A few questions about Bluewater.

What groups have they partnered with or done major leases to?

Any grand list of excursions? How active are they with excursions today?

Have they ever been mentioned in TRAINS Magazine, L&RP, Railway Age etc.?

The best source for historic information about NRHS chapters and their activities is the Annual Activities Issue of the NRHS Bulletin.

Second best is chapter websites (which you can get to from the NRHS website, NRHS.com).

Bob H

I was an officer for Bluewater for several years. I am not sure what time frame you are interested in...when founded Bluewater (like many eastern NRHS chapters) was an annual participant in the NS Steam program until 1994 and also did many steam and diesel trips over CSX and a few diesel trips over CN until 1994 as well. Again, like many other eastern groups these excursions were the catalyst for Bluewater to gather a fleet of excursion equipment. This equipment was first kept in the ex-CN roundhouse in Pontiac and then in the ex-PM roundhouse in Saginaw. For its first few years Bluewater also had use of the equipment from the now-long-gone SEMPTA commuter operation in Detroit, and shared a ship in Ponitac with SEMPTA.

Another catalyst for the creation of Bluewater's fleet was to run with the PM 1225, which was returned to operation in the mid-1980s. While this didn't happen as often as anticipated Bluewater did run major excursions in partnership with the 1225 organization in 1999, 2005, 2007, and a few other times.

Bluewater has leased equipment to many groups over the years, although not as often in recent years (as is the case in much of this field). Just over the past few weeks BW's cars have run in the holiday train operated by Dennison, OH's depot.

Bluewater currently is having problems with its home shop in Saginaw. Right now there aren't any trips announced for 2009, but it is a bit early to announce trips yet.

BW has had pictures of its trips published many times in TRAINS. I don't recall ever being in L&RP or Railway Age (although I don't know why it would be in Railway Age).

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Chris Jacks.