CN Train Location Updates - October 2022

[atrainguy60]

Lengthy southbound intermodal/autorack train was going through Gaines at 1:54pm. CN 8019 and 2586 for power.

[David Collins]

251 through Trenton at 12:22 CN x2

I believe I heard this or 515 by MAL at 2:30

[GTW6401]

116 south at MAL. Northbound limed up 2.

[Manistique]

SB passing MP 22.5 on the Holly with some intermodal on the headend then autoracks with two CN's at 3:21 pm. Maybe an early 508?

[Manistique]

251 Passing MP 22.5 with a 5600 and an 8900 at 4:05 pm.

[bnsfben]

515 north Royal Oak 1700

[Manistique]

515 north Royal Oak 1700

Passing MP 22.5 now at 5:20 pm. It had three (in a row) very old blue GTW boxcars in the consist.

[LansingRailFan]

10/11/22 09:54 50 sunny degrees at CN MP 202 Charlotte as CN 3216, CN 2787, CN 5741, and CN 2587 power a 167 car Train 491 through the curve. Thanks for the horn tap! Full 4:26 video: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=O3t95wDUD ... e=youtu.be

CN 5741/CN 2587 were on M397. They had to terminate in Snow Yard due to a lack of braking. A491 picked up the train.

[David Collins]

This morning's MAL junction recap:

8:50 AM: Amtrak 353 departs pontiac, SC44 #4617 in charge with 5 cars.
10:45 AM: L515 by MAL, running a bit later than usual. CN 5450 running long hood forward with its wicked loud P5 horn, I counted 21 cars.
11:47 AM: Something was lined up on M1 going north, never saw the train since I had to go home

[LansingRailFan]

12:24 - WB L501 w CN 5763/CN 5650 with a massive train thru Charlotte.

[LansingRailFan]

12:53 - EB Q116 w CN 2927/CN 8890 f/f at WE Snow Yard - intermodal/autorack

Earlier…

10:00 - EB A492 w CN 3182/BNSF 3807 thru Charlotte. Front half of the train is all traffic normally seen on A450.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8F9EznQBf ... e=youtu.be

A450 is not being run right now in lieu of daily Q116s. Not sure for the exact reasoning yet as it’s just one type of cars for another but this started on Saturday.

When CN started making these tweaks on the Flint Sub by terminating Q116 in BC and having that intermodal go L500-L508, it seemed to either coincide or initiate a downturn in intermodal traffic. That routing added 48 hours to the time on any west coast originating containers.

It’s been observed that there has been a lack of certain types of containers lately on L508/7 and the few Q116s we’ve seen, specifically the Z Factor/ZIM containers. There’s been an uptick of those containers on CSX/CP i165/i166 whose Detroit traffic is blocked and set off at N. Baltimore for i150/i151 to bring up to Oak Yard.

Is prioritizing intermodal over manifest a new strategy to try and win back this traffic? Idk. Just some armchair foamering here amongst the chattering class.

Either way, CN seems committed to only one direct BC to FR train daily with intermittent autorack trains as needed.

[Man o' War]

M385 by Mount Clemens depot at 05:35.

M383 by MC depot at 11:00.

X385 by MC depot at 11:20. 1 engine.

L533 left Mount Clemens for PH at 12:45.

M382 by MC depot at 13:18. CN/CN, 173 cars.

L515 will follow 382 to Mount Clemens.

Man o' War

[GTWChris]

E251 north at Flat Rock at 14:00. CN 8019 and CN 2586.

[Manistique]

116 past mp 22.5 on the Holly at 3:06 pm. Does this mean no 508 when 116 runs to Moterm?

[Man o' War]

L515 departed Mount Clemens for Nolan Distribution, East Yard and Pontiac at 15:45 with CN 5450 and a huge train including several loaded gons from DCON. Half the train was loaded lumber for ND, and tanks for Gillen (Polyterm).

Man o' War

[Manistique]

L515 departed Mount Clemens for Nolan Distribution, East Yard and Pontiac at 15:45 with CN 5450 and a huge train including several loaded gons from DCON. Half the train was loaded lumber for ND, and tanks for Gillen (Polyterm).

Man o' War

Just passed MP 22.5 on the Holly, working hard up the Hill with 36 cars at 5:45 pm. Many loaded centerbeams and no empties so I am guessing a pickup from Conrail interchange or from the local out of Port Huron. Eight or nine loaded scrap gondolas, which is a lot from DCON. The last two looked like there were filled with all brake drums.

[Manistique]

E251 north at Flat Rock at 14:00. CN 8019 and CN 2586.

Passing MP 22.5 on the Holly at 5:16 pm. Odd consists as very few autoracks (at the end) and, instead, a ton of mixed freight including maybe 40 to 50 50 foot boxcars (almost all of them TBOX pool cars) and one freshly painted yellow UP box, a ton of long tank cars with the extended platforms on top, a lot of sand cars, and one brand new odd looking GATX covered coiled steel car.

[LansingRailFan]

Z149 thru Charlotte at CN 3168/CN 3111 at 07:15

L501 working Cory Yard
A491 in BC
P365 in Swartz Creek
M399 following

After those clear, track work at MP 198.5 Mauer Rd will have the mainline shut down for the day.

There is an EB lined at Potterville at 08:00.

SB M383 w CN 3023 leading, EJ&E HU, is clear Rodney.

[LansingRailFan]

08:13 - EB A492 w CN 8934/CN 8837 thru Charlotte while WB L501 works in Cory Yard, WB P365 is at Bancroft and WB M399 is on M1 in Durand.

08:30 - G/R at Mt. Hope Ave/EE Snow Yard for EB A492 w CN 8934/CN 8837

[Delray]

251 through Trenton at 10:50

CN 8829
CN 8890

Birmingham @ 12:32

Signal lit for southbound as well.