Trains in the Snow: Marquette Rail

Marquette Rail is a Genesee & Wyoming shortline railroad that operates over 130 miles of leased trackage in west Michigan. The railroad was acquired in 2012 through the takeover of Rail America, another shortline holding company. Genesee & Wyoming owns 122 railroads world-wide. Most railfans loathe the company’s corporate orange, yellow, and black paint scheme. After taking over independent railroads like Marquette Rail, G&W removes the unique identity of each short line by repainting newly acquired locomotives in the corporate scheme.
Marquette Rail was founded in 2005 by Kevin Ruble, who along with other investors, leased the line from Grand Rapids to Ludington and Manistee from CSX. The shortline was operated as an independent, employee-owned company between 2005 and 2012 before being acquired by Rail America and subsequently, Genesee & Wyoming. Today, G&W continues to operate Marquette Rail by fulfilling the lease agreement with CSX. The lease expires in 2025, so it’s unknown if G&W will renew the lease in the future. Only time will tell, but for now, the orange is here to stay.
On February 19th, 2021, we visited Marquette Rail’s northernmost trackage to document the Manistee Yard Job. Although a mild winter until the time of our visit, a Lake Effect snowfall was beginning to coat the ground with about six inches of accumulation. Being located along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, the small town of Manistee is no stranger to snow. The name "Manistee" is from an Ojibwe word first applied to the principal river of the county. It is interpreted by some scholars as meaning “Spirit of the Woods.” Throughout the morning, the spirit of the woods was evident, as many swans, ducks, and Canadian geese were enjoying the Manistee River as the snow continued to fall from above. Talk about a winter wonderland!
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Copyright 2021. Any illegal reproduction of this video and its content is strictly prohibited. Full legal action will take place if necessary if reproduced or licensed without expressed written permission from Delay In Block Productions.
Note:
Please excuse the advertisements. Through the Google Adsense program, the advertisements help me pay for the trips I take to capture the trains.
Thanks,
-DIB

[@mrrobertdimaio]

Drayton My wife and I were brought to tears at 14:48. The image of the train quietly drifting into the distance through the falling snow was some the finest documentary film making there is...Your devotion to this difficult work will pay off. You are capturing a truth which will resonate forever....thank you.

[@thomasmackowiak]

Drayton, thank you for capturing and preserving these operations of Marquette Rail for us. Hopefully this service will continue either under the Genesee & Wyoming umbrella or by another carrier. It would be sad to see this railroad disappear.

[@codystrainsnjazz]

I was on the road with a band for 5 years and we stayed two nights in Manistee in 2015 or 16. I was always surprised when I had places to railfan on the road as I didn't always know where exactly we were going. This video brought back a lot of good memories from those two days. Thank you for uploading and for all the great work that you do.

[@wilson561]

You are a talented film maker. The camera angles along with the narration make this a documentary of great quality. Thank you for sharing with us viewers.

[@DelayInBlockProductions]

Thank you so much. This is the highest compliment I could possibly receive. I am so glad you like the narration. I often get insecure about my voice but it really makes me happy to know people don't mind listening to it. Thanks again for watching. -Drayton

[@TheCheffydave]

I have watched most of your video’s. (Every once in a while,you throw in a video, from the days before Dave found you) This is one of your best, a total definitive View, of daily life for RR workers doing their jobs in a pretty good snow event. The video and narration is full of information, and some of the best “Trains in snow” ever, in fact it is one of my “Drayton’s Fav’s” of your work, (at least until I watch “WATCO’s Michigan Shortline Railroads”). However,The Tennessee video, of CSX in the mountains,(the coke machine and the Mayor, is my very favorite) (Plz shoot me a link to that) YOU’RE THE BEST! The relaxing good times,I have viewing your work is just wonderful. Thank you for all your efforts, toward all of your fans! One of the best out there! David!

