MMRR Z627 Log

[GR Ron]

Monday, December 7, 2009 about 09:30 ready to depart Henry St Yard eastbound.

[Mr. Tops]

Oh and one other note...with D700 back on nights now, Z627 is also back to their old time or maybe an hour or two earlier, which would be 1900-2000...

[Mr. Tops]

12-15-09

Z627-15 Southbound

GR 3839
CFE 3885 (both facing forward)

3 (L) Shape (B)
21 (L) Nugent (CH)
1 (E) Webb (T) 1830

25 total

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Today MMRR 179 is in the shop with 3839 back out on the road. One of the 38's brake valves was acting up and they were getting a penalty application every time the engineer applied 3-step. They departed Muskegon shortly after 2100 hours.

[Mr. Tops]

12-16-09

Z627-16 Southbound

CFE 3885
GR 3839

6 (E) Shape
2 (E) Fremont Co-op (CH)
21 (L) Nugent (CH)

29 total

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Here's a video of the train: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xbiy8d_ms-z62716_tech

It's nice to see the storage line coming back to life. With MMRR 179 back in service for a few weeks now and CFE 3885 making it's first debut in about 8 months this week! That leaves MS 180 and MS 73 as the only units sitting at the Henry Street shops...

[AARR]

Tops - you must have been running pretty fast to stay with that train Was the crew freaked that you were so close for such a long distance

Since we know that GM Foundry in Defiance receives about 6,500 tons of sand a week, can we figure out how much sand for frac service is being shipped?

[Mr. Tops]

Tops - you must have been running pretty fast to stay with that train Was the crew freaked that you were so close for such a long distance

Since we know that GM Foundry in Defiance receives about 6,500 tons of sand a week, can we figure out how much sand for frac service is being shipped?

It doesn't bother them; I do it all the time. I am on a public road and I keep my eyes on the road. I only look at my camera every so often. Here's a map of where I do the pacing...I start about where the pinpoint is and use Henry Street up to Laketon (that's why it's called the Henry Street Hill ). http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&sourc ... 19248&z=16

I'm not sure about the sand...Now that Nugent seems to be shipping out more sand, I'm not sure if the additional sand is going to Defiance or Ft. Smith -- or both.

[AARR]

Doc said they shipped a bunch out for Ft. Smith the other day.

Just jkg about the train crew. I suppose they don't get to many cars pacing their train in the dark But i love the video. I love the sound of the train almost as much as I like the sight.

[Mr. Tops]

Here's a shot of the train before it departed North Yard last night around 2120.

[Hugh]

The video makes me wish I was at JW"s.

[Mr. Tops]

12-18-09

MS Z627-18 Southbound

CFE 3885
GR 3839

4 (L) Shape (B) Bumpers
10 (L) Nugent (CH) Sand
2 (E) Webb (T) 1814 & 1824
3 (E) Brinks (T) Nitrogen

19 total

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Train highballed Bay Logistics at 2315 so they were to Holland probably shortly after 0130.

The crew is still praising 3885 for it's ride and how they can put a coffee cup on the dash and all the way from Muskegon to Holland it does not spill.

[AARR]

The crew is still praising 3885 for it's ride and how they can put a coffee cup on the dash and all the way from Muskegon to Holland it does not spill.

It looks like it has the large anti-climber and extended nose. It seems many if not all -2's after 1976ish had this feature.

Interestingly, you posted recently that GM Defiance gets 6,500 tons of sand a week. I found on a website that the Ford engine plant in Cleveland (Brook Park) gets the same amount (from Yuma).

[Mr. Tops]

Yes, AARR, you are correct...it has an anti-climber which were options at the time when 3885 was built (12/1979). It also has a slightly larger nose. 88 inches instead of 81. GP38s and earlier GP38-2s had the 81 inch nose. The 88 inch nose came around in 1976. Here are some comparison shots

[AARR]

It also looks like the blower housing was shifted back a few inches on the -2 models. BTW - great comparison photos! You're really good with a camera.

[Mr. Tops]

Thanks, AARR. Those shots are coincidentally similar. The blower -- and everything behind it was moved back a few inches as you noticed. This is to accomodate the -2 electrical components.

[tsinoms]

Yes, AARR, you are correct...it has an anti-climber which were options at the time when 3885 was built (12/1979). It also has a slightly larger nose. 88 inches instead of 81. GP38s and earlier GP38-2s had the 81 inch nose. The 88 inch nose came around in 1976. Here are some comparison shots

MAn that CFE unit really looks more comfortable then the GRE unit.

[Mr. Tops]

MAn that CFE unit really looks more comfortable then the GRE unit.

You can tell how comfortable a unit is by looking at it from the outside?

[AARR]

MAn that CFE unit really looks more comfortable then the GRE unit.

You can tell how comfortable a unit is by looking at it from the outside?

Can't judge a book by it's cover I guess cause I was thinking the same thing as TSinoms

[Mr. Tops]

MAn that CFE unit really looks more comfortable then the GRE unit.

You can tell how comfortable a unit is by looking at it from the outside?

Can't judge a book by it's cover I guess cause I was thinking the same thing as TSinoms

So what made you guys think that? Because 3885 is cleaner than 3839? Because 3885's interior cab light is on in the pic? Beside the fact that I already said the crew likes 3885's ride; it's not exactly something you can determine from the outside. Yes, I'm sorry, you must read the book.

[Mr. Tops]

12-21-09

Z627-21 Soouthbound

GR 3839
MMRR 179

3 (L) Shape (B)

3 total!

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They swapped 3 for 3 at Bay, the crew had to gather the 3 to spot at Bay before they left North Yard. They departed North Yard around 2240 and had to run up to Henry Street to swap 3885 for 179. Someone forgot to fill 3885's fuel tank, 10 minutes later, at 2310 they depart Henry Street to head back to their 3 cars on the main and depart Muskegon shortly before 2330.

[AARR]

12-21-09

Z627-21 Soouthbound

GR 3839
MMRR 179

3 (L) Shape (B)

3 total!

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They swapped 3 for 3 at Bay, the crew had to gather the 3 to spot at Bay before they left North Yard. They departed North Yard around 2240 and had to run up to Henry Street to swap 3885 for 179. Someone forgot to fill 3885's fuel tank, 10 minutes later, at 2310 they depart Henry Street to head back to their 3 cars on the main and depart Muskegon shortly before 2330.

Holiday slow down I presume