RailRoadFan.com

I’m thinking U304 is running like an extra L302 today since there has been power issues at Grand Rapids Terminal.

Andy24 wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 12, 2022 12:47 pm

I’m thinking U304 is running like an extra L302 today since there has been power issues at Grand Rapids Terminal.

Given that they're a x304 train with L305's power, I'd guess an extra/late L304. From what I can tell, the U prefix is for late L trains.

amessmann wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 12, 2022 1:02 pm

Andy24 wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 12, 2022 12:47 pm

I’m thinking U304 is running like an extra L302 today since there has been power issues at Grand Rapids Terminal.

Given that they're a x304 train with L305's power, I'd guess an extra/late L304. From what I can tell, the U prefix is for late L trains.

That’s good to know . L303 and L302 have been running every other day this week

Do we know where this train originated? A majority of the train cars are empty, is that the usual for wb's on the Plymouth sub?

bkoole98 wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 12, 2022 1:09 pm

Do we know where this train originated? A majority of the train cars are empty, is that the usual for wb's on the Plymouth sub?

Confirmed at 13:10, U304-12 is running with CSX engines #8199 & the trailing engine is the CSX #8619. The best I can tell is he originated in Lansing & was heard saying he had picked up 57 cars from MO2 track. He had reported both headlights burnt out on the #8199 when he had arrived Grand Rapids.

M326-12 @ 13:20 eastward reported by the DD mp CG91.9 St Joseph, Mi with 184 axles & 2,744 feet long. CSX engine #5347 + 1 & 43 cars.

M326-12 @ 14:23:19 eastward Division Street crossing Bangor, Mi cam crossing mp CG60.93 with CSX engines #5347 + #3235 & 43 cars.

Tom49801 wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 12, 2022 1:16 pm

bkoole98 wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 12, 2022 1:09 pm

Do we know where this train originated? A majority of the train cars are empty, is that the usual for wb's on the Plymouth sub?

Confirmed at 13:10, U304-12 is running with CSX engines #8199 & the trailing engine is the CSX #8619. The best I can tell is he originated in Lansing & was heard saying he had picked up 57 cars from MO2 track.

Any update on this thing?

Talk wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 12, 2022 2:27 pm

Tom49801 wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 12, 2022 1:16 pm

bkoole98 wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 12, 2022 1:09 pm

Do we know where this train originated? A majority of the train cars are empty, is that the usual for wb's on the Plymouth sub?

Confirmed at 13:10, U304-12 is running with CSX engines #8199 & the trailing engine is the CSX #8619. The best I can tell is he originated in Lansing & was heard saying he had picked up 57 cars from MO2 track.

Any update on this thing?

Arrived at Wyoming yard about an hour ago

L303-11 @ 14:37 Grand Rapids, Mi job briefing with the RN Dispatcher: CSX engines #823 + #5377 (dead in tow) & 64 cars (34 loads + 30 empties) @ 5,746 tons & 3,517 feet long. He’s getting his train together & he's not sure yet if they will have work in Lansing. Note: He had indentified himself as being the L303-11, which did not run yesterday.

M326-12 @ 14:52 eastward reported by the DD mp CG44.2 Pearl, Mi with 184 axles & 2,815 feet long. CSX engines #5347 + #3235 & 43 cars.

L304-12 @ 15:22 Grand Rapids, Mi job briefing with the RN Dispatcher & copied his EC1 at mp CG 1.0 for Lake Odessa to Ensel: CSX engines #8199 + #8619 lite power & will be going into Ensel mp CH90.

L303-11 @ 15:30 mp CG1.0 copied his EC1 for Lake Odessa to Ensel with CSX engines #823 + #5377 (dead in tow) & 64 cars. He is short on time & will run ahead of L304-12 and does not have work for Lansing.

The U prefix is a recrew, extra or second section of a L series train.

L303-11 @ 15:47 eastward called an Approach Medium Signal at Madison mp CH149.7 with CSX engines #823 + #5377 (dead in tow) & 64 cars.

M326-12 @ 15:49 eastward reported by the DD mp CG19.1 Zeeland, Mi with 184 axles & 2,744 feet long. CSX engines #5347 + #3235 & 43 cars.

