The Charlotte Southerns Final Run! (CHS #3 Last GE 44 Toner Built)

On 2/2/2024 the Charlotte Southern Railway made its final run in Charlotte Mi. Once a busy Michigan Central mainline between Jackson and Grand Rapids deteriorated leading up to the Conrail Merger. While the line always remained profitable Conrail decided to abandon the line due to awful track conditions. In the early 80s the line was tore up only leaving a portion in Grand Rapids due to industry’s and this portion in Charlotte due to the CFE grain elevator on the south side of town. The Grand Truck took over operations of the branch line and handed it down during the CN merger, CN then decided to stop service of the elevator due to lack of car loads and sold the line to the fresh at the time Charlotte Southern Railway. CHS worked the moderately used elevator up until the 2010s when the elevator decided to switch from rail to truck. The CHS had nothing left so they started operations of a dinner train that ran several times a month, they also started perusing rail car storage to make extra cash. In 2016 the CHS got out of the rail car game and focused fully on the Dinner train and stopped maintenance on the track past I69. Covid is what really killed the dinner train as once that hit the train hasn’t ran since 2019. In todays video we chase the sole unit the railroad has, the number three as they run across the hole length of the line to pick up a car stored in the woods. This is most likely the final time the CHS will ever operate, I hope you enjoy this video on the AFLK Productions KZbin channel!
I’d like to add a thank you to Jacob for taking a video on the opposite side of the train at the second M50 shot, without him I wouldn’t have a video of the RPO car dragging the fence under my car so big shout out to him!!
Jacobs KZbin channel!:
youtube.com/@RailfanJacob?si=...
#train #trainvideo #trainnerds #trains #trainspotting #trainvideos #railway #railroad #rail #photography #railways #railwaystation #railfan #photo #photographer #photoediting #drone #dronephotography #dronevideo #drones #documentary

[@DelayInBlockProductions]

Nice video. Your production quality has really improved over the years. I am impressed. Keep up the great work and well done on documenting the final run. Make sure you back up your footage so you never lose it. This is priceless!

[@AFLKProductions]

Thank you Drayton. I appreciate those words a lot, especially from you. I’ll take your advise on backing it up. Thank you for watching!

[@DelayInBlockProductions]

@@AFLKProductions I never used to save my old video files. That was a big mistake. I also never backed them up. I had a hard drive fail on me in 2015 and I lost everything I recorded from 2014 to 2011. It was devastating.

[@Trainz20]

No! its sad to lose such a cool little shortline! I hope that GE 44 Toner gets preserved at least!

[@AFLKProductions]

Time will tell, I assume something will come out of it at least

[@Trainz20]

@@AFLKProductions that's good! It's a cute little switcher!

[@davidbankhead8994]

It is going to the Cooperstown & Marne RR in West MI by truck is what a CN Employee told me

[@Trainz20]

@@davidbankhead8994 Ok! glad something is coming out of it!

[@typrus6377]

Hope so. Wonder if she still has her D17000s. Doesn't quite sound like a Cummins re-power. Done a lot of work out at the tie treatment plant that AT&SF #467 used to work at. She got run off into the pressure cylinders and broke her frame something like 8 years ago. Real shame. Edit: looks like the last 4 built had Cat D342 power- dang good engines.

[@pianoman4Jesus]

Thank you for documenting the final move of that Michigan line.

[@AFLKProductions]

No problem, thank you for watching!

[@tomdouma1346]

Shortly after this rail line was shut down betweeen M-50 and Eaton Rapids, some buddies and I ran 2 dune buggies, an old Ford Bronco, and two motorcycles down the tracks to Eaton Rapids. I put two car rims on the front of my dune buggy and ran on the rails! The guy with the Bronco lowered his air pressure in his tires and also could run on the rails. The other buggy ran his tires between the rails and wrecked his wheels pretty good. Memorable experience. Probably illegal. Glad we didn’t get caught!

[@ericzerkle8486]

Not illegal unless you get caught!😅

[@zackbobby5550]

Idk much about this specific operation or why it shut down, but I do know about track. Decent chance you guys did a fair amount of damage to the track/right of way that would make it even harder to repair. Also DEFINITELY illegal lmao.

