We've moved

Along with kick-starting this after a year I've decided to move platforms, spurred on mostly by my good friend and occasional co-conspirator over at Cartastrophe. The new site is at Wordpress. All zero regular readers, please update your feeds ;).

Final word on the Canton crash

The emerging view on the Canton crash is that the driver of the car blundered, for reasons unknown. (See the accounts in the Detroit News and Detroit Free Press.)

The car was traveling north on Hannan Road in Canton Township, near Wayne. The Wolverine was traveling west and up to speed (~70 mph). Looking at the Google street view it seems possible that the driver couldn't see the train behind the trees (at right), but surely he heard the horn and saw the gates. At least one eyewitness saw the same, and Amtrak says the in-cab video proves the safety devices were working. The stretch is Norfolk Southern and sees plenty of freights; maybe the driver thought that he was trying to beat a slow freight. Certainly I've played tag with a Grand Elk slow freight in Kalamazoo before, but the difference there is (a) I don't run around crossings and (b) I've seen the freight and verified it's doing about 5-10 mph. Big difference.

New action on Greenville abandonment

Greenville has formally protested Mid-Michigan Railroad's abandonment of the Greenville-Belding-Lowell line. ((story)

Study recommends light rail

The proposed Woodward light rail project continues to move forward in Detroit, with the Detroit Transit Options for Growth Study recommending a $371 million line from the State Fairgrounds to the downtown. Next step: convincing the feds to help pay for it. (story)

Update on Lowell-Greenville abandonment

The STB has released its environmental assessment of Mid-Michigan Railroad's proposed Lowell-Greenville abandonment (previous post). No surprises in the report, and the STB concludes that the full environmental impact process isn't necessary, just as it did for the Lowell-Ionia branch (post). They're still waiting on input from the State Historic Preservation Officer, but I can't imagine it'll amount to much. MMRR proposes to take up the rails and leave all the rest--bridges, culverts and the roadbed. Public comment is open until May 19, 2008. (full report).

WALLY study goes forward

Livingston County has finally approved its piece-$15,000-of the feasbility study of the WALLY commuter line. (story)

News round-up 4/9/2008

Not strictly Michigan news, nor even railroading, but CTA has finally partnered with Google Transit! (story)

The Detroit News has a photo essay about the Michigan Central depot in Detroit. (story)

More wrangling in Holland over the re-alignment of CSX's Kollen Park spur. (story)

EDIT: Of course, Google refuses to tell me how to get from downtown to Northwestern's campus. Even without Metra the Purple line goes there, Google. I'm looking at you!

Howell approves WALLY funding

WHMI says that the city of Howell last night agreed to pony up $5,000 for the WALLY feasibility study, as will the downtown development authority. The county itself is expected to approve $15,000 next week. (story)

Previous coverage:

• Livingstone County and WALLY


• WALLY moving forward

Benzonia railroad tour

The Benzie Area Historical Society is sponsoring a tour of old railroad grades and depots in the Benzie area on April 19. Tickets are $30 and include a book and lunch. (story)

The write-up doesn't go into details, but all that's really left in that county is the northwest end of the Ann Arbor, so figure the Manistee & Northeastern and the Pere Marquette will be on the tour.

STB approves Ionia-Lowell abandonment

As noted here, Mid-Michigan Railroad is seeking to abandon its 16-mile line east of Lowell into Ionia County. Today the STB signed off on the proposed conversion to a rail trail, or failing that abandonment, subject to the usual limitations (full report).