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Posted by J.R.V. at HS
on 10/29/2009, 2:05 am
69.221.244.185
For those who don't know, New Buffalo is now being served by Amtrak's Blue Water (364 and 365) and evening Wolverine trains 354 and 355. The stop made by the Pere Marquette (trains 370 and 371) is now officially discontinued as of this past Monday, Oct. 26, 2009. Below are scenes of the transition of service in New Buffalo on Oct. 25 and Oct. 26, 2009:
On Oct. 25, 2009, Amtrak's Pere Marquette served New Buffalo for the final time. I was not able to make it for train 371's final station stop that morning but was able to make it down for train 370's final station stop in New Buffalo.
At 8:28pm (51 minutes late), Pere Marquette train 370 arrives as two passengers wait to board the train to Holland. 
Passengers disembark from the Pere Marquette in New Buffalo for the last time. 
The final two passengers prepare to board the Pere Marquette in New Buffalo for the final time. New Buffalo area residents wanting to travel toward Holland and Grand Rapids by train must now board the Pere Marquette in St. Joseph. 
With everyone on board, Amtrak conductor Jeri Khaghani calls out the final highball over the radio for the Pere Marquette to depart from New Buffalo. 
Two railfans from the Michigan City, Indiana area document the Pere Marquette's last departure from New Buffalo. 
On Oct. 26, 2009, history would be made. When I arrived to New Buffalo this day, the new station platform (located along Amtrak's Michigan District line in downtown New Buffalo) was packed with area residents, media, passengers, and train and government officials. I was not able to make it in time to see the Pere Marquette (train 371) pass for the first time without stopping and the passing of Wolverine train 350. 
The New Buffalo High School marching band and color guard warm up with a few tunes while waiting for the celebration to get on its way. 
To officially get things moving, everyone was asked to vacate the station platform. With everyone off the platform, Wolverine train 351 made its way through at slow speed as the more than 200 spectators looked on. 
Amtrak's Michael Franke, Assistant Vice President of Policy and Development, speaks to the crowd. 
After all speeches had been given, New Buffalo Mayor Rusty Geisler cuts the ribbon, officially opening the new Amtrak station. This station was paid for using private funds with no cost to Amtrak, the city, and federal government. The man responsible for the station being built (who paid for it) was not in attendance at this event. 
Now officially open for business, Amtrak's Blue Water (train 365) arrives to the new Amtrak station, marking it as the first passenger train to stop and pick-up passengers along this line in more than 50 years (NYC passenger trains stopped serving New Buffalo in the 1950's, even though the city did have a depot along this line). 
The media scrambles on the platform to document passengers boarding at the new station for the first time. 
With everyone on board, Amtrak conductor Barbara Hughes gives the first official high ball over the radio for the Blue Water to depart from the new Amtrak station in New Buffalo. 
Before the ceremony came to an end, I talked with many of the Amtrak officials at the event and asked what were they going to do with the station signs at the "now closed" Amtrak station on CSX? They said nothing since they had no use for them and would of probably scrapped them. They asked if I wanted them? My mind said yes but my heart said no. I only knew one place that would appreciate them more than me and that was the local railroad museum in town. So following the celebration, I joined the Amtrak officials, Michigan Department of Transporation (MDOT) officials, and members of the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers (MARP - which I am part of) at the former station site to take down the signs (below). Once the signs were safely removed, I brought them on over to the New Buffalo Railroad Museum (the wooden station in background of photo below next to the Chessie System box car). The City of New Buffalo appreciated the donation since now that they have proof that Amtrak's Pere Marquette once served New Buffalo. 
While waiting around for Blue Water train 364 to arrive to New Buffalo, I took the opportunity to visit the town, including Four Winds Casino. As part of the new Amtrak station now open, the casino is providing shuttle bus service for Amtrak passengers disembarking from the new station and would bring them back to the station for their return train (all trains serving New Buffalo beginning Nov. 1, 2009).
At 6:38pm (15 minutes late), Amtrak's Blue Water (train 364) arrives to the new Amtrak station, becoming the second official train to serve New Buffalo on the former Michigan Central line in more than 50 years. 
After disembarking passengers, Amtrak conductor Bruce Bowser gives the first official highball for Blue Water train 364 to depart New Buffalo from the new station. 
Over an hour later, Amtrak's Pere Marquette (train 370) passes its former station stop in New Buffalo. The first station for the PM east of Chicago is now St. Joseph. 
At 8:22pm (6 minutes late), Amtrak Wolverine train 354 makes its first official stop to the new Amtrak station in New Buffalo. Only 2 passengers disembarked from the train with no one boarding. 
I did not stay around to see Amtrak Wolverine train 355 make its first official stop (since it was not due in until 10:25pm).
The new arrival times for Amtrak trains serving New Buffalo are as follows:
Blue Water (train 365) - 11:34am
Blue Water (train 364) - 6:23pm
Wolverine (train 354) - 8:16pm
Wolverine (train 355) - 10:25pm
All other Amtrak trains (Wolverine trains 350, 351, 352 & 353) will continue to pass through New Buffalo but not stop. If you are in New Buffalo to see one of these trains pass, beware of the high speed they travel at (I think it is more than 70mph). They move fast and I mean fast!
With New Buffalo no longer being served by the Pere Marquette, the city gained two new train routes in the process. Instead of traveling north to St. Joseph, Bangor, Holland and Grand Rapids on the PM, rail passengers from New Buffalo can now travel east to Niles, Dowagiac, Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, Jackson, Ann Arbor, Dearborn, Detroit, Royal Oak, Birmingham and Pontiac and northeast to East Lansing, Durand, Flint, Lapeer, and Port Huron, along with traveling west to Michigan City, Indiana, Hammond-Whiting, Indiana, and Chicago, Illinois by train.
Hope you enjoyed!
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