Update: 09/07/2023 something is happening right next to the Hamilton Northwestern. Could this be a transload facility or a future rail served customer only time will tell.
Is this new activity? There’s been construction materials there for years and the docs that Z posted are from 2019
I can only guess by the satellite images that activity has picked back up on the site.
Here’s another satellite image that shows there’s definitely been progress between when the satellite images were taken.
Let’s hope that the information Z has provided is outdated and plans have changed.
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My guess is this is not designed to have rail service, but was located near the railroad in an effort to keep truckers honest and have the ability to install rail access at a later date if it should become required.
I know a lot of places locate close to rails for that reason. It is a way to keep truckers honest even when there really is no intention of ever installing or using rail.
As a former truck driver, I would have to say that it's more to do with how the land is zoned for use, as opposed to playing truckers against rail. Or, the size of the land needed for a given industry location.
Update: 09/07/2023 something is happening right next to the Hamilton Northwestern. Could this be a transload facility or a future rail served customer only time will tell.
1DA8FD3C-32A2-4D12-88FE-FA0F3021F60E.jpeg
72FD18F4-ED93-48C9-917B-7D0C79DEEB9B.jpeg
Is this new activity? There’s been construction materials there for years and the docs that Z posted are from 2019
Unfortunately the most recent street view is from September of 2019 and it shows the field completely untouched compared to the newer satellite imagery. Hard to tell when exactly they started working on the land.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jimthias/
GRHC - you know every night I can imagine he is in front of his computer screen sitting in his underwear swearing profusely and drinking Blatz beer combing the RailRoadFan website for grammatical errors.
To further expand on CAT’s comment, the land in question is owned by Great Lakes Warehousing. They started building the new facility a few years ago and abandoned it due to changes in business. They could always re-start it again someday, I’m told.
Warehouses use boxcars. The boxcar business has been in a slow decline for awhile. Their new business will come from trans-loading bulk materials. Think Darling Ingredients loading tank cars. Think ag products. Think lumber. Think commodities that only require land to load or unload. That's where the HNW will grow. Also, look for the new Coastal Paper spur to someday connect to the Hamilton spur. Build a quarter mile of track with state funding and get rid of 2 miles of track and crossings in Holland including US-31.
Warehouses use boxcars. The boxcar business has been in a slow decline for awhile. Their new business will come from trans-loading bulk materials. Think Darling Ingredients loading tank cars. Think ag products. Think lumber. Think commodities that only require land to load or unload. That's where the HNW will grow. Also, look for the new Coastal Paper spur to someday connect to the Hamilton spur. Build a quarter mile of track with state funding and get rid of 2 miles of track and crossings in Holland including US-31.
I think everybody knows what the future of the Hamilton Northwestern is and it will mirror the West Michigan railroad.
As for the other thing you wrote I do not believe they’re going to do that.
I for one would like to know what the railfan from Lansing thinks because he seems to have an opinion on everything.
Why did the elevator in Hamilton stop using rail service?
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...
Why did the elevator in Hamilton stop using rail service?
It didn't.
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...
Why did the elevator in Hamilton stop using rail service?
It didn't.
Roughly a year ago at this point
1223 OUT! President and Founder of the Buck Creek Central, the Rolling River Route! (2012-2017) President and Founder of the Lamberton Valley Railroad, The Tin Plate Road! Proudly railfanning with Asperger's since 1996.
Thanks. Means a lot to those of us that spent a fair bit of time getting them cleaned up and lettered, with a small budget, mostly for the benefit of local buffs.
I want to apologize if I upset anyone. I did see the answer to AARR's question, why did rail service stop to the Hamilton Elevator, then the response that it didn't, then read an earlier post in which someone said "Personally, I can’t wait for the HNW to restart operations again. Hopefully they will someday", then another post that they haven't received service for almost a year, so I was confused as these comments seem to contradict one another.
I was trying to seek clarity about all that, but it seems (I think) that the elevator is still receiving rail service, which is great to hear.
Again, hoping I did not upset anyone. I enjoy speaking with all of you and appreciate all your insights.
Last edited by David Lang on Mon Sep 25, 2023 5:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I want to apologize if I upset anyone. I did see the answer to AARR's question, why did rail service stop to the Hamilton Elevator, then the response that it didn't, then read an earlier post in which someone said "Personally, I can’t wait for the HNW to restart operations again. Hopefully they will someday", then another post that they haven't received service for almost a year, so I was confused as these comments seem to contradict one another.
I was trying to seek clarity about all that, but it seems (I think) that the elevator is still receiving rail service, which is great to hear.
Again, hoping I did not upset anyone.
Well sir you didn’t upset me so we’re good as far as I’m concerned. Just to clear things up the elevator in Hamilton Michigan has not received any rail cars in almost a year as far as I know.
How exciting.... 