In the early 1990’s Jeremy Christian bought a 1/3 of a mile length of track in Plainwell on a "quit claim" deed.
This track was part of the ex-NYC line from Kalamazoo to Allegan and Grand Rapids , south and east of the plastics factory in Plainwell, Preferred Plastics. At one time, Essex Wire may have owned this stretch of line and simply abandonded it when they left the area.
Jeremy registered the property as the Plainwell Central Railroad, at the age of 18.
While the southern end of the track was overgrown and long disused, the northern end was still in use in the 90’s, the Conrail local having to use this track to put hopper cars of pellets into the plastics company spur.
there was a second spur that ran into the southern end of the plastics factory but it was long disused and totally overgrown. This old flat car was down next to that spur in the woods. At some time it had been pushed off the track and left to rot. It had no markings to give any clues as to its history.
the flat car was used inside the factory as a bridge across the track. When the spur became disused, the bay inside the factory was filled in and that car pushed of the rails to rot.
Jeremy moved up to Sault Ste Marie. Eventually he lost interest in railroading and put the Plainwell Central up for sale. After a couple of years on the market, a deal was made with Preferred Plastics. In December 2002, the scrappers tore up the track to fatten the coffers of the Plastics Factory. The flat car was torched.
Jeremy moved up to Sault Ste Marie. Eventually he lost interest in railroading and put the Plainwell Central up for sale. After a couple of years on the market, a deal was made with Preferred Plastics. In December 2002, the scrappers tore up the track to fatten the coffers of the Plastics Factory. The flat car was torched.
No comments:
Post a Comment