Grand Rapids Southeastern (GRSE)
Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2021 7:23 pm
Grand Rapids Southeastern (GRSE) started service in 1984 on the ex-KBEC/PENN/MC/???? from 44th Street in Grand Rapids (MP 75.7) to Vermontville (MP 34.6) for 41 miles. In 1999 they acquired the line from 44th Street to Burton Jct. (MP 79. adding 4 miles. Interchanges are with CSX (via trackage rights in Wyoming Yard) and GDLK in Grand Rapids Burton Yard.
Ex-D&M RS2u 467 was acquired at the start-up:
Owner: Grand Rapids Southeastern
Model: Alco RS2u Built As: DM 467 (RS2)
Serial Number: 73646
Order No: 20024
Frame Number: prime mover # 10110 Built: 11/1946
Notes: Upgraded to 1600 HP in 1956. Acquired from D&M 1984
Other locos with this serial: GRSE 467(RS2u) DM 467(RS2)
In the late 1990’s with a growing grain traffic and the acquisition of the remaining branch into Grand Rapids, another ex-D&M RS2m was acquired:
Owner: Grand Rapids Southeastern
Model: Rebuilt Alco RS2m Built As: DH 4020 (RS2)
Serial Number: 77571
Order No: 20390
Frame Number: prime mover # 11212 Built: 11/1949
Notes: Acquired from LSRC 1997
Other locos with this serial: GRSE 977(RS2u) LSRC 977(RS2u) DM 977(RS2u) LI 1520(RS2) DH 977(RS2)
In 2011, LSRC was scrapping all its Alco’s and CRSE acquired a pair of C425M-AC’s to assist with the heavy grain unit trains that were being generated online:
Owner: Grand Rapids Southeastern
Model: Alco C425M-AC Built As: PRR 2443 (C425)
Serial Number: 3433-07
Order No: 21247
Frame Number: 3433-07 Built: 12/1965
Notes: "City of Bay City" Overhauled in 1999-2000
Other locos with this serial: GRSE 181(C425M-AC) LSRC 181(C425M-AC) LSRC 181(C425) DM 181(C425) PC 2443(C425) CR 2443(C425) PRR 2443(C425)
Owner: Grand Rapids Southeastern
Model: Alco C425M-AC Built As: PRR 2439 (C425)
Serial Number: 3433-03
Order No: 21247
Frame Number: 3433-03 Built: 12/1965
Notes: "City of Grayling" Overhauled in 1999-2000
Other locos with this serial: GRSE 1280(C425M-AC) LSRC 1280(C425M-AC) LSRC 1280(C425) DM 1280(C425) CR 2439(C425) PC 2439(C425)
Engine house is in Hastings
Customer History:
- Initially serviced handful of customers including Green Valley Agricultural in Caledonia (inbound fertilizer and outbound grain small shipper), Caledonia Farmers Elevator (inbound feed and fertilizer and outbound grain small shipper), Bradford White in Middleville (outbound water heaters), Hastings Iron and Metal (outbound scrap) and Citizens in Vermontville (inbound fertilizer and outbound grain. There were a handful of other small customers.
Current Customer List:
• Keebler Bakery in Wyoming is an original customer from the 1999 acquisition and receives 11-15 car loads a week of flour, salt and sugar.
• L&W (formerly other names including Great Lakes Gypsum Products) in Wyoming resumed service after many years in 2018 and receives one to three cars a month of drywall.
• Beta Plastics in Kentwood started service in 2000 and receives two-cars of plastic pellets about once a month.
• Caledonia Farmers Elevator is an original customer but has grown substantially over the years. They receive fertilizer (25-30 cars annually), feed (two to three cars a week) and ship out 1,100-1,400 cars a year in small car lots up to 90 car units.
• Green Valley Agricultural closed their downtown elevator by 1990 but in 2015 opened a large fertilizer terminal southeast of town with a loop track (shared with CFE new grain bins). They receive up to 400 cars a year of pot ash in 80 car units and up to 300 cars a year of liquid nitrogen in 60 car units.
• Flexflab west of Hastings opened in 2000 and receives two to three tank cars per week.
