Consumers Energy donates locomotive to Coopersville and Marne Railway
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Re: Consumers Energy donates locomotive to Coopersville and Marne Railway
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.
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.
Re: Consumers Energy donates locomotive to Coopersville and Marne Railway
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.
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.
- SD80MAC
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Re: Consumers Energy donates locomotive to Coopersville and Marne Railway
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/
http://flickriver.com/photos/conrail680 ... teresting/
Re: Consumers Energy donates locomotive to Coopersville and Marne Railway
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.
- SD80MAC
- Ingersoll's Mr. Michigan
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Re: Consumers Energy donates locomotive to Coopersville and Marne Railway
It's definitely not 80-100 cars a year anymore.chapmaja wrote: ↑Fri Mar 31, 2023 11:23 amSounds 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.
"Remember, 4 mph is a couple, 5's a collision!"
http://flickriver.com/photos/conrail680 ... teresting/
http://flickriver.com/photos/conrail680 ... teresting/
Re: Consumers Energy donates locomotive to Coopersville and Marne Railway
Just going by what I was told on Facebook by the Friends of the C&M person.SD80MAC wrote: ↑Fri Mar 31, 2023 12:01 pmIt's definitely not 80-100 cars a year anymore.chapmaja wrote: ↑Fri Mar 31, 2023 11:23 amSounds 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.
Re: Consumers Energy donates locomotive to Coopersville and Marne Railway
Well that's too bad. Sad to think that in the very near future this view will be nothing but weeds and no tracks.
This is the only photo I have of the pair. April 20, 2011.
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.
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.
Re: Consumers Energy donates locomotive to Coopersville and Marne Railway
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...
Re: Consumers Energy donates locomotive to Coopersville and Marne Railway
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.
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.
Re: Consumers Energy donates locomotive to Coopersville and Marne Railway
Someone posted this using my name as an April Fool's joke.
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...
Re: Consumers Energy donates locomotive to Coopersville and Marne Railway
Someone? You know who it was.
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.
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.
Re: Consumers Energy donates locomotive to Coopersville and Marne Railway
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.
Re: Consumers Energy donates locomotive to Coopersville and Marne Railway
Does Consumers still have the NRE Genset and those weird Brookville switchers?
- SD80MAC
- Ingersoll's Mr. Michigan
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- Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 4:59 pm
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Re: Consumers Energy donates locomotive to Coopersville and Marne Railway
Yes, those are all they use now.
"Remember, 4 mph is a couple, 5's a collision!"
http://flickriver.com/photos/conrail680 ... teresting/
http://flickriver.com/photos/conrail680 ... teresting/