Michigan Shortlines December 2013

[Standard Railfan]

22:48 EST: Nightcrawler north, clear Comstock Park based on the horn noise...

For the sake of those that do not spend all of their waking moments on this board, the use of obscure terms like "nightcrawler" is inconvenient at the least.

More than once, I have been chasing or trying to find a train only to read a post where someone has posted some cryptic message using a lot of insider railroad lingo.

Even the use of Control Points and mile posts is a less than useful to anyone that is not intimately familiar with a given stretch of railroad.

What the heck is wrong with posting, in this instance, Marquette Rail northbound Comstock Park? If you want add a train symbol or name that is fine but the use of plain english would be most useful.

Thank you, I feel better now.....

[Saturnalia]

22:48 EST: Nightcrawler north, clear Comstock Park based on the horn noise...

For the sake of those that do not spend all of their waking moments on this board, the use of obscure terms like "nightcrawler" is inconvenient at the least.

I see where you are coming from, but it is the train's actual name. Sure it is the first time it was used here, but that is because it is a new name. As would a new symbol on the CSX or CN, "Night Crawler" should become a normal part of the normal flow around here in due time.

[SD80MAC]

22:48 EST: Nightcrawler north, clear Comstock Park based on the horn noise...

For the sake of those that do not spend all of their waking moments on this board, the use of obscure terms like "nightcrawler" is inconvenient at the least.

More than once, I have been chasing or trying to find a train only to read a post where someone has posted some cryptic message using a lot of insider railroad lingo.

Even the use of Control Points and mile posts is a less than useful to anyone that is not intimately familiar with a given stretch of railroad.

What the heck is wrong with posting, in this instance, Marquette Rail northbound Comstock Park? If you want add a train symbol or name that is fine but the use of plain english would be most useful.

Thank you, I feel better now.....

I have been saying this for a long time! Bravo, sir!

[Saturnalia]

GRE east thru Creston (Leonard & Plainfield area) at 10:30 EST

[cnw8835]

GRE called for a westbound signal at Fuller at about 1330.

[cnw8835]

GDLK302 departing south from GR after switching the sand place just south of Hughart. Sounds like their next stop is at Moline.

[kenN]

Thanks for the heads-up, Jon. Caught 4124-4125 and 15 cars in Moline at 9:35, cleaning snow from the turnout preparing to switch the fertilizer plant. KJN

[AANscaleRunner]

GLC 398 and 399 left Cadillac for Clare at 1000 with 6 empty coke hoppers and 3 tank cars.

GLC 399 and 398 return to Cadillac at 1345 with 3 plastics hoppers, 9 sand hoppers and 1 tank car. Sounded like they made a trip to Yuma and returned around 1600.

[AARR]

GLC 398 and 399 left Cadillac for Clare at 1000 with 6 empty coke hoppers and 3 tank cars.

GLC 399 and 398 return to Cadillac at 1345 with 3 plastics hoppers, 9 sand hoppers and 1 tank car. Sounded like they made a trip to Yuma and returned around 1600.

Thanks for posting. I copy and paste yours with someone else's at another website. They usually make daytime observations of the northbound GLC through Alma. It gives us an idea where are all the cars were delivered.

[GR Ron]

Marquette southbound slowly through Comstock Park @ 14:02. 3389, 2008, 3391 with 62 cars in tow.

[AANscaleRunner]

GLC North action the last couple of days:

Thursday 11/12: GLC 398 and 399 headed to Clare at 0950 with 1 boxcar, 1 empty centerbeam, 3 tank cars and 11 sand hoppers. Did not see them return.

Friday 11/13: GLC 397 ? and 393 rolled into Cadillac at 1530 with 23 sand hoppers, 4 coke hoppers, 1 tank car, 1 plastic hopper and 1 tank car. One of the sand hoppers was an old grain hopper. Heard them return from Yuma around 1730 or so. Good to see 393 back in the snow belt.

[AANscaleRunner]

GLC 393 and 397 towards Clare at 1020 with 3 empty coke hoppers and 3 sand hoppers.

GLC 399 and 395 into Cadillac at 1545 with 6 sand hoppers.

[cnw8835]

From what I am hearing, the Grand Elk road train is currently in the GR area. Not sure where exactly they are at this time though.

[cnw8835]

Grand Elk departing south from GR at 0920. Sounds slow and heavy.

[AANscaleRunner]

GLC 395 and 399 to Clare at 1030 with 7 sand hoppers.

GLC 399 and 395 back to Cadillac at 1550 with 2 coke hoppers. Couldn't get a good look at the loco numbers, sure looked like 399 and 395 though from a distance.

[EMDACESteve]

HESR 702 departing Bay City with the 2028, and one RA scheme GP38-2 with coal empties. The 2 2600's are in Bay City being used on 740.

[AARR]

Posted by Mike D Shep on 12/18/2013, 1:01 pm
Caught GLC in Alma at 12:30pm with engines 397-392 and 48 cars in this order. Thirty eight grain hoppers, which I think are going to Shepherd, 3 plastic hoppers,2 sand hoppers, 3 coke hoppers, 1 centerbeam loaded and 1 loaded pole flat. I will know more about the grain cars tomorrow.

[AANscaleRunner]

GLC 395 and 399 out of Cadillac to Clare at 1020 with 4 empty coke hoppers.

GLC 399 and 395 return to Cadillac at 1550 with 2 sand cars, 3 coke hoppers, 1 loaded centerbeam and 1 pole load.

[EMDACESteve]

HESR 740 is having locomotive problems trying to shove a 90 car loaded grain train across the Saginaw river bridge into LSRC yard.
Power is just the 2025, 3865. Add insult to injury, the 3865 is acting up. Conductor said they stalled just north of Salzburg in Bay City.
LSRC does not allow 6 axles on the Saginaw river bridge anymore.

[Patriot]

GRE --- EB at Leonard/Plainfield at 9:05 with 9 CH's.