Mid January around the Central U.P. L'Anse, Escanaba & MORE!
Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2020 6:43 pm
Been a busy month of snow plowing up here, but I still managed to catch some decent rail activity.
On January 9th, I ventured south to the Escanaba area and caught the L549 near Rock kicking up some snow.
L549 at Rock by Mike Tabone, on Flickr
Once I arrived to Gladstone A451 the train that runs to the Soo was departing the yard. I scurried out east of Rapid River. They had 54 all rail ore followed by about 30 freight. Now the all rail ore is back down to 45 cars due to the stock Algoma has on the ground.
CN 2588 at Rapid River by Mike Tabone, on Flickr
After getting some gas at the new Meijer the ELS departed the car shops and headed back to Wells with the 402 dragging a gaggle of mixed cars for the CN interchange. Here they are by the Community College.
Gone Rail by Mike Tabone, on Flickr
Again switching on the lead to the locomotive shop. If there is an open track they have cars waiting to be shopped on it.
Gone Rail by Mike Tabone, on Flickr
On the 12th the girlfriend and I ventured out towards Munising to look at some frozen water falls, caught the Munsing local trundling along with a couple cars.
Here they are in the middle of the Seney Stretch along M28 with a clean IC GP38-2
L541 Along Seney Stretch by Mike Tabone, on Flickr
L541 Along Seney Stretch by Mike Tabone, on Flickr
In Shingleton passing some hibernating track equipment.
Its Stuck by Mike Tabone, on Flickr
Passing through Wetmore
L541 at Wetmore by Mike Tabone, on Flickr
Later in the week I managed to catch L540 departing Ishpeming and heading to L'Anse. Here they are at the west end of Euclid.
L540 at Euclid by Mike Tabone, on Flickr
It then snowed for about 5 days straight so I was too busy plowing at night to pay attention to what the railroads were doing. This past Tuesday on the 21st I went to L'Anse to catch the L539 job and hopefully follow them back to at least Nestoria.
Here they are running around their train at the True Value in L'Anse.
L'Anse Runaround by Mike Tabone, on Flickr
Once they ran around their train they then backed into Celotex to begin their pickup. The box cars on the head end are idlers for the hill in L'Anse. The top of the hill at Hermain is 1197' above sea leve, the train in this shot below is at 97' above sea level. The last 3 miles of this 8 mile long hill drops close to 3.5%.
US41 Crossing by Mike Tabone, on Flickr
US41 Crossing by Mike Tabone, on Flickr
Departing L'Anse at the Mead Crossing
Creeping up L'Anse by Mike Tabone, on Flickr
Mead hasn't been shipping anything by rail but it is curious to me that the siding and switch have been cleared out.
Cresting L'Anse Hill by Mike Tabone, on Flickr
A hairy drive into the Huron Mountains brings us to the town of Herman. The top of the hill between Nestoria and L'Anse. The building on the right was once railroad housing for the section men. Its safe to say a couple more good snow falls and it may be a goner.
Herman isn't Home Ma by Mike Tabone, on Flickr
One last shot from this trip sees L539 rounding the corner at MP 208 with some nice snow flocking on the trees.
L-539 at Summit by Mike Tabone, on Flickr
That is all for now, looks like more snow plowing is in my future tonight into the weekend. I'm hoping next week to catch the E&LS.
On January 9th, I ventured south to the Escanaba area and caught the L549 near Rock kicking up some snow.
L549 at Rock by Mike Tabone, on Flickr
Once I arrived to Gladstone A451 the train that runs to the Soo was departing the yard. I scurried out east of Rapid River. They had 54 all rail ore followed by about 30 freight. Now the all rail ore is back down to 45 cars due to the stock Algoma has on the ground.
CN 2588 at Rapid River by Mike Tabone, on Flickr
After getting some gas at the new Meijer the ELS departed the car shops and headed back to Wells with the 402 dragging a gaggle of mixed cars for the CN interchange. Here they are by the Community College.
Gone Rail by Mike Tabone, on Flickr
Again switching on the lead to the locomotive shop. If there is an open track they have cars waiting to be shopped on it.
Gone Rail by Mike Tabone, on Flickr
On the 12th the girlfriend and I ventured out towards Munising to look at some frozen water falls, caught the Munsing local trundling along with a couple cars.
Here they are in the middle of the Seney Stretch along M28 with a clean IC GP38-2
L541 Along Seney Stretch by Mike Tabone, on Flickr
L541 Along Seney Stretch by Mike Tabone, on Flickr
In Shingleton passing some hibernating track equipment.
Its Stuck by Mike Tabone, on Flickr
Passing through Wetmore
L541 at Wetmore by Mike Tabone, on Flickr
Later in the week I managed to catch L540 departing Ishpeming and heading to L'Anse. Here they are at the west end of Euclid.
L540 at Euclid by Mike Tabone, on Flickr
It then snowed for about 5 days straight so I was too busy plowing at night to pay attention to what the railroads were doing. This past Tuesday on the 21st I went to L'Anse to catch the L539 job and hopefully follow them back to at least Nestoria.
Here they are running around their train at the True Value in L'Anse.
L'Anse Runaround by Mike Tabone, on Flickr
Once they ran around their train they then backed into Celotex to begin their pickup. The box cars on the head end are idlers for the hill in L'Anse. The top of the hill at Hermain is 1197' above sea leve, the train in this shot below is at 97' above sea level. The last 3 miles of this 8 mile long hill drops close to 3.5%.
US41 Crossing by Mike Tabone, on Flickr
US41 Crossing by Mike Tabone, on Flickr
Departing L'Anse at the Mead Crossing
Creeping up L'Anse by Mike Tabone, on Flickr
Mead hasn't been shipping anything by rail but it is curious to me that the siding and switch have been cleared out.
Cresting L'Anse Hill by Mike Tabone, on Flickr
A hairy drive into the Huron Mountains brings us to the town of Herman. The top of the hill between Nestoria and L'Anse. The building on the right was once railroad housing for the section men. Its safe to say a couple more good snow falls and it may be a goner.
Herman isn't Home Ma by Mike Tabone, on Flickr
One last shot from this trip sees L539 rounding the corner at MP 208 with some nice snow flocking on the trees.
L-539 at Summit by Mike Tabone, on Flickr
That is all for now, looks like more snow plowing is in my future tonight into the weekend. I'm hoping next week to catch the E&LS.