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I can't say as I'm real surprised. According to the STB site MS and CSX have filed discontinuance and abandonment of the South Horn Spur on the south side of Muskegon Lake.

How far did this track used to go. I know it went beyond the paper mill that closed and was torn down, but how far beyond that did it go. It appears to cross Lakershore and Cottage Grove intersection and maybe run behind the business on Lakeshore.

chapmaja wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 22, 2022 12:06 am

How far did this track used to go. I know it went beyond the paper mill that closed and was torn down, but how far beyond that did it go. It appears to cross Lakershore and Cottage Grove intersection and maybe run behind the business on Lakeshore.

I don't think it went beyond Sampson Ave, but if it did, maybe a few hundred yards.

In the summer of 1999, rrfan member GR H & C and I worked together at a radio station that occupied the building where Fricano's now is on Western Ave. The radio station was in a wing on that building that was removed I believe sometime in the early 00s. It was really cool to be able to look out the third story radio station windows and see the train passing by below on its way too and from Sappi. Incidentally, GR H & C was the first railfan I ever met and when we discovered we both liked trains, he exclaimed, "Are you my brother?!" And now here we are 23 years later.

Looking at the old topo, it ended near Lakeshore and Keaton.
I've looked on the STB site and searched the Federal Register but couldn't find any recent filings/decisions for this.
Anyone have a direct link?
I saw the news story about Muskegon was going to purchase the line, but that's it.
https://www.wzzm13.com/article/news/loc ... 50098e9e8c

EDIT: later post gives better answer as to end point by referencing a Sanborn map.

J T wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 22, 2022 6:41 am

chapmaja wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 22, 2022 12:06 am

In the summer of 1999, rrfan member GR H & C and I worked together at a radio station that occupied the building where Fricano's now is on Western Ave. The radio station was in a wing on that building that was removed I believe sometime in the early 00s. It was really cool to be able to look out the third story radio station windows and see the train passing by below on its way too and from Sappi. Incidentally, GR H & C was the first railfan I ever met and when we discovered we both liked trains, he exclaimed, "Are you my brother?!" And now here we are 23 years later.

Right on man!
And if I remember correctly you were sitting in your cubicle listening to a recording of a train horn which is how I came to know that you loved trains as well.

Do you remember the time I stood on the tracks and stopped the train live on the air (without permission) Interviewed the crew and got a ride. If I remember correctly it was a GP30

While I certainly wish I had more photos of trains on that branch, I'm glad that I did chase a few trains on it over the years.

South Horn Branch by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

Sappi Job by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

South Horn Take 2 by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

Switching Slurry Tanks by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

Sappi Switching by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

3839 Working Sappi by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

Sappi Runaround by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

Creek by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

Sappi-Bound by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

DaveO wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 22, 2022 7:17 am

Looking at the old topo, it ended near Lakeshore and Keaton.
I've looked on the STB site and searched the Federal Register but couldn't find any recent filings/decisions for this.
Anyone have a direct link?
I saw the news story about Muskegon was going to purchase the line, but that's it.
https://www.wzzm13.com/article/news/loc ... 50098e9e8c

When I first explored the line in 1984 the line ran all the way out to an area called Beachwood Buffington near Pigeon Hill. The diamond for the Grand Trunk Western line that ran to their car ferry float was also in place at that time.

Those are great pictures SD80MAC!

I do not have firm numbers about what was shipped from Sappi but I have heard anywhere from 20-30 cars a week to as many as 60 outbound box cars alone not including inbound traffic.

SD80MAC wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 22, 2022 9:35 am

While I certainly wish I had more photos of trains on that branch, I'm glad that I did chase a few trains on it over the years.

GR H & C wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 22, 2022 9:57 am

When I first explored the line in 1984 the line ran all the way out to an area called Beachwood Buffington near Pigeon Hill. The diamond for the Grand Trunk Western line that ran to their car ferry float was also in place at that time.

Sounds about right. Here's the oldest map I could find that shows about where the line ran near Pigeon Hill:
Only a few photos that I've managed to photograph on that section:

DaveO wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 22, 2022 7:17 am

Looking at the old topo, it ended near Lakeshore and Keaton.

