Kalamazoo, Lake Shore & Chicago (KLSC)

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AARR
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Kalamazoo, Lake Shore & Chicago (KLSC)

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Acquired CN's Kalamazoo Branch in 2018. Purchased a pair of ex-CN / nee-GTW GP9r. It's approximately 9.5 miles long.

Customers Include:
- Green Bay Packaging receives 7-10 cars per week of carboard stock
- Wolohan receives 1-3 cars per month of lumber
- Mid Link: Currently negotiating with Kaiser Aluminum
- Fabri-Cal receives 2-4 cars of plastic pellets every other week
- Allnex-Solvay receives 4-6 cars per week of chemicals and 2-3 cars per week of talc
- Arvco Container receives 6-8 cars per week of cardboard stock
- GDLK: Handles overhead cars between CN (at Pavilion Jct.) and GDLK (either KLSC's Kilgore Yard or GDLK's Gearhart Yard)

Operations is typically M, W, F although about one to three times a month GBP requires a 4th switch. They operate with an engine at each end, push-pull fashion. A run is made from Kilgore to Pavilion to pick up the CN inbounds. The crew works its way to Gearhart Yard switching customers along the way. It then heads back to CN with the set out and ends its day back at Kilgore. It usually takes a full day to perform its job and occasionally runs out of hours and dog catches its train the next day to finish the job.

An engine house was built in Kilgore Yard.

Over 1,400 cars of online business are forecasted in 2022 plus the overhead cars between CN and GDLK.
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AARR
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Re: Kalamazoo, Lake Shore & Chicago (KLSC)

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Roster Update:
Owner: Kalamazoo, Lake Shore & Chicago 4624
Model: Rebuilt EMD GP9R Built As: GTW 4539 (GP9)
Serial Number: 22847 Order No: 5513
Frame Number: 5513-1 Built: 3/1957
Notes: reblt from GTW 4539
Other locos with this serial: GTW 4624(GP9R) GTW 4539(GP9)
Image

Owner: Kalamazoo, Lake Shore & Chicago 4625
Model: Rebuilt EMD GP9R Built As: GTW 4543 (GP9)
Serial Number: 22851 Order No: 5513
Frame Number: 5513-5 Built: 3/1957
Notes: reblt from GTW 4543
Other locos with this serial: GTW 4625(GP9R) GTW 4543(GP9)
Image

Overhead traffic between CN and GDLK includes chemicals, lumber, plastic pellets, scrap paper and a few other commodities that average up to 2,200 cars annually.

A unique overhead movement between GDLK and GLC involves a 25-car block of soybeans that are loaded at the Andersons in White Pigeon (GDLK), exchanged with KLSC in Kalamazoo, moved to CN at Pavilion (CN handles it three times with separate trains to pick up, yard and drop off) who takes it to GLC in Durand who forwards it to ZFS in Ithaca. The reason for this move involving four railroads and covering 155 miles as the crow flies is because truckers are unhappy with how long it takes for the ZFS plant to empty them. It happens about once a month and takes 7-10 days for CN to set out the empties at Pavilion for KLSC to pick up and forward to GDLK and later when CN pick them up again after GLC has set them out in Durand after getting unloaded in Ithaca.

Even without the overhead traffic this is a lucrative line for KLSC.
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...

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AARR
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Re: Kalamazoo, Lake Shore & Chicago (KLSC)

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KLSC continues to operate three days per week, M, W, F. Both engines are used in the push-pull scheme. Often, they do not finish their work in one day, die on hours and have to dog catch the train and finish the next day.

Car loadings remain consistent at about 21-28 cars per week of on-line traffic (6-10 cars per day of operation) and 32-43 cars per week of overhead traffic (10-15 cars per day of operation.

The GP9's are running smooth. Routine maintenance is handled at the Kilgore Yard engine house. Major repairs will be performed under contract with a specialist (ex. GLC's Owosso Shops).

KLSC is still trying to convert Kaiser Aluminum into a customer.

KLSC remains revenue strong.
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...

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AARR
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Re: Kalamazoo, Lake Shore & Chicago (KLSC)

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WATCO has made a lucrative offer to acquire KLSC and add it to their GDLK lines. The offer was unsolicited by KLSC. KLSC's owner is in his late 50's and a major investor is in their mid-40's. Both want to stay involved in the railroad business but admit that it is getting more difficult for a small, privately owned company to do business in MI with the additional regulations (and costs) that continue to be imposed. These new considerations are easier to absorb by a larger company like WATCO.

In the meantime, business and operations continues to run without significant changes.

KLSC is railfan friendly if you check in at their office in Kilgore Yard and stay off their equipment. Due to insurance policies, you will be asked to stay 20' off the ROW but it is not strictly enforced. However, please do not stand on the tracks, that is forbidden.
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...

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AARR
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Re: Kalamazoo, Lake Shore & Chicago (KLSC)

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KLSC has merged their operations with GRSE and MUSH. They share crews, administrative, maintenance, etc.

KLSC had a very successful year handling 659 carloads of cardboard stock for Green Bay Packaging, 30 carloads of lumber for Wolohan, 144 carloads of plastic pellets for Fabri-Cal, 339 carloads of chemicals and talc for Allnex-Solvay, 379 carloads of cardboard stock for Arvco Container and 2,178 carloads of overhead traffic between GDLK and CN.

GDLK announced they are acquiring MIGN which will add around 5,800-7,800 cars annually. Over 2,000 carloads alone of potash from Michigan Potash in Hersey along with several hundred carloads of other commodities are forecasted to be interchanged with CN via the KLSC connection. GDLK has increased their offer to buy KLSC and have indicated they might investigate building a large interchange at their crossing with CN in Schoolcraft if KLSC doesn’t accept.

For now, KLSC is taking their time evaluating their options. Their Operation Ratio is between 40-50%. The ROW is in great condition. The crew and employees can get the job done without over-taxing themselves. Customer satisfaction is over 95%. CN is a good interchange partner and although they price a little higher the customers are willing to pay it for the reliable service. GDLK’s interchange from CXS and NS are a little more unpredictable but it’s good to have options.

Both GP9R’s operate superbly and are liked by the crew but were rebuilt around 30 years ago and will need attention soon. A 3rd engine may be acquired/leased while they go in for service.
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...

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AARR
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Re: Kalamazoo, Lake Shore & Chicago (KLSC)

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KLSC has accepted the offer from WATCO to sell. WATCO has demonstrated a successful business plan to customers and grow the business. It will take several months to finalize all processes and get final approval from the FRA. WATCO is expected to keep the GP9R’s. With heavier overhead traffic service is expected to increase from three to five days per week.
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...

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