CN - PLYMOUTH SUB

[mikeyuhas]

It's been fun watching this whole thing develop over the past few months. The STB's public hearing in Random Lake in August was well-attended by shippers and other people who wanted to see service on the line preserved. There was a lot of anti-CN sentiment in the room. No one spoke in favor of the abandonment. And it was very unusual that the STB even ventured this far out of Washington. I asked the lead STB attorney how often they did public hearings like this. The answer was "never!" But there had been an organized opposition, including local elected officials, so STB took the unusual step.

The Pioneer people filed a notice of intent to make an offer of financial assistance, but never followed through.

WSOR/WisDOT and CN have until November 26 to set terms for the line sale or ask for STB intervention. Maybe there will be some movement by the end of the year, but for now, CN is serving the customers between Saukville and Kiel.

Here's a shot of CN's train awaiting a fresh crew in Saukville last night:



Cheers,
Mike

[jeaton]

Mike
Thanks for the update and insight on that hearing.

Nice photo. You should offer it to Eric as picture of the day. I think it is good enough to post without any "incentive". (Bergie, Just kidding).

Jay

[wcfan4ever]

Great Picture! One of the best night shots of a WC that I have ever seen!

Long live the Plymouth Sub! Hopefully the WSOR gets the line, then moves in for Hilbert and then onto Manitowoc. May never happen as here in Manitowoc, we have a very profitable line with Anhieser Busch, Weyerhauser and a power plant that is currently getting a new boiler.

[mikeyuhas]

Seems odd to reply to myself, but anyway...

QUOTE: Originally posted by mikeyuhas


The Pioneer people filed a notice of intent to make an offer of financial assistance, but never followed through.

Looking over the STB website at lunch today (bleary, cloudy weather, so I didn't leave the office to see if I could get another winning shot in the enormously popular "Trackside with Mike and Erik" series), I note the "Pioneer people" (their Decatur Junction Railway subsidiary) have filed a motion for extension of time to file their Offer of Financial Assistance, and CN/WC and WSOR have filed replies opposing the motion.

I wish Court TV was this exciting.

[wcfan4ever]

Well this is the first time I have ever heard in Wisconsin of two railroads trying to get the same line! This is great from my point of view but a railroads worst nightmare.