Michigan shortline updates: February

[penn central]

When i was working today i saw HESR train 702 for power was the 2668, 2661, and the 3826, That's the first time i have seen the 2661 in a while. I didn't have time to count the cars. Thanks Justin and Evan on the 2052 info that helped a lot.

[Justin]

It was brought to my attention also that 702 this morning was a monster train, around 110 cars, which is bigger than usual.

Good to see you posting here again Justin. would you happen to know why 702 was so large? Was there a grain block? Was there a few days worth of traffic?

Just a LOT of Dow cars by the looks of it. Just a really long train, looked like the usual stuff. IIRC they didn't run a 702 one day last week (Friday?), only running a 701 north out of Durand, so it's possible that was a few days worth of traffic.

It could depend on a lot of things, one being what SD80MAC mentioned, if they didn't run a train south, that would make up some of the large amounts, two, if they brought back a large train from Midland Friday night Saturday morning, also could add to he size of train, I am trying to remember if they ran Friday or not, I believe they did run 702 south as I may have gotten the heads up from Evan. There have been days were 702 has left Bay City very late, say around 2 or 3 in the afternoon. It seems lately the trains' schedules have been fluctuating. Monday's 701 from Durand usually is a larger train due to the fact that they haven't run over the weekend. Grain only goes as far south as Saginaw from Bay City (Auburn).

[SD80MAC]

Yeah, 771 confused me at first, I was wondering why a CSX grain train with HESR power was backing west out of Saginaw yard and then went north at Mershon. Later it dawned on me it was likely an Auburn train

[AANscaleRunner]

GLC 393 and 395 arrived in Cadillac around 3 PM yesterday with a loaded centerbeam. Expect to hear them headed to TC/Williamsburg this morning.

[CN_Okemos]

just heard the Lansing and Jackson coming across jolly Rd in Lansing, not sure which easy they were headed though

[JDavis21835]

It might've been another Z job going to Paines. Z126 is the train that goes up to Bay City.

No Paines traffic as the line is still blocked just east of Center rd in Saginaw twp. It was too dark to see down the grade today, but CRS/Shaw still had equipment in the ROW this evening.

[borgmanjr80]

The I&O RR just went into flat rock yard train # 401 with I&O 4072

[JDavis21835]

Lake state has a little forgein power on the property in Saginaw. Ns 8012 and Csx 4794 are building a south bound freight and are facing long hood forward for their trip south

[penn central]

Lake state has a little foreign power on the property in Saginaw. Ns 8012 and Csx 4794 are building a south bound freight and are facing long hood forward for their trip south

I saw that, That was neat he had 55 cars, And then after that there was a grain train from Paines he had for power the 1179, 4302, 1162, and the 1164 i didn't count the grain loads he had 12 cars of mics behind the grain. When Z127 got back to Saginaw from Paines they swapped the 1162 and the 1164 for the 1169 and the 805. And by the way that was a Z144 with the NS power. I think that is the first time NS power has been to Saginaw since 1999, Back then a high short hooded GP38 made it up here on an empty grain train. And Z127 picked up even more freight on top of the freight that Z144 took south, They ended up having paperwork issues and had to stop at Webber Street and get it taken care of.

[SD80MAC]

Is there a general time when Z127 goes to Flint or is it whenever? I think they ran one last Monday morning around 10 with 5921 that snuck out while I was on the other side of town.

[Evan]

HESR has a Northbound train sitting in Durand, with a SD40-2 for power. I wonder if they'll run it tonight?

[penn central]

HESR has a Northbound train sitting in Durand, with a SD40-2 for power. I wonder if they'll run it tonight?

Oh really is it the 3323, I wonder Evan if it's the SD40-2 that's supposed to be coming from Pennsylvania.

[penn central]

Is there a general time when Z127 goes to Flint or is it whenever? I think they ran one last Monday morning around 10 with 5921 that snuck out while I was on the other side of town.

It seems that way SD80MAC i have seen them at 10:00 in the morning and 10:00 at night it's hard to predict some times.

[Evan]

HESR has a Northbound train sitting in Durand, with a SD40-2 for power. I wonder if they'll run it tonight?

Oh really is it the 3323, I wonder Evan if it's the SD40-2 that's supposed to be coming from Pennsylvania.

No, I'm referring to 2661 and 2668.

[GTW6401]

Its 2668. HESR 2661 is at Wenona Yard in Bay City.

[GTW6401]

LSRC Z127 was southbound from Saginaw around 2 this afternoon. LSRC 1179, 4302, 805, and 1169.

Coal loads were sitting in Flint waiting to head north. BNSF 6370 was the leader.

Coal empties are sitting south of Bay City along M-13 awaiting a recrew. BNSF 9240 and 6308.

[penn central]

HESR has a Northbound train sitting in Durand, with a SD40-2 for power. I wonder if they'll run it tonight?

Oh really is it the 3323, I wonder Evan if it's the SD40-2 that's supposed to be coming from Pennsylvania.

No, I'm referring to 2661 and 2668.

Ok thanks Evan.

[SD80MAC]

BNSF 9240 and 6308 tied down with a train of western empties just north of the C&O/PM bridge near Cheboyganing. Never seen a train parked there before.

[SD80MAC]

Not much going on in the Bay City/Saginaw area today. I was told G&W gave most of the HESR the day off, so no 702, 740 or 800 today. They did run a 701 north out of Durand with 2668 solo and about 30 cars, should be nearing Bay City now. Lake State's 301 job was the only thing moving around in the area, that empty coal train is still tied down between Bay City and Saginaw so no Z126 today either, at least for a while. Thought I heard Z117 around Saginaw but never saw them. Pretty quiet day.

[Evan]

Is there a general time when Z127 goes to Flint or is it whenever? I think they ran one last Monday morning around 10 with 5921 that snuck out while I was on the other side of town.

Telling by the time I hear them going to Flint, and Penn_Centrals posts, I'd guess a crew comes on duty around 5-6pm. They usually go by me anywhere from 8:30-10pm. According to Jon Hall (cnw8835) the best chance to see them in daylight, is Saturday/sunday.