Consumers Energy donates locomotive to Coopersville and Marne Railway

Anything pertaining to railfanning in Michigan.
GP30M4216
Saver of all History
Posts: 4794
Joined: Wed Oct 27, 2004 10:35 pm
Location: Feel the Zeel, MI
Contact:

Re: Consumers Energy donates locomotive to Coopersville and Marne Railway

Unread post by GP30M4216 »

I just stumbled across this Trains Magazine article, which cites some interesting information not shared in any other articles I read:

Power company donates locomotive to Michigan heritage railway

Coopersville & Marne adds GE 125-ton center cab
February 14, 2023

Source: https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews ... e-railway/

OLIVE TOWNSHIP, Mich. — The Friends of the Coopersville & Marne Railway Co., a non-profit heritage rail operation, on Monday accepted the donation a GE 125-ton center cab diesel locomotive from Michigan power company Consumers Energy at its West Olive facility

Built in 1979, the locomotive was repowered in approximately 2010 with two 600-hp Caterpillar diesels. The Friends group says in a posting on its Facebook page that the gift “will allow for better scheduling of resources and enhance both our freight and passenger services.”

The railroad operates passenger trains over 7 miles of former Grand Trunk Western trackage between its two namesake communities, using a former GTW SW9 and former commuter coaches, and also offers freight service. More information on the railroad is available on its website; planned 2023 operations will be announced in March.

Coopersville & Marne President Jeff Dupilka told WOOD-TV that the locomotive would remain in the Grand Rapids area, saving the railroad from bringing a train from its headquarters in Coopersville to handle Grand Rapids freight business.

User avatar
J T
Hates Supper
Posts: 11367
Joined: Mon Dec 11, 2006 7:23 pm
Location: Grand Rapids
Contact:

Re: Consumers Energy donates locomotive to Coopersville and Marne Railway

Unread post by J T »

GP30M4216 wrote:
Thu Feb 16, 2023 4:49 pm

Didn’t west olive also used to have some kind of SW unit for switching, too?
So I wonder what's going to happen to the pair of blue units there. Not sure what type of locos they are.
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.

User avatar
SD80MAC
Ingersoll's Mr. Michigan
Posts: 10412
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 4:59 pm
Location: Grand Rapids

Re: Consumers Energy donates locomotive to Coopersville and Marne Railway

Unread post by SD80MAC »

J T wrote:
Fri Mar 31, 2023 7:30 am
GP30M4216 wrote:
Thu Feb 16, 2023 4:49 pm

Didn’t west olive also used to have some kind of SW unit for switching, too?
So I wonder what's going to happen to the pair of blue units there. Not sure what type of locos they are.
It's an SW1200RS-Slug pair, supposedly out of service with a major mechanical failure. Wouldn't surprise me if they're just cut up.
"Remember, 4 mph is a couple, 5's a collision!"
http://flickriver.com/photos/conrail680 ... teresting/
Image

chapmaja
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 1236
Joined: Sat Nov 22, 2008 2:02 pm

Re: Consumers Energy donates locomotive to Coopersville and Marne Railway

Unread post by chapmaja »

Sounds as if the 125 tonner may be kept at Marne to operate the "east" end of the railroad, meaning from Marne to the GRE interchange with the traffic for Standard which is apparently 80-100 cars per year. Interestingly, the locomotive was picked up from the interchange with a carload for Standard.

User avatar
SD80MAC
Ingersoll's Mr. Michigan
Posts: 10412
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 4:59 pm
Location: Grand Rapids

Re: Consumers Energy donates locomotive to Coopersville and Marne Railway

Unread post by SD80MAC »

chapmaja wrote:
Fri Mar 31, 2023 11:23 am
Sounds as if the 125 tonner may be kept at Marne to operate the "east" end of the railroad, meaning from Marne to the GRE interchange with the traffic for Standard which is apparently 80-100 cars per year. Interestingly, the locomotive was picked up from the interchange with a carload for Standard.
It's definitely not 80-100 cars a year anymore.
"Remember, 4 mph is a couple, 5's a collision!"
http://flickriver.com/photos/conrail680 ... teresting/
Image

chapmaja
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 1236
Joined: Sat Nov 22, 2008 2:02 pm

Re: Consumers Energy donates locomotive to Coopersville and Marne Railway

Unread post by chapmaja »

SD80MAC wrote:
Fri Mar 31, 2023 12:01 pm
chapmaja wrote:
Fri Mar 31, 2023 11:23 am
Sounds as if the 125 tonner may be kept at Marne to operate the "east" end of the railroad, meaning from Marne to the GRE interchange with the traffic for Standard which is apparently 80-100 cars per year. Interestingly, the locomotive was picked up from the interchange with a carload for Standard.
It's definitely not 80-100 cars a year anymore.
Just going by what I was told on Facebook by the Friends of the C&M person.