[@ericzerkle8486]

@zackbobby5550 Oh, whoop te do. Always some karen that tries to act like some sort of cop. I swear people take everything soo seriously anymore. I say who cares? The person probably did that 40 some years ago when the line was officially abandoned.

[@AFLKProductions]

That’s a awesome story, would have been something to ride the rails all the way!

[@littlegp18]

Karens need to have the American History X curb treatment

[@williamstuessy1611]

That exhaust on 44 Tonner ( note spelling ) is quite the mosquito killer ! ...... excellent video, Thanks so much. Bill S.

[@FrogandFlangeVideo]

What a wonderful documentary ! Thank goodness you took the time to record this historical event as it was unfolding. Nice work, my friend. James.

[@AFLKProductions]

Thank you James! I’m glad you enjoyed

[@seank97]

Well done sir, been going past this defunct train for almost 20 years. I was fascinated to see the engine even ran. Sad to see it go but alas it will all live on instead of being scrapped.

[@AFLKProductions]

Yes that’s the way to look at it. Thank you for watching!

[@hobocatlawrence]

Amazing amount of history on display and soon relegated to memories. Thanks for the great videos of #3 and her final movements

[@joshjones3408]

There's a hole lot of stuff missing ......and .... Its just nice to see it moving 😀

[@chuxproductions1090]

Great documentary about this bygone era!!! I subscribed from Maine!!!

[@AFLKProductions]

Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed!

[@justtl5885]

History documented, nice work!

[@miprerunner]

Pretty sad but cool that you were able to document it

[@AFLKProductions]

Yes that’s the upside, thank you for watching

[@smbjcm]

This is great. Thank you for this. I have passed those tracks at the mill so many times looking at the overgrown ROW.

[@AFLKProductions]

No problem, glad you enjoyed

[@1BigRed]

What state and city?

[@ethanlamoureux5306]

@@1BigRed Charlotte, Michigan

[@albertcyphers1532]

Don't say abandoned or rails to trails will be there ripping it up before you get done

[@cple1]

There is no rail beyond where the cars were stored anyway.

[@spuds6423]

Rails to Trails people are "evil".🤬🤬🤬

[@ethanlamoureux5306]

@@spuds6423 There are two ways of looking at “rails to trails” organizations. One, they’re evil for destroying railroad tracks. Or two, they’re saving railroads for reconstruction once we stop the insane subsidization of the trucking industry. Either way, we have yet to see the ultimate proof. I choose to be optimistic and believe that one day people will wake up, realize that trucking is a terrible way to move most freight, and make the necessary changes which will result in the rebuilding of our railroad infrastructure, and all of the “rail trails” will once again be carrying freight to every city and town in the country. If not for railroad grades being left in place for the sake of recreational trails, we would have nothing, as the grades and easements would soon be destroyed and the only way to rebuild would be eminent domain takings and the demolition of buildings to make room for new railroads built from scratch at a cost of many billions of dollars.

[@onrr1726]

I blocked a trail group from going across my property being that I owned the land on both sides of a Railroad ROW. They fought me tooth and nail in court for 4 years with one law suit after another once I got the property deed which stated the land would revert back to the property owner in which the line was built across they still fought me over the legality of the paper work and another 2 years of court battles before a judge basically to the county, state, and all intrested parties that were heavly involved with fighting me to fuck off and repay me for 5 years of herrassment and legal fees. I permit a farmer to use the ROW to work a field I lease and on occasion Loggers to work a back wood lot once every few years. Anyone else is arrested with out question.

[@spuds6423]

@@onrr1726 Excellent, great job. 👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@jrand2148]

Such a sad fate. Damn Covid

[@AFLKProductions]

Can’t win

[@lxdesign1]

Awesome video, sad to see the last run.... going through the same sort of experience here in Canada, but covid was not what killed us, it was bad management by board and CEO.

[@AFLKProductions]

Happens everywhere, thank you for watching

[@angeloavanti2538]

This was great fun to watch. Thanks.

