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In downtown Kalamazoo right now and Grand Elk just rolled through towards the yard. The second engine had the Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad name on it. I have noticed this engine before but wasn’t close enough to read the name. It’s another Watco owned railroad but just found it interesting to...

Where does the Michigan Line end in the Detroit Area (is it still Townline)? Does Miller Trucking (in the old MC shops) receive rail service? And when did Flex 'N Gate in Battle Creek stop shipping by rail? Just an FYI, there is another unit train at Cargill that is loading tonight and tomorrow. Su...

There is a huge homeless encampment right next to the north side of the tracks. The bridge isn’t too far to the east of where this encampment is at. In fact the encampment is sandwiched between the bridge to the east and the river to the west. If Arcadia Ale was still open they would have a wonderfu...

NS 7147 and NS 7149 are in Lawton switching out the Welch’s plant right now. Should be heading back south soon. They may have already switched out Cargill in Decatur before they got here.

Michiana Mainlines Youtube has video of CR in Niles street running and just put a historical look with pictures including the French Paper spur. Amazing how much business was in and near Niles at one time. That local was the WDKZ1 out of Kalamazoo. My dad worked at Simplicity Pattern, which is the ...

Does anybody know why this location is totally closed now? All equipment has been moved out . Of course the depot is not affected unless the club in that might be expanding? I just drove through there the other day and didn’t even notice everything was gone. It doesn’t seem that maintenance facilit...

The engines are sitting there “blacked out” on the northern part of the Cargill spur. I also drove through Lawton past the Welch’s plant and there are at least four tank cars sitting in the covered shed, two on each track. Thanks! Sounds like they are blocked by covered hoppers. I might try tomorro...

For anyone that is interested, there is a NS “unit” train in Decatur. I just passed through on my way to play softball. It just got there and had three engines. They will be loading at the Cargill plant tomorrow as both of the track mobiles are sitting on the siding. This is the second “unit” train...

For anyone that is interested, there is a NS “unit” train in Decatur. I just passed through on my way to play softball. It just got there and had three engines. They will be loading at the Cargill plant tomorrow as both of the track mobiles are sitting on the siding. This is the second “unit” train ...

Typically it’s about 80-90 cars and four NS loco’s that bring them there. FWIW it's almost always four engines because they cut in a pair of the ITCS-equipped GP60s from Burns Harbor in front and behind the original mainline power, which is typically a pair of 6-axles. Awesome info, thank you. I us...

Thanks again for all the info, I really appreciate it. No problem! I've always been fascinated with the freight ops on this line since I was a little kid. Yeah me too. My grandparents lived on East Railroad St in Dowagiac so I would always go over there to watch the Conrail come down from Kalamazoo...

Thank you for that information. Does NS switch out the customers in Michigan City as well? I do know that the South Shore switches out those customers, but not sure if NS also does as well. There's only two: USALCO Shell Catalysts & Technologies Viobin should be inactive. Thanks again for all the i...

Do not forget Treadstone in Niles and Co-Alliance in Buchanan! I believe these are still active. Treadstone unloads (?) woodchip hoppers full of recycled rubber mulch by Davis Cartage in Niles. Good call, I was thinking there was one in Buchanan but wasn’t sure if it was still active. I did not kno...

So for Porter-Kalamazoo the only active shippers now are Welch's and Northstar? Do not forget Treadstone in Niles and Co-Alliance in Buchanan! I believe these are still active. Treadstone unloads (?) woodchip hoppers full of recycled rubber mulch by Davis Cartage in Niles. Good call, I was thinking...

So for Porter-Kalamazoo the only active shippers now are Welch's and Northstar? I do believe that is correct. I went by Welchs a few Sundays ago and the local was there switching out tankers. I am not sure how often Northstar (Cargill) gets switched out but there has been covered hoppers there the ...

AARR wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 23, 2021 8:18 am

Welcome, and thank you for your post.

Dowagiac Train Dude wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 23, 2021 8:13 am

Hello everyone, this is my first post on this site so thank you for letting me join the wonderful world of train fans.

Thank you and you are welcome. I just wish it were good news about trains returning to Dowagiac.

Hello everyone, this is my first post on this site so thank you for letting me join the wonderful world of train fans. Unfortunately, Ameriwood in Dowagiac is no longer doing the manufacturing of products at that plant. It has actually been renamed to their parent company Dorel Industries and is now...