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Looks like Hamilton Hartford Group is going to start a second shortline, The STB appears to have given the necessary approvals. It is 6.1 miles of the Hamilton Branch from MP12.9 to MP19.0. I'm guessing that is why the siding at (I believe) Fillmore Rd. was recently cleared.

Jim_c wrote: ↑

Mon May 16, 2022 7:16 pm

Looks like Hamilton Hartford Group is going to start a second shortline, The STB appears to have given the necessary approvals. It is 6.1 miles of the Hamilton Branch from MP12.9 to MP19.0. I'm guessing that is why the siding at (I believe) Fillmore Rd. was recently cleared.

Great to hear they are expanding! I wonder what motive power will be sent there?

Links to STB filings:
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR- ... -09767.pdf
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR- ... -09774.pdf

Jim_c wrote: ↑

Mon May 16, 2022 7:16 pm

Looks like Hamilton Hartford Group is going to start a second shortline, The STB appears to have given the necessary approvals. It is 6.1 miles of the Hamilton Branch from MP12.9 to MP19.0. I'm guessing that is why the siding at (I believe) Fillmore Rd. was recently cleared.

Yes the siding is in Fillmore @ mp CGB17.0

Saturnalia first reported on the sale back in March or early April and I reported about the siding being cleared in April and both our posts were removed due to secrecy. It’s nice that we can finally post about it.
I’m wondering where they will store the power for the line. Will it be in the protected confines of the Endeavor facility or will the Fillmore siding be used to store power.
The Fillmore siding could also be used for transloading.
How and where will the HNW interchange cars with CSX. Will HNW be granted trackage rights into Waverly yard or will the interchange occur @ mp CGB19.0.

Hamilton Hartford has done great things with the WMR. I am sure they will be incredibly successful with the HNW.

Note: The top picture with the train approaching is taken by Z.

im definitely interested to see what locomotives get used out here. They recently got the 921 & 1512 running again, maybe that is related to this?

Based on the info in the STB filing, they're acquiring the track from I-196 south.
That line having been abandoned during 2003 and becoming a private industry track after that.
Was it being operated Endeavor Ag and Energy?

Edit: Looking around I see pictures of CSX engines on the Hamilton Trestle.
I'm guessing it was being operated by a CSX crew.
Wonder if the interchange will be by I-196 since CSX serves customers to the north.

DaveO wrote: ↑

Tue May 17, 2022 9:47 am

Based on the info in the STB filing, they're acquiring the track from I-196 south.
That line having been abandoned during 2003 and becoming a private industry track after that.
Was it being operated Endeavor Ag and Energy?

Edit: Looking around I see pictures of CSX engines on the Hamilton Trestle.
I'm guessing it was being operated by a CSX crew.
Wonder if the interchange will be by I-196 since CSX serves customers to the north.

Endeavor energy does their own switching and moves cars around within the complex using a front end loader.

DaveO wrote: ↑

Tue May 17, 2022 9:47 am

Based on the info in the STB filing, they're acquiring the track from I-196 south.
That line having been abandoned during 2003 and becoming a private industry track after that.
Was it being operated Endeavor Ag and Energy?

Edit: Looking around I see pictures of CSX engines on the Hamilton Trestle.
I'm guessing it was being operated by a CSX crew.
Wonder if the interchange will be by I-196 since CSX serves customers to the north.

Yes, CSX's Holland local, Y121 (or whatever it's called now), usually makes a run down to Hamilton on a weekly basis.

Is Hamilton Feed the only customer on this part of the line? Are there future customers that are going to be building on this part of the line or businesses that already exist that will start taking rail service?

Dowagiac Train Dude wrote: ↑

Tue May 17, 2022 3:36 pm

Is Hamilton Feed the only customer on this part of the line? Are there future customers that are going to be building on this part of the line or businesses that already exist that will start taking rail service?

Endeavor is the only current shipper on the portion of the line that Hamilton Hartford purchased. However knowing their track record it won’t be long before they’ll have a transload site up and running.

It sure will be neat to see some shortline power switching in Waverly Yard. Can’t wait!

Ummm......doesn't the Michigan Shore RR count as a shortline switching in Waverly??

Buster Manning wrote: ↑

Tue May 17, 2022 10:06 pm

Ummm......doesn't the Michigan Shore RR count as a shortline switching in Waverly??

Yeah but boooo orange tren.

Also, since you’ve commented, when can we expect passenger service in Hamilton?

LansingRailFan wrote: ↑

Wed May 18, 2022 8:14 am

Buster Manning wrote: ↑

Tue May 17, 2022 10:06 pm

Ummm......doesn't the Michigan Shore RR count as a shortline switching in Waverly??

Also, since you’ve commented, when can we expect passenger service in Hamilton?

I'm sure they are working on Hamilton to Holland express commuter service, and possibly a Hamilton to Hartford passenger run.

How many active customers are there total on the line, including both the Hamilton Northwestern and the portion north of 196. I see several sidings, but don't know how often they get used for service as all of them are empty in Google maps (except the Sherwin Williams siding).

Per the wiki: http://railroadfan.com/wiki/index.php/M ... _Customers

How about Graham Packaging and WestRock?

~Z~ wrote: ↑

Thu May 19, 2022 7:44 am

Per the wiki: http://railroadfan.com/wiki/index.php/M ... _Customers

Code: Select all

City/Town	Customer	Served by Train	Ships/Recieves	Frequency (approx.)	Notes
Hamilton	CHS Hamilton Elevator	Y121	Inbound animal feed	Th	On Hamilton Industrial Branch
Holland		Lumbermens Inc.		Y121	Inbound boards	As needed	On Hamilton Industrial Branch
Holland		The Sherwin Williams Co.Y121	Inbound chemicals	As needed	On Hamilton Industrial Branch
Holland		Holland Panel Products	Y121	Inbound boards	As needed	On Hamilton Industrial Branch. Plant closed in 2019.
Holland		Buhlerprince Inc.	Y121	Outbound industrial machinery	As needed	On Hamilton Industrial Branch; Infrequent Shipper

AARR wrote: ↑

Thu May 19, 2022 8:29 am

How about Graham Packaging and WestRock?

Westrock doesn't appear to get service per the wiki at least.

Graham Packaging closed permanently per Google:

~Z~ wrote: ↑

Thu May 19, 2022 8:36 am

AARR wrote: ↑

Thu May 19, 2022 8:29 am

How about Graham Packaging and WestRock?

Westrock doesn't appear to get service per the wiki at least.

Graham Packaging closed permanently per Google:

I believe there are three active shippers. Endeavor Lumbermens and Sherwin-Williams.

So what about the old trestle? Who is responsible for it, CSX (probably not) Hamilton Hartford group (probably not), Hamilton feed or the ag outfit at the end of the line whatever they are called now (most likely; if the line was abandoned to them as a private industrial track). Seems to me the maintenance and inspection of this bridge is an Achilles heel to the operation of the line. Or at least the one customer on the end of it.

~Z~ wrote: ↑

Thu May 19, 2022 8:36 am

AARR wrote: ↑

Thu May 19, 2022 8:29 am

How about Graham Packaging and WestRock?

Westrock doesn't appear to get service per the wiki at least.

Graham Packaging closed permanently per Google:

Graham closed in 2019.
https://www.hollandsentinel.com/story/b ... 674448007/