[@AFLKProductions]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@javarailfanning]

love this video.. thanks for uploading

[@AFLKProductions]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching

[@DrFrankeni]

I believe this is the line that also ran past the Caledonia Famers Elevator in Caledonia MI until 40(ish) years ago. The operational part of the line delivered cars to Keebler where my wife climbed them to sample raw materials and quality check them before offloading was permitted. It also went within 1/4 mile of our first house in Kentwood MI, though it closed just before we moved into that home in 1984. The line continued and ran within 3 miles of our current home south of Caledonia on to Middleville. If I am correct the last operators of the section from Grand Rapids southeast to Hastings were not good at railroading and damaged significant freight destined to and from the big water heater plant in Middleville causing them to stop using the line. Soon after the line's only locomotive froze, and that was the last straw for that part of the line. Much of the line is now part of the Paul Henry trail.

[@Storm10xx]

The RPO car and the long island car have been their long before 2013, i use to live in Charlotte and my friend lived over by the M50 crossing. And i do remember seeing both those cars there around 2001, heck i remember they had 2 Long Island cars along with the RPO car there. From what I heard they use to give rides with the Long Island cars back in the day during frontier days

[@dougemery2519]

It is pretty amazing to see that locomotive still going. I am from the Dansville area thought that 44 tonner was scrapped years ago.

[@fordfairlane662dr]

Great old short line 🚂

[@EmmettLoveReal]

I like watching these types of videos.

[@AFLKProductions]

I’m happy my types of videos are what you enjoy, I have lots of other videos like this if you would like to check them out!

[@lilford2123]

THIS VIDEO IS AMAZING!!!

[@rickdee67]

Neat! These types of videos intrigue me. After hearing your pronunciation of the town I had to go to Wikipedia.

[@AFLKProductions]

Yes it’s kinda weird, most locals actually call it Char-Tucky lol

[@rickdee67]

@@AFLKProductions lol

[@ethanlamoureux5306]

Yes, it’s pronounced shar-LOT, even tho most people think it should be SHAR-lot! Reminds me of another town in Michigan, Montague, which is pronounced MONT-a-gyoo, not mon-TAYG as in other places.

[@etmccaus]

Nice work. It wouldn't be an ADBF railfanning video without employees giving you grief...

[@AFLKProductions]

Hey you know it

[@cdavid8139]

excellent production

[@DanielG599]

Great job. We used to chase trains from Grand Rapids south to the Hastings area in the mid 70's. S L O W Chases!

[@AFLKProductions]

I can only imagine what you guys got to document on the rails at that time. Thank you for watching!

[@RailfanJacob]

I will always remember this chase!

[@AFLKProductions]

Hey it was a good day

[@RailfanJacob]

@@AFLKProductions it sure was Logan!

[@hadleymanmusic]

this is so cool man you gotta keep it up.

[@hadleymanmusic]

since Mark caught the westbound out and never rollin back in.

[@nathandumeney7601]

I watched them move it from my front window. I live out near the grain elevator

[@AFLKProductions]

That’s sweet, I’m sure it caught you by surprise lol

[@kevinshiley9061]

44 Tonner! Toner is what you put in your printer! Lol

[@oddjobz9858]

That RPO car has daily good meat on the wheel sets. Almost like new

[@monky1964]

Take care of that beautiful machine!😊. Whenever you can, pull the pump and injectors off the front prime mover and have them gone through.

[@EntertainmentWorldz]

superb video Bro ❤😍😍

[@cadespencer6320]

They could turn it into a handcar line!

[@danielfantino1714]

