More on The Ann Arbor Railroad

As Per an Ann Arbor web site:

"Kansas company enters agreement to buy Ann Arbor Railroad

By PAULA GARDNER Community News Director Posted on Sat, Dec 29, 2012 : 5:20 p.m.

The Ann Arbor Railroad - a so-called "short line" that runs from Ann Arbor to Toledo - will be acquired by a Kansas transportation company that wants to expand into Ohio, according to the company.

A subsidiary of Watco Companies LLC has reached an agreement to purchase the private company's stock, which will be held in a voting trust "until the Surface Transportation Board(STB) approves the transaction, which is expected to be in late January or early February," according to Watco.

Information on the transaction details was not available Saturday. Estimates put the AAR annual revenue at $6 million per year.

The 50-mile Ann Arbor Railroad serves southeastern Michigan and the Toledo, Ohio markets focusing mostly on the automobile and manufacturing industries. Most of its operations are in Toledo, but its headquarters is in Howell.

The acquistion gives Watco access to what it describes as " significant rail terminals in the Toledo area focused on automobile loading for industry leaders Chrysler, General Motors, and Ford."

Its interchanges include Class 1 railroads Canadian National, CSXT, and Norfolk Southern as well as short lines Great Lakes Central, Indiana & Ohio and Wheeling & Lake Erie.

“This acquisition expands our rail network in the State of Michigan and allows us to build stronger relationships with our customers while also giving Watco the opportunity to serve the State of Ohio and its important industrial base,” 

said Ed McKechnie, Watco chief commercial officer, in a news release.

“The Ann Arbor Railroad team has prided itself in delivering high quality service to our Customers,” said Jim Erickson, president of the Ann Arbor Railroad, in the same release. “We are going to continue to build on that high expectation of service, and look forward to working together with the rest of the Watco team.”

The railway has been run by the Ann Arbor Acquisition Corp, according to rail history sites. It's been operating it its existing short-line format since 1988, from a Great Lakes Central Railroad interchange north of Ann Arbor. It also includes a branch line in Saline to the Faurecia plant.
Ann Arbor Railroad also controls some railway right-of-ways that the city hopes to acquire as part of a greenway project.

Watco is based in Pittsburg, Kansas. It has 3,500 miles of railway in the U.S., including at least 20 short-line railroads."

I am wondering if this marks the end of the Ann Arbor Railroad as we know it. The Ann Arbor is already a shadow of its former self. It use to run from Toledo Ohio to Frankfort Michigan and ran railcar fairies across Lake Michigan into Wisconsin. Now it runs from Ann Arbor to Toledo Ohio only. I wonder if this railroad could be another "Fallen flag".

The New York Central Passenger & Ann Arbor Freight Trains

After all my talk here are the New York Central Passenger & Ann Arbor Freight Trains. I have waited a long time for all of this to come together and now its finally here. I hope you enjoy this short clip.

The next steps are to work on the layout, and start putting together the Pere Marquette Passenger train. It should be on its way to Mountain Town Hobbies.

Just Announced Today By American-Rails.com

American-Rails.com

"Trains Newswire reports that Watco has acquired another short line, the reborn Ann Arbor Railroad, which operates over the original Annie between Ann Arbor and Toledo (Ohio), a distance of about 50 miles."

I am in shock to hear this. I have been told it is to early to say if there will be any more changes to the railroad.

