ADBF/JAIL Changes Made Under New Ownership

[Robertrains]

Thanx LansingRailfan! OK, now I am planning on going to Adrian and Blissfield® Tuesday April 16 with "Mazon" and "Chef Ron-dell!!!!" We will arrive in Blissfield sometime in the afternoon! Typically what are their operations of freight trains? What time do they go on duty and end? Only once, February 28, 2013, I witnessed a ADBF freight train operating in Adrian! Should we start at Adrian first? Would Tuesday be the day ADBF interchanges with IORY? I witnessed IORY departing Flat Rock Tuesday March 26th!!!! Do they usually run to Flat Rock Tuesdays? I believe that run is only three days per week now!

Dan Cluley, interestingly, I photographed the same two LSRC GP40M-3 units that are now ADBF 824 (ex LSRC 1171) and ADBF 826 (ex LSRC 1164)!!!! Look at these pix of the Bluewater® MI Chapter "Timberliner" excursion train, October 2, 2010! See the slight different nose stripes? Mom (Susan) and I followed the last Bluewater® excursions (finished the next day) with these engines! Rode the "Side Trip" between Grayling/Frederic and return which was offered only Saturday! The next day was the very last Bluewater® excursion train ever! "Timberliner" went between Standish and Grayling! Train was nice, but the first time I saw a LSRC excursion without the Alcos!

Bluewater® MI Chapter "Timberliner" at Grayling, MI with LSRC 1164/1171 October 2, 2010 that I (RLJ II) captured (Mamiya® Medium Format camera):

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=2492539

I (RLJ II) got the Bluewater® MI Chapter "Timberliner" switching ends near Frederic, MI, Rob Hall and LSRC 1164/1171 October 2, 2010 (Mamiya® Medium Format camera):
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=2493561

I (RLJ II) got the Bluewater® MI Chapter "Timberliner" side trip near Frederic, MI with LSRC 1164/1171 October 2, 2010 (Mamiya® Medium Format camera):
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=2493562

Southbound Bluewater® MI Chapter "Timberliner" near Roscommon, MI with LSRC 1164/1171 October 2, 2010 that I (RLJ II) captured (Mamiya® Medium Format camera):
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=2489303

My album of "Bluewater "Timberliner" train excursion": http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/archiv ... x?id=61347

The new power arrived in Mason yesterday. With the 1760 & 1758 outside It appears the other new 40s are in the shop.

Dan Cluley, which GP9 on JAIL is serviceable? SD80MAC lists one is "somewhat serviceable!!!!" Is the single GP9 there used often? If I go catch JAIL in the next few weeks─I would like to see a working GP9! I presume the two ADBF GP9s at Blissfield are #1751 and 1752! I first chased their "Murder Mystery Dinner Train" in April 1997 (27 YEARS AGO ) with my late Dad (RCJ I)! ADBF 1752 was in orange colors from when it was "Lionel Lines" scheme! Leading "Long Hood Forward" as both were on each end! That was my first time seeing ADBF! It would be fitting to see the same GP9s working!

The ADBF currently uses 2 GP9s and their SW9. The JAIL uses the SD40-2, GP40-2 and still has 1 GP9 that is somewhat serviceable. These new GP40s will replace all of the remaining GP9s. Once rebuilt and repainted, 2 will go to the ADBF and 2 will remain on the JAIL.

Better go get the nines on adbf. You’re running out of time.

I well realize that LansingRailfan!!!! This is why I am trying to get a ride out here!!!!

Go to Adrian. Don’t bother going to Mason. Those ones will never run again.

[LansingRailFan]

ADBF is best caught in the mornings unless they are working a unit grain train for Blissfield. OD around breakfast. tend to hit the interchange up first either NS or IORY. then go from there.

[Robertrains]

ADBF is best caught in the mornings unless they are working a unit grain train for Blissfield. OD around breakfast. tend to hit the interchange up first either NS or IORY. then go from there.