[@mr7badass]

I've lived just north of manistee for my entire life(45yrs). My great grandfather was an engineer for pere Marquette and would cross high bridge on a regular basis. My grandmother would take my very young aunt to the bridge and wait when he was coming and he would stop the train and give my aunt a candy bar before going on. He said the bridge would rock back and forth more than he liked and he had to go at a snail's pace. I have a picture of him standing next to PM 1203, a 2-8-4 Berkshire.

[@DelayInBlockProductions]

Wow! That’s so cool!

[@mr7badass]

@@DelayInBlockProductions I have a video from instalauch campground where I was standing(probably a little too close) to the tracks watching a southbound train going over the pin bridge. I had it on my channel for a while but didn't have any hits so I took it down. I also had a video from my semi when I was stopped at the first crossing past the campground where the engineer saw me filming and blew the horn just like he did to you in the first part of your vid.

[@wilkiepup1]

I have quite a few photos of Highbridge in the old days. The concrete abutments are still there on both sides of the Manistee. We live near Wellston near Tippy Dam.

[@mr7badass]

@@wilkiepup1 nice. I have been to the abutments many times.

[@donnawagberg4724]

My uncle worked for the railroad his entire life, in the U.P. The Marquette, Ishpeming, Negaunee area.

[@hoophil]

Drayton, Thank you for all your hard work to put these videos together for us to enjoy! So much beautiful scenery and camera work, the snow was so beautiful! Your video quality and editing are top notch! Being in Michigan, I really enjoy watching all your videos but especially those in Michigan! Thank you again!

[@grahamsawyer831]

lucky to catch the snow, always makes atmospheric footage. keep up the good work. DiB's dedication is very much appreciated!!

[@thebusterdog6358]

Winter wonderland phooey, call it like it is, a long drawn out winter of misery. Lmao. I left Northern Illinois in 1971 after living in that misery for my first 18 years of life and have only returned to Illinois, Michigan and Ohio on a semi annual basis during the late spring since. I miss the the rail action as Florida discontinued rail service in my area years ago but not enough to make me want to live in this to enjoy it once again. Thanks for the valuable service you present on a regular here. I watch all your stuff.

[@grahamsawyer831]

woof, woof, grrrr

[@31Alden]

Your video is very well done. My favorite lighthouse, in near whiteout conditions, made my eyes well with tears, for this was the scene from our living room window during the time my family lived in Manistee. Our sailboat’s 50’ mast required three bridge openings: The Swing Bridge, along with Manistee’s Memorial and Maple Street bridges entering and departing our moorage on Manistee Lake. Manistee is beautiful year round; never more so than in Winter. The train crossing the swing bridge with the snow falling from the bridge into the river is not only beautiful videography, but is very moving as well. Happy to know trains still have an important role in Manistee present day. Wonderful presentation rife with information. Five Stars!

[@DelayInBlockProductions]

Thank you for watching. That really means a lot! Manistee is a beautiful city.

[@wmjwell]

I am so amazed about the history you provide along with the great video! Thank you for taking the time to preserve the history!

[@jec9126]

The falling snow added to the video. I loved the old coal tower

[@terryhadler4565]

Thank you for such an informative and beautifully created video. Here in the southern part of the UK, we rarely get such weather, snow like this would shut the rail system down for days. More please. Regards Terry Hadler

[@TheCheffydave]

FANTASTIC SNOW SHOTS,don’t get that in Florida,reminds me of my rail-fanning days in Schenectady , Rotterdam, and Mechanicville on the D&H. BEAUTIFUL WORK as usual Drayton!

[@lleroy8929]

Wow, this is gonna be a good one! Howdie from Central Washington State!

[@Lakeside_Rail_Productions]

same here!

[@BrickSaturn]

Hello Central Washington State. From Nova Scotia, Canada.

[@grahamsawyer831]

that bit from about 40:01 with the two EMDs powering through the snow is really good, like a ship cutting through waves. stirring stuff o yes.

[@fredeisen7401]

Thanks Drayton! As always a great and informative video!!

[@TomStick91]

Thank you for visiting my hometown! It's nice to see the local rail be documented!

[@scotabot7826]

I just Love how quiet rail cars are in the snow!!!!

