Grand Elk Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Grand Elk Railroad is a Class III railroad
which operates in the states of Indiana
and Michigan
. It is one of several short-line railroads owned by Watco Companies
of Pittsburg, Kansas
.
The company leases a 123 miles (197.9 km) line from the Norfolk Southern running south from Grand Rapids, Michigan
through Kalamazoo, Michigan
to Elkhart, Indiana
. The line they lease was a former Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad
mainline. Watco Companies projects 22,000 carloads per year from 55 customers. Operations began on March 8, 2009.
The railroad connects with three larger railroads, the Norfolk Southern (Elkhart), CSX (Grand Rapids) and Canadian National (Kalamazoo, Michigan
)(Via CK&S Line(Kalamazoo Spur.), as well as four short line railroads, the Marquette Rail (Grand Rapids), Mid Michigan Railroad (Grand Rapids), Michigan Southern Railroad
(White Pigeon, Michigan
), and Grand Rapids Eastern Railroad
(Grand Rapids).
Class III railroad
A Class III railroad, as defined by the Surface Transportation Board, is a railroad with an annual operating revenue of less than $20 million . The term only applies to United States railroads, but is sometimes applied to other countries...
which operates in the states of Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
and Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. It is one of several short-line railroads owned by Watco Companies
Watco Companies
Watco Companies, Inc. is a Pittsburg, Kansas-based transportation company that was formed in 1983 by Charles R. Webb. Watco is composed of three divisions: transportation, mechanical and transloading. WCI is the owner of Watco Transportation Services, Inc...
of Pittsburg, Kansas
Pittsburg, Kansas
Pittsburg is a city in Crawford County, in southeastern Kansas, United States. It is the most populous city in Crawford County and in southeastern Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 20,233.-History:...
.
The company leases a 123 miles (197.9 km) line from the Norfolk Southern running south from Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
through Kalamazoo, Michigan
Kalamazoo, Michigan
The area on which the modern city stands was once home to Native Americans of the Hopewell culture, who migrated into the area sometime before the first millennium. Evidence of their early residency remains in the form of a small mound in downtown's Bronson Park. The Hopewell civilization began to...
to Elkhart, Indiana
Elkhart, Indiana
Elkhart is a city in Elkhart County, Indiana, United States. The city is located east of South Bend, northwest of Fort Wayne, east of Chicago, and north of Indianapolis...
. The line they lease was a former Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad
Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad
The Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad at its height provided passenger and freight railroad services between Cincinnati, Ohio and the Straits of Mackinac in Michigan, USA...
mainline. Watco Companies projects 22,000 carloads per year from 55 customers. Operations began on March 8, 2009.
The railroad connects with three larger railroads, the Norfolk Southern (Elkhart), CSX (Grand Rapids) and Canadian National (Kalamazoo, Michigan
Kalamazoo, Michigan
The area on which the modern city stands was once home to Native Americans of the Hopewell culture, who migrated into the area sometime before the first millennium. Evidence of their early residency remains in the form of a small mound in downtown's Bronson Park. The Hopewell civilization began to...
)(Via CK&S Line(Kalamazoo Spur.), as well as four short line railroads, the Marquette Rail (Grand Rapids), Mid Michigan Railroad (Grand Rapids), Michigan Southern Railroad
Michigan Southern Railroad
Michigan Southern Railroad could refer to:*The Southern Railroad , built by the state of Michigan *The Michigan Southern Railroad , which bought the state line, and became part of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway...
(White Pigeon, Michigan
White Pigeon, Michigan
White Pigeon is a village in St. Joseph County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,627 at the 2000 census. The village is located within White Pigeon Township.-Geography:...
), and Grand Rapids Eastern Railroad
Grand Rapids Eastern Railroad
The Grand Rapids Eastern Railroad is a railroad in western Michigan that runs east-west through Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States. Its of trackage ends at the Saint Mary's Siding, where it meets the Coopersville and Marne Railway. It interchanges with CSX Transportation at Grand Rapids and...
(Grand Rapids).