Alright LansingRailfan, we will check interchanges first! But, we wouldn't be able to get there until the afternoon! We hopefully could make it somewhere before 3 p.m. Would they be off duty by 3? It would be nice to catch the ADBF "Grain Train!"

[Dan Cluley]

I don't know much about the regular operations, but I passed through Adrian on Tuesday the 9th. Around 10:30 AM the crew was pulling a gon from the scrap place across from the engine house and then took it and some tank cars to the NS interchange around 11. The 1752 was sitting outside the shop and while I did not see it used, it looked active (I belive the lights were on). The crew was using the 1759 (one of the former New Hampshire Northern units) Another NHN was parked a few blocks west of the shop and looked rough.

[Dan Cluley]

Back in Mason, the 825 & 823 are in the shop. 823 is going to be painted first & prep work started yesterday the 11th.

[Robertrains]

Back in Mason, the 825 & 823 are in the shop. 823 is going to be painted first & prep work started yesterday the 11th.

ADBF 825 & 823 Mason 04 10 2024.jpg

Thanx Dan Cluley! Hopefully there will be some extra action. Would it make sense for us to start this adventure in Adrian by the shop? Or, would there be a train likely working Blissfield around 3 p.m. I presume anything can vary though! Likely my last time seeing good old GP9s working ADBF!!!! To me though, it would make sense to keep this pair for the "Murder Mystery Dinner Train!" GP9 1751!!!! I found out that 1751, which went to JAIL, was sold to somewhere in Mexico! Description from a Railpictures. net picture from Nov. 2023! Did that engine leave JAIL tracks yet? When is the last time a GP9 worked JAIL? Both 1751 and 1752 were the original ones used on ADBF!!!! Ok, on Facebook® two GP9s moved cars for storage last Wednesday! Well that would have been good to catch!!!!! I am hoping something will happen!!!! Please help! Any info is appreciated!

Photo © Aaron C. Schlegel of ADBF 1751 working JAIL, Lansing, MI, November 8, 2023: https://www.railpictures.net/photo/845381/

My questions from April 7:

I am planning on going to Adrian and Blissfield® Tuesday April 16 with "Mazon" and "Chef Ron-dell!!!!" We will arrive in Blissfield sometime in the afternoon! Typically what are their operations of freight trains? What time do they go on duty and end? Only once, February 28, 2013, I witnessed a ADBF freight train operating in Adrian! Should we start at Adrian first? Would Tuesday be the day ADBF interchanges with IORY? I witnessed IORY departing Flat Rock Tuesday March 26th!!!! Do they usually run to Flat Rock Tuesdays? I believe that run is only three days per week now!

[Robertrains]

OK, I am planning on our trip to Adrian & Blissfield® tomorrow (Tuesday 4-16) to catch GP9s working freight trains!!!! No answers to the time of day they finish work! This shall be good regardless! I will report here later! Below are some pix of three times at ADBF in 1997, 2005 and 2013 (can only get links, the image thing is not working)!

Here's the very first ADBF train I caught! The famous "Murder Mystery Dinner Train" in April 1997 with 1752 leading west of Blissfield, MI (Dad (RCJ I) took on Canon® 35mm S.L.R.):
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=6313741

I (RLJ II) took this at Blissfield east train yard with three ex New Hampshire Northcoast Railroad® GP9Rs! Wow I love all the equipment stored here (Canon® 35mm S.L.R.):
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=6313742

Here is the last time I was at ADBF! I (RLJ II) photographed on Mamiya® 35mm S.L.R.) The "Blissfield Railroad Days" April 20, 2013 with GP9 1751 (1752 on other end):
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=6313743

[Dan Cluley]

823 was outside getting washed on Monday.