[@alexpiper9475]

great snow pictures ! thank you for interesting comentary.

[@AJKPenguin]

I didn't know Genesee & Wyoming picked them up. They picked up IORY not too long ago. At least they kept the name of the lines. I do miss the red and white of IORY. Great video @Delay in Block™ Productions thank you.

[@ajwawrzyniak]

What a totally enjoyable video! Videography, transitions, location shots, music and commentary were absolutely Pro! One of your best Drayton!

[@HarryPalmer-P.I.]

Drayton your videos are great, but your storyteller skill and presented facts are amazing.

[@rixretros]

Your vids are so well done.......great action scenes framed correctly, great sound and very good narration, along with local color commentary. Keep up the great work.

[@denisetindall1487]

I like train videos on KZbin 👍

[@Charles-ox3yv]

Outstanding video, I always enjoy trains running through snow. Thank you

[@PlanetMojo]

The Peshtigo fire was raging in Wisconsin as well. It was the deadliest wildfire in recorded history.

[@ArturoRailProductions]

I used to go to Manistee when I was little and stop at Sleeping Bear dunes as well! Man those were the days!

[@andrewpalm2103]

Thanks for this video. This takes me back to a visit to Ludington in the late 70's or early 80's to watch ferry operations. C&O was still running things, and I remember that spindly roadway taking autos up to the higher level of the ferry. And I checked out the little Ludington & Northern. Many years later my wife and I took the ferry from Wisconsin over to Ludington just for a day trip, after RR ops stopped. I grew up at the south end of the Lake Michigan snowbelt (Michigan City), and I remember those storms. Cheers from Wisconsin.

[@hoosiertrucker191]

Cheers Andrew! I moved to South Milwaukee from Ludington in late 2019, and enjoy watching the dedicated coal train line here that goes down to the power plant in Oak Creek/Racine! Grew up a few blocks from the service barn/roundhouse/switch yard in Jackson, MI on the Detroit/Chicago mainline! Could tell a freight from an Amtrack just from the sound of the horns!

[@StarlinGrimes]

Great Job

[@nw24153ns]

Another great video! fyi, I Love the color scheme of orange, black & yellow as it reminds me of Fall as most everything is going to sleep under a nice blanket of snow. 💙 Lawrence Park, PA.🚂

[@michaelsmodelrailroading7665]

I rather like the distinctive orange, black and yellow paint scheme myself. It's spotted around Southern Louisiana as the Louisiana & Delta (L&D) on multiple local switching jobs.

[@chrifi1000]

Wunderschöne Bilder, vielen vielen Dank und Grüße aus Deutschland

[@MinnesotaOtter]

Amazing footage! If you ever want to come shoot shortline footage in Minnesota, the Twin Cities and Western is a great shortline with plenty of action. Also you can get a person on-board the locomotive after signing some papers. Might even get to meet me!

[@paullindberg9230]

I thiink all your prodcttions are just. outstanding. I have enjoyed all your douctummentaries. , think I mispeled a. word!, any way you. are up. the best loft

[@paullindberg9230]

JC,I have a qestion for you? Do you rember the the fire at tthe Weehawken yard ?, It had a fueling pit sand , it also it had a ramp and i beiive it had auto racks It . did not have the galvanized panels . I do believe " Seatrain was"., the first container. freight"I antisipated a flurry of all theothers

[@peterjhillier7659]

An excellent Video obviously taken under very difficult Conditions, I expect it was cold on the Fingers too, thanks for presenting such great Views of Railway Work so we can enjoy them in the comfort of our own Homes.

[@John-wd5om]

What an amazing video drayton, this looks like a very scenic operation, enhanced by the snow with he'll fire motive power!

[@donaldhaywardjr.638]

Great job with those old GP 38"s in armor yellow. Good pictures inspite the weather conditions

[@jerrysinclair3771]

Drayton, this was another interesting video. As always, you never disappoint me and the many viewers in your stockpile of subscribers. Speaking of stockpile, you must have quite the collection of videos that we may not get to see. Take care my friend...it looked very cold in Northern Michigan!