Thanks for the show. You did a pretty decent one that really worth it. Engine isn´t smoking at all. It´s crew´s dîner on the grill. Hope they shared it with you, since now it´s no more a railroad property....Just a private one 😊😊 For the Long Island left at the end. They have to be euh....insane if they want to scrap it in situ. You have betwen 50 to 60 tons of stuff to carry out ! May be a good legal excuse to not officielle shutting down the line. With a car on each end, it´s not abandoned anymore. Just unfrequent use. That way exempt rail crossing is ok since road vehicles have priority and train must stop. There is may be pressure to rip up the track. A smart way to block it. About non working crossing signals, go on Earth syreet view at Junction 98 on Imperial hwy, Ocetillo, California and take a good look. Since there is no electric utilities to flash lights and lower the gate, they use solar panel. To protect it from theft it´s surrounded by Frost fence. On shoulder you have the X sign. X sign painted on the road and....one totally missing crossing pole. Nothing left of it. On other side of the road, pôle is still there but lights and gate are gone znd no exempt sign. Officially for the road department that rail crossing is in service ! Of course it´s not but tracks are still there. Quite worse than non working flashing lights. With our shortline, power have probably been disconnected and meter removed. Anyway with rusty rails they wouldn´t work anyway. About headlight and safety vests. Well railroads ran that way for a century in steam days. But people were also smarter. They didn´t needed to have inscription on coffee cup " that content can be hot ". People knew that coffee is hot !! I agree that flagman really want to play smashing dummy. He what´s wrong with someone wanting to play rodéo against a car ? Finally about that century old RPO, just hope thst COT&S have been done with tons of documents. Otherwise Class 1 won´t even touch it. Moving that is real real challenge. And even, "young" train crews aren´t familiar with passenger car valve. Where they are for release. By the way those valves are set for freigjt service and not in passenger mode i hope. First shit that can happen on the road and the nearest track to sideline it will be the result even if car is fine. With lucks it won´t be coupled with F tank car style coupler. Quite destructive....

[@erie910]

Thanks for this. Nice to see the crew using proper hand signals for operations.

[@AFLKProductions]

No problem!

[@johnsalomone5101]

What ??? You better watch the video over " this was the "most unsafe railroad ,movements,//I really thought this was railroad safty don't do this, on the job & keeping rails safe,

[@ryano.5149]

@@johnsalomone5101 Uphill slow, downhill fast, tonnage first, safety last! lol

[@spudwickthrockmorton2112]

Probably won’t find this interesting but I worked for a day on the West Michigan railroad around Hartford, got to check out their GP-18 (in service) and their SW-1200 (in service), I was cutting a section of rail got to stand next to them as they went through with canola and frozen food

[@ericsimmons7716]

How would you like to see this on the former Erie Lackawanna (Conrail) branch from Cleveland to Youngstown, OH! 6:48 (ConRail) TRAIN #28 # 4014 Jan 14, 2024

[@tarheelpatch3386]

Hate see any shortline shut down.Whoever gets that engine needs to dosome injector work on the No2 engine , rear one.Hope it gets saved

[@dannun757]

it was "rebuilt" in 2000, it has some issues that never got fixed

[@stanleybest8833]

I want the Long Island stainless car. You won't even recognize it when I get done.

[@Retired88M]

After being around diesel’s of all shapes and sizes and uses in my 68 years it looked to me that this engine had s bad injector or two by the way that the exhaust was blowing blue for such a long time ad the initial build up should have burned off within the first mile

[@AFLKProductions]

We could tell something was wrong with it, but I won’t complain about the show if put on for us. Looked like a steamer lol

[@tomlebudzinski7716]

Nuthin' like a quality "ray-road"!

[@Steve-xf4uv]

Nice coverage; too bad to see a line die out. Happens too often. Wonder what they will do with number 3 ? Seems to need some engine repairs but overall not in bad shape (rings maybe ?)

[@AFLKProductions]

Our best guess is it’s going to be sold but trucked out. I have faith someone will buy it, those 44 toners never stop moving.

[@tonygyder9717]

Seems like it’s only running on 1 motor

[@lilford2123]

WOWZA!

[@austinshackles549]

Unusual triple bogies on the carriage too

[@AFLKProductions]

It was a historic car

[@mrbig4819]

i have lived in marshall area for the last 32 years and i have never seen any kind of info on this train till this video. i know of the train in coldwater, mi

[@arlingtontrains7]

Not a rail trail! Ugh

[@AFLKProductions]

You know it lol

[@84jamesp]

I was watching trains in India driving through straight dirt with tracks barely visible. Then taring through road that someone paved over the tracks.

[@WorthyLee-xx8gr]

I saw a old rail car that was being pulled out of a rail trail that was going to be re active in services for bmsf companies and others (it derailed on the main street in Minnesota)

[@robertharris7027]

Sad to see the engine pumping out the coolant. Poor little machine.

