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Amtrak 353 just left Pontiac at 10:35 am and on the tail end are two private cars, the last one being an open end observation. The two private cars were two-toned grey in color with the word "Charter" written on both of them along the top side.

The Charter wire cars were not set-off in Jackson so looks like going all the way to Chicago.

Manistique wrote:Amtrak 353 just left Pontiac at 10:35 am and on the tail end are two private cars, the last one being an open end observation. The two private cars were two-toned grey in color with the word "Charter" written on both of them along the top side.

Those cars will eventually end up in Ann Arbor, at least I think. About once or twice a year, those cars get put into a siding down by the station.

Today is one of the two busiest of the year for Amtrak (the other being Sunday. I will appreciate any sighting you get of trains in MI. Each one, except for the Pere Marquette is supposed to have an extra car or two. Will 364/365 be the biggest (9-10 cars)? Will the Pere Marquette and Holland turn have Superliners?
Thanks!
Andy

Andy, they gave the Pere Marquette an extra Superliner today... adding up to 4.

justin_gram wrote:Andy, they gave the Pere Marquette an extra Superliner today... adding up to 4.

I reach on another forum that a Siemen's Charger was pulling the Holland turn extra train - can anyone confirm this? Unit number?
This may be the first Charger in MI!
Andy

Charger 4613 is on the east end of train, P42 175 on the west.

Charger 4619 had been on the train for the last few weeks, but hit a tree or something and is already messed up.

4611 was also on the train back in April when the test train made it's round trip.

As to holiday consists, The Chicago/Pontiac trains have one extra car on the daily turn-around set (350/355) making it five. The other two trains have up to eight cars on them instead of the usual five. Most have two snack/business cars this past week. I will look closer today and edit this posting to be more correct.

Amtrak's Lake Shore Limited came by Chesterton, Indiana, at 9:29 AM CDT.

AMTK P42DCs 51 and 79 leading the way with the usual consist.

To follow up on my consist counting earlier today:

350/355 had five cars, one more than usual.

352 and 353 had seven cars including two snack cars, two more than usual.

I think 351 had eight cars this morning, including two snack cars.

364 had 8 cars rather than the usual 6 on Thursday night.

364 out of East Lansing about 20:56.

126, 6 horizon cars, 2 amfleet & 30 on the rear.

Either a late Amtrak 353 or an extra Amtrak just went SB past MP 22.5 on CN's Holly Sub at 12:12 pm. If it was 353 it is an hour and a half late leaving Pontiac. It had two locomotives elephant-style on the head end and just three or four cars, shorter than usual. The two locomotives is suspicious. Maybe a mechanical failure of the one? This may leave no extra locomotive to power 355 out of Pontiac this afternoon so 350 will have to wye its train when it arrives at Pontiac Yard before leaving as 355.

Noticed that some of the Amtrak Genesis locomotives are getting repainted. Same Acela scheme but fresh paint. #34 just went by on 350 repainted. I think there is one more on the Wolverines that is also repainted. The Wolverines are down to their usual non-holiday consists today of three to four coaches cars plus a snack car.