[@JohnnysTrainVideos]

Great video... I love the snow scene but I hate the snow.

[@warrenkec374]

great video, this just shows the magic of short line railroads, subscribed!

[@JohnnysTrainVideos]

I can't wait till I can get back to railfanning again.

[@deanhale3438]

Great job. Always look forward to your videos

[@bhproductions1061]

This was the first train video I watched from you and I love this still to this day because of the B&P with the same paint scheme

[@cardiffchris]

Im glad the trains still run through Custer Township.

[@DanielPRails]

This is truly interesting. Great work

[@deanhale3438]

Watching again! Awesome!!!

[@karenchilders4865]

I love this video

[@trapdriver7006]

Excellent video I enjoyed watching it.👍😀😀😀😀😀😀🚂🇬🇧

[@TobyPasman]

The Great Lakes Central has five ex-Penn Central GP38-2s numbered 395-399. The ones I have seen are 395, 396, 397 and 398. 395 was the most common one I seen in action

[@fogdan]

Awesome Job with this video!!!

[@leadslinger49]

Great video!

[@kittty2005]

James Earl Jones grew up in Manistee.

[@soarinskies1105]

Wait no cap?

[@paullindberg9230]

You mentioned Penn Centrail. I worked for Conrail , on the extra board as a brakeman/ conductor.When they. cut the use of the cabose, witch was sad time!,I carried on for some time. in the Hudson Valley. on the New Jersey division. we always. saluted West Point. as we passed. by.!.

[@kennyspry5189]

I Don't Care there's NO Better Sound of a EMD Engine's with Turbocharger Engine it's Thee BEST Sounding Engine out of all Brand Name Companies It's just Thee BEST Engine period!!!!

[@edwardroberts2997]

You guys sure do a nice job

[@Nicola636128]

Excellent video.

[@outonthelawn3825]

Awesome video! you should consider doing a full length video similar to this for the Ann Arbor Railroad. i know you have multiple videos featuring the AA, but something of this magnitude would be really interesting!

[@albertvieira6635]

Keep up the good work long time no talk to I am happy another good video I give you an A+ job well done keep up the good work please be safe are

[@markjanssens5484]

Beautiful video, it looks as if the train is rolling across someone’s backyard.

[@LakeStateRailfan]

If you go to St. Clair, MI or the Zilwaukee Bridge, you can see street runners through people's front yards.

[@jasonoliver5388]

another great video

[@valeriebassett3107]

Wow this is really great!

[@garykuipers2696]

Picturesque, but sometimes difficult to work in, especially with a conductor and engineer only crew. Conductor sure gets a workout.

[@hoosiertrucker191]

Love this video! I used to live in Manistee, and Ludington! BTW, it's prononunced strawnack, not strawnatch...lol (Stronach Village, Stronach Township)

[@steveo2129]

cool video, engine 3389 is old marquette 3001 only engine painted in the old marquette blue and yellow paint scheme. thanks for this video.

[@ixxxekold]

Great video. i would love to see you guys do a video on OSR ( Ontario Sothern Railway )

[@tjbrown07]

Excellent Video Coverage

[@donavonrobbins1908]

Love the video. Use spend a lot of time in Manistee as a kid in the late 70s and early 80s. Watched Chessie hump hopper cars in the little staging yard behind Solbergs Warf. Got to pass the swing bridge by boat quite a few times. Id be curious to know if those GPs ever worked around Lansing during their PC/Conrail days. Might been in my back yard. Took a drive from Gaylord down to Baldwin last Tuesday. Great driving weather so I took a drive over to Ludington and up to Manistee before heading home. Was hoping to catch a MR run, but didn't see any activity.

[@chrissterrmusic]

Forgive me if I missed it, but DIBP should do something on the Great Lakes Central and their routes up in northern Michigan. Clare, TC, Petoskey, and the spots and stops in between. Thanks for the entertainment! ✌🏼

[@CraigHensleyPhoto]

Awesome!

