Coopersville & Marne Railway History
The Coopersville & Marne Railway was formed in 1989 with the purchase of the ex Grand Trunk Western trackage from Coopersville to Marne from the Grand Trunk Western RR. Originally referred to as Coopersville & Eastern, the name "Coopersville & Marne" was seen as a more fitting moniker. Operations on the C&M began in July of 1990 with a leased locomotive, a leased passenger car and a borrowed caboose. Eventually, the railroad acquired 4 coaches and an ex GTW caboose. Also purchased was a former GTW SW9, #7014, that served for years at GTW's large classification yard in Battle Creek. Run by a 100% volunteer workforce, the C&M operates passenger excursions every Saturday and most Wednesdays from April to December. The railroad also handles limited freight service after the purchase of the line from Marne to Walker (just west of Grand Rapids) known as the Kent Division (Coopersville to Marne is known as the "Ottawa" Division). Standard Lumber in Walker, MI is the only active freight customer on the line, and they take small quantities (1-5 cars) of centerbeam cars as needed (~80+ cars/year as of 2018). Previously, freight over the Kent Division was handled by Grand Rapids Eastern, though this contract expired. C&M currently interchanges freight with the GRE at the old St. Mary's Cement siding, just west of Ann St. yard, which gets forwarded to either CSX or Grand Elk. The freight trains are currently run under the symbol X7014. Currently, freight trains are running 2-3 times per week on average, with crew call times varying on availability.
Coopersville & Marne Frequencies
|
|
| Frequency
|
AAR Channel
|
Notes
|
| 160.695
|
039 039
|
General Operations
|
|
Coopersville & Marne Customers
|
|
| Customer
|
Location
|
Company Description
|
Recieves/Ships
|
Notes
|
| Standard Building Systems
|
Walker
|
Lumber & Building Products
|
Centerbeam Flatcars
|
|
|
Coopersville & Marne Locomotives
|
|
| Number
|
Model
|
Year(s) Built
|
Heritage
|
Notes
|
| Operational Locomotive
|
| CPMY 3049
|
50 Tonner
|
1957
|
Ex-Dupont/Standard Oil (Toledo, OH).
|
Secondary locomotive. Former Dupont Montague, MI plant switcher.
|
| CPMY 7014
|
SW9
|
1952
|
Ex-CE 7014/GTW 7014.
|
Primary locomotive. Spent most of its GTW career in Battle Creek and Kalamazoo.
|
| CPMY 7209
|
SL-125
|
1979
|
Ex-CPOX 3.
|
Secondary locomotive. Donated to CPMY in 2023 by Consumers Energy. Former J.H. Campbell plant switcher. Serial # 41109.
|
| Inoperable Locomotives
|
| CPMY 20
|
20 Ton
|
1941
|
Ex-USAX 20/USAQC 2044.
|
Inoperable. Needs major mechanical repairs. Whitcomb built, propane powered.
|
|
| CN 1395
|
4-6-0
|
1913
|
Ex-CN 1395.
|
Inoperable. Privately owned. Stored in Coopersville. Owner has no restoration plans.
|
| TSBY 2394
|
RS1
|
1951
|
Ex-TSBY 2394/SB&N 402/VTR 402/RUT 402.
|
Inoperable. Privately owned. Stored in Coopersville. Sits with no traction motors and a seized engine block. Owner has no restoration plans.
|
| CPMY 5208
|
NW2
|
1949
|
Ex-CO 5208.
|
Inoperable. Stored in Coopersville. Used as parts donor for 7014.
|
|
Coopersville & Marne Rolling Stock
|
|
| Number
|
Model
|
Year(s) Built
|
History
|
Notes
|
| Passenger Cars
|
| CPMY 3
|
Passenger Car
|
1941
|
Ex-CPMY 703/KLSC 703/NYC 2600.
|
Stored out of service.
|
| CPMY 1050
|
Baggage Car
|
1924
|
Ex-CHS 1050/GTW/CN ?
|
Sold in 2024 to Coopersville & Marne after being stored for many years on the Charlotte Southern Railroad.
Awaiting refurbishment.
|
| CPMY 2502
|
Passenger Car
|
1954
|
Ex-CHS 2502/VIA/CN 3018/CN 5615.
|
Formerly used for CHS dinner train until 2024. Named "Battle Creek."
Awaiting refurbishment.
|
| CN 5180
|
Passenger Car
|
1937
|
Ex-KLSC 5180/BMCX 5180/VIA 5180/CN 5180.
|
Stored out of service.
|
| CPMY 5208
|
Passenger Car
|
1937
|
Ex-CHS 5208/VIA 5208/CN 5208.
|
Formerly used for CHS dinner train until 2024. Named "Butternut Creek."
Awaiting refurbishment.
|
| CPMY 7001
|
Passenger Car
|
1919
|
Ex-DLW 4345/DLW 693.
|
In active tourist train service. Car #1.
|
| CPMY 7002
|
Passenger Car
|
1920
|
Ex-DLW 4445.
|
In active tourist train service. Car #2.
|
| CPMY 7003
|
Passenger Car
|
1919
|
Ex-CN 4974.
|
In active tourist train service. Car #3.
|
| CPMY 7010
|
Passenger Car
|
1927
|
Ex-CPMY 6/KLSC 1803/NW 1803/WAB 1803/WAB 1232.
|
In active tourist train service. Car #4.
|
| CPMY “La Reine”
|
Passenger Car
|
1929
|
Ex-PRR 493827/PRR 8651/LN "La Reine"/PULL "La Reine."
|
In active tourist train service. Handicap accessible car. Car #5.
Owned by West Michigan Society for Industrial Heritage.
|
| Cabooses
|
| NW 55708
|
Caboose
|
1962
|
Ex-NW 55708/NKP 480.
|
Out of service. Stored.
|
| CPMY 75009
|
Caboose
|
1927
|
Ex-CPMY 75009/GTW 75009/ATSF 1574.
|
In active tourist train service.
|
| SOU 910804
|
Caboose
|
1942
|
Ex-SOU 910804/SOU X2900.
|
Out of service permanently due to bent frame. Used as yard office.
|
| Freight Cars
|
| WAB 548
|
Flatcar
|
1959
|
Ex-WAB 548.
|
In active MOW service.
|
| WM 2673
|
Flatcar
|
1953
|
Ex-WM 2673.
|
In active MOW service. Idler car for 25 Ton Crane.
|
| ERIE 31804
|
Covered Hopper
|
19??
|
Ex-ERIE 31804.
|
Used as a ballast hopper.
|
| CSX 130159
|
Boxcar
|
1975
|
Ex-SBD 10459/RBOX 10459.
|
Used for storage. In service.
|
| NYC 279341
|
Boxcar
|
19??
|
Ex-CR 279341/NYC 279341.
|
Used for spare parts storage. Out of service.
|
| MOW Equipment
|
| CO 940006
|
250 Ton Crane
|
1957
|
Ex-C&O 940006/MKT X-255.
|
Operable. Secondary crane. Rarely used.
|
| CO 940066
|
Boom Car
|
19??
|
Ex-CO 940066.
|
Operable. Idler car for 250 Ton Crane. Rarely used.
|
| 25 Ton Crane
|
25 Ton Crane
|
19??
|
Ex-Ohio Industries.
|
American Crane. In active service. Main crane.
|
|
Back to Michigan Shortlines
Back to Shortlines
