First train I saw upon arriving at the depot was NS 9262 & 9279 leading a coke train south at 3:10pm. NS & CSX MOW crews were present as they were doing some spot work on the NS/Big 4 diamonds.
CSX 2568 leads the Y221 local east on the Big 4 with a Conrail caboose at 4:00pm.
Next up was the monster train of the day, CSX 357, HLCX 6250, CSX 5005 & 7380 struggle with Q364 at about 10mph EB past the depot on the Big 4 at 4:20pm. The engineer called the dispatcher and asked if they could add some additional power at Marion Yard, but the dispatcher just told them to roll through. I'm not sure if this was actually 2 trains combined, but the first 90 cars or so were auto related, box cars followed by auto racks, then the next 75 cars or so were all mixed freight. We didn't get an exact car count, or an axle count from a detector, but the engineer called clear at MP 98, as the end of the train was going past the depot, which is near MP 101, and the train literally took 15 minutes to clear the diamonds. Without a doubt, this was the longest train I've ever seen in all my years at Marion.
While Q364 was crawling across the diamonds, 2 more trains pulled up on the Sandusky District and the C&O which resulted in a meet. The first was NS 9714 & 9007 leading a mixed freight north at 4:40pm.
CSX 499 leads Q637 south on the C&O at 4:45pm as the NS freight was still crossing the diamonds and the MOW crews were packing up to leave.
Next was Q234 lined up around the NW connection. CSX 8541 & HLCX 7921 lead the train under the signal bridge and across Kenton Ave at 5:15pm.
While Q234 was still rounding the connection, NS 7565, 8957, & 4625, an Operation Lifesaver GP59, lead 397 mixed freight south across Center St and past the soon to be removed N&W CPL signal at 5:20pm.
Another shot of the N&W CPL signal south of Center St.
Next was some rather impressive power on the LY38 NS local as NS 9385 & 6756 shove 4 cars south towards Marion Steel at 5:25pm. This marks the first time I have ever seen an SD60I as power on a local!
CSX 5477 & 7881 arrived with 9 cars from Q348 to set off in Marion Yard at 5:35pm.
CSX 2568 returned west with Y221 back to Marion Yard at 5:50pm.
NS 8028 & 8033 led a loaded coal train north at 6:00pm.
NS 9385 & 6756 returned with 3 cars on LY38 at 6:05pm.
All told, 12 trains in 3 hours today, but I did count each local twice. Still slightly busier then my trip 3 weeks ago.
Heads will roll for that mistake 
