DURAND Railfan Meet this Spring...

[David Lang]

All,

2011 will be our 10th year meeting in Durand for our annual railfan meet, so the following is some discussion that is on-going at Michiganrailroads.com. All here at railroadfan are more than welcome to attend (of course).

Well, here are some possible dates. Saturdays have always worked well in the past. Saturday May 7, 14, and 21 are all good dates. Saturday May 28th is part of Memorial Day Weekend, so I that day won't work. If there is any kind of major event on the 7th, 14th, or 21st, we can plan around that too.

Just for some of you that may not know, every year since 2002, Michigan Railroads.com, as well as members from Railroadfan.com and anyone else who loves trains have met in Durand to have a great day of train watching, putting faces to the all the names we see on the boards, saying hello to friends we already know. This is just a fun day of train watching. All are welcome that would like to attend - nothing formal at all. Come and go as you please. Those who can come - great! Those that can't - maybe next time! We usually bust out the "railfan grill" for lunch there at the station. Some people bring food, others don't and that's fine. There is usually plenty to go around.

Let me know guys what date is good and we will plan it! Lets mark our 10th year with a great turnout!

David Lang

[GTW6401]

Railroad days is May 13-15.

My vote is for an overnight meet in Durand, since the best times to see anything is between 1 and 6am. I'm usually up in the middle of the night if i'm not working anyway.

[Jeff L]

May 7----Amtrak40th anniversary
May14----Durand RR Days
May21----
May28----MemorialDayWeekend

cast my vote for May21

[astrovanman1989]

may 21 is my vote

[PAT.C]

HOPEFULLY THIS DOES NOT TURN INTO A WAR BETWEEN THE DURAND LIKERS AND THE DURAND HATERS.

I WILL SUGGEST THAT IF YOU DO NOT LIKE DURAND AS A MEETING SITE / RAILFANNING SITE --- PLEASE DO NOT COMMENT HERE.

PLEASE LEAVE THIS THREAD TO THOSE THAT WANT/ PLAN TO ATTEND .

-------THE RAILROADFAN SPRING MEET PLANNING IS A SEPARATE THREAD AND NOT CONNECTED TO THIS EVENT-------

HOPEFULLY THE DATES OF THE TWO EVENTS WILL NOT CONFLICT.

[AARR]

I will try to make Durand this year. I also agree with Pat C. Let us see if we can schedule Durand so it does not conflict with RRFan.com's meet.

[redside20]

You won't see me posting as a Durand hater nor do i have anything bad to say about the place I can't think ahead that far though as i have no clue what my plans are to going to be.

[odave]

Best thing about Durand for me is that it's only a 20 minute drive. I'll try to drop in this year.

[Mark Rummel]

I agree... we're overdue for a Durand Meet. May 21 sounds good to me (I'm also only 20 miles away...) but I'll try to attend whatever date we set.

And, as stated previously, come early -- quite a bit of Durand action before 7 a.m. most days...

[AARR]

May 21 looks good and no conflicts that I know of with other meets

[David Lang]

Well, betweent the 2 boards, I am setting the date for May 21 based on popular demand. If anyone has an issue with this date, please let me know and I will try a different date. If I have no negative feedback, this will be the day!

Looking forward to a great turnout in Durand for our 10th year and seeing all who can attend!!!! Everyone welcome as always, from railroadfan.com, michiganrailroads.com, or just anyone who wants to come. I will post reminders as it gets closer. See you there!

David Lang

[jcnorthpole]

I just joined this site after several years of being a visitor. I railfan the Lansing area and take photos (hopefully I'll submit some later. I'm going to try and make the Durand meet this spring to see what you guys/gals are all about.

[AARR]

I just joined this site after several years of being a visitor. I railfan the Lansing area and take photos (hopefully I'll submit some later. I'm going to try and make the Durand meet this spring to see what you guys/gals are all about.

Cool

[conrailmike]

...to see what you guys/gals are all about.

I'm sure you'll run away screaming and wondering why you ever joined

[jcnorthpole]

I usually check out Ensel yard and CN action near Potter Park. About six weeks ago I witnessed CN repair crews w/rented cranes repairing one of the CN trains. I couldn't get too close but they had one end lifted up 5 or 6 ft.
They have had some vandals doing damage at Ensel Yard several weeks ago. Someone was trying to release some of the switches.

[A No.1]

Someone was trying to release some of the switches.

Just to clarify, What do you mean? Release Hand Breaks? Throw Switches?. Just asking.

[jcnorthpole]

I saw a CSX worker in truck at Ensel Yard while railfanning. He told me he was on patrol because some kids were pulling the manual switch levers out of the "lock position" which could cause a derailment. I had a good talk w/him. He said LPD have beem driving by there as well.

[Norm]

Not quite sure to add to this, but daytime traffic through Durand seems to be quite spotty in the past month or so. There is some, but most through freights seem to roll through a few hours before Amtrak arrives at 7:45. The Flint local arrives around 9:00, and takes about an hour to work the yard. HESR leaves early morning to Saginaw and returns late afternoon. Could make for a very dull Saturday save for the camaraderie, burgers and dogs.

Never the less it will be good to meet both old and new faces. See you then.

[AARR]

HESR leaves early morning to Saginaw and returns late afternoon.

I thought CMGN leaves Bay City late morning. Arrives Durand mid afternoon. Leaves Durand shortly after and goes back to Bay City. Has that changed?

[JDavis21835]

HESR leaves early morning to Saginaw and returns late afternoon.

I thought CMGN leaves Bay City late morning. Arrives Durand mid afternoon. Leaves Durand shortly after and goes back to Bay City. Has that changed?

Caught them headed north out of Saginaw last night at 7pm approx. Seems like a little different from what ive seen in the past. I caught them at Kochville road, where they normally run up as they are out of the yard limits at that point. However they did not run up, in fact, they maintained speed. Is there some sort of slow order on the line right now? Possibly due to ground conditions as the frost leaves the ground?