CN Train Location Updates - November 2023

[KC8RBK]

0608 M397 is CN 8003 CP 8003 CSX 4568 the operation lifesaver unit by 205.. Friendly crew said hi as I was getting up for work.

Eb manifest by 205. Cn leading something darker 0654

[LansingRailFan]

0608 wb manifest by 205 with cn/cp/cn. The cp unit looked to be a 4000 series? I was surprised I could make out the 4 in the dark on my camera. Friendly crew said hi as I was getting up for work.

2023
Post Tue Oct 31, 2023 8:54 pm

LansingRailFan wrote: ↑
WB CN M397 OD at Mac Toronto at 1415 with CN 8003, CP 8003, and CSXT 4568 the OLS Heritables unit

Meanwhile

EB (for us anyway) M302 through Byron, WI @0946 with the CN 3967 (ex-CitiRail)/CN 3932 (ex-CitiRail) and CN 3069 (WC Heritables unit)

Bangers
M397 at Ridout in Ontario
M302 at Griffith, IN moving fast

WB M397 with CN 8003/CP 8003/CSX 4568 (OLS Heritables) by MP 205 at 06:08 am - in BC now

EB M302 CN 3967 (ex-CitiRail)/CN 3932 (ex-CitiRail) and CN 3069 (WC Heritables unit) is in PH at 07:50

WB A491 with CN 3115 (BC HU) leading departed Port Huron at 05:25

Today’s EB Q116 with CN 8952 (GTW HU)/CSX 103 is another banger.

When it snows it pours eh

EB L500 was by the 204 cam at 07:20. They have work in Lansing

Q116 dep Marcellus 07:55

A491 arr flint 08:15

[bluewonderrails]

E27691 east on Griffith cam at 07:33 CST. CN duo #2226 + #2205

[Manistique]

SB 515 went past MP 22.5 with 5423 around 7:20 am today. Too dark out to see the train to report the consist.

[Delray]

Today’s EB Q116 with CN 8952 (GTW HU)/CSX 103

By the MP 205 cam at 10:19

251 by the Fort St cam at 10:59 CN x2

[KC8RBK]

WB A491 with CN 3115 (BC HU) leading departed Port Huron at 05:25

A491 arr flint 08:15

By 205 at 1230. I'm working on uploading video

[Man o' War]

Huge 40 car L515 today in Mount Clemens for work. Many DCON loaded scrap gons, tanks, covered hoppers, loaded centerbeams and boxes for GLR and Chrysler. Many box cars have been erroneously reported as going to Chrysler when, in fact, they are for GLR in Fraser - even some of the UP/SP/CR cars. Dispatcher asked crew today if Fraser was between North Mount and South Mount - thought it was a business - not a city, even though Fraser is still listed in the ETT. Crew got a chuckle...

Man o' War

[MQT1223]

Q116 clear Morrice. Dropped all of his racks at Cory Yard so he is short. CN 8952 (GT HU) leads a CSX AC4400 in boxcar paint elephant style.

Engineer is driving like he stole it.

[Robertrains]

2023
Post Tue Oct 31, 2023 8:54 pm

LansingRailFan wrote: ↑
WB CN M397 OD at Mac Toronto at 1415 with CN 8003, CP 8003, and CSXT 4568 the OLS Heritables unit

Meanwhile

EB M302 CN 3967 (ex-CitiRail)/CN 3932 (ex-CitiRail) and CN 3069 (WC Heritables unit) is in PH at 07:50

Well Well, missed CSX "50th Anniversary Operation Lifesaver" SD70M!!!! How about train 302? The ex Citi Rail ES44ACs must have P.T.C. equipment in order to lead in U.S. Will this equipment come back to MI soon? WOW!!!!

Huge 40 car L515 today in Mount Clemens for work. Many DCON loaded scrap gons, tanks, covered hoppers, loaded centerbeams and boxes for GLR and Chrysler. Many box cars have been erroneously reported as going to Chrysler when, in fact, they are for GLR in Fraser - even some of the UP/SP/CR cars. Dispatcher asked crew today if Fraser was between North Mount and South Mount - thought it was a business - not a city, even though Fraser is still listed in the ETT. Crew got a chuckle...

Man o' War

I saw L533 going south across Masonic, Fraser after 1 p.m. Man o' War, did it have 40 cars going south too? I did not count, but it seemed long!!!!

[Redwing9]

E251 CN 8940 Royal Oak 14:40

[Manistique]

Three trains passed MP 22.5 between 3 and 3:30. Didn't see any of them, just heard them roll by. First might have been 251 but it seemed short so maybe NB 515. The next was an hour a late Amtrak 350. Then just now a very short SB, maybe that 116 that left all its racks at Cory or maybe an early SB 513?