[@Howoldareweanywayyipes]

wow. you sure know your stuff sir... I've done my share of driving in snow servicing teletype equipment at Radio stations and TV stations across Michigan. How can they even know where their switches are? they should put a broom at each switch but stupid people would steal them i'm sure. great job. yeah, teletype equipment... those were the days.

[@theeandlcmodelrailroad5528]

An EXCELLENT piece of work!!! You can be proud of it. Thank you for the history that keeps legends alive. satisfaction 100%! Earl. 07Apr2021

[@michaeljudge860]

Are you sure 3391 was originally built in November of 74 for CP Rail. I can’t find any SD40-2’s built in November I could only find 1 Unit being built in December of 74 as CP 5836.

[@Bhil3]

I so enjoy trains. Very good video.

[@TobyPasman]

My high school band teacher and his wife live in Manistee. He retired in 2016

[@justfilmit3412]

Nice m8 ✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️

[@stuew6]

Nice to see Two ex Cp SD40-2

[@theeandlcmodelrailroad5528]

P.S. Glad that the snow-mobile didn't decide to scoot through under a covered hopper!!!

[@marinablueGS]

What is the purpose of the tower?

[@NovaKrysalis]

I assume you mean the coaling tower shown at the end of the video? In the days of steam locomotives, it was used to refuel coal-fired steam locos. There would be coal in the top, the loco would get the tender underneath and fill it with coal. Maybe there's an ashpit as well, for dumping ash and slag from the firebox, if needed. After that, they'd maybe take on more water if needed, then go work the yard or line.

[@bigred1247]

Love those direct turbo diesels

[@ArantiusVulpes]

growing up my family had a reunion every year in late July in brohman michigan i always used to wave now i drive trains for CP and where did the EOT go?

[@TobyPasman]

Kevin Sorbo also starred in the 2014 Pure Flix film God’s Not Dead as a college professor who was an atheist. It’s a good movie

[@taslimchoudhary1253]

Nice video. 🏵️🏵️🇮🇳

[@charlierumsfeld6626]

A stick up the nose every time entering the mill? Instant results from the swab?

[@thoubythenameofwool]

39:30 the most well known crossing in the entire video

[@MITracks]

Those geeps arrived before 2014

[@jamiebricks]

I’d love to see some sort of tourist railway from manistee to Ludington or Vice versa it bring back steam and probably make a bit The feasibility tho of money in take is probably very low sadly.

[@prariestaterail1071]

When ya doing the Indiana RailRoad I can give you their schedules so you can get them easier.

[@bryanlosen3262]

Any other businesses that ship by rail in Manistee besides the 3 you mentioned?

[@hoosiertrucker191]

Manistee is pretty small, and the big 3 there are Martin Marietta, Packaging Corporation of America (PCA), and Morton Salt. Other companies in Ludington are served by Marquette Rail, such as Occidental Chemical, Cal-Chlor, and Whitehall Industries (my former employer).

[@Kaithelegoguy]

Is this what happened to pere marquette

[@daveyboy_]

Too bad they didn't do what other railways that took over other lines - they repainted the engines in the heritage livery . MMA is one co. That did this

[@angeljoyce9970]

nice qyallide

[@ironkid65]

Nice video, but they are Canada geese, not Canadian geese.

[@MITracks]

Boxcar country between the GDLK and MQT.

[@ohgary]

Who closes the gates as they leave the PCS mill?

[@hoosiertrucker191]

usually PCA security

[@frederickmoller]

They just lost a railway in the Sault Ste. Marie Ontario- Sudbury Ontario region for trying to 'fleece' the Ontario Taxpayers because they are too cheap to do railway maintenance, it IMO shows how they operate their railways.

[@Guokas0422]

Uh oh watch out for the deadly WuFlu train LOL

[@dennisbundy3042]

Train driver needs sunglasses?

[@train_chicken6143]

hahahhahaha at 34:47 he says gmd it's emd not gmd

[@DelayInBlockProductions]

GMD was the Canadian subsidiary of EMD.

[@danmathers141]

At 5:30 the entire world is white.