Attention Back On The Pere Marquette Passenger Train

I hope the dates don't slip again and the world doesn't end today. 85' ACF RPO-Baggage 920-9360 - December 28 2012	85' P-S Diner Coach 920-9364 - January 28 2013	Also Available with Factory-Installed Interior Lighting Factory-Installed LED Lighting for DC & DCC
72' P-S Baggage 920-9361 - December 28 2012	85' P-S Lunch Counter Lounge 920-9365 - January 28 2013
85' P-S 52-Seat Coach 920-9362 Fluted w/Skirts - January  28 2013 920-9363 Fluted No Skirts - January 28 2013	85' P-S 10-6 Sleeper Plan 4167 920-9366 - January 28 2013
PERE MARQUETTE EMD E7A DIESELS See-Through Air Intake Grilles Painted Metal Grab Irons, Handrails & Lift Rings Superb Paint & Lettering Matches these Cars Five-Pole, Skew-Wound, High-Torque, High-Efficiency Can Motor Helical Gears with 12:1 Ratio for Smooth, Ultra-Quiet Running Correct 36" Wheels Easy Multiple-Unit Operation Proto MAX™ Metal Knuckle Couplers
Tsunami® Sound & DCC 920-40997 #107- March 2013 920-40998 #108 - March 2013	Standard DC 199.98 920-47997 #103 - March 2013 920-47998 #105 - March 2013

Hanukkah Harry did it again

This Chanukkah it happened just like last year and I am really grateful. My family Sandy, Ted, and Johnathan put their money together and got me the Alco PA/PB locomotives I really wanted. Now my New York Central passenger train is complete. I am running a PA-B-A configuration.

Thank you all, family, for the wonderful gift, it made my holiday.

A Bit of Nostalga

check out these old clips on railroading

Sheldon knows where its at

Choo Choo Charlie

City of New Orleans

Wabash Cannonball

Chattanooga Choo Choo
Brings back memories

End of November and still no Pere Marquette Rolling Stock

Well we are still waiting. Here it is the end of November. I should have most of the cars by now and not one single car has arrived at Mountain Town Hobbies. The only car that should be still outstanding is the 3 10-6 sleeper cars they are due the end of December. The Locomotives are due in March. As per a trusted source:

"The ship dates on Pere Marquette-theme C&O passenger cars have slipped again.

The Baggage and RPO-Bagage are now projected for Dec. 28, and the rest of the
cars are projected for Jan. 28. They're having the same problems getting stuff
from their suppliers in China as most other model RR manufacturers.

The samples Walthers showed at TrainFest earlier this month were very nice. The
coaches have the distinctive aluminum window frames painted on, which the
previous C&O coaches they ran didn't."

-Fritz Milhaupt
Modeling Editor, Pere Marquette Historical Society, Inc.
http://www.pmhistsoc.org

If all goes well I may have my Alco PA and PB locomotives by Chanukkah that would help with the pain of waiting for the Pere Marquette train. If I am lucky enough to get the PA-B units that would complete the New York Central passenger train I have been putting together over the past few years.

Happy Chanukkah to all

Happy Thanksgiving

Best wishes to all my friends on this holiday season from the Freedman Family

The Additional car coming in December and The Locomotives in March

December I am scheduled to receive the 10-6 Sleeper Car

I have 3 on order. considering the delays so far I am not sure when they will arrive. The story so far is there is a delay in manufacturing in China.

In March of 2013 the Locomotives are due to arrive.

God only knows when they will get here.

Stay tuned for the latest updates on the Pere Marquette passenger train by Walthers.

Late October and still no Pere Marquette Passenger Cars

The RPO and Baggage cars were due in late September and the 52 seat Coach car was due in late October. As of yet they have not arrived. Its probably a good thing as I am still saving up my money but I am anxious to possess the passenger train.

52 seat coach

Baggage Car

RPO

Late November, 2 more cars are due, the Dinning car

Dining Car

and the Lunch counter buffet lounge car.

Lunch counter buffet lounge car

I Could Not Be Much Happier

Yesterday Sandy surprised me with enough money to pick up the Alco PA locomotive I have been paying off for a few months now. Produced by MTH electric trains, the locomotive did not disappoint. I replaced the FT3 A and B units I was using to pull my New York Central passenger train with the PA unit and aside from having to replace the couplers it performed perfectly. I just need to save the additional $300.00 for the Alco PA-B units yet outstanding to complete the collection. I am so far totally satisfied with the way the passenger train is turning out.

