Secretary of Transportation to visit LSRC 6/1/2022

[LansingRailFan]

WNEM Ch. 5 is reporting that Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigeg will visit LSRC today to promote the $1.2T transportation bill.

Your personal politics aside, this is great PR for LSRC, short-line railroads in general and the rail business in particular.

Kudos to LSRC for the great job they continue to do!

[AARR]

The railfan in me likes to see LSRC accomplishments

[LansingRailFan]

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/ ... lr05nzjh0z

Bro dropped some grants on some players.

Congratulations to GLC and everyone’s favorite WMRR!

[atrainguy60]

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/ ... lr05nzjh0z

Bro dropped some grants on some players.

Congratulations to GLC and everyone’s favorite WMRR!

The article says part of the WM grant will be for rebuilding approximately 5.6 miles of track, in addition to track improvements elsewhere for increased speeds and what-not. Does that mean WM will be relaying over 5 miles of track on the right of way through Lawrence, or is it saying it's rebuilding their currently existing track?

[~Z~]

Can't see the article, but 5.6 miles of track eh? That's really close to the length of their new Hamilton NorthWestern railroad.

Update: here's a free article: https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/mic ... -railways/
About WMRR: The West Michigan Railroad Co. will receive up to $8.7 million to fund infrastructure improvements on approximately 10 miles of West Michigan Railroad (WMR) in Southwest Michigan. The project elements include rail and crosstie replacements, reconstructed roadbeds, bridge and turnout repairs, upgrade and replacement of two at-grade crossings, and rebuilding approximately 5.6 miles of track. The improvements to existing track will upgrade portions of the line from 5 mph excepted track to at least FRA Class 2 speeds up to 25 mph and ensure the line can continue to operate 286,000-pound railcars. The Class III WMR and Michigan DOT will provide a 35 percent match.

[Dowagiac Train Dude]

Can't see the article, but 5.6 miles of track eh? That's really close to the length of their new Hamilton NorthWestern railroad.

Update: here's a free article: https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/mic ... -railways/
About WMRR: The West Michigan Railroad Co. will receive up to $8.7 million to fund infrastructure improvements on approximately 10 miles of West Michigan Railroad (WMR) in Southwest Michigan. The project elements include rail and crosstie replacements, reconstructed roadbeds, bridge and turnout repairs, upgrade and replacement of two at-grade crossings, and rebuilding approximately 5.6 miles of track. The improvements to existing track will upgrade portions of the line from 5 mph excepted track to at least FRA Class 2 speeds up to 25 mph and ensure the line can continue to operate 286,000-pound railcars. The Class III WMR and Michigan DOT will provide a 35 percent match.

I wonder if that 10 miles would include their Hartford operation (4 miles of track I believe) and the new Hamilton operation that has the other 6 miles of track. I could be wrong but those two combined are close to that approximate 10 miles that WMR operates.

[LansingRailFan]

Can't see the article, but 5.6 miles of track eh? That's really close to the length of their new Hamilton NorthWestern railroad.

Update: here's a free article: https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/mic ... -railways/
About WMRR: The West Michigan Railroad Co. will receive up to $8.7 million to fund infrastructure improvements on approximately 10 miles of West Michigan Railroad (WMR) in Southwest Michigan. The project elements include rail and crosstie replacements, reconstructed roadbeds, bridge and turnout repairs, upgrade and replacement of two at-grade crossings, and rebuilding approximately 5.6 miles of track. The improvements to existing track will upgrade portions of the line from 5 mph excepted track to at least FRA Class 2 speeds up to 25 mph and ensure the line can continue to operate 286,000-pound railcars. The Class III WMR and Michigan DOT will provide a 35 percent match.

I wonder if that 10 miles would include their Hartford operation (4 miles of track I believe) and the new Hamilton operation that has the other 6 miles of track. I could be wrong but those two combined are close to that approximate 10 miles that WMR operates.

WMRR and Hamilton Northwestern are two separate railroads. This grant applies to only WMRR operation.

[Dowagiac Train Dude]

Can't see the article, but 5.6 miles of track eh? That's really close to the length of their new Hamilton NorthWestern railroad.

Update: here's a free article: https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/mic ... -railways/
About WMRR: The West Michigan Railroad Co. will receive up to $8.7 million to fund infrastructure improvements on approximately 10 miles of West Michigan Railroad (WMR) in Southwest Michigan. The project elements include rail and crosstie replacements, reconstructed roadbeds, bridge and turnout repairs, upgrade and replacement of two at-grade crossings, and rebuilding approximately 5.6 miles of track. The improvements to existing track will upgrade portions of the line from 5 mph excepted track to at least FRA Class 2 speeds up to 25 mph and ensure the line can continue to operate 286,000-pound railcars. The Class III WMR and Michigan DOT will provide a 35 percent match.

I wonder if that 10 miles would include their Hartford operation (4 miles of track I believe) and the new Hamilton operation that has the other 6 miles of track. I could be wrong but those two combined are close to that approximate 10 miles that WMR operates.

WMRR and Hamilton Northwestern are two separate railroads. This grant applies to only WMRR operation.

Thank you very much for that info. Where is their approximate 10 miles of track located? I thought the Hartford section was only 4 miles.

[AARR]

10 miles from Hartford would end between Lawrence and Paw Paw. I think they call it Tea Dome or something like that. They warehouse there got the last carload of produce before the track was removed.

