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At any point in D708 and D709's exhistance, did the power have anything large such as SD40-2s or has it always been GP38-2s and GP40-2s?

always been 4 axle engines.....there was a time from '99-'01 when 709 had a mother-slug set...GP40 with a GP30 slug...709 back then would leave Ensel on some days with 30 or more cars...i remember 1 day we left Ensel with 1 GP38 and 37 loads....engineer Bob was complaining...TM Bill said take it and make it...we hit North Lansing at about 3 mph....never got over 25 mph until we dumped some cars at Webberville...

i know they can make it but putting a 6 axle on some of the tracks is asking for trouble....International Paper and the AnnPere interchange come to mind...

A few years back, caught CSX D708 coming into Grand Rapids with this:


Taken 11/15/02, at a time when D708 ran Lansing to GR and back.
FYI, this CSXT 155 had CSXT 2693 trailing.

Wow, an AC4400CW on a local. With desktop controls, that must of been a real pain switching industries with that locomotive.

When i worked down in the area a few years ago i'd catch them every so often with a SD40. Prolly grab what ever is available and go if need be.

the only time 708 would run full mileage to GR was if power needed to go to GR or cars at Ensel werent picked up by 327\335....that unit you pictured was prolly a grain train left over from Grand Ledge....and your right chris....thats not a good switcher..

im not trying to sound like a know-it-all....i just worked 709\708 for 4 years...so i kinda know that time frame..'96-'02

CSX rules says you can not use six axles to switch industries.

C'mon Matt, you know rules are NEVER broken or ignored on the railroad.....

sd70accsxt700 wrote:CSX rules says you can not use six axles to switch industries.

CSX actually has rules?!

sd70accsxt700 wrote:CSX rules says you can not use six axles to switch industries.

Well...that's not entirely true. Some place do have 6 axle restrictions, but there are some industries you can take 6 axles in. Its all in the timetable special instructions. Someplaces you can take 6 axles into, but not past a certain point.

Not that you want to be using a big 6 axle for switching, but it can be done.

Practice Safe CSX

Not that you want to be using a big 6 axle for switching, but it can be done.

CN will from time to time take a BNSF SD60 or 70 down the Port Huron Industrial Spur that serves several paper plants and warehouses. That's more shocking than using a 6 axle for yard or main line switching.

large yards ...whether hump or flat...will use 6 axle enigine for switching....for shoving long cuts ...and the extra brake power...

TTSI for the Detroit Div (never could bring myself to call it a service lane has restrictions on 6 axles...

"Unless otherwise instructed six (6) axle locomotives will not operate on any industral track"

now we goto the Plymouth sub section it says ....

"six-axle units may operate on the following tracks:
Webberville: Grand River Grain
Trowbridge: MSU
Lake Odessa: house track
Grand Ledge: industral track
Elmdale: storage track"

Chrisracer8903 wrote:

sd70accsxt700 wrote:CSX rules says you can not use six axles to switch industries.

CSX actually has rules?!

yeah thats why the rr cops in plymouth tell you not to park so close to the tracks.

They were using a B40-8 for a week or two last April on D708 when it was running out of Grand Rapids.

CSX also has rules against railfans. 3 strikes and its shoot to kill.
for ever railfan u get= 50 points
Railfan with camera = 100 points
Railfan with Camera + orange reflective vest = 500 points. lmao.