MMRR Z627 Log

[Mr. Tops]

Thanks, Don. For clarification, those are not my photos.

[Mr. Tops]

10/15/09

Z627-15

MMRR 3836
GR 3839

5 (L) Shape (B)
6 (L) Nugent (CH)
3 (E) Webb (T) 2 Sodium Hydroxide Solutions & a methanol
1 (E) Bayer (T) Hydrochloric Acid
1 (E) Mart Dock (B)

16 total

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The day crew didn't have enough time to finish their work today. Apparently switching Nugent, Webb and Bayer takes 12 hours? Z627's crew wasn't sure either. They stopped on the way out and picked up the empty box from the Mart Dock and then went down to switch Bay; 5 in and 5 out (all Shapes). They left some empty docks on the north end of the building so I'm thinking they may spot a Bay or two on the way north...

[AARR]

Apparently switching Nugent, Webb and Bayer takes 12 hours?

That's what I've wondered too I find Class 1's spend a lot of time not moving trains but short lines tend to be moving all the time so perhaps there was a problem during the MS shift

[Mr. Tops]

10/16/09

Z627-09

GR 3839
MMRR 3836

5 (L) Shape (B)
2 (E) Bay (B)
16 (L) Nugent (CH)

23 total

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They were talking about bringing some of the cars at Bay back north with them to respot them, not sure which ones they were talking about, whether the Bay cars or some of the Shapes. If I can figure it out on Monday night, I will update the the count in this post.

This weeks total of southbound cars from Muskegon was 78 cars, the lowest number since the first week they started running 5 nights (that week was 73 cars). Once again, solely due to the number of Nugents shipped out, or rather the lack thereof. Last week was 79 outbound loads, this week was only 47! Other counts were pretty much spot on in comparison to where they have been with a slight up-tick with Shape. Webb has been hanging on around 4 cars per week...I remember when it was around 4 per day!

Nugent: 47
Shape: 18
Webb: 4
Brinks: 3
Bay: 3
Fremont: 1
Mart: 1
Bayer: 1

[C&O6088]

Thanks for your daily (when MMRR is running) posts Mr. Tops. This is the first Post I check every day. I find it interesting that Fremont Co-Op is so low on number of cars per week. I drive by there and there's usually 3-5 cars there at a time. Does that mean that MMRR only drops one off, picks one up and the other 2-4 shuffle up to be loaded and shipped at a later date? I cringe to think that MMRR can pay for the miles of track to Fremont for so few car loads. I don't want Fremont to become another Greenville or Ionia and someday be "trackless".

C&O

[AARR]

I find it interesting that Fremont Co-Op is so low on number of cars per week. I drive by there and there's usually 3-5 cars there at a time. Does that mean that MMRR only drops one off, picks one up and the other 2-4 shuffle up to be loaded and shipped at a later date?

A while back there was an article that Femont Co-op would increase rail shipments from 500 a year to 850. I'd like to see them ship the 500 the article stated They haven't been close to that.

[Mr. Tops]

Most, if not all of the Fremont Co-op cars have been inbound loads of fertilizer and the like. Now that harvesting season is upon us, lets see what happens...I think the nice NDYX hoppers and inbound fertilizer loads will disappear and the ratty ATGX, INTX and RRRX hoppers will show up for the outbound loads and traffic should increase up there over the fall/winter as this years harvest is shipped out.

[Hugh]

What Time did the South bound leave on Friday night 10-16-2009? I heard it going North bound thru Grand Haven about 5:09 AM. I caught up with it at Van Wagoner Road. It only had 10 cars. 5 sand hoppers and 5 box cars.

[Mr. Tops]

They left around midnight on Friday night as they had to build their train.

[Mr. Tops]

Effective today, Z627 crew is on duty in Muskegon late morning/early afternoon. This will prevent me from seeing them go south most days, but will now be able to see them come north. I will still post what I see, but no more weekly car counts

10/19/09

Z627-19 Southbound

MMRR 3836
GR 3839

5 (L) Shape (B)
7 (L) Nugent (CH)

12 total

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Z627-19 Northbound (departed NB from Waverly around 1930)

GR 3839
MMRR 3836

3 (L) Bay (B)
2 (L) Brinks (T)
7 (E) Nugent (CH)
4 (E) Shape (B)
3 (L) Bay (B)
1 (E) Nugent (CH)
1 (L) Webb (T) Methanol
6 (E) Nugent (CH)
1 (E) Shape (B)
9 (E) Nugent (CH)

37 cars total

[AARR]

That's a nice northbound consist!

[SD80MAC]

Hey Tops, you busy Friday? Thinking about doing a Z627 chase!

[~Z~]

Argh.....
Actually headed out for lunch today, tlout gave me a ring that Z62720 was just heading into Waverly, so out the door I went about 20 mins later, should have been enough time for me to get my Taco Bell and then watch Z62720 shuffling are the yard and hopefully catch them departing, getting car counts and all.
Ideas went south when I grabbed my food, then heard "i guess we'll just sit here a while".... CSX Y121 was switching up the yard behind a wall of sand hoppers for 45 mins, Z627 finally let loose at 2pm to start their work. Didn't see a single car moving from a couple vantage points... oh well, at least I could "hear" the jobs.

[Mr. Tops]

Hey Tops, you busy Friday? Thinking about doing a Z627 chase!

I will be game for that. Hopefully 3839 is in the lead, eh? EHH?????

[Hugh]

What happened to the crossing signal in Ferrysburg on the 23rd?

[Mr. Tops]

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=15345&start=20#p114902

[Mr. Tops]

10-27-09

Z627-27 Southbound

GR 3839
MMRR 3836

3 (L) Shape (B)
24 (L) Nugent (CH)
4 (E) Webb (T) 2 methanols, a sodium hydroxide solution and 3082 tank
3 (L) Nugent (CH)

34 total

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They got to Waverly around 2100 and was going to wait for Amtrak, but the dispatcher quick snuck them out ahead of Amtrak to back into the yard and do their work, meanwhile, empties were coming out of the plant southbound.

I also caught the northbound train last evening coming through Grand Haven around 2200...ish? I cant remember.

They had 3836/3839 and...I cant remember the exact order they were in but I DO remember what they had lol

Z627-26 Northbound

2 (E) Shape (B)
2 (E) Nugent (CH)
1 (L) Brinks (T)
2 (L) Webb (T) methanol & sulfuric acid

[Mr. Tops]

10-28-09

Z627-28 Southbound

MMRR 3836
GR 3839

3 (L) Shape (B)
7 (L) Nugent (CH)
1 (E) Bay (B)
2 (E) Fremont Co-op (CH)
1 (E) Fremont Co-op (T) 1005
2 (E) Bayer (T) 1789

16 total

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They must have changed their time again to around 1600 OD as they arrived in Holland around 1930 and had to wait for Y121 to clear up in the yard, and then a loaded coal train went north.

Z627-28 Northbound

MMRR 3836
GR 3839

2 (E) Nugent (CH)
3 (E) Shape (B)
1 (L) Bayer (T) 1789
1 (L) Brinks (T) fertilizer
3 (E) Nugent (CH)
1 (L) Webb (T) 1824

11 total

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Arrived back to Muskegon at midnight

[AARR]

I'm still reading your thread everyday. Thanks Mr Tops

[Hugh]

Thanks for the updates. It keeps me up to date for when I cann't be in GH.