CSX Train Location Updates - February 2021

[Doktor No]

They get transformers from time to time both outbound and inbound. I have set off picked up a few there during my tenure at Chessie. They have a lil critter that comes out to pick them up.

[amessmann]

the total locomotive sightings here between Plymouth and Lansing shrunk to a all time low...while others on the sub goes ga ga when they see only D708 go by. 708 is nearly as bad as 705-706 for seeing the same power everyday.

While I continue to report on trains passing Howell here, it is to benefit others because I get no enjoyment from them. If only my wife could talk me in to ir, I would rather move across town to the north side again

I definitely get that. The only reason I like D708 is because it's something other than a GEVO, sometimes it's an SD40-3. The lack of variety (and the cold) is why I haven't been watching them as much. Instead I'd rather be home trying to optimize my radio setup. I know I'm saddened by the traffic decline since I started railfanning, I can only imagine how you must feel after seeing the heyday of the line.

At least D705/6 have DPU, which in my opinion is one of the more interesting railroad technologies. I've been trying to use my 440MHz capable radios to decode the DPU and EOT communications using SoftEOT, which I think is more interesting than seeing 3211 and 738 day in, day out.

[Tom49801]

D702-03 @ 4:09pm westward reported by DD mp CG19.1 w/ 256 axles & 3,518 ft long. CSXT engines #2742 + #6926 & 62 cars.
Y106-03 @ 4:11pm eastward reported by the DD mp CG91.9 with 14 axles & 169 feet long. CSXT engine #4025 & 2 cars.

[TSS]

Apparently there is a derailed car in Livingston that Y106 is going to assist in rerailing.

Just saw Y106 headed east with a coal hopper and a covered hopper.

Per chatter heard between 326/7 a day or two ago: there was a bad order car set out in Livingston sand plant spur (presumably the coal car). Car department came and repaired it but forgot their portable derail. It snowed and covered the portable derail.

Train crew was sent to retrieve repaired car. They opened the normal derail but were unaware of the portable derail and when they shoved in to grab the repaired car, the leading car of their train was derailed by the hidden portable derail. I assume that was the CH.

[amessmann]

I think I'm starting to pick up D706, probably between Howell and Brighton.

Nevermind, I was told EE Brighton is Red atm, but I did hear "706" on the scanner - will update.

[Tom49801]

Y106-03 @ 5:03:11pm eastward Bangor's Division St crossing mp CG60.93 with CSXT engine #4025 & 2 cars (empty coal hopper + CH). The CSXT #4025 was running long hood forward.
Y106-03 @ 5:29pm eastward reported by the DD mp CG44.2 with 14 axles & 171 feet long.
Y106-03 @ 6:12pm eastward reported by the DD mp CG19.1 with 14 axles & 167 feet long.

[Tom49801]

D801-03 @ 6:38pm westward reported from mp CG28 with BNSF engines #6255 + #8778 & empty coal cars. He will be going into Wells siding mp CG41.4 to tie down this train. The CSX pushers are not on this train. His plans are then to take a cab back to build a 2nd empty coal train.

[ns8401]

LansingRailFan says: Bob. I made mention of this 62-day fact to someone and they remarked that we should get used to it. This pair of locos isn’t due for service for 120 days as they are on a 180-day cycle.

Would not have expected anything different. This is why these these trains are totally worthless to me. For 50 years, I have lived here with the goal of seeing as many different locomotives as I can in a one month period and have kept records of each and every month since. (now given up) Seeing over 500 at times in the Soo-CP days, was still seeing at least a hundred or more until they took 328-329 away. I used to think that was bad but was better than when CSX took away all the road traffic for 15 months in 2016-2017. After putting on 705-706, mostly with the same assigned power, the total locomotive sightings here between Plymouth and Lansing shrunk to a all time low total of 16 for January 2021 and eight of those were on four different grain trains. Have been chastised before for saying this, so could ahead and lay it again. For me, these train are totally worthless, while others on the sub goes ga ga when they see only D708 go by. 708 is nearly as bad as 705-706 for seeing the same power everyday.

While I continue to report on trains passing Howell here, it is to benefit others because I get no enjoyment from them. If only my wife could talk me in to ir, I would rather move across town to the north side again, (which is where I started off between 1956-1969 along side the old Ann Arbor) GLC may have only a few locomotives, but its at least not the same pair day in and day out.

The same thing has happened on the Amtrak Michigan line with one local a day Wayne to Oakwood. Same engines until something breaks unless a unit from the west is going for service and passes through. I shifted to monitoring car counts. Traffic levels are just as interesting to me as what’s pulling them. So your reports on how many cars the trains have don’t go unappreciated.

[Tom49801]

Amtrak P370-03 @ 9:08pm eastward reported by the DD mp CG91.9 with 16 axles & 305 feet long. IDTX engine #4614 & 3 SuperLiner cars.

[Dan Cluley]

D708 west by Trowbridge at 21:40

[Tom49801]

Amtrak P370-03 @ 9:48pm eastward Bangor's Division St crossing mp CG60.93 (2 passengers off at the station mp CG60.5) IDTX engine #4614 & 3 SuperLiner cars.

[Tom49801]

Amtrak P370-03 @ 10:43pm eastward reported by the DD mp CG19.1 with 16 axles & 306 feet long. IDTX engine #4614 & 3 SuperLiner cars.

[Tom49801]

E801-31 @ 11:14pm westward reported by the DD mp CG44.2 with 532 axles & 6,856 feet long. BNSF engines #6255 + #8778 & 130 empty coal cars.
E801-31 @ 11:34:57pm westward Bangor's Center St crossing mp CG60.35

[donnieland]

371 thursday
west mich scanner is double playing all
radio transmissions at this time. it will play
orginal transmission and again with a 2 min delay,
with alot of overlap from ind so far this morning.
611a - restricting plaster creek
614a - clear lamar

[donnieland]

327 thursday
613a - all stop grandville on 1 track
634a - clear dewent

[donnieland]

371 thursday
618a - clear ivanrest
624a - clear dewent

[donnieland]

327 thursday
640a - clear ee hudsonville
645a - clear we hudsonville
rn to 327 - pass is blocked, will work waverly from west end yard
via holland - 86 car pick up today
650a - clear vriesland

[donnieland]

371 thursday
627a - clear ee hudsonville
631a - clear we hudsonville

[donnieland]

371 thursday
638a - 19.1 - 16 axles, 305'
639a - clear zeeland
643a - clear 112th ave
644a - clear waverly
646a - arr holland
648a - depart holland
653a - clear 30
658a - clear pair east saugatuck

[donnieland]

327 and 371 thursday
656a - 19.1 - 252 axles, 3521'
701a clear 112th ave
541 lead, 555 trail, 60 cars with fred
has 86 car pick up at waverly today ( 51 cars from wed's hi ball and 35 cars for thursdays pick up )
will depart with 541 lead, 555 trail, 146 cars with fred
703a - clear waverly
725a - clear holland depot - main to main
728a - restricting holland - main to old siding
702 to 327 - were heading for the hamilton sub, will reline hamilton sw,
327 hi balled yesterday, you aren't picking up all the cars that are ready to go

371
704a - clear 36
707a - clear 39
711a - clear pair wells
714a - 44.2 - 16 axles, 303'
715a - clear 46
717a - clear 49
719a - clear 51
722a - clear pair grand junction
726a - clear 58
730a - arr bangor
731a - depart bangor
733a - clear ee gross
735a - clear we gross

hi tom - morning