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I have been doing a little research on the CNW former Michigan and Wisconsin line which passed through Watersmeet on an E/W alignment. I think the business on the line was general freight and forest products once the mining industry shut down. The plywood mill in Bessemer was opened in 1986, so the...

I drove US 2 through Hermansville last week. The Soo Line rails east of Hermansville have been removed and the highway overpass demolished and replaced by culvert for the trail now occupying the ROW. The line is still in place west of Hermansville to Pembine. IIRC, the rails were pulled out not lon...

From what I understand, the CNW Watersmeet line was use to get Gogebic range ore to the docks at Escanaba. However the last mine in the Gogebic range closed in 1967, and the line was abandoned in 1981? what kept the line alive for another 15 or so years? What were operations like on this line? also ...

Wow, so really most of the old soo mainline in Wisconsin is not in use. Is there a local out of Pembine that works Goodman and Hermansville?

From what I've gathered, the line west of ladysmith has seen a rebirth in the last few years due to frac sand. I thought the Minorca trains took the Superior sub to ladysmith and then headed east on the old soo? do you know if CN runs a Gladstone-Rhinelander turn or anything like that, or is it just...

Does anyone have information on the current operations of the old soo line that splits off towards Wisconsin at Hermansville? From what I've gathered,the Minorca trains from Minnesota used to take this line across Wisconsin and into Michigan, but I've heard they now take the line up from Green Bay. ...

How has the Mineral Range's traffic been doing? I heard they built a new engine shed in Ishpeming, and possibly picked up a new customer in Ishpeming as well?

At times when AA still had their boat fleet some of the Rouge Steel pellets went all rail via LS&I, M&LS, AA, DT&I. Besides Essar Steel in the Soo, the other major customer for Marquette pellets is Rouge Steel in Detroit. An average of a boatload a day leaves Marquette for the Rouge. Yes, there are...

All rail means its NOT LOADED onto a boat for a part of the trip, I.E. all rail from mine to mill. The difference between the Soo and Escanaba is about 100 some miles...in Escanaba the ore goes onto boats for the remainder of the trip to mills in Chitown area and Cleveland and Toledo and Detroit. T...

That is very informative, thank you! I have a couple other questions... What exactly does all rail mean? I understand that the ore is taken to the mill on the Canadian side of the sault, but what makes it "all rail"?. Am I correct in thinking that some of the ore that comes out of empire or tilden g...

So on the ore sub, there will be two ore trains, one mixed freight, and a local that switches out sawyer, as well as Baraga and L'anse traffic? sounds like theres the possibility for the line to get fairly congested?

Is the taconite traffic from Minnesota to the Escanaba docks winter only?

I believe there is a photo on Railpics.net of a sharknose heading through Ralph? it's for sure on that Escanaba-Channing line. When did that line go out of service?

So CSX lost the home depot business?

Does the Groveland still ship out occasional loads of tailings? or is that a thing of the past?

Thats interesting, how is business on the Michigan portion of the EL&S these days? do they actually switch any customers in Escanaba/Wells besides the car shop? thanks so much for sharing your knowledge!

Was there really any need for Antoine after the ore trains from Groveland stopped?

The CN leased the track from just east of the New Page mill to Lake Street in Quinnesec to Motive Rail. They have been switching the mill since this winter. The CN only delivers and receives cars from them at the mill. The ELS hasn't interchanged cars at Quinnesec for over a year and since the leas...

Why are there two yards in Cadillac? I know why historically, but why are both of them still used today?

I would suggest lurking around a bit before posting, this section of the board is not for things like this. Check the Train Location/Updates threads for train info.

I hear that the EL&S has the contract to switch out the Verso plant now? What is the point of the CN going all the way to Iron Mountain, do they do any business in Iron Mountain proper? interchange with the EL&S?