The mission was to find and photograph the elusive MNN high hood GP9 #1471, which has been based on the Rail America/Huron and Eastern for the past couple years. This former NKP locomotive is one of the only first generation units running on the HESR and one of the small handful of high hoods still regularly operating around the Mitten.
We departed Detroit well before dawn and slipped and skidded up old VanDyke Hwy M-53 toward Bad Axe, base for some HESR jobs in the thumb. As the sky began to brighten (to typical Michigan cloudy gloom), we found this little guy (Saginaw Valley SW1200 #999) tied down tight and cold at the grain elevator at Marlette on that former Pere Marquette Line. I thought this guy was gone from the thumb operations but it was nice to see it very much still here and in person.
We then proceeded up M-53 to Bad Axe proper (note, Huron County plowed and salted their roads much better than Sanilac County!). Arriving in Bad Axe, we found the old depot and saw a set of locomotives parked near their engine house. Upon closer inspection, the locomotives found were HESR/RA GP38 #3865, HESR/BN green B30-7 #5492, and HESR/RA GP38 #3866. We also spied HESR GP40-2LW #9712, down for repair due to some kind of failure. At the time (8:45AM), we saw several covered hoppers and other cars around, but nothing had traversed the rails south toward Deckerville or Croswell. The snow was of sufficient thickness up there to see if trains had cut through the snow and shined the rails. No movements as of that morning, though the triple unit power set would begin working from Bad Axe once the units were serviced for a run through the snow. SO, Bad Axe was the destination, but our search for the 1471 proved elusive thus far. One location where other power was accounted for! We did snap this roster shot of RA 3865 near the Bad Axe engine shop:
With the lines from Bad Axe definitely not home to the 1471, we backtracked slightly to good old M-81 which would carry us to Caro and Reese. The Caro branch is a former MC line which diverges at Vassar and heads to the large Ethanol plant there and continues a short ways north. HESR 810 is the Vassar switcher, on duty at 7AM, so we were hoping to find the 1471 working there. On the way, we found this great little catch on M-81 just east of Caro, at the Depot Restaurant:
Fireless 0-4-0 built in 1937 by the Heisler Co.
for Continental Can Corporation. It spent most
of its life at the company's Chicago plant. It
ended up at the Penwalt Corporation in Wyandotte, MI
The 41-ton locomotive was stored for a year in Ann Arbor before being
purchased in 1987 by the Kellogg brothers. The
locomotive was sold and now sits at a restaurant
on M-81 between Caro and Cass City, MI.
...and this nearby:
The caboose looks good but needs some window work. Apparently the little fireless cooker recently got new black paint and some work done to the headlight+an overall cleaning. The restaurant looked interesting, though not a meal time for us, it might be a good place to patronize if ever in that area.
We found no locomotives in Caro and crisscrossed the Caro branch working toward Vassar. At Vassar, we found the 810 job, on duty at 7AM. Once again, NO 1471! We did locate CM U23B #8905 (one of only two U-Boats still running up there), and the HESR/RA GP38 #3867 switching cars near the elevador on the old MC.
Once they had built their train, they proceeded to head toward Caro with much greater speed than we imagined, through the scenic countryside outside Vassar. Here's a great video of them with their 15 car train Caro-bound at the Waterman Rd. crossing:
http://centralmichigan.multiply.com/vid ... o_11-26-08
We could have backtracked to continue to chase them, believe me it was tempting, but our mission was 1471, and it still had not been accomplished. We zigged and zagged up to Reese diamond - lots of cars around but no locomotives. Another location verified as no 1471. Our search was narrowed to the 800 Reese-Saginaw turn job, which must be in the Saginaw area. Further paralleling the line, we made our way toward Saginaw.
Finally at 12 oclock noon on the dot (a noon siren was sounding somewhere) we spent our last option and FOUND the 1471! HESR 800 was doing some work at the LSRC former CSXT Saginaw Yard! But what a bummer that the train consist was led by CORP GP38AC 3838, followed by CM B30-7AB 2001, then the MNN GP9 1471. The day would only improve from here, as we eventually were granted our wish of seeing the 1471 on the point.
First, we were treated to the passage of Central Michigan road freight 702, the southbound from Bay City Wenona Yard to Durand. Their power was U23B 8903, B30-7AB 2002 and C30-7 5175, all in their various forms of CM paint. They had a variety of mixed freight on the headend followed by lots of tankcars from Dow, with a total consist length of about 45-50 cars. Here's a partial video of the consist having just entered the Genesee Block:
http://centralmichigan.multiply.com/vid ... w_11-26-08
Photo of the tail end of 702's train (DOW tankcars)
Next, it was back over to check on 800's progress. With the 702 clear of Mershon, 800 recieved permission from the LSRC to cross the Saginaw River and turn toward Genesee Yard. CORP 3838 leading CM 2001 and MNN 1471 for power. Here's a video of their train crossing Washington Street near the new LSRC office in Saginaw, showing off its older cast of a Nathan P5 horn:
http://centralmichigan.multiply.com/vid ... w_11-26-08
We headed over to the west end of Genesee Yard to snap these photos of the shiny CORP Geep:
After rearranging their cars and doing some sorting, they indicated they were ready to head for the Fruchty Bean Elevator, west down the old Turkey Trail. Again, same lashup, towing 5 covered hoppers. Some photos of the move:
They dropped off the 5 cars and picked up 3 covered hoppers. They were doing this work around 1:15. Then, because there is no run-around at Fruchty, they had to shove all the way back to Genesee, still no 1471 in the lead!
800 came to a stop at the west end of Genesee Yard, as CM Saginaw local 740 with the CM GP38 2014 was entering the Genesee Block near Mershon. They were here to interchange cars. We were sort of worried the 800 would just wye their power at Genesee Yard rather than run around, but fortunately luck was on our side.
740 got their train together (12 cars, 11 covered hoppers + 1 tankcar) and departed the east end of Genesee Yard toward Mershon and Bay City at 2:25PM. Finally, 800 could run around their train and assemble it for movement to the LSRC/C&O yard and Reese. Here are the photos we were waiting all day for:
Finally, 800 made their pull with their train (26 grain hoppers) at 2:45PM from Genesee Yard toward Mershon and LSRC. Our wonderful 1471 leading, EMD 567 charging up in the cold crisp air, Nathan P3 horn sounding melodiously for all crossings. We raced ahead of them back to Washington St. at the west end of the old C&O Yard for this video:
http://centralmichigan.multiply.com/vid ... r_11-26-08
We heard over the radio they had to make a setoff in track 26, but we were lucky enough to find them along Norman Street at the northeast corner of the yard, where we were able to capture a few more shots of this first generation high-hood beauty against the white snow.
Now approaching 3 o'clock, it was getting to be time to leave. All-in-all, aside from the lengthy but educational research trip well into the thumb, it was a very profitable trip which ultimately led to these great photos and Mackinac Mac videos, and at last our "Catch" was achieved! Hope you enjoyed!
