This was leaked out on several other sites yesterday so I guess I can post something I've been hearing for the last month or two that there should be an official announcement the 1st week of Nov that Rail America will acquire Ann Arbor Railway.
I don't have inside info guys so if it doesn't happen don't bomb me with rotten fruit and trash
Also, I hear RA is very interested in GLC and W&LE and I doubt that's a big secret to anyone. But being interested doesn't necessarily mean a successful acquisition. However, RA tends to get what they want cause money talks.
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...
I think they might have a problem getting the W&LE as they want it. The agreement with NS that spun off the railroad (or as a condition of the Conrail split ICRFS) gives them trackage rights over the NS line into Toledo provided the railroad isn't sold off. If RA buys the line the direct link between the W&LE and Toledo would be gone and to access Toledo they would have to head to Lima and up the IORY.
I think the part of the GLC they want is Osmer to Owosso so they can access the HESR railroad complex. I'm not sure if they really want the GLC north of their, except possibly for the grain traffic.
If they go after the GLC I wonder what will happen nort of Owosso to the lines.
chapmaja wrote:I think they might have a problem getting the W&LE as they want it. The agreement with NS that spun off the railroad (or as a condition of the Conrail split ICRFS) gives them trackage rights over the NS line into Toledo provided the railroad isn't sold off. If RA buys the line the direct link between the W&LE and Toledo would be gone and to access Toledo they would have to head to Lima and up the IORY.
I think the part of the GLC they want is Osmer to Owosso so they can access the HESR railroad complex. I'm not sure if they really want the GLC north of their, except possibly for the grain traffic.
If they go after the GLC I wonder what will happen nort of Owosso to the lines.
What I hear is RA wants to better utilize their CF&E line. W&LE fits into that model.
What I hear is RA wants GLC because they're making good money right now (the sand is flowing like in the good old days . The segment between Ann Arbor and Durand is a secondary reason for their interest.
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...
GLC 392 wrote:...and sand isn't moving as much as you think it is.
I was relaying comments from the CEO in the last issue of AARRT&HA. What's it really like?
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...
GLC 392 wrote:it had been moving quite regularly and even got some newer cars but last time i had heard the Fraq sand had slowed up a bit..
Ok - darn the luck.
Buster and I saw some of the newer sand cars (MBLX?) in AA's Toledo yard a month ago or so. We also saw a block of 11-12 on a NS road train switching Homestead.
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...
JANGAJONGA wrote:Maybe drum up some business in AA?
I wish there was some business to drum up. Fingerle Lumber was large customer for years but as MI's economy has declined so has Fingerle's business to the point the almost closed a little while back but got some concessions from union and remained open for now.
There's a wee little place called Burt Forest Products who gets a car every now and then...maybe once a year. They have a spur but its on a steep decline and a little treacherous to say the least. Last car they received was unloaded at Fingerle...only car Fingerle has had in years.
I'm not aware of any place else in Ann Arbor that's potential customer for AA
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...
Well isn't the Annie is making money off the Toledo Jeep Plant, IIRC. Otherwise, I agree with Don, it's almost better to send the Annie off to a RA Property. Look at it this way, RA has been known just like the GLC to be able to drum up business. My feelings: Sad to see her go, but I want to see what she'll become.
Ya fingerle has not gotten a shipment in a while. Their siding is rusty and overgrown. Burts is still there but the rails are nearly paved over to get there. There are also numerous other abandoned sidings in aa. It would be cool if they could find some way to work with the u.
RailAmerica..... great......gee whiz......faceless..... possibly swallowing up two distinct railroads.... I've got to find another hobby, this one's too depressing lately.
JANGAJONGA wrote:Ya fingerle has not gotten a shipment in a while. Their siding is rusty and overgrown. Burts is still there but the rails are nearly paved over to get there. There are also numerous other abandoned sidings in aa. It would be cool if they could find some way to work with the u.
And also, JAC Products Inc. (ex-Automotive Components Holdings) for Saline Branch in Saline. They don't want freight train but trucker shipping only, someone said. RA can be a loser!
JANGAJONGA wrote:Ya fingerle has not gotten a shipment in a while. Their siding is rusty and overgrown. Burts is still there but the rails are nearly paved over to get there. There are also numerous other abandoned sidings in aa. It would be cool if they could find some way to work with the u.
And also, JAC Products Inc. (ex-Automotive Components Holdings) for Saline Branch in Saline. They don't want freight train but trucker shipping only, someone said. RA can be a loser!
I didn't realize this plant was sold...They currently ship about 12 cars per week (to St. Paul and Kansas City...I think). I don't know if the still receive plastic by rail as other Ford plants have started using rail to truck terminals because the truckers will stay and unload their trucks which I guess saves Ford money. This plant used to get switched 2x per day M-F and once on Saturday when vehicle business was good.
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...
There are now many efforts to capture natural gas in the Marcellus field that lies under much of Pennsylvania and western New York. To get that gas to the surface, I infer than much fracting sand is needed. The Ann Arbor is now
shipping sand to that area. If the exploration of natural gas continues, will there be a very substantial increase in
the shipments of sand on the Ann Arbor?
I wonder how the administrators of Rail America feel about the propsoed Wally commuter train? Does
Rail America current operate any regularly scheduled passenger trains?
AARR wrote:Also, I hear RA is very interested in GLC and W&LE and I doubt that's a big secret to anyone. But being interested doesn't necessarily mean a successful acquisition. However, RA tends to get what they want cause money talks.
Ann Arbor hasn't painted power in who knows when and RA ownership wouldn't help that - however, if they got the Wheeling that'd be a sad, sad day for a beautifully (if not completely) painted regional rail fleet.
I'd still miss AA Geeps locally, but who knows, maybe I'll end up with FEC Geeps switching the Jeep plant!
. The segment between Ann Arbor and Durand is a secondary reason for their interest.
