CN Updates-June 2019

[Man o' War]

L533S wandered south after finishing work in Mount Clemens a few hours ago, and just came back through town (NB) like a bat out of hell with several bulkhead flats loaded to the gunwales with concrete ties, presumably for the tunnel. GTW 4929 in charge. Only train today, of course. Now I know what the railfans on Raton Pass feel like...

Man o' War

[KC8RBK]

Not sure who desk 8 was talking with but said he would light them up as far as mp55 on the holly sub due to a car on the rails. Pull up and wait for track department inspection. 2010

502 meeting 371 at holly. Probably the rack train that was by here earlier. 2 bnsf units, they had some kind of issue. Dragging equipment I believe, waiting at durand, having fixed at flat rock. 2015

[Robertrains]

L533S wondered south after finishing work in Mount Clemens a few hours ago, and just came back through town (NB) like a bat out of hell with several bulkhead flats loaded to the gunwales with concrete ties, presumably for the tunnel. GTW 4929 in charge. Only train today, of course. Now I know what the railfans on Raton Pass feel like...

Man o' War

Alright, I didn't think there would be trains south of Mt. Clemens! While bike riding I saw one of those Peterbilt® trucks hauling one "Flat Car" with rail heading north!!!!!
It crossed 14 Mile, Fraser, at 7:00 p.m. This could be for the tunnel─but why only one car with just a few rails? Now, I partly missed 533 heading north! I caught the end of it as it crossed Utica Road, Fraser, at 7:37 p.m. WOW, will there be more trains with supplies? Also, hopefully we will see lots of trains while "Railfanning" Pt. Huron Monday 7-1!!!!

[NS C40-9]

An EB CN autorack went by Haslett MP 229 @ 7:35 PM with BNSF 5790 and BNSF 4171.

[Manistique]

A NB Container train with three BNSF locomotives and a medium-length train (with one boxcar on the tail end) went NB past MP 22.5 at 8:55 pm. Unless it was 514 with different power I presume it was a rerouted 149 maybe?

[GreatLakesRailfan]

GTW 4929 pushed 5 bulkhead flatcars of concrete ties in the direction of the tunnel about a half hour ago. 4929 has since returned to the west (west of my vantage point) without the cars. Prior to 4929's arrival, a single truckload of concrete ties had Departed the yard office in the direction of the tunnel, and after 4929 passed me, bit before it returned, two additional truckloads of concrete ties left the yard office in the direction of the tunnel.

Also, Cranemasters is on the scene, with their trucks parked at the East end of the yard (in the vicinity of 32nd Street), while Hulcher's trucks are still parked in the vicinity of the Amtrak station (about 16th - 18th Street).

There are at least 3 panel tracks with wooden ties sitting on a trailer in the yard office parking lot, which haven't moved in the time I've watched the concrete ties heading for the tunnel.

Per scanner traffic, it sounds like another movement is taking place via Track 1, in the direction of the tunnel.

EDIT: that movement turned out to be the truck pulled flatcar of rail that Robert saw earlier.

[Man o' War]

GTW 4929 pushed 5 bulkhead flatcars of concrete ties in the direction of the tunnel about a half hour ago. 4929 has since returned to the west (west of my vantage point) without the cars. Prior to 4929's arrival, a single truckload of concrete ties had Departed the yard office in the direction of the tunnel, and after 4929 passed me, bit before it returned, two additional truckloads of concrete ties left the yard office in the direction of the tunnel.

Also, Cranemasters is on the scene, with their trucks parked at the East end of the yard (in the vicinity of 32nd Street), while Hulcher's trucks are still parked in the vicinity of the Amtrak station (about 16th - 18th Street).

There are at least 3 panel tracks with wooden ties sitting on a trailer in the yard office parking lot, which haven't moved in the time I've watched the concrete ties heading for the tunnel.

Per scanner traffic, it sounds like another movement is taking place via Track 1, in the direction of the tunnel.

EDIT: that movement turned out to be the truck pulled flatcar of rail that Robert saw earlier.

There are wooden tie panel tracks (6-8 deep) stacked up at 16th Street, as well. I am curious about the Bluewater - is the station still accessible to Amtrak customers?
Appears to be a beehive at ground zero tonight.

Man o' War

[GreatLakesRailfan]

I don't think they can force Amtrak customers out of their way, at least not without permission from the city. The City of Port Huron owns the property the Amtrak station sits on. Being a private corporation, I'm pretty sure eminent domain doesn't apply to CN. BUT if you can drive to the station in Port Huron, you can probably drive to Lapeer, and at the rate they're going, the Lapeer station would probably be less of a hassle than trying to force your way into that parking lot in the morning would be.

I can't find anything either via local news outlets or on Amtrak's website that suggests that passenger access to the station has been suspended by CN or their contractors.

[KC8RBK]

116 by 205 at 2335

[kc8bdr]

502 is good to depart Pontiac southbound at 12:12 AM. CN 2851 leading.

[KC8RBK]

2 units light eb by 205 at 0049. Lined to cory. Trailing unit wasnt cn. Its was smaller letter and fairly long on the long hood. Similar to what ferromex does in the dark but I couldn't read it

[kc8bdr]

391 is good to depart northbound from Pontiac at 1:40 AM I did not catch the leading engine number. 391 will meet 116 at Holly.
116 has CN 5664 leading.

[kc8bdr]

328 at Pontiac and is good to head south with a fresh crew. CN 2859 Leading.

[Manistique]

A SB freight followed AMTRAK 351 down the Hill out of Pontiac around 6 am this morning.

At 7 am a long NB freight with an obviously non-Holly Sub consist (grain cars, black carbon coverered hoppers, long tank cars, Dow cars) went by with two CN's. Obviously a reroute.

[KC8RBK]

Eb rack train by 205 at 0925. Bcol cowl in cn paint leading cn. Looks like hes meeting one at mill.

[KC8RBK]

365 by 205 at 0944

[KC8RBK]

Wb manifest by 205 with 2 cn elephant style at 1050

[NS C40-9]

Wb manifest by 205 with 2 cn elephant style at 1050

Did they hold that EB rack train for him or did the westbound hold?

[KC8RBK]

Wb manifest by 205 with 2 cn elephant style at 1050

Did they hold that EB rack train for him or did the westbound hold?

Looks like that rack train may have ended up at cory. Both ends are unlocked. With cn power I expected it to continue east but I dont see it anywhere on the map.

[NS C40-9]

Wb manifest by 205 with 2 cn elephant style at 1050

Did they hold that EB rack train for him or did the westbound hold?

Looks like that rack train may have ended up at cory. Both ends are unlocked. With cn power I expected it to continue east but I dont see it anywhere on the map.

Alright, thanks for the info!