Thank you very much for that info. Where is their approximate 10 miles of track located? I thought the Hartford section was only 4 miles.

[Dowagiac Train Dude]

10 miles from Hartford would end between Lawrence and Paw Paw. I think they call it Tea Dome or something like that. They warehouse there got the last carload of produce before the track was removed.

Thank you very much for that info. Where is their approximate 10 miles of track located? I thought the Hartford section was only 4 miles.

If that is the case then it sounds like they are expecting to get some customers in the Lawrence area. That warehouse is to the East of the Teapot Dome closer to Paw Paw. Those tracks through there have been torn up for a while now. I am sure the residence on Lake Cora will be thrilled to have the tracks come back through their lake front properties.

[LansingRailFan]

10 miles from Hartford would end between Lawrence and Paw Paw. I think they call it Tea Dome or something like that. They warehouse there got the last carload of produce before the track was removed.

Thank you very much for that info. Where is their approximate 10 miles of track located? I thought the Hartford section was only 4 miles.

If that is the case then it sounds like they are expecting to get some customers in the Lawrence area. That warehouse is to the East of the Teapot Dome closer to Paw Paw. Those tracks through there have been torn up for a while now. I am sure the residence on Lake Cora will be thrilled to have the tracks come back through their lake front properties.

I’d gladly buy a couple and host a VRF cam at my new WMRR Lake Cora Depot Bed and Breakfast featuring a menu consisting only of French Dips and free Absinthe shots if the train goes by.

[Dowagiac Train Dude]

I’d gladly buy a couple and host a VRF cam at my new WMRR Lake Cora Depot Bed and Breakfast featuring a menu consisting only of French Dips and free Absinthe shots if the train goes by.

I am in, it’s only 25 minutes from my house.

[Jim_c]

If that is the case then it sounds like they are expecting to get some customers in the Lawrence area. That warehouse is to the East of the Teapot Dome closer to Paw Paw. Those tracks through there have been torn up for a while now. I am sure the residence on Lake Cora will be thrilled to have the tracks come back through their lake front properties.

I’d gladly buy a couple and host a VRF cam at my new WMRR Lake Cora Depot Bed and Breakfast featuring a menu consisting only of French Dips and free Absinthe shots if the train goes by.

LRF, I agree!!! Teapot Dome is too far east. I would be surprised if they went past Lawrence. IF they ever did want to go back to Paw Paw I'm sure the Lake Cora NIMBYs would pitch a fit.

[J T]

So much for that bike path.

[David Lang]

Bike path? Who needs a bike path when you can have a railroad instead?!

[~Z~]

Use some of the funds to both relay the railroad and create a bike path alongside the tracks

[GRHC]

In the June 2022 issue of Trains magazine it states that the West Michigan railroad hopes to relay track eastward to directly serve industry. The railroad has stockpiled 9 miles of rail for it.

[MQT1223]

10 miles from Hartford would end between Lawrence and Paw Paw. I think they call it Tea Dome or something like that. They warehouse there got the last carload of produce before the track was removed.

Thank you very much for that info. Where is their approximate 10 miles of track located? I thought the Hartford section was only 4 miles.

If that is the case then it sounds like they are expecting to get some customers in the Lawrence area. That warehouse is to the East of the Teapot Dome closer to Paw Paw. Those tracks through there have been torn up for a while now. I am sure the residence on Lake Cora will be thrilled to have the tracks come back through their lake front properties.

For the uneducated such as myself, what is Teapot Dome? Is that a land formation or something? Sounds more like a 1920's political scandal.

It's my understanding that the Lake Cora section is still owned by the railroad as per the main West Michigan Railroad Abandonment thread?

[Dowagiac Train Dude]

10 miles from Hartford would end between Lawrence and Paw Paw. I think they call it Tea Dome or something like that. They warehouse there got the last carload of produce before the track was removed.

If that is the case then it sounds like they are expecting to get some customers in the Lawrence area. That warehouse is to the East of the Teapot Dome closer to Paw Paw. Those tracks through there have been torn up for a while now. I am sure the residence on Lake Cora will be thrilled to have the tracks come back through their lake front properties.

For the uneducated such as myself, what is Teapot Dome? Is that a land formation or something? Sounds more like a 1920's political scandal.

It's my understanding that the Lake Cora section is still owned by the railroad as per the main West Michigan Railroad Abandonment thread?

The Teapot Dome is a restaurant just to the west of Paw Paw. It was opened in 1924 which is right after the Teapot Dome Scandal. Your thinking that it was a political scandal is spot on.

[NS3322]

If that is the case then it sounds like they are expecting to get some customers in the Lawrence area. That warehouse is to the East of the Teapot Dome closer to Paw Paw. Those tracks through there have been torn up for a while now. I am sure the residence on Lake Cora will be thrilled to have the tracks come back through their lake front properties.

For the uneducated such as myself, what is Teapot Dome? Is that a land formation or something? Sounds more like a 1920's political scandal.

It's my understanding that the Lake Cora section is still owned by the railroad as per the main West Michigan Railroad Abandonment thread?

The Teapot Dome is a restaurant just to the west of Paw Paw. It was opened in 1924 which is right after the Teapot Dome Scandal. Your thinking that it was a political scandal is spot on.

The history behind the Michigan Teapot Dome:
https://www.wmuk.org/wmuk-news/2016-07- ... ren-county