User avatar
J T
Hates Supper
Posts: 11367
Joined: Mon Dec 11, 2006 7:23 pm
Location: Grand Rapids
Contact:

Re: Consumers Energy donates locomotive to Coopersville and Marne Railway

Unread post by J T »

SD80MAC wrote:
Fri Mar 31, 2023 9:13 am
J T wrote:
Fri Mar 31, 2023 7:30 am

So I wonder what's going to happen to the pair of blue units there. Not sure what type of locos they are.
It's an SW1200RS-Slug pair, supposedly out of service with a major mechanical failure. Wouldn't surprise me if they're just cut up.
Well that's too bad. Sad to think that in the very near future this view will be nothing but weeds and no tracks. :evil:

This is the only photo I have of the pair. April 20, 2011.
BNSF6189-0469.jpg
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.

User avatar
AARR
Ann Arbor RR Nerd
Posts: 37841
Joined: Wed Dec 22, 2004 7:39 pm
Location: Washington, MI

Re: Consumers Energy donates locomotive to Coopersville and Marne Railway

Unread post by AARR »

J T wrote:
Fri Mar 31, 2023 4:08 pm
Sad to think that in the very near future this view will be nothing but weeds and no tracks. :evil:
Glad they are decommissioning the coal power plant. Good there will be no more loads of pollution being burned.
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...

User avatar
J T
Hates Supper
Posts: 11367
Joined: Mon Dec 11, 2006 7:23 pm
Location: Grand Rapids
Contact:

Re: Consumers Energy donates locomotive to Coopersville and Marne Railway

Unread post by J T »

AARR wrote:
Sat Apr 01, 2023 9:59 am


Glad they are decommissioning the coal power plant. Good there will be no more loads of pollution being burned.
:lol: :lol: :lol:
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.

User avatar
AARR
Ann Arbor RR Nerd
Posts: 37841
Joined: Wed Dec 22, 2004 7:39 pm
Location: Washington, MI

Re: Consumers Energy donates locomotive to Coopersville and Marne Railway

Unread post by AARR »

Someone posted this using my name as an April Fool's joke.
J T wrote:
Sat Apr 01, 2023 10:15 pm
AARR wrote:
Sat Apr 01, 2023 9:59 am


Glad they are decommissioning the coal power plant. Good there will be no more loads of pollution being burned.
:lol: :lol: :lol:
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...

User avatar
J T
Hates Supper
Posts: 11367
Joined: Mon Dec 11, 2006 7:23 pm
Location: Grand Rapids
Contact:

Re: Consumers Energy donates locomotive to Coopersville and Marne Railway

Unread post by J T »

AARR wrote:
Sun Apr 02, 2023 7:04 am
Someone posted this using my name as an April Fool's joke.
Someone? You know who it was. :wink:
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.

EWRice
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 468
Joined: Fri May 10, 2013 7:07 pm
Location: Muskegon, MI

Re: Consumers Energy donates locomotive to Coopersville and Marne Railway

Unread post by EWRice »

I wouldn't completely write off the SW1200 and slug yet. True that there has been major damage done to it, but portions of it may live on.

User avatar
NS3322
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 1247
Joined: Sun Nov 08, 2015 12:08 pm
Location: CP-LEVITT

Re: Consumers Energy donates locomotive to Coopersville and Marne Railway

Unread post by NS3322 »

Does Consumers still have the NRE Genset and those weird Brookville switchers?

User avatar
SD80MAC
Ingersoll's Mr. Michigan
Posts: 10412
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 4:59 pm
Location: Grand Rapids

Re: Consumers Energy donates locomotive to Coopersville and Marne Railway

Unread post by SD80MAC »

NS3322 wrote:
Tue Apr 18, 2023 3:44 pm
Does Consumers still have the NRE Genset and those weird Brookville switchers?
Yes, those are all they use now.
"Remember, 4 mph is a couple, 5's a collision!"
http://flickriver.com/photos/conrail680 ... teresting/
Image

Post Reply