[@Howoldareweanywayyipes]

I saw the last train deliver paper to the Grand Rapids Press downtown... now the track is gone.

[@bennettgibson7287]

The Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso Mi should buy the line so they could run excursions with PM 1225 to Jackson and Grand Rapids

[@dannun757]

its only 3 miles long

[@JZH10000]

Interesting that they didn't blow the horn at grade crossings, and the crossing lights didn't work. Huh

[@AFLKProductions]

They actually made the crossings “Exempt” 3 days before the run.

[@user-rm4td6bt5q]

They didn't have the light on either.

[@dannyjones3840]

Outlaw move 😂

[@dannun757]

@@dannyjones3840 nothing wrong as long as they stopped and flagged the crossings/ totally legal

[@wade3217]

They are set up on remote controls on the big engines and track sensors in manifest trains

[@hamiltonsullivan6563]

Anyone know whats happening to this old equipment?

[@JeredtheShy]

I'm surprised how mobile that old train car was after sitting and sitting so long. People online love to talk about trains and how they're the real future, but maybe that's only true in a world where things like heavy trucks and private cars have been regulated out of existence, the reality is that trains don't solve problems like they used to and this video keeps happening. Maybe if we used them differently, who knows?

[@richardbrobeck2384]

What Sad fate for some of this and future generations who will never enjoy the dinner train

[@Nkp757railfan]

Atleast the Adrian and Blissfield are brining their dinner train back

[@DosieDoughRailfan]

Poor old thing looks like the head gaskets are leaking, its a diesel but they dont smoke that much. Hope ot goes somewhere it gets maintained and used alot

[@ChamplainDivision]

#3 was built for the DANSville & Mt. Morris; not the DANESville & Mt. Morris.

[@charlieohlendorf]

23:10 you can hear the car crash hahaha

[@corbindickerson8555]

How come none of the crossing gates/signals work? Are they all power down?

[@joecameron3512]

Probably Rusty rails

[@karlscribner3838]

They haven't been used for years.

[@AFLKProductions]

Yes they were shut down, these crossings were marked as exempt three days before the run.

[@TitanMidMichiganRailfan]

Sorry about the car man

[@AFLKProductions]

It’s all good, more of a funny addition to the story than anything else

[@TitanMidMichiganRailfan]

@@AFLKProductions true

[@ajjackson1526]

So is a firefighting car used for when they are doing rail work or is it when there is a large wildfire, and they use the car to make a big wet line to act as a fire break?

[@jimnunes6286]

Save it do not scrap it!!!

[@mason-wr1we]

it should be preserved at the Conway scenic railroad in new shamshir

[@TylersNeighborhoodGarage]

Great video. Need to work harder on eliminating the grammar problems in your descriptions.

[@jimwilliams7136]

None of those cars should be scrapped out. We've lost way too many old trains over the years.

[@dannun757]

that long island car is in bad shape, it was when it showed up back in 1999

[@dsingh412]

Whats going to happen to the 44tonner now is it to be scrapped or is it being sent to somewhere else to live its life?

[@johnparker7874]

I thought both cars were going, from listening to the narrative

[@jive6753]

What's going to happen to the Long Island Passenger car?

[@gravelydon7072]

No fusees used at the crossings? We had to if there were non-working signals. Sad end to a railroad.

[@phillips1790]

So why was the one car left there?

[@DocLaw172]

Looks like they only had one of the two diesel engines running.

[@sha1om]

Judging by how the exhaust looked, if they were running only that end, the other one must be in really bad shape.

[@TracksideFoxnFuntimeFox]

Why werent they using horn signals at all?

[@AFLKProductions]

The crossings were being flagged

[@ocsrc]

Did they not pay the electric bill ? Non of the crossings are working

[@bryanlosen3262]

Why didn't the engine blow its horn crossing the highway into Charlotte?

[@AFLKProductions]

There was people flagging the crossing. If there is a flag the train is not required to blow its horn

[@bryanlosen3262]

@@AFLKProductions it's still safer. The flag man wasn't even wearing a brightly colored safety vest!!