U304-12 @ 16:15 eastward reported from Godfrey mp CG 0.99 with CSX engines #8199 + #8619 lite power.

In the span of about 20 minutes I observed the eastbound signal at CH 51 go from Stop to Clear. Shortly after I observed the EAS at WE Brighton displaying a Clear.
I doubt L303 is lined this early, and there won't be an L305 any time soon. Do we have an eastbound loaded grainer on the way?
Update, L303 has no work for Lansing so they may be lined far in advance.

U304-12 @ 16:15 eastward reported from Madison mp CH149.7 with CSX engines #8199 + #8619 lite power.

U304-12 Update: the DD126.3 @ 17:14 gave an axle count of 72 which equals the 2 engines & 15 cars - no mention of cars was heard when he was headed east out of Grand Rapids.

L303-11 @ 16:36 eastward reported from Alto mp CH134.35 with CSX engines #823 + #5377 (dead in tow) & 64 cars. He has no work for Lansing today, they're running short on time.

L303-11 @ 16:50 eastward reported by the DD mp CH126.3 Clarksville, Mi with 268 axles.

L303-11 os Lakeo 17:06

U304-12 @ 17:14 eastward reported by the DD mp CH126.3 Clarksville, Mi with 72 axles. CSX engines #8199 + #8619 & 15 cars. He will be going into Lansing. Surprised by the car count, no mention was made in his job briefing to head east with cars.

L303-11 @ 17:40 eastward reported by the DD mp CH104.3 Mulliken, Mi with 268 axles & 3,525 feet long. CSX engines #823 + #5377 (dead in tow) & 64 cars (34 loads + 30 empties). He has no work in Lansing.

U304-12 @ 17:55 eastward reported by the DD mp CH104.3 Mulliken, Mi with 72 axles & 1,102 feet long.

R597-11 @ 18:18 westward Holland Depot mp CG25.3 with BNSF engine #6326 & 130 empty coal cars & rear dpu BNSF engine #5600 & CSX engines #718 + #253. He’ll go into Grand Junction Siding mp CG54 & tie down.

R597-11 @18:58 westward reported by the DD mp CG44.2 Pearl, Mi with 544 axles & 6,998 feet long.

19:56 - L303-11 east calling a clear pair for Brighton.
20:04 - L303-11 east calling clear for Green Oak (~CH 40)

20:14 - L303-11 clear EE South Lyon.

Did anyone see the writing in white Letters "spirit of cecil Christopher"? It almost looked like a decal a railfan would have put on. It's placed right next to the DP decal.

Micah_D wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 12, 2022 8:14 pm

20:14 - L303-11 clear EE South Lyon.

Did anyone see the writing in white Letters "spirit of cecil Christopher"? It almost looked like a decal a railfan would have put on. It's placed right next to the DP decal.

Probably done with a streaker... maybe a markal

Talk wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 12, 2022 8:43 pm

Micah_D wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 12, 2022 8:14 pm

20:14 - L303-11 clear EE South Lyon.

Did anyone see the writing in white Letters "spirit of cecil Christopher"? It almost looked like a decal a railfan would have put on. It's placed right next to the DP decal.

Probably done with a streaker... maybe a markal

I managed to find only this link so far: https://youtu.be/qKBEj_tAeNI
Today, the unit had a DP sticker under the "Spirit of Cecil Christopher" where in this video posted 10 months ago, the DP sticker is not present on the locomotive. I would assume that if the locomotive was brought in for maintenance and to have the DP sticker added, the spirit markings would have been removed. However since they were not, it is possible that we may have a new spirit unit on our hands. Now, granted that it was constructed in January of 2008, per the video's description, this could be similar to the case of CSX #1 being renumbered.

One thing that makes me sort of unsure is that I have only seen the engineer's side in the video as well as in person. Perhaps comparing the two styles of writing, assuming it is on the other side, could be used to determine whether this is an actual spirit unit we have on our hands or not.

Either way, I'm curious to see what this comes out to be.

EDIT: After digging through pictures of CSX 823 in the rr pictures archives, managed to find the following: http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=5664287
It is the earliest picture I could locate with the spirit writing on it. Also none of the pictures of the conductor's side have the writing so I would assume it is someone's marking. Now the goal is to find who Cecil Christopher is!