Eastern Railroad Discussion > Beyond the Derail at Potterville, MI

Today found a Loram RailGrinder Rig sitting just beyond the derail on a spur in Potterville, MI. Interesting in two respects. First the derail appears to have a lighted target and be electrically controlled. Second the Grinder Rig has a vehicle trailer on it behind the control cab and before the grinding units. Appears to be a ramp for the trailer to be put on and off too.

Ahead (L) of the control unit is the connection to the CN main and behind the derail (R) is a roll steel company which the spur enters at grade. The plant can hold about 3 cars inside at a time.

Any experts out there wish to describe this particular set up?



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/26/11 17:46 by ngfan.

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The rear 2 units look like the ones Loram advertises for Subway and light rail work. Small and light for truck transport. That Derail is a Electronic blue flag derail

Switch Point Grinder is what this is used for.

That's a small switch and crossing grinder. It's been around the area for a few days now.

It's parked on the Alro Steel spur. The derail is connected to the door. When they take the derail off, the doors will open automatically.

Ron

Ron,
Have you ever seen the plant switched by CN?

Close-up of the target on the derail.

ngfan



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/26/11 19:32 by ngfan.

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A few years ago I was on the local that ran between Battle Creek and Lansing. We switched Alro Steel as-needed. When they got cars....we put them in, when they were empty, we pulled them out. The track would hold 4 cars, but they rarely got more than 1 or 2 at a time.

We switched the elevator in Potterville also.

We also took care of Charlotte, Owens-Illinois and the interchange with the ADBF, and Lansing, except for the coal business there. We did the coal a few times, but that was not our priority. We did the lumber places and Purina, and the NS interchange.

I was the conductor on K933 for a couple years.

Ron

Thanks Ron for taking the time to write a detailed response. O-I in Charlotte is history now with the last cars switched out last spring. The ASBF has cars for storage coming on and off sporadically. Not much switching left now in the section.
ngfan



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/26/11 20:57 by ngfan.