Huge 40 car L515 today in Mount Clemens for work. Many DCON loaded scrap gons, tanks, covered hoppers, loaded centerbeams and boxes for GLR and Chrysler. Many box cars have been erroneously reported as going to Chrysler when, in fact, they are for GLR in Fraser - even some of the UP/SP/CR cars. Dispatcher asked crew today if Fraser was between North Mount and South Mount - thought it was a business - not a city, even though Fraser is still listed in the ETT. Crew got a chuckle...

Man o' War

This is very interesting about the other boxcar receiving location for 515 in Fraser. The odd part is that SB 515 wasn't that long a train out of Pontiac this morning. It must be picking up cars at East Yard. The loaded gondolas were picked up at East Yard, which is a bit different than before when 515 would get them on the way back to Pontiac, which makes it sound like my theory may be correct. There has been TTX yellow boxcars on this train, which were more like those that would go to the paper recycler in Ferndale that 515 doesn't switch anymore (513 does if it is still in business). Is GLR a recycler in Fraser? Even I know where Fraser is!

[Redwing9]

Q116 arriving in Ferndale 15:40

[Man o' War]

Huge 40 car L515 today in Mount Clemens for work. Many DCON loaded scrap gons, tanks, covered hoppers, loaded centerbeams and boxes for GLR and Chrysler. Many box cars have been erroneously reported as going to Chrysler when, in fact, they are for GLR in Fraser - even some of the UP/SP/CR cars. Dispatcher asked crew today if Fraser was between North Mount and South Mount - thought it was a business - not a city, even though Fraser is still listed in the ETT. Crew got a chuckle...

Man o' War

This is very interesting about the other boxcar receiving location for 515 in Fraser. The odd part is that SB 515 wasn't that long a train out of Pontiac this morning. It must be picking up cars at East Yard. The loaded gondolas were picked up at East Yard, which is a bit different than before when 515 would get them on the way back to Pontiac, which makes it sound like my theory may be correct. There has been TTX yellow boxcars on this train, which were more like those that would go to the paper recycler in Ferndale that 515 doesn't switch anymore (513 does if it is still in business). Is GLR a recycler in Fraser? Even I know where Fraser is!

Yes, I believe they had a substantial pick-up at East Yard today. They have been dragging the loaded DCON cars up to MC for quite a while. Doesn't make sense to me, but it must for them. GLR began life as Great Lakes Paper in Fraser in the '90's, then quit rail for a long spell. Later it became Great Lakes Recycling (GLR), and lately their rail business has been booming - baled outbound paper products. The modus operandi for L515 is to drop their NB train on the main in Mount Clemens, then run around it through Mount siding, then shove the whole train (via Rule 503) north of the Chrysler switch and begin work. When that train is heavy with loaded tanks, scrap gons, box cars loaded with automotive springs, etc., shoving it north up the Clinton River grade can be a loud task even for an SD60!

A few more trains through MC:

M383 at 14:15
M385 at 14:25
L533 at 16:08.

Man o' War

[Manistique]

NB 515 just went past MP 22.5 with 28 cars. The first four were newer GATX blues (2) and TTX yellow (2). A lot of empty centerbeams. More than usual loaded gondolas from DCON. And a cut of 8 older boxcars of various roads. So less than reported above at Mount Clemens (40) but still a long train. They may have dropped some off at East Yard.

[Manistique]

What must be 508 is rolling past MP 22.5 at 7:53 pm. He beat 507 again tonight.

[Man o' War]

A very late M382 by Mount Clemens depot at 20:00. CN/CN - 50 mph.

Man o' War

[Manistique]

SB 515 with 5423 again went past MP 22.5 at 7:23 am.

[Man o' War]

M384 was by Mount Clemens depot at 00:34.

L515 departing MC for Nolan/Gillen at 09:47.

Man o' War

[Delray]

251 by the Fort St cam at 11:01

CN 8952 (GTW HU)
CSX 103

[Manistique]

NB 515 with 25 cars, eight boxcars and the rest mostly tank cars today, past mp 22.5 at 1:04 pm.

The midafternoon rush on the South Holly continues. 116 is flying by on Main 1 at 1:25 pm right after NB 515 passed. Only a couple of containers on the head end today (so much for the increased container traffic on CN in Michigan, it seems to be getting less and less).

Next in the coming hour or so should be Amtrak 350 and CN 251, not necessarily in that order.