[@AFLKProductions]

Ya this operation was kinda fishy, that’s why in the beginning when they realized they had media they didn’t like it.

[@how_to_hallagon1]

Did not hear the horn at any railroad crossings

[@jasondecristoforo4882]

I'm sure up north it could be used

[@burlingtoniowarailfanhomeo8368]

a little crappy that it was the volenteer that had to tell you to get out of the lot and now the owner

[@NSandBNSFrailfanProductions]

Why no horn for crossing?

[@AFLKProductions]

Crossing were marked as Exempt. Because of that and a flagged no horn was required

[@NSandBNSFrailfanProductions]

ah ok

[@NSandBNSFrailfanProductions]

Good to know!

[@robadams5799]

22:00 - Don't those crossing gates work? Why do they need flags?

[@user-rm4td6bt5q]

Why didn't they bring the other car back since they went through all the trouble to go out there???

[@AFLKProductions]

I think they plan to just scrap it in the middle of the woods

[@LeoA2600]

Is that how the locals pronounce Charlotte? Interesting if so, I always figured it was pronounced the common way (like the place in North Carolina). We have one such place around here that the outsiders always mispronounce as well (Madrid).

[@AFLKProductions]

It’s Charlotte, that’s how it is here in Michigan

[@davidtyler-ul9vw]

RIPPED! 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@cmphighpower]

Another dead line

[@jeffmiller3150]

If only they d had a steam loco, it would have saved the railway!😞

[@Gfysimpletons]

I have that engine, made by BACHMAN (spectrum)

[@briankelly3073]

Hi-Vis?

[@davidklauer3422]

Damn shame

[@davidgrenis638]

THAT LOCOMOTIVES DIESEL ENGINES CRACKING OUT SO MUCH SMOKE I THINK THERE'S A HEAD GASKET OR SOMETHING WATER OR OIL SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THE ENGINE

[@earlschmitt884]

Is this a no horn zone. I did not hear the engineer sound the horn or the bell at any of the crossings. Nor did it look as if the headlight was on. The locomotive evidently did not have an automatic signaling system as they had to flag all the crossings.

[@MontanaDirtRoads]

Stumbled across this,know nothing of this rail line.

[@TezcatlipocaMountyRailfan]

“This is railroad property” No. It’s not. Roads and sidewalks are public property.

[@mason-wr1we]

hi

[@NStransit8099]

Why didn't they take all of the passenger coaches. Also, why did they have a man get out and block the crossings instead of them blowing their horn. I noticed that the horn worked because they blew it for the kids. that seems like such a waste.

[@markbass9639]

Not how you legally guard a crossing without a signal. There’s nothing blocking that crossing, too easy to have a car come through and smash into the engine

[@markwilliams2620]

Critique: Buy a directional mic or have your companion turn off the "shutter click". Unless he is shooting film, it's distracting. Pet peeve. Everytime I have been at a railfan event some 🤬 is doing the same thing and ruining people trying to shoot vid.

[@AFLKProductions]

I mean love it or hate it someone will always have it on, thumbnails gotta come from somewhere tho lol

[@ryano.5149]

It's the nature of DSLRs. The shutter makes noise even in "silent mode" - which is basically just marketing wank to sell cameras. The shutter has to close and the mirror (for the view finder) has to mechanically move out of the way. The newer mirrorless cameras are silent, because both the shutter and the viewfinder are digital, and don't need all those moving parts. Not that I'm a photographer, but I just happen to own a couple DSLRs. "Silent mode" is NOT silent, unfortunately.

[@NicksCollectableCreations]

IDK, railroad employees come up to me filming and get an attitude about being on their property, I would just leave and not film their garbage.

[@AFLKProductions]

Well I get where your coming from but if I did that I wouldn’t have made the money of the 21 thousand views this video has gotten. It’s important to document history as well.

[@user-pp6kl5pk6z]

My tactic i do when filming trains i keep a distance from the crossing

[@jonwelch686]

You can’t pronounce Charlotte correctly?

[@AFLKProductions]

It’s Char-Tucky Brotha