Train tracks or not? (Grand Rapids, Ionia: how much, home, gated)

[zorro623]

Hello again everyone! As my hubby and I narrow down our long search for the perfect home in the GR area, we came up with a question regarding one in the Ada area. Are the train tracks that run parallel with Grand River Drive active train tracks or are they part of the rails to trails network? We'd rather not have trains flying through our back yard at all hours.

Thanks for the info!

[BoomRShine]

Originally Posted by zorro623

Hello again everyone! As my hubby and I narrow down our long search for the perfect home in the GR area, we came up with a question regarding one in the Ada area. Are the train tracks that run parallel with Grand River Drive active train tracks or are they part of the rails to trails network? We'd rather not have trains flying through our back yard at all hours.

Thanks for the info!

These tracks belong to Grand Rapids Eastern Railroad. From information I've gleaned from the internet, these tracks are only used on an as-needed basis, something like 2-3 times a week. Also, apparently during business hours (8-5). So, it seems they are not used very often or "at all hours".

[magellan]

Originally Posted by zorro623

Hello again everyone! As my hubby and I narrow down our long search for the perfect home in the GR area, we came up with a question regarding one in the Ada area. Are the train tracks that run parallel with Grand River Drive active train tracks or are they part of the rails to trails network? We'd rather not have trains flying through our back yard at all hours.

Thanks for the info!

None of the railroad tracks in Ada get used very often. I think Amway is the only user in Ada, and then there may be a few manufacturers out in Lowell and/or Ionia that use them a couple of times a week. And the trains go slow through there.

[leadsquirter]

How shiny are the rails? That will tell you how much traffic they see.

[cervantes]

I know I'm bringing back a month old thread, but haven't visited the forum in a while. I live on Grand River on the Lowell side and the tracks go through my backyard. I can confirm what others have suggested that the tracks are not used often at all. Last Spring they seemed to get "busy" (if you would call it that) by going there & back (toward Ada, then back toward Lowell) twice a week. Since then, it is once a week max and always during the daytime. I've never seen an engine pulling more than 5 cars, so the entire appearance of the train lasts 60 seconds MAX. Early summer (maybe even back in May?) they did some repairs on the tracks, but if you walk the tracks, they look rough...as in, without a complete overhaul, the life of these tracks seems to be limited.

I'm really surprised with the amount of bike traffic on Grand River that Ada/Lowell has not considered doing a "rails to trails" path. King Milling in Lowell is the only company I know that uses the tracks and with the frequency of use, it seems like using Semis to haul their grain would be equally cost efficient...that is just a guess though.

In any case: I'm all for a bike path that would connect the one on the Ada side of Grand River (ending at the crew boat launch area) all the way to Lowell. Who knows, maybe someday they'll hike my taxes up and make it happen!

[Raildudes dad]

King Milling gets western wheat to supplement what is grown in Michigan. They probably mill more western wheat than MI wheat. Trucking wheat from North Dakota is not cost effective. They just added 2 new concrete silos for the flour they produce. Michigan Wire gets a car or two very infrequently.

RailAmerica, the owner of the GRE is not receptive to trails with rails but it has been investigated. Class 2 track only needs a good tie every 3rd tie so there can be a lot of bad ones.