CSX Train Location Updates - June 2024

[kd_1014]

L303 thru Howell at 4pm

[Tom49801]

E800-08 @ 16:28 westward reported by the Defect Detector mp CG91.9 St Joseph, Mi. with 532 axles. BNSF engine #9263 & 130 empty coal cars & rear dpu BNSF engine #8493.

L301-10 @ 17:13 eastward reported by the Defect Detector mp CG91.9 St Joseph, Mi with 48 axles. CSX engines #8801 + #4057 & 9 cars.

[Tom49801]

L301-10 @ 18:02:05 eastward Bangor, Mi Division St crossing mp CG60.93 live cam with CSX engines #8801 + #4057 & 9 cars.

L301-10 @ 18:24 eastward reported by the Defect Detector mp CG44.2 Pearl, Mi with 48 axles He'll be going into Waverly for some work there & then continue east to Grand Rapids.

[GRHC]

L301-10 eastbound passing through Zeeland Michigan @ 19:27

CSX engines #8801 + #4057 + 28 cars.

[Tom49801]

L301-10 eastbound passing through Zeeland Michigan @ 19:27

CSX engines #8801 + #4057 + 28 cars.

L301-10 @ 19:30 eastward reported by the Defect Detector mp CG19.1 Zeeland, Mi with 124 axles. He's headed into the Grand Rapids Terminal.

[Tom49801]

L302-10 @ 20:52 westward reported by the Defect Detector mp CH104.3 Mulliken, Mi with 268 axles. CSX engine #5432 + 1 & 64 cars. He's headed to Grand Rapids, Mi.

[MuskegonRailfanning]

L302-10 @ 20:52 westward reported by the Defect Detector mp CH104.3 Mulliken, Mi with 268 axles. CSX engine #5422(?) + 1 & 64 cars. He's headed to Grand Rapids, Mi.

CSX #454 (Spirit of Magnolia) trails

[Tom49801]

Amtrak P370-10 @ 21:12 eastward reported by the Defect Detector mp CG91.9 St Joseph, Mi with 16 axles. IDTX engine #4625 & 3 cars.

[Tom49801]

L302-10 @ 20:52 westward reported by the Defect Detector mp CH104.3 Mulliken, Mi with 268 axles. CSX engine #5422(?) + 1 & 64 cars. He's headed to Grand Rapids, Mi.

CSX #454 (Spirit of Magnolia) trails

L302-10 @ 21:32 westward reported by the Defect Detector mp CH126.3 Clarksville, Mi with 268 axles. CSX engines #5432 + #454 & 64 cars. He had work in Lansing – final destination is Grand Rapids, Mi.
Leader's number was corrected & thank you MuskegonRailfanning for the trailing engine info

C801-10 @ 21:44 eastward reported by the Defect Detector mp CG91.9 St Joseph, Mi with 528 axles. BNSF engine #8442 & 129 loaded coal cars & rear dpu BNSF engine #6322.

Amtrak P370-10 @ 21:53:15 eastward Division St crossing Bangor, Mi mp CG60.93 IDTX engine #4625 & 3 cars (Venture Business + 2 Venture Coaches) with 2 passengers Off at the station mp CG60.5

Amtrak P370-10 @ 22:13 eastward reported by the Defect Detector mp CG44.2 in Pearl, Mi with 19 axles (+3 error).

L302-10 @ 22:16 westward reported from Madison mp CH149.77

[Tom49801]

Amtrak P370-10 @ 22:50 eastward reported by the Defect Detector mp CG19.1 in Zeeland, Mi with 16 axles. IDTX engine #4625 & 3 cars (Venture Business + 2 Venture Coaches).

C801-10 @ 22:51:46 eastward Bangor’s Division St crossing mp CG60.93 live cam with BNSF engine #8442 & 129 loaded coal cars & rear dpu BNSF engine #6322. He’ll add CSX engines #858 + #7381 behind his leader at Grand Jct mp CG54 & then head into Wells Siding mp CG43.3 & tie down.

[amessmann]

02:03 - G076-11 "signal indication" to proceed from Grand Ledge, sounds like they will tie down at Lilley Rd.
04:12 - G076-11 thru EE Brighton, 35 and 438 with 90 cars (372 axles).
As the head end passed the signal at CH 51, the aspect dropped from a clear to an approach, then to a stop indication, suggesting there are still electromechanical parts in the system despite the modern "vader" style head.

I'll take this time to ask a few questions. 1. The building process takes a similar amount of time at both Webberville and Grand Ledge, why? At Webberville the train has to be built from multiple cuts but IIRC they keep the train intact at Grand Ledge.
2. How does the loading process work at Grand Ledge? At Webberville the ADM employees use an onsite switcher to move the cuts around. Are the Grand Ledge employees allowed to operate the CSX locomotives? Do CSX crews have to load the trains there?
3. What is the R prefix officially used for? It looks like the coal operations "out west" utilize it quite often in addition to C and E. I presume Coal, Empty and Recrew? I'm guessing the coal trains get a dedicated recrew symbol/prefix in addition to a dedicated empty symbol. Thanks in advance.

[Tom49801]

M327-11 between 04:30/05:00 Grand Rapids, Mi mark up with the RN Dispatcher: CSX engines #5454 + #5495 & 105 cars (31 loads + 74 empties) @ 6,515 tons & 6,000 feet long. He’ll be following Amtrak P371 out of Grand Rapids.

