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Caught northbound NS train on Lansing secondary today in Mason around noon-ish. Power was 7121 and 7127 (IIRC). Consist was 10 coil cars. 1 Hopper car, a bulkhead flatcar, and 3 boxcars. They dropped off the 3 boxcars on the siding north of the Antiques District. Any idea what customer gets these?

Probably cars for Michigan Packaging or the Lumber Co (3S) that they didn't want to haul north and then back south again.

Thanks for posting this...I think I know where that hopper might be headed. We'll see tomorrow.

Thanks guys. I went by the crossing close to the Antiques District this morning and sure enough the boxcars were gone. I have also seen from time to time a single tank car on that siding as well. What customer receives this?

chessiefan1980 wrote:Thanks guys. I went by the crossing close to the Antiques District this morning and sure enough the boxcars were gone. I have also seen from time to time a single tank car on that siding as well. What customer receives this?

OldHogger or RailCanon will know but I think its Chem-somethingorother

Americhem, just across the street to the south.

Was the bulkhead flat loaded or empty, if loaded I could probably tell you where it was headed, and what kind of hopper car?

Hopper was registered to ECUX, not sure but i think it was 3-bay hopper. The bulkhead flatcar was loaded and appeared to have either rails on it or some sort of sheet metal on it.

chessiefan1980 wrote:Hopper was registered to ECUX, not sure but i think it was 3-bay hopper.

Sounds like a plastic pellet car for/from Quality Dairy

From what you describe on the bulkhead flat, that may have been a load for Alro Steel.

Hogger1225 wrote:From what you describe on the bulkhead flat, that may have been a load for Alro Steel.

Is that alro steel on the spur south of jackson? How often do they recieve rail service?

Alro has a plant in Lansing, just north of Willow St right after you leave the north end of Saginaw Yard, on what we call the "Belt Line". They would get large heavy steel plates and other specialized steel products. If the car had reinforcing rods, then it would have been bound for Ambassador Steel on the south end of Lansing on Jolly Rd, but most of the loads for Ambassador usually are shipped in gons.

Hogger - Does the elevator in Mason ship unit grain? Thanks.

Mason hasn't shipped anything in quite a while. Some disagreement on whether the upkeep of the track is their's or the RR's, so they quit using rail, to the best of my knowledge. When they did ship, they would ship grain out and occasionally receive fertilizer in. Not sure how accurate this info is account I haven't been on the job since Feb of this year but I have talked to the crews who do work the two jobs. Doesn't look like I'll be getting back soon, if at all, I have started the paperwork for a Disability Annuity.

Hogger1225 wrote:Doesn't look like I'll be getting back soon, if at all, I have started the paperwork for a Disability Annuity.

Sorry to hear it Hogger. Young man like you should be up and at em sooner than later