RailRoadFan.com

Whereas I am always glad to see funding that allows for M/W improvements that will allow higher speeds, I must question the additional TIGER grant of $9 million to MIDOT for the Kalamazoo-Dearborn work. MI has already been awarded $150 million to purchase the MI Line from NS (and make line improveme...

I have not seen any postings in more than a month relating to tie/rail replacement on Amtrak's newly acquired MI Line east of Kalamazoo. I have heard unconfirmed reports the MDOT is insisting upon warranty provisions for ballast that the stone quarries are not willing to meet - if this is true, coul...

Does anyone know the reason why Amtrak P42 #42 was moved on a flatcar, minus trucks, from the Detroit area to Indianapolis? I can't find whether that unit had been involved in an accident or not. I believe the unit that derailed in Niles on Oct. 21 was #31, so it had to be another incident.

Andy

I take it there have been no test runs since Oct. 19. Understand that FRA must grant approval before scheduled service at 110 can began - have heard nothing on this.

Andy

Understand there is one trainset that will be used for the extra trains. The equipment will lay over in AA station and simply reverse directions (porpoise at each end of train).

Andy

BTW Has anyone seen an Amfleet with an IL decal on any of the MI trains?

Does anyone know what happened to #351 and #365 yesterday west of KAL? Also, #354 lost 22" Niles-KAL, #364 lost 4'15" NLS-Dowagiac and #355 lost 1'17" Battle Creek-Dowagiac.

Andy

From photos, it appears that the lead unit was #31, which appears to be standing in tact? Does anyone know the number of the trailing unit that derailed and how many cars derailed? Does the lead for the M/W yard come off the main at CP 190? I note that amtrak.com shows #352 arriving Kalamazoo at 7:3...

Am told that there are 23 cars that bear FRYX reporting marks that will be used in this service - are these ex-IC MU's or others?

Andy

Anyone know approx. what year the present Amtrak station was placed in service in Dearborn?

BTW I'm told the new station will be just west of CP Mort

Andy

Metra has selected an engineering design firm to plan the project and will start receiving bids from contractors on April 9, 2012 (had to put the year because it's been a long time since we've heard anything on this project).

Andy

Last keep, on Monday the 10th I believe, there was a ground breaking ceremony to acknowledge the beginning of work on the Englewood flyover project. Metra, who manages the project, told me very little other than (a) the railroads are starting some unspecified preliminary work and (b) a contractor st...