M327-11 @ 06:30 westward reported from Grandville, Mi mp CG6.0 with a Medium Clear signal.

Amtrak P371-11 @ 06:36 westward reported by the Defect Detector mp CG19.1 in Zeeland, Mi with 16 axles. IDTX engine #4625 & 3 cars (Venture Business + 2 Venture Coaches).

M327-11 @ 06:58 westward reported by the Defect Detector mp CG19.1 Zeeland, Mi with 432 axles.

Amtrak P371-11 @ 07:13 westward reported by the Defect Detector mp CG44.2 in Pearl, Mi with 16 axles.

[Tom49801]

Amtrak P371-11 @ 07:29:26 westward N. Center St crossing Bangor, Mi mp CG60.35 IDTX engine #4625 & 3 cars (Venture Business + 2 Venture Coaches) with 10 passengers On at the station mp CG60.5

M327-11 @ 07:48 westward reported by the Defect Detector mp CG44.2 Pearl, Mi with 432 axles. CSX engines #5454 + #5495 & 105 cars (31 loads + 74 empties) @ 6,515 tons & 6,000 feet long.

[kd_1014]

02:03 - G076-11 "signal indication" to proceed from Grand Ledge, sounds like they will tie down at Lilley Rd.
04:12 - G076-11 thru EE Brighton, 35 and 438 with 90 cars (372 axles).
As the head end passed the signal at CH 51, the aspect dropped from a clear to an approach, then to a stop indication, suggesting there are still electromechanical parts in the system despite the modern "vader" style head.

I'll take this time to ask a few questions. 1. The building process takes a similar amount of time at both Webberville and Grand Ledge, why? At Webberville the train has to be built from multiple cuts but IIRC they keep the train intact at Grand Ledge.
2. How does the loading process work at Grand Ledge? At Webberville the ADM employees use an onsite switcher to move the cuts around. Are the Grand Ledge employees allowed to operate the CSX locomotives? Do CSX crews have to load the trains there?
3. What is the R prefix officially used for? It looks like the coal operations "out west" utilize it quite often in addition to C and E. I presume Coal, Empty and Recrew? I'm guessing the coal trains get a dedicated recrew symbol/prefix in addition to a dedicated empty symbol. Thanks in advance.

Grand Ledge employees use a portable remote control that they plug in to the lead unit, making it RCO.

[Tom49801]

M327-11 @ 08:08:55 westward Bangor, Mi N. Center St crossing mp CG60.35 cam. CSX engines #5454 + #5495 & 105 cars (31 loads + 74 empties) @ 6,515 tons & 6,000 feet long.

Amtrak P371-11 @ 08:21 westward reported by the Defect Detector mp CG91.9 St Joseph, Mi with 16 axles. IDTX engine #4625 & 3 cars (Venture Business + 2 Venture Coaches).

[SD80MAC]

"R" is CSX's current symbol for helper/misc/mine run type jobs. They are somewhat unique up here, but are more common down in Appalachian coal country. R crews only take loads up the hill to the plant, put empties together at the plant, take empties down the hill, or position the helper power. They do not take the trains over the road to and from Chicago, those are E and C symbol jobs.

[Tom49801]

Y121-11 @ 09:17 westward backing into Holland’s Dock Track mp CG25.0 with the OLS Caboose & 8 empty Gons & CSX engine #6085 shoving.

M327-11 @ 09:27 westward reported by the Defect Detector mp CG91.9 St Joseph, Mi with 432 axles. CSX engines #5454 + #5495 & 105 cars (31 loads + 74 empties) @ 6,515 tons & 6,000 feet long.

Y121-11 @ 10:04 eastward Holland, Mi Dock Track mp CG25 diverging onto the Main Track with CSX engine #6085 & the OLS Caboose & 1 Gon with scrap.

MoW Hi-Railer Truck & Sperry Test Vehicle @ 10:13 westward, Pass Track to Main Track, Holland, Mi Depot mp CG25.3 headed to Saugatuck mp CG33 & then will head back eastward for testing on the Fremont sub-div & the Hamilton Branch in Holland.

[Andy24]

M327-11 @ 10:46 westward on the NS Chicago Line at CP 485-490 ish per ATCS. CSX engines #5454 + #5495 & 105 cars (31 loads + 74 empties) @ 6,515 tons & 6,000 feet long.

[Tom49801]

Y121-11 @ 10:48 northward on the Hamilton Branch in Holland with CSX engine #6085 & 1 empty Gondola.

L301-11 @ 10:48 Grand Rapids, Mi mark up with the RN Dispatcher: CSX engines #4057 + #8801 & ?? cars (couldn't hear the remainder of his info). He’ll head westward for work at Buzzi Cement mp CG5.2 & then he’ll go into Waverly mp CG22.8 & later westward to Hartford mp CG68.7 & will runaround his train at Kirk mp CG70.2 to head back east.

[GRHC]

L301-11 @ 10:48 Grand Rapids, Mi mark up with the RN Dispatcher: CSX engines #4057 + #8801 & ?? cars (couldn't hear the remainder of his info). He’ll head westward for work at Buzzi Cement mp CG5.2 & then he’ll go into Waverly mp CG22.8 & later westward to Hartford mp CG68.7 & will runaround his train at Kirk mp CG70.2 to head back east.

Working Buzzi cement Grandville Michigan @ 11:14