Grand Elk Railroad

Grand Elk Railroad

Grand Elk (WAMX)#4124 is headed to Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Reporting mark GDLK
Locale Indiana and Michigan
Dates of operation 2009–
Track gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Headquarters Kalamazoo, Michigan

The Grand Elk Railroad (reporting mark GDLK) 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 (198 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.[1]

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 three short line railroads, the Marquette Rail (Grand Rapids), Grand Rapids Eastern Railroad (Grand Rapids), and Michigan Southern Railroad (White Pigeon, Michigan).[2][3][4][5]

References

  1. ↑ Nixon, Alex (December 4, 2008). "Rail line lease sought". Kalamazoo Gazette. Retrieved 2008-12-05.
  2. ↑ Wheelock, Chris; Shandra Martinez (2009-04-20). "Grand Elk roars into town". Grand Rapids Press. p. A10.
  3. ↑ "Marquette Rail company website". Retrieved 2015-04-20.
  4. ↑ "Grand Rapids Eastern Railroad company website". Retrieved 2015-04-20.
  5. ↑ "Michigan Southern Railroad Co. company website". Retrieved 2015-04-20.

External links