Location: L'Anse, MI - Celotex Corporation - CertainTeed

The Celotex Corporation plant was located on L'Anse Bay, on the southwest edge of the City of L'Anse. The plant received rail service from the DSS&A and Soo Line. Today, the plant is known as CertainTeed and they receive rail service from the Canadian National railroad.

Photo info: A 2023 overhead of the CertainTeed plant in L'Anse. The CN main line is next to the state highway. [GMAP]

Notes

Time Line

1964. In a filing before the ICC to allow trackage rights on the LS&I by the Soo Line between Eben Junction and Marquette, the Soo Line noted that one of the goals is to better serve the Celotex Corporation at L'Anse. Celotex ships 48% of its products by rail and 52% by truck from its plant in L'Anse, which is served by the Soo Line. For inbound materials, 65% is transported by rail and 35% by truck.

Rail delivery from the L'Anse plant is on the fifth morning to Chicago. "We're in an unfortunate location for delivery competition with other Midwestern companies, which can deliver the next morning," the General Manager said at the hearing.

This delivery service has resulted in loss to both the Soo Line and Celotex. If the application is approved, deliveries by rail to Chicago can be made 24 hours faster, which would increase the business of the Soo Line. Traffic lost to the Soo Line by shifting to motor carrier service or by shifting production to other Celotex plants has amounted to a minimum of 25 cars a month. [EDP-1964-0318]

1965. Celotex advertising for rough aspen pulpwood delivered f.o.b. on cars on the Soo Line railroad or f.o.b. trucks at L'Anse. [IDG-1966-0309]