[Robertrains]

Man, we came to the ADBF yesterday, April 16th! Nothing was running at all!!!!! I figured the afternoon would be too late! Saw ex Saginaw Valley® SW9 #999, now ADBF #1223! It was sitting on the siding with the passenger cars! Now, I probably took good pictures of this engine! No other cool stuff was sitting at Blissfield like there used to be! Checked the Grosvenor crossing to see the switch torn out west of Blissfield! ADBF workers were working on it with a pile of rubble. They weren't very nice as I approached the closed crossing! I was not going to interfere or walk on the track, just got one picture. No trains working at Adrian! No one was there and the engines must have been parked inside the building! Just ex New Hampshire Northcoast GP9 #1755 stored west of the Adrian shops with no numberboards! There is now Graffiti on it! Found three cabooses and a baggage car stored at Lenawee Junction though! Man I thought this equipment was gone and it was good to see! Alright, guess I will have to go back to ADBF and hope to see GP9s working in late May! I "May" not make it until later! This was a bust on catching ADBF GP9s! I see I am running out of time to catch them working! We did follow a Ann Arbor RR® train between Diann and Milan, MI! That had Watco® painted AA WAMX GP39-2 #3927 leading! Plus a CPKC westbound (with CP and KCS power) train and eastbound NS there luckily! Since I live in Fraser, MI and this was such a long day! The tired cranky "Chef Ron-dell" guy who drove wasn't very happy after 10 hours and lots of driving! No "Mazon" on this trip since there were no back seats in the old van!!!!

[MQT1223]

Per a Facebook post this morning, it appears that the Hoosier Valley Railway Museum folks are working to acquire the CHS power car. Should be a good pickup for them and IMHO a big missed opportunity for the CPMY folks. Why they did not get the generator car with the coaches is a head scratcher to me.

[Robertrains]

"The Old Road Dinner Train" is having a Mother's Weekend train! Saturday May 11th! It will likely be ADBF GP9s powering the train, but I instead will be out with "Mazon" and "Railfan Gary" chasing the once in a lifetime CPKC train!!!!

Saw this posted on Facebook®:

May 11th is our Murder Mystery dinner train ride!
On Mother’s Day weekend, you can treat that special person in your life to a fun and unique evening aboard The Old Road Dinner Train.
Tickets are on sale now at the link below:
https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/bego ... -items=yes

[Dan Cluley]

Do I have these correct?

ADBF 823 - LSRC 1162
ADBF 824 - LSRC 1171
ADBF 825 - LSRC 1174
ADBF 826 - LSRC 1164

Yes those are right.

Before LSRC, they were all FURX leasers & Texas Mexican RR before that with the same numbers.

They were originally built for various CSX predecessors.

823 was built in 11/71 as B&O 4055 and became CSXT 6630

824 was built in 12/71 (probably the next to last GP40) as C&O 3793 and became CSXT 6568

825 was built in 11/66 as B&O 3696 and became CSXT 6512

826 was built in 7/66 as SAL 624, became SCL 1539, SBD (Family Lines) 6695 & finally CSXT 6695

[SD80MAC]

Don’t remember if it’s been posted here or not, but Charlotte Southern #3, the final GE 44 Tonner built, has been sold to the Southern Michigan Railroad Society.

[Chip]

Don’t remember if it’s been posted here or not, but Charlotte Southern #3, the final GE 44 Tonner built, has been sold to the Southern Michigan Railroad Society.

For those keeping score at home, that makes 3 operational we have.

[SD80MAC]

And 4 in total, no?

[Chip]

And 4 in total, no?

I’m not sure, there’s a few non-operational locomotives. I’ll have to ask

[NS3322]

And 4 in total, no?

Yep, now four 44 & 45 Tonners.
Western Maryland 75 - 44 Tonner - Operable
Southern Michigan Railroad 2022 (ex-Dupont 2) - 45 Tonner - Operable
Detroit & Mackinac 10 - 44 Tonner - OOS
Charlotte Southern 3 - 44 Tonner - Operable

=================
Other Locomotives:
Hayes-Albion 1 ML1 35Ton - OOS
General Motors Diesel Canada 275 - GMDH-3 - Inoperable. Only GMDH-3 ever built.
Detroit Water Board 2 - ML6 - Stored derelict in Clinton.
Ann Arbor 21 - RS1 - OOS. Stored at Lenawee Junction.

Ann Arbor 20 - RS1 - Currently on display in Shepherd, Michigan.