Shortline Location Updates June 2023

[~Z~]

Grand Elk north through Byron Center at 1:44pm. WAMX 4124, 4206(both LHF) with 38 cars.

[GRRailFan08]

Marquette Rail Z151-20 @ 10:15 reported highballing southbound thru Kent City with MQT #2044, MQT #3389, MQT #3406, MQT #3408 + xx cars

Z151-20 @ 11:00 reported arriving at Turner St Yard mp CGE 3.6

Z151-20 @ 12:53 heading northbound at Second NW CGE 1.2 in Grand Rapids with MQT #3408, MQT #3406, MQT #3389, MQT #2044 and 55 cars. He had a Pan Am boxcar in consist and a large 60ft CN boxcar. Nice conductor on board

Z439-20 @ 1:19pm heading eastbound thru Sunnyside C CH 151.61 with WAMX #3531 + WAMX #3534 and 5 cars (3 boxcars, and 2 loaded CHs)

Z151-20 @ 2:26 pm highballing eastbound through Hall Rd. Casnovia w/ MQT 3408, 3406, 3389 & 2044

[Andy24]

Grand Elk north through Byron Center at 1:44pm. WAMX 4124, 4206(both LHF) with 38 cars.

Grand Elk south through 54th St in Wyoming at 5:27pm with WAMX 4206, wamx 4124 and maybe 20 ish cars. Was viewing the train thru my rear mirrors

[J T]

Darn, I knew I should have brought my drone with me to my chiro appt in Hopkins. I’ll be done with that at 5:45. I could have caught them on my way back to GR. Oh well.

[GRHC]

Darn, I knew I should have brought my drone with me to my chiro appt in Hopkins. I’ll be done with that at 5:45. I could have caught them on my way back to GR. Oh well.

Oh just be like everybody else and stand on the ground and use your phone lol

You could always pull your vehicle up next to the tracks and stand on the hood or roof.

[~Z~]

Grand elk south through Byron Center at 5:39pm, wamx 4206, 4124 and 33 cars. Mostly boxcars on the headend.

Are these sessions less than 15 mins, posting at 5:29 and done by 5:45?

[J T]

Grand Elk switching at Nutrien Ag in Moline @ 6:20pm.

[J T]

Are these sessions less than 15 mins, posting at 5:29 and done by 5:45?

Yes, that’s pretty standard for a chiro appt (every two weeks).

[Andy24]

Darn, I knew I should have brought my drone with me to my chiro appt in Hopkins. I’ll be done with that at 5:45. I could have caught them on my way back to GR. Oh well.

Oh just be like everybody else and stand on the ground and use your phone lol

You could always pull your vehicle up next to the tracks and stand on the hood or roof.

Or wait until someone reports GDLK and start chasing the train. Don’t be like me who sits by the tracks for 2 hours and no action lol.

I also use my phone for GDLK with my 51 inch tripod that is starting to west down

[Andy24]

Marquette Rail Z151-21 @ 8:41 reported at Grant with BBPR #3345, MQT 3389?, MQT 3406?, 3389? & 2044? Unsure direction they are heading. For those interested in getting Marquette Rail, use this free scanner https://www.broadcastify.com/webPlayer/24338

Grand Elk Z439-21 @ 9:34 reported heading west from Pleasant St with WAMX #3534 + WAMX #3531 and 19 cars for Wyoming Yard. Rouge Tower reported to Z439-21 to cut away their 19 cars into 19 track and head back with lite power.

Marquette Rail Z151-21 @ 9:52 reported MQT #3389 traction motor burnt out.

[Andy24]

Marquette Rail Z151-21 @ 12:41 reported heading east at Godfrey Ave mp 0.99 with MQT #3408, MQT #3406(?), BBPR #3345 and unknown number of cars and the engine(s) between 3408 and 3345

[~Z~]

Grand Elk north through Byron Center at 2:11pm. WAMX 4124, WAMX 4206, WAMX 4009 (all LHF) with 57 cars. Last 25 or so were all new looking grey covered hoppers. 27th car had a decent flat wheel on it.

[~Z~]

Grand elk south through Byron Center at 5:25pm.
Wamx 4206, 4124 and 4125 with just two cars I think.

[~Z~]

Grand Elk north through Byron Center at 12:43pm. Back to the usual pair of WAMX 4125 and 4124 with 27 cars. Last half was new grey covered hoppers again, AEX stenciled.

[Andy24]

Grand Elk north through Byron Center at 12:43pm. Back to the usual pair of WAMX 4125 and 4124 with 27 cars. Last half was new grey covered hoppers again, AEX stenciled.

Grand Elk north through 54th St at 12:54pm. Saw the last 3 AEX grain cars. Jammed traffic on all sides

[~Z~]

Grand elk south through Byron Center at 3:35pm. Wamx 4124 and 4125 with 26ish cars.

[J T]

Totally random catch while heading to Guernsey Lake to do some kayaking. No idea a train was coming until I crossed the tracks and saw the headlight.

Rolling through downtown Shelbyville at 4:38pm.

[David Collins]

LSRC and HESR folks, heads up! The FRA track geo train is currently on the LSRC and is supposed to be heading up to Grayling via Bay City. There’s a real possibility that the CSX SD40-3 that came with it is going to stay with it the whole time. Time will tell, I’ll post updates as they happen.

Edit: By Roscommon at 5:33, the slugset is up front. No firm destination as of yet.

[LansingRailFan]

LSRC and HESR folks, heads up! The FRA track geo train is currently on the LSRC and is supposed to be heading up to Grayling via Bay City. There’s a real possibility that the CSX SD40-3 that came with it is going to stay with it the whole time. Time will tell, I’ll post updates as they happen.

Edit: By Roscommon at 5:33, the slugset is up front. No firm destination as of yet.

They usually don’t leave run thru power on this train. GLC will use their own engines as well when it runs on them next week.

[Dowagiac Train Dude]

The Grand Elk just went by the Elkhart VR cam at 10:47am towards the Elkhart yard. It was a combined train that included an NS stone train. The train was led by NS 1164, NS 1112, WAMX 4189 and WAMX 4209 with the 33 cars for the Grand Elk (a mix of box cars, covered hoppers and tank cars) and 80 stone hopper cars for the NS stone train. A total of 113 cars and four locos.