Alco PA-B locomotives

Pere Marquette 52 seat coach

October 28 will bring the  85' Pullman-Standard 52-Seat Coach Fluted w/Skirts - Ready to Run -- Chesapeake & Ohio #1610-1668 Series - Pere Marquette another step closer to my completed Pere Marquette passenger train I have 3 of these cars on order.

85' Pullman-Standard 52-Seat Coach Fluted w/Skirts

New passenger cars on the way

September is the month that two of the Pere Marquette passenger are due to be delivered to Mountain Town Hobbies by Walthers. They are the baggage car and the RPO I am excitedly waiting for their arrival. My Pere Marquette passenger train is on its way.

  85' ACF RPO-Baggage - Ready to Run -- Pere Marquette

 73' Pullman-Standard Baggage - Ready to Run -- Pere Marquette

Alco PA-B units have come in

According to Mountain Town Hobbies in Mt. Pleasant Michigan the PA-B set and the additional PA locomotives that I ordered have finally come in. These units were manufactured by MTH and are equipped with sound and smoke capability. I have been waiting for them since July 2012 when I ordered them. I cant wait to run them in the front of my New York Central passenger train. however, I need to come up with the money for them.

Walthers producing C&O Pere Marquette passenger train

Walthers is going to feature a Passenger Train on the cover of their 2013 HO catalogue that will be a C&O Pere Marquette and will include the following cars and locomotives:

•   Diesel EMD E7A - Standard DC -- Pere Marquette #103
•   Diesel EMD E7A - Standard DC -- Pere Marquette #105
•   85' ACF RPO-Baggage - Ready to Run -- Pere Marquette
•   73' Pullman-Standard Baggage - Ready to Run -- Pere Marquette
•  85' Pullman-Standard 52-Seat Coach Fluted w/Skirts - Ready to Run -- Chesapeake & Ohio #1610-1668 Series - Pere Marquette
•   85' Pullman-Standard 52-Seat Coach Fluted without Skirts - Ready to Run -- Chesapeake & Ohio #1610-1668 Series - Pere Marquette
•  85' Pullman-Standard Diner Coach - Ready to Run -- Chesapeake & Ohio #1610-11 - Pere Marquette
•   85' Pullman-Standard Lunch Counter Buffet Lounge - Ready to Run -- Chesapeake & Ohio Chessie Club - Pere Marquette
•   85' Pullman-Standard 10-6 Sleeper Plan 4167 - Ready to Run -- Chesapeake & Ohio City Series - Pere Marquette

They will be available in lighted and unlighted versions and the locomotives will be DC and DCC versions.

I believe they will make a great addition to my layout.

80-2046-0 | Alco PA-B units

80-2046-0 | according to the manufacturer they were to be available in May 2012. As of yet I still haven't received my order.

New Diesel Locomotives to Pull Passenger Train

Up until now I have been pulling my passenger train with F unit locomotives. Those locomotives were built to pull freight trains and weren't geared for the speed necessary for passenger service.

I was reading the July issue of Model Railroader and I came across a review article for Alco PA1 and PB1 locomotives produced by MTH to be released sometime in the summer of 2012. The Alco PA and PB units were specifically built to pull passenger cars and were geared to run at the speed necessary for passenger service.

I have since placed an order through Mountain Town Hobbies in Mt. Pleasant Michigan for a PA PB set and an additional PA so I will have a PABA configuration.

Church Bench Adds Classic Look To Train Room

I have added a church bench to the train room so I can sit and watch the trains on the layout. The bench gives the look of an old time train station waiting area. I hope to add more Items like that to enhance the look.

On another side of things I have added grain silos to the rural area and I have also ordered a grain elevator to go with them.

Got A Second GP38 for the Ann Arbor Freight Train

The Ann Arbor now has more pulling power with a second GP38 locomotive. That makes the train look more realistic. I am still saving up to add another boxcar and four covered hoppers. Once that happens I believe I will be satisfied that my freight train will be complete.

I am still working on the layout table farm area I have added some grass and a fenced in area for the cows. I build a fenced in area for horses but as of yet I still need to add the ground cover.

