Page 1 of 2
Copper mining set to resume in White Pine
Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2021 7:57 am
by NSSD70ACe
Re: Copper mining set to resume in White Pine
Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2021 8:24 am
by AARR
I believe this line is owned/operated by Watco now
Re: Copper mining set to resume in White Pine
Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2021 9:31 am
by Saturnalia
AARR wrote: ↑Wed Jul 07, 2021 8:24 am
I believe this line is owned/operated by Watco now
Correct. Needs major rehab tho
Re: Copper mining set to resume in White Pine
Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2021 9:56 am
by Dowagiac Train Dude
Saturnalia wrote: ↑Wed Jul 07, 2021 9:31 am
AARR wrote: ↑Wed Jul 07, 2021 8:24 am
I believe this line is owned/operated by Watco now
Correct. Needs major rehab tho
I was just up in Bergland for a fishing trip on Lake Gogebic. You are right about the major rehab. There are crossings on M-28 that will have to be put back in and some other stuff along the shoreline of the lake. Of course some of the people will need to remove their boat covers and docks off the rail too.
Re: Copper mining set to resume in White Pine
Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2021 11:17 am
by jimnorthwood
I believe the real damage (flooding related) to/on this line is on the Wisconsin side. Bridges out, etc. It will take a pretty penny to get trains rolling to WP again, probably more pennies than Watco would be willing (able?) to spend. Absent some federal and/or state money, I would be surprised to see a restoration of service on the WP line. Transload to the E&LS, perhaps. Or maybe to Park Falls, WI which I believe is as far north as CN ventures these days
https://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/trav ... ailmap.pdf
Re: Copper mining set to resume in White Pine
Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2021 11:31 am
by Saturnalia
jimnorthwood wrote: ↑Thu Jul 08, 2021 11:17 am
I believe the real damage (flooding related) to/on this line is on the Wisconsin side. Bridges out, etc. It will take a pretty penny to get trains rolling to WP again, probably more pennies than Watco would be willing (able?) to spend. Absent some federal and/or state money, I would be surprised to see a restoration of service on the WP line. Transload to the E&LS, perhaps. Or maybe to Park Falls, WI which I believe is as far north as CN ventures these days
https://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/trav ... ailmap.pdf
The plan was to ship out on the nearest point on the CN that accepts 286k cars. White Pine can only do 263k when in service.
I doubt anything will change, unless WATCO gets aggressive on the pricing.
Re: Copper mining set to resume in White Pine
Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2021 2:29 pm
by jrgerber
Actual mining is years away. Highland,has secured funding to get title to the property but needs fuending from other sources to build a mine and start production. They also have another Copper prospect the Nonesuch near Wakefield MI.
Re: Copper mining set to resume in White Pine
Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2021 2:49 pm
by DaveO
It worries me that the company seems to barely meet its financing needs.
Because mining is something that the taxpayers seem to end up having to deal with the mess left behind.
For a classic case, search for "Summitville, Colorado".
Re: Copper mining set to resume in White Pine
Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2021 7:53 pm
by jrgerber
They will need a big mining company to put 500 million to build a mine. Silver and copper prices are high now but 5 10 or 15 years from now?
Re: Copper mining set to resume in White Pine
Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2021 8:18 am
by LansingRailFan
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2807816 ... 660455525/
Some interesting photos taken in July of the white pine sub
Re: Copper mining set to resume in White Pine
Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2021 9:00 am
by AARR
Thanks LRF. It looks like it will need a lot of work but I doubt Watco acquired it without knowing that so they must have something in mind.
Re: Copper mining set to resume in White Pine
Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2021 7:56 pm
by Steve B
AARR wrote: ↑Sun Sep 12, 2021 9:00 am
Thanks LRF. It looks like it will need a lot of work but I doubt Watco acquired it without knowing that so they must have something in mind.
Maybe CN insisted on Watco buying the White Pine branch if it wanted to get the other stuff. I think Central Michigan didn't want west of Owosso but GTW required it in order for CMGN to get the Bay City line.
Re: Copper mining set to resume in White Pine
Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2021 9:07 am
by LansingRailFan
Steve B wrote: ↑Sun Sep 12, 2021 7:56 pm
AARR wrote: ↑Sun Sep 12, 2021 9:00 am
Thanks LRF. It looks like it will need a lot of work but I doubt Watco acquired it without knowing that so they must have something in mind.
Maybe CN insisted on Watco buying the White Pine branch if it wanted to get the other stuff. I think Central Michigan didn't want west of Owosso but GTW required it in order for CMGN to get the Bay City line.
It gets it off the CN books. I’m sure if you broke down the sale prices, they charged a buck
Re: Copper mining set to resume in White Pine
Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2021 2:44 pm
by Super Chief
Park Falls was mentioned as the transload as WDOT allows for 80,000# trucks on its highways. 80 miles away from White Pine but I still can't figure out the end game for Watco? What's holding up their take over of the Newberry line now?
Re: Copper mining set to resume in White Pine
Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2021 4:06 pm
by AARR
If it's like most other businesses they can't hire enough people
Super Chief wrote: ↑Mon Sep 13, 2021 2:44 pm
What's holding up their take over of the Newberry line now?
Re: Copper mining set to resume in White Pine
Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2021 7:22 pm
by Super Chief
Well as soon as it was announced they posted 1 engineer and 1 conductor job on Watco 's website. Not many takers then up there. I just hope the paper mill in Munising doesn't shudder its doors if they get no one to switch them. Is the FOXY not running yet with Watco crews?
Re: Copper mining set to resume in White Pine
Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2021 7:43 pm
by AARR
Funny you say that because that mill doesn't generate a lot of cars considering the mileage the train has to travel to get there from Newberry. They receive maybe a handful of box cars, a few tank cars and possibly ship out a few box cars too. Whatever the actual numbers are it's low volume.
Super Chief wrote: ↑Mon Sep 13, 2021 7:22 pm
I just hope the paper mill in Munising doesn't shudder its doors if they get no one to switch them.
Re: Copper mining set to resume in White Pine
Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2021 7:52 am
by Super Chief
I use to talk to the purchasing agent there when it was Kimberly Clark every week. I always wondered if the state was helping out in some way with economic funds or whatever? Their pulp was always imported but you never saw pulpcars from Seney or surrounding areas. SOO, WC & CN have always switched it and it's always stood its ground for being Munising 2nd largest employer after the National Forest people. It's a survivor for sure.
Re: Copper mining set to resume in White Pine
Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2021 12:58 pm
by NS3322
Super Chief wrote: ↑Mon Sep 13, 2021 7:22 pm
Is the FOXY not running yet with Watco crews?
The sale has not even gone through yet! It all depends on when the STB approves the acquisition. They are hoping to hear by October 1.
Re: Copper mining set to resume in White Pine
Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2021 1:22 pm
by kd_1014
There were some WSOR engines being brought up by CN a few weeks ago. Not sure where they ended up, maybe Gladstone?