• Citizens in Vermontville is an original customer but has grown substantially over the years. They receive fertilizer (60-80 cars annually of mostly liquid nitrogen) and ship out 1,150-1,550 cars a year of grain in small car blocks up to 90 car units.
Operations consists of the crew going on duty weekdays at 7am and running wherever needed. Keebler is serviced three days per week and the rest of the line one to three days a week.
Ex-D&M RS2u 467 was acquired at the start-up:
Owner: Grand Rapids Southeastern
Model: Alco RS2u Built As: DM 467 (RS2)
Serial Number: 73646
Order No: 20024
Frame Number: prime mover # 10110 Built: 11/1946
Notes: Upgraded to 1600 HP in 1956. Acquired from D&M 1984
Other locos with this serial: GRSE 467(RS2u) DM 467(RS2)
In the late 1990’s with a growing grain traffic and the acquisition of the remaining branch into Grand Rapids, another ex-D&M RS2m was acquired:
Owner: Grand Rapids Southeastern
Model: Rebuilt Alco RS2m Built As: DH 4020 (RS2)
Serial Number: 77571
Order No: 20390
Frame Number: prime mover # 11212 Built: 11/1949
Notes: Acquired from LSRC 1997
Other locos with this serial: GRSE 977(RS2u) LSRC 977(RS2u) DM 977(RS2u) LI 1520(RS2) DH 977(RS2)
In 2011, LSRC was scrapping all its Alco’s and CRSE acquired a pair of C425M-AC’s to assist with the heavy grain unit trains that were being generated online:
Owner: Grand Rapids Southeastern
Model: Alco C425M-AC Built As: PRR 2443 (C425)
Serial Number: 3433-07
Order No: 21247
Frame Number: 3433-07 Built: 12/1965
Notes: "City of Bay City" Overhauled in 1999-2000
Other locos with this serial: GRSE 181(C425M-AC) LSRC 181(C425M-AC) LSRC 181(C425) DM 181(C425) PC 2443(C425) CR 2443(C425) PRR 2443(C425)
Owner: Grand Rapids Southeastern
Model: Alco C425M-AC Built As: PRR 2439 (C425)
Serial Number: 3433-03
Order No: 21247
Frame Number: 3433-03 Built: 12/1965
Notes: "City of Grayling" Overhauled in 1999-2000
Other locos with this serial: GRSE 1280(C425M-AC) LSRC 1280(C425M-AC) LSRC 1280(C425) DM 1280(C425) CR 2439(C425) PC 2439(C425)
Engine house is in Hastings
Customer History:
- Initially serviced handful of customers including Green Valley Agricultural in Caledonia (inbound fertilizer and outbound grain small shipper), Caledonia Farmers Elevator (inbound feed and fertilizer and outbound grain small shipper), Bradford White in Middleville (outbound water heaters), Hastings Iron and Metal (outbound scrap) and Citizens in Vermontville (inbound fertilizer and outbound grain. There were a handful of other small customers.
Current Customer List:
• Keebler Bakery in Wyoming is an original customer from the 1999 acquisition and receives 11-15 car loads a week of flour, salt and sugar.
• L&W (formerly other names including Great Lakes Gypsum Products) in Wyoming resumed service after many years in 2018 and receives one to three cars a month of drywall.
• Beta Plastics in Kentwood started service in 2000 and receives two-cars of plastic pellets about once a month.
• Caledonia Farmers Elevator is an original customer but has grown substantially over the years. They receive fertilizer (25-30 cars annually), feed (two to three cars a week) and ship out 1,100-1,400 cars a year in small car lots up to 90 car units.
• Green Valley Agricultural closed their downtown elevator by 1990 but in 2015 opened a large fertilizer terminal southeast of town with a loop track (shared with CFE new grain bins). They receive up to 400 cars a year of pot ash in 80 car units and up to 300 cars a year of liquid nitrogen in 60 car units.
• Flexflab west of Hastings opened in 2000 and receives two to three tank cars per week.
• Citizens in Vermontville is an original customer but has grown substantially over the years. They receive fertilizer (60-80 cars annually of mostly liquid nitrogen) and ship out 1,150-1,550 cars a year of grain in small car blocks up to 90 car units.
Operations consists of the crew going on duty weekdays at 7am and running wherever needed. Keebler is serviced three days per week and the rest of the line one to three days a week.