MQT CSX GRE Train Location Update - 05-03-2008

[amtrak1007]

Q32002 CSXT2337 depart 0210
I believe X500 and Q334 left ahead of them.
Z15102 the 18th Birthday Special arrived around 0130.
GLLX3003, GMTX2648, GMTX2676, GLLX3002 + 64 cars, Northbound is rumored to be over 70 cars.

Q32702, was unable to get re-crewed until 0300, however from the radio chatter, they may not be leaving until 0400.

Also i think i heard a phantom around East Tower... Strange...

[~Z~]

Q32603 - Annulled? hmm...
Q32702 - E MICHIGAN CITY CP MI CG 126 05-03-2008 08:22
Q32703 - set to leave Detroit at 2pm
Q33403 - PICKLE ROAD OH CTT 52