CSX Train Location Updates - February 2021

[justin_gram]

P37118 westbound currently around Hilltop CG 90. Pretty cool seeing a P42 back in town. And a nice size train

[TSS]

12 Supers would have looked really awesome. I think the most I've seen on a PM train was 6 or 7.

I think the most Superliners I’ve seen was 5 on November 30, 2014. Bracketed by a Genesis and a Dash 8.

Possibly biggest, strangest PM ever, July 8, 2017: Genesis, Amfleet Cafe, 3x Horizon coaches, 2x Genesis in the middle, 3 Superliners, NPCU on rear. Total 7 cars, 3 locomotives, and 1 cab car. https://youtu.be/EHh7pW8Fi_8

[~Z~]

Amtrak P370-17 @ 10:14:30pm eastward Bangor's Division St crossing mp CG60.93 with AMTK engine #83 & 3 SuperLiner cars (17 passengers off at the station mp CG60.5)

D700-17 @ 10:23pm westward reported by DD mp CG19.1 w/ 176 axles & 2,486 ft long. CSXT engines #2742 + #6244 & 42 cars.

And almost equal in the crazies about having a double Amtrak set this morning... 17 passengers getting off the train at Bangor? Haven't seen that before.

[TSS]

And almost equal in the crazies about having a double Amtrak set this morning... 17 passengers getting off the train at Bangor? Haven't seen that before.

That was pathetic. They did it so they could safely pick up the dead train set at Saugatuck. They should have run the train normally, let people get off at Holland and GR, and then run a turn to Saugatuck with the empty 370 trainset to fetch the dead 371. But I forget: the purpose of Amtrak is not moving people in a customer friendly manner; it is pinching every every penny possible.

(Edit: I say this with a roll of the eyes and a wish for a better, customer friendly train system. But I know that tough decisions have to be made in reality and maybe this was the best thing in the circumstances.)

[justin_gram]

09:10 - Q327-18 Approach Medium @ Paw Paw (85) track 2 west.

[LansingRailFan]

Since this is the Amtrak post, P365 is on time and approaching 206.3 9:14 aM.

[Tom49801]

And almost equal in the crazies about having a double Amtrak set this morning... 17 passengers getting off the train at Bangor? Haven't seen that before.

That was pathetic. They did it so they could safely pick up the dead train set at Saugatuck. They should have run the train normally, let people get off at Holland and GR, and then run a turn to Saugatuck with the empty 370 trainset to fetch the dead 371. But I forget: the purpose of Amtrak is not moving people in a customer friendly manner; it is pinching every every penny possible.

It was an interesting decision on how to retrieve the dead P371 out of Saugatuck siding.

[Tom49801]

Q327-18 @ 09:34am westward reported by DD mp CG91.9 with 384 axles & 5,353 feet. CSXT engines #850 + 5406 & 93 cars.

[TSS]

Amtrak didn't make that decision on how to retrieve the dead P371...since Amtrak does not own any of those tracks.

Tom, see my edit to my original post. I was probably too harsh in my wording. It was more of a “palm-to-forehead, thank God I was not a passenger last night” reaction. After dozens of trips on 370/371, I have been lucky not to experience a bus substitution.

I am well versed in the predicament Amtrak faces regarding what should be done for the customers versus what its host railroads allow and what the budget allows. And I feel for the employees who receive the wrath of inconvenienced passengers and armchair critics like me.

This is the train locations board, so we had better return to that topic before ~Z~ Has something to say.

Todd

[Tom49801]

Q326-18 @ 10:39am eastward reported by DD mp CG91.9 with 172 axles & 2,281 feet. CSXT engine #328 + 1 & 40 cars.

[J T]

And almost equal in the crazies about having a double Amtrak set this morning... 17 passengers getting off the train at Bangor? Haven't seen that before.

That was pathetic. They did it so they could safely pick up the dead train set at Saugatuck. They should have run the train normally, let people get off at Holland and GR, and then run a turn to Saugatuck with the empty 370 trainset to fetch the dead 371. But I forget: the purpose of Amtrak is not moving people in a customer friendly manner; it is pinching every every penny possible.

(Edit: I say this with a roll of the eyes and a wish for a better, customer friendly train system. But I know that tough decisions have to be made in reality and maybe this was the best thing in the circumstances.)

Would there have been something unsafe about picking up the dead train with the passengers still aboard? Just a reverse move, couple, set air, depart? I'm sure if they were asked if they'd prefer to stay on the warm and comfy train and experience a little delay, OR get off in Bangor and be bused back to Grand Rapids (with a stop in Holland), most, if not all, would have picked the former.

[DaveO]

Don't they need to shut the electric off when making such connections?
Sometimes the connections that need to be made can't be done quickly such as ice being in the connections.
There have been instances over the years that when the power was shut-off, it couldn't be turned back on again.
With the current cold, taking the sure thing probably was the better choice.

[Tom49801]

Q326-18 @ 11:37:08am eastward Bangor's Division St crossing mp CG60.93 with CSXT engines #328 + #851 & 40 cars.

[Talk]

Q326-18 @ 11:37:08am eastward Bangor's Division St crossing mp CG60.93 with CSXT engines #328 + #851 & 40 cars.

Q327-18 @ 09:34am westward reported by DD mp CG91.9 with 384 axles & 5,353 feet. CSXT engines #850 + 5406 & 93 cars.

Neat Note: Q326 and Q327 today had Sister units

[CantBeShook.WeHot]

q32618 grand junction MI. q32718 cline IN. d70818 lansing. d70218 on duty holland MI. d70518 in system. d70617 set for 2pm grand rapids. d70717 arrived lansing 3am.
n80019, e80018, e80118 in system. e80014 arrived chicago 8am.
q15018 le moyne OH. q15118 consaul av toledo OH. q13118 walbridge. q13217 hasn't left Salem IL. q13216 CP 138 OH. q56717 willard OH. q56818 erie mI. d73518 not on duty walbridge. d73617 arrived walbridge 6am.

[LansingRailFan]

D708 is headed east from Ensel. Looks to be eight cars for AsahiKasei in Fowlerville. 8350 lead 8094 trail elephant style both facing East.

Jail followed em and is clear Michigan Ave at 12:35

Haven’t heard from Bob, Micah or AMessman to know if there’s anything in Brighton to drag west to exchange w GLC.

[Tom49801]

Q326-18 @ 12:53pm eastward reported by DD mp CG19.1 with 172 axles & 2,264 feet. CSXT engines #328 + #851 & 40 cars.

[amessmann]

D708 is headed east from Ensel.
Haven’t heard from...AMessman to know if there’s anything in Brighton to drag west to exchange w GLC.

I have no idea, though D708 did take a while when they came to Brighton yesterday. I'll be leaving later this afternoon and can check.

[Tom49801]

D706-17 @ 2:58pm eastward reported from Seymour mp CH148.1 with CSXT #3211 leading + CSXT #738 DPU(?).
D706-17 @ 3:12pm eastward reported from e/e Fox mp CH141.8

[BL2-1843]

D708 in Howell now at 3:27 picking up all of last nights GLC set off in the siding here. Don't think there is anything in Brighton.