employees and railfans about the pros and cons of this sale. The thread has not been shut down yet but as name calling and insults fly it is a matter of time before ~Z~ Beavis and Butthead’s it.
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...

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