Longest main line slow order I think I've ever seen.

[Steel Inferno]

Today I think I witnessed the longest and lowest speed slow order for a main line I have ever seen. I was chasing the SBS Z117 from Saginaw to Flint today. Power was the 5921, 1162, 1164, and 2052. 56 grain loads with the older CSX cars, 44 freight. While pacing the train along Blackmar road the train never went any faster then 10 to 15 mph. Same speed across Main St in Birch Run. I stopped chasing Z117 there because I wanted to see Q322-02 come in to McGrew.
Ever since SBS took over the line the top speed has been 25 mph. I can remember when CSX had it the top speed was 50mph and like 30mph for loaded coal and grain.
Anyway this slow order was like almost 10 miles long or more. Needless to say this was very disappointing.
Anyone else think they have seen an even longer slow order? 10 to 15mph is about as slow as you can get.
Forgot to mention earlier that C.R. Construction has a tie gang working on the Saginaw sub. Their equipment is tied up in the north end of the Birch Run siding.
I thought Z117 could've been possibly taking it slow until C.R. Construction was in the clear. But that wasn't the case. I just wonder how the LSRC/SBS can make any money with trains being operated at such a slow pace.

[LSRC]

I don't remember exactly but there are some longer speed restrictions on the Huron Sub. The entire line is rated for 25 mph (I believe, some may be higher after last summer's track work), but 10mph speed restrictions cover most of the line. I want to say the longest stretch is 30 or 40 miles long, but I could be remembering that wrong.

[CAT345C]

Guess you wouldn't want to run as a crew from Trout Lake to Munising, most of the line along M28 or the "Sceny Stretch" is 10mph track. Sad to see what was once a glorious line connecting the Soo to the Twinn Cities is now a 10mph branch line.

[astrovanman1989]

the dean sub is now up to 35 or 45 mph since they re tied the line last year it was probably down to 25mph

[J T]

Anyway this slow order was like almost 10 miles long or more. Needless to say this was very disappointing.

Disappointing? I wish most of the trains I have chased (and photographed) only went 10mph. My car would certainly be in better shape!

[KC]

Anyway this slow order was like almost 10 miles long or more. Needless to say this was very disappointing.

Disappointing? I wish most of the trains I have chased (and photographed) only went 10mph. My car would certainly be in better shape!

Copy that good buddy!

[Y@]

Try checking out the MAW down here in NW Ohio. They can barely do 5 mph on the entire stretch from Defiance to Napoleon. You wouldn't believe how bad some of the track is.

[Todd Cline]

I guess you guys are all too young to remember the Penn Central.... Talk about slow orders... It used to take about 12 hours to get a freight train from Elkhart to Jackson. And this was supposed to be a "Mainline"... I'm not going to try to figure out the average speed right now, but I recall there were always stops for pulled air hoses, broken knuckles, etc. All the hallmarks of a railroad that deferred maintainance on the R.O.W. "Ah yes.. the good old days"...

Todd

[Shorthaul]

I guess you guys are all too young to remember the Penn Central.... Talk about slow orders... It used to take about 12 hours to get a freight train from Elkhart to Jackson. And this was supposed to be a "Mainline"... I'm not going to try to figure out the average speed right now, but I recall there were always stops for pulled air hoses, broken knuckles, etc. All the hallmarks of a railroad that deferred maintainance on the R.O.W. "Ah yes.. the good old days"...

Todd

It's about 100 miles (according to Google maps), 100/12=8-1/3 mph. Although I'm sure that the cars took about that much time to be classified (if they were) in Jackson as well, due to things like standing train derailments. Who needs MOW work anyway? But then again, that is what happens when the government subsidizes a competing industry (among other things).

[AARR]

Anyone know how LSRC/SBS is doing post Mr. George's passing?