Freight Train Switch

It had to happen, the FA unit I was using to pull my New York Central freight train broke down. I need to get it repaired, so I had to make a decision. I could wait until I got it fixed or model a different railroad. I had a few different Ann Arbor Railroad locomotives from various time periods that I could use. I decided to go with a current day Ann Arbor Railroad System freight train. I will be using 2 GP38's to pull the train. I have 3 boxcars, 2 center flow hoppers, 5 smaller covered hoppers, a flatcar, and a drop end gondola, and 4 coal 55 ton coal hoppers. All in all I feel it would make an impressive freight train so as of today I have made the switch from New York Central to the Ann Arbor Railroad System. The passenger train will still be New York Central.

Sandy's Artistic Talents Join The Effort

It's no secret who the artistic talent in the family is. Sandy brought her talent to the table literally as she landscaped the residential area, and added a forest area near the transformers to give them a more natural look. She began to layout the farm house and barn with more forest next to them. the look is very realistic. Sandy used twigs she found outside as dead fall in the forest areas and colored sand to serve as the forest floor. I am really impressed with the job she did, so I have included pictures. tell me what you think.

 As you can see the work is still very much in progress but I am so pleased with what I see so far.

Downtown is Starting to Take Shape

No city is complete without a downtown. I have started to pour the roads and sidewalks. and began to layout the buildings. main street has a number of shops, an apartment building, a synagogue, a hospital, and fire station. I also added a site where construction is underway complete with workmen, a construction sign, a generator, a truck, and a large crane. I used a sheet of sandpaper as the ground. I am using the Smooth it product from Woodland Scenics for the roads and sidewalks. The roads will be painted with asphalt top coat, and the sidewalks will be painted with concrete top coat.

Again a lot more detail will be added at a later date. As you can see from the photo, the sidewalks still need to be poured, sanded, and painted

Building a Residential Area

After laying out the roads, I began to build a residential area on my layout. I cut grass mats to use for the lawn areas and glued them to the table surface. I positioned 5 houses on the lawn areas. I put glue on the table surface and sprinkled sand on to the glue to create a gravel parking lot. I positioned a general store next to the parking lot and a road sign on the far end of the lot. I then added a few people around the houses and the general store. I placed a few trees and the result is what you see pictured here.

Sandy will be adding additional landscaping around the houses I think I have a good start. There will be a lot more detail added in the future.

Adding Streets to the Layout

Now that the table is built, it is time for me to start adding detail so the layout will take shape. I am starting with streets and sidewalks so the buildings placement makes sense. I am using products by Woodland Scenics to construct the road beds. I place paving tape down on the outline of the roads and fill the center of my outline with Smooth it power mixed with water at two parts smooth it to one part water. I then smooth over the mixture to make a flat road bed. I let the road bed dry over night, remove the paving tape and sand the surface until I get a smooth level road. Then I paint the road with Asphalt Top Coat and let dry. I then lightly sand the surface again to add an aging effect.

Woodland Scenics also has a dry transfer sheet of road stripes that I can apply when all my sanding is done.

Finishing Construction of The Layout Tables

The last piece of table top is being put down on the frame today, most of the surface has been painted save that last piece, and the track is all in place. I have buildings waiting to be put on the tables to start the fine tuning and decorating with landscaping. My plan is to have the New York Central passenger train running by the end of the day. If I get lucky I might be able to start placing the buildings on the layout as well.

Power Outage Delays Layout Tables

Well after not sleeping the night before, We woke to discover we had no power on 4/17/2012. We had to delay the construction until today 4/18/2012. Oscar is going to pick up the materials on his way to my house, as I will be tied up with a doctors appointment. I ran out yesterday to pick up the paint for the surface of the tables. I watched a few how to videos on setting up my layout. and am now waiting to get started. I will be adding information to this posting as the day goes on. Hopefully a few pictures as well.

We were short a little plywood, so the plan is for Oscar to return on Friday to add the additional plywood to the table top, screw down the top to the frame and finish the job. Sandy and I are going to paint as much of the table surface as possible on Thursday.