Coopersville and Marne Railway

Summary

The Coopersville and Marne Railway is a non-profit[1] tourist railroad and common carrier in West Michigan. It connects with the Grand Rapids Eastern Railroad. The company owns the track, which runs from Walker, Michigan to Coopersville, Michigan in Kent and Ottawa counties. It runs excursion trains from Coopersville to Marne and back and services one customer, near the end of the line, with freight cars of lumber.

Coopersville and Marne Railway
Overview
HeadquartersCoopersville, Michigan
Reporting markCPMY
LocaleWest Michigan
Dates of operation1989–Present
PredecessorCentral Michigan Railway
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Length14.28 miles (22.98 km)
Other
Websitewww.coopersvilleandmarne.org

As of 2008, one car on the train will be handicapped accessible in the near future.[2]

As of 2022, the handicap-accessible car is still under restoration. No completion date has been announced.

As of 2023, the handicap-accessible car has completed restoration and is operational.[3]

Locomotives edit

Number Original Owner Type Builder Build Date Notes
20 United States Army 20-ton Switcher Whitcomb Locomotive Works Unknown Non-Operational, stored.
1395 Canadian National Railway 4-6-0 Montreal Locomotive Works 1913 Non-Operational, privately owned.
2394 Vermont Railway RS-1 ALCO 1942 Non-Operational, poor candidate for restoration. Former Tuscola and Saginaw Bay Railway.
3049 DuPont Chemical 50-ton Switcher General Electric 1957 Operational, secondary locomotive used on the railroad.
5208 Chesapeake and Ohio Railway NW2 EMD 1949 Non-Operational, used as a parts engine for #7014.
7014 Grand Trunk Western Railroad SW9 EMD 1952 Privately owned. Operational, main locomotive used on the railroad.
7209 Consumers Energy 125-ton Center Cab Switcher General Electric 1949 Gifted to CPMY in February, 2023, as part of the J.H. Campbell generation facility's planned 2025 closure. Was used as a switcher for coal gondolas at the facility. Source[4]

Source[5]

References edit

  1. ^ "About Us". Friends of Coopersville and Marne Railway. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  2. ^ "Renovation project aims to make Coopersville and Marne Railway accessible to everyone". Grand Rapids Press. 15 September 2008.
  3. ^ "FAQ". Friends of Coopersville and Marne Railway. December 22, 2023. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  4. ^ "125-ton locomotive donated to Coopersville train friends group".
  5. ^ "Coopersville & Marne Railroad Company".

See also edit

  • Employer determination [1]