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I'm gonna do things a lil different on this report, sorta like a police report but not in a crime way! lol

6:40 am- Train 148 headed towards Flint with a mile and a half long of stacks, sorry no pics, it was too dark!
Around that time 390 was already sitting in the yard making a pick up and drop off.

7:35 am- Amtrak 365 shows up with #23 on the lead and #97 on the end.



7:45 am- after recollecting its train on the Flint sub and awaiting for 365 to clear out, 390 heads for Pontiac.


8:20 am- this duo of UP SD70Ms show up to turn around on the wye and head back towards Lansing.



10:35 am- train 391 arrives from Pontiac and heads towards Lansing on the Chicago wye.



11:40 am- HESR arrives with a triple set of CM power, 5175, 8903, and 8905!





While I was sitting for almost an hour and ten minutes my scanner came alive with 3 trains due to come thru, 395, 396, and 397.

1:00 pm- train 395 shows up first with CN 2727 leading along with an ex-LMS unit as the third unit #2462



1:05 pm- train 396 appears and will ready itself for the drop off and pick up in the yard.



1:30 pm- train 397 shows up with #2518 leading the consist.


After doing its chores 396 went back to collect the rest of its train and headed off, this gave me time to go upstairs in the station and get a nice birds-eye view of 396's lead power crossing the diamond.


5:15 pm- this train appeared out of nowhere so I wasn't able to get a symbol number since they didn't call for the signals, but this eastbound had a blue unit #2460 on it.



This has been my Durand report!

Nice report, Brian. Looks like you had a productive day there this time. Hopefully it will be just as good or better on May 9.

Were any of the others at the diamond from this board? Hard to tell from the back.

No just other guys that I know. Jay(GTW4633) was in the MRR, Norm appeared for a short time in the morning, but anywho thats about it.

That 1pm period got a little busy...cool

TrainNut85 wrote:No just other guys that I know. Jay(GTW4633) was in the MRR, Norm appeared for a short time in the morning, but anywho thats about it.

Brian,

I apologize for not remembering your name right off the top. I thought it was you, but my memory banks seem to have a few loose chips. Getting old is, well, ..........

I drove on up to Owosso, looked over SRI, didn't seen anything moving, went to the Shell station for one of their tasty pizzas, and slowly worked my way back home. I didn't see a single train.

Great pictures!! i especially like the overhead shot of the depot!!!

Don't worry Norm, you're not the only one that has a memory that slips. It dawned on me that you were there when I had seen your truck with that license place on the back, which I remembered from close to two years ago. I'm gonna be living in Durand starting next month so if you happen to stop on by you'll probably see me there.

I was there for the 1:00pm trio with my three daughters. You can see us in TrainNut85's second 1:05 photo. My 11 year old is wearing the blue Nike jacket, my 6 year old is in the dark purple jacket, and my 5 year old has the fancy "Sharpay" boots. I am taking this picture at the time



Sorry I wasn't sociable - my kids were being very patient with their old man's crazy hobby, and I wasn't sure how much longer my youngest would last. Here's a couple of my other shots:

odave I didn't know you were around. Man I gotta start wearing a name tag from now on.

Yeah, I've been thinking about making a button with my avatar and username on it. I had Mr. Mom duty that day and Durand is good, cheap entertainment. I'll make sure to introduce myself next time, though it can be kinda hard to have a conversation with someone when you've got a rugrat tugging on your sleeve saying "Daaaaaad, I wanna goooooo!"

though it can be kinda hard to have a conversation with someone when you've got a rugrat tugging on your sleeve saying "Daaaaaad, I wanna goooooo!"

odave, been there done that...and will do it again in a heart beat if God ever wills it

Nice pictures TrainNut. Reading your report makes me happy and sad at the same time. Happy that there are still days when Durand see's a good number of trains (for these days), sad that I can't make it out there when its going on. From what I've seen the last two times I've been out there, it seems like there's very little traffic on Monday's and Tuesday's.

that last train that appeared out of nowhere could've been 392 or 398. 398 always shows up around noon or so.

Since you had mentioned it, it could of been 398. Well Steve if you happen to at times try to make it up here, I'll be sure to be standing outside since I'll be start living in Durand this coming April.

odave wrote:Yeah, I've been thinking about making a button with my avatar and username on it. I had Mr. Mom duty that day and Durand is good, cheap entertainment. I'll make sure to introduce myself next time, though it can be kinda hard to have a conversation with someone when you've got a rugrat tugging on your sleeve saying "Daaaaaad, I wanna goooooo!"

you got that right, thats why Durand and Owosso are worth the six hour drive from Columbus. I think that Durand/Owosso it the hidden tourist gem in Michigan, as it brings in tourist dollars and money.

redside20 wrote:you got that right, thats why Durand and Owosso are worth the six hour drive from Columbus. I think that Durand/Owosso it the hidden tourist gem in Michigan, as it brings in tourist dollars and money.

Its certainly a good place to see some trains. I see your from Columbus, not much activity in your area these days? A few years ago when I was working down there there were all sorts of good areas for train action. I did a warehouse on the south end, right next to the BNSF I believe. There was a lot of good action there. I also did a wetland project on the west side of town right next to NS main?

JDavis21835 wrote:

redside20 wrote:you got that right, thats why Durand and Owosso are worth the six hour drive from Columbus. I think that Durand/Owosso it the hidden tourist gem in Michigan, as it brings in tourist dollars and money.

Its certainly a good place to see some trains. I see your from Columbus, not much activity in your area these days? A few years ago when I was working down there there were all sorts of good areas for train action. I did a warehouse on the south end, right next to the BNSF I believe. There was a lot of good action there. I also did a wetland project on the west side of town right next to NS main?

hi, columbus is still a bastion of train activity, however vantage points and photography opportunities are limited in Columbus. And when i a get a newer faster computer next month i will show you guys what the Columbus area has to offer. yes we have Cooke Road and Buckeye Yd, and unless you have a killer lense Cooke Road has limited photo opportunities and like every railfan hangout you have deal with morons. At Buckeye Yd, the only opportunity i can think of is the Fisher Road overpass plus there is limited activity these days and the yard is down to one shift now. Durand has something that Fostoria or Columbus doesn't and thats friendly locals and a great atmosphere.

In Durand, I've seen a fair nuimber of trains Friday mornings and I'm told Thursday can be busy too. Satrudays haven't been to bad but for me Friday's been the berst.

redside20 wrote:Durand has something that Fostoria or Columbus doesn't and thats friendly locals and a great atmosphere.

Haven't been to Fostoria or Columbus yet, but I'm definitely going to Fostoria and Deshler this summer. Totally agree with your comment about Durand, a great place.

TrainNut85 wrote:Well Steve if you happen to at times try to make it up here, I'll be sure to be standing outside since I'll be start living in Durand this coming April.

Cool. I might head out there tomorrow if I don't end up working.

YOO DON---...Friday's been the berst.

BERST ??? --- BEAST ? BREST ? BEST? BREAST? [MY PREFERENCE ] BURST ?

I FEEL SO IRRELEVANT SINCE I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT MR. RELEVANT MEANT.