Dave C
I decided to tour the Port Huron shop facilities on a recent Wedensday..just to
see how everyone is doing and to see whats going on.
I, first, went to the former PH&D 32nd St roundhouse (now owned by MichRail).
The Huron and Eastern and the St Joseph Railway both use this facility for
running repairs on their engines. Both roads have main lines that end here
(HESR's Port Huron sub, and the SJR's Memphis Sub)..both which feed 10-15 trains
a day into Port Huron..not counting commuter and passenger trains.
I chatted with the shop crew for a few minutes before breaking out my camera
and notepad (I have earned the reputation, from other railroads, as the Foaming
CEO) to record what was on the shop floor or the 4 stall roundhouse:
1-HESR SD20-2# 8102-92 Day
2-SJR SD35# 2551..new batteries
3-SJR GP40# 6607..wheel inspection (Crew reported flat spots)
4-HESR GP9R#1714..92 Day
On the roundhouse lead (South) just short of the switches was HESR SW1200# 998
(exSGVY 998)..in for it's 92 Day (usually assigned to the MAC elevator at
Marlette)..the north roundhouse lead (which leads to bay 4) was HESR GP38-2#
2005 (just cleared it's 92 Day).
On ready track 1 was HESR SD9043# 9000 (on longterm lease from the MRCC) and
SD70M #7012 (one of 20 that ride on trade in HTC trucks).
On track 2 :
HESR GP7M#1500, HESR GP9# 1706 (exMNN 1471), SJR SD26# 2603, and HESR GP35#
2509..all of which were just released from the engine house.
I then we to the "Grizwold shops". Grizwold is the former GTW Port Huron car
shops..which is now split in half..one half is a car facility, the other half is
a heavy repair/rebuild shop for locomotives.
There were dozens of 86' boxcars, 50' gondolas, 54' grain hoppers, a few
scattered coal gons, flat cars, and autoracks..all either waiting their turn in
the shop..or having just been released.
the locomotive ship consists of 4 structures: E1 (main building..where all the
major work is preformed), E2..prep shop..either prep for work, or for release,
E3-Paint booth, E4-sand blast booth.
On the "limbo track" (units waiting their turn in for the doctor):
HESR SD70M# 7029 (traction motors), HESR SD45-2# 3602 (Repairs after grade
crossing incident), SJR SD40-2# 3020 (blown engine), SJR SD40-2# 3012 (Traction
motors), HESR GP38AC# 2907 (electrical work). GTW GP38-2# 4918 (wheel
replacement).
The "ok track" had been cleared before I got there.
I then took a peek into E1 and saw the following:
SJR RSD12# 6103..pilot work
CN C44-9W# 2561 (wheels)
HESR R45C# 4603 (middle of rebuild)
SJR SD50# 5209 (engine)
Inside E2:
HESR R45C's 4600, 4602 (just in from paint booth)
R45CI# 4601 (being preped for road service/testing)
SJR SD34# 2510
HESR GP38-2# 2025
SJR SD38-2# 2059
E3 had HESR GP30# 2219 and HESR U23B# 2301 (exHESR 8903) inside.
E4 was empty at the time.
The "back lot" had several exBNSF SD45-2's..awaiting overhaul (to become R45's)
While in town, I caught 4 trains:
HESR train M22 (Saginaw-Port Huron)..with HESR U33C# 3310 and GP38-2# 2015 (54
cars)
HESR P103 ("Great Lakes"..Port Huron-Saginaw-Ludington)..HESR E8# 92..3
coaches..1 snack car.
SJR I4..SJR SD35# 2519, SJR GP35# 4510
HESR M21..HESR SD45-2# 3621, HESR 2350 (U23C)..62 cars.
Dave Cenci..MichRail
1
Message Thread
« Back to index