Ahh, yes. Back in '99 I did do a little snooping around that area and I seem to recall seeing remnants of would could have been a ROW extending beyond Sampson Ave.

GR H & C wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 22, 2022 8:09 am

J T wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 22, 2022 6:41 am

chapmaja wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 22, 2022 12:06 am

In the summer of 1999, rrfan member GR H & C and I worked together at a radio station that occupied the building where Fricano's now is on Western Ave. The radio station was in a wing on that building that was removed I believe sometime in the early 00s. It was really cool to be able to look out the third story radio station windows and see the train passing by below on its way too and from Sappi. Incidentally, GR H & C was the first railfan I ever met and when we discovered we both liked trains, he exclaimed, "Are you my brother?!" And now here we are 23 years later.

Right on man!
And if I remember correctly you were sitting in your cubicle listening to a recording of a train horn which is how I came to know that you loved trains as well.

Do you remember the time I stood on the tracks and stopped the train live on the air (without permission) Interviewed the crew and got a ride. If I remember correctly it was a GP30

Ha! Another morning show stunt. I wish we had some pics/videos of that. No clue on locomotive. I just remember seeing trains. I've never been very good at identifying locomotive models.

SD80MAC wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 22, 2022 9:35 am

While I certainly wish I had more photos of trains on that branch, I'm glad that I did chase a few trains on it over the years.

South Horn Branch by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

A familiar sight for us for a few months back in '99! I just wish I had thought to take photos back then. Still kicking myself for that one.

~Z~ wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 22, 2022 10:03 am

GR H & C wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 22, 2022 9:57 am

When I first explored the line in 1984 the line ran all the way out to an area called Beachwood Buffington near Pigeon Hill. The diamond for the Grand Trunk Western line that ran to their car ferry float was also in place at that time.

Sounds about right. Here's the oldest map I could find that shows about where the line ran near Pigeon Hill:
Only a few photos that I've managed to photograph on that section:

My guess is the rails used to go as far as the Muskegon Water Treatment Plant, which apparently dates back to 1927 or so. Back then I think it was common for water treatment chemicals to arrive at plants via rail. Much more so than it is now.

It served the water plant.
It ended next to the channel where Lake Avenue Bluff jogs as does the seawall.
This is shown on the Sanborn map.
https://www.loc.gov/resource/g4114mm.g04122191101/?sp=1

DaveO wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 22, 2022 6:03 pm

It served the water plant.
It ended next to the channel where Lake Avenue Bluff jogs as does the seawall.
This is shown on the Sanborn map.
https://www.loc.gov/resource/g4114mm.g04122191101/?sp=1

The rail line also served an amusement park called Lake Michigan Park that was near the water treatment plant and is the current location of Pere Marquette Park. I also found another interesting picture which shows there was a Pere Marquette Lake Michigan car ferry operation by the channel. (car ferry operations in Muskegon discontinued in 1906)

DaveO wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 22, 2022 6:03 pm

It served the water plant.
It ended next to the channel where Lake Avenue Bluff jogs as does the seawall.
This is shown on the Sanborn map.
https://www.loc.gov/resource/g4114mm.g04122191101/?sp=1

Interesting how the alignment of the ROW on that map is different from where it appears to have been in current satellite views. There were tracks that crossed Lakeshore Dr right at the Cottage Grove St intersection. Does this suggest that those tracks were actually just a part of a short spur?

That blue loco, number 180-- at one time in its past, did it work for a Canadian shortline? I cannot remember the name of the line, but that chopped hood and number boards look familiar.

originally Quebec Cartier Mining 6

joeyuboats wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 23, 2022 7:12 am

That blue loco, number 180-- at one time in its past, did it work for a Canadian shortline? I cannot remember the name of the line, but that chopped hood and number boards look familiar.

Both 180 and 179 both worked for Goderich & Exeter in Ontario before coming to the MS in 2005.

That's it! I knew that loco looked familiar--thank you!!