I finally broke down and created a Facebook account, strictly to join a few railroad-specific chat groups. There's actually more activity there than on here. Anyways, it seems like the GLC isn't doing well. Over half their locomotives are OOS. I don't know what's more worrisome, that 10 of their 16 locomotives are OOS or that 6 locomotives can handle all their business. Trains just did a story on them in the past year or so, and things seemed rosier. One poster says that reliable sources say it will be bought by Watco, which can only help. Maybe they will combine it with their Ann Arbor Railroad, and bring back the original (without ferries).
Since the cross lake ferries shut down, the main traffic source was the sand pit at end of track at Yuma. A few years ago the company was sold and this pit was shut down. Cadillac-Yuma is OS except for storage. North of Cadillac on ex-PRR, a fruit processor shut down on the Traverse City branch.
There is a group that convinced the state to spend money on a study for a Detroit-Ann Arbor-Traverse City passenger train. Hard to see how that would ever pan out.
They can't use Northern Lights Exoress.
That name is already taken for the train to the Traverse City of Minnesota, Duluth.
MidlandMikeSince the cross lake ferries shut down, the main traffic source was the sand pit at end of track at Yuma. A few years ago the company was sold and this pit was shut down. Cadillac-Yuma is OS except for storage. North of Cadillac on ex-PRR, a fruit processor shut down on the Traverse City branch. Add Quote to your Post
Michigan is horrible at retaining business. Wisconsin does a far better job than Michigan with incentive packages and with it's frieght railroad support program which you can thank former head of WSOR Randy Gardner for (though he might have gone a little too far with it).
I could not believe it when I was working in Michigan at GM HQ they took the auto industry for granted as a cash cow to be milked for everything..........and eventually it too started to relo out of state as they became tired of always having to pay out money for rather dumb ideas to boost Detroit, Flint, etc. to prove and reprove they were good Corporate Citizens. Never a thank you or a show of appreciation for the Big Three........State and cities always approached them with hat upside down for donations. Rumor at GM HQ was the CFO at GM in the early 1990's loved McDonalds Big Macs (a very rotund individual too). He kept asking over and over for Detroit to incent someone to come and build one. Eventually he did it himself via some backroom deal and that is how the New Center area got it's McDonald's. Can you imagine that though? One of the cities largest taxpayers and employers and almost no influence at City Hall.
Yet the Lake State Railway seems to be doing fine.
Backshop Yet the Lake State Railway seems to be doing fine.
The Northwest Lower Peninsular (where the northern half of GLC serves) is becoming more tourist oriented, with its Lake Michigan shore, wineries, snow belt skiing/snowmobiling, charter fishing, golf, festivals, etc. Remote workers are flocking to places like Traverse City, and real estate is getting out of sight. Its remaining industries are getting more high tech, so there is not a lot of freight. On the other hand, the north central and northeastern LP (which Lake State serves) has retained, and in some cases grown, its forest product and quarrying based industries. Lake State also serves industrial centers/ports in Bay City and Saginaw.
Once everybody in the north is required to solely use electric cars, which lose efficiency and range in cold weather (they mostly - not completely but mostly - disappear for the better part of six months in my northern locale) perhaps passenger service to Traverse City will be a necessity for personal mobility in future years.
Hopefully the rail corridor remains intact.
MidlandMike On the other hand, the north central and northeastern LP (which Lake State serves) has retained, and in some cases grown, its forest product and quarrying based industries. Lake State also serves industrial centers/ports in Bay City and Saginaw.
On the other hand, the north central and northeastern LP (which Lake State serves) has retained, and in some cases grown, its forest product and quarrying based industries. Lake State also serves industrial centers/ports in Bay City and Saginaw.
kgbw49 Once everybody in the north is required to solely use electric cars, which lose efficiency and range in cold weather (they mostly - not completely but mostly - disappear for the better part of six months in my northern locale) perhaps passenger service to Traverse City will be a necessity for personal mobility in future years. Hopefully the rail corridor remains intact.
Backshop MidlandMike On the other hand, the north central and northeastern LP (which Lake State serves) has retained, and in some cases grown, its forest product and quarrying based industries. Lake State also serves industrial centers/ports in Bay City and Saginaw. Lake State no longer serves the quarries north of Alpena. My point was that LSRC has expanded to get the industrial traffic while GLC hasn't. Remember, LSRC started out as the Detroit & Mackinac.
Lake State no longer serves the quarries north of Alpena. My point was that LSRC has expanded to get the industrial traffic while GLC hasn't. Remember, LSRC started out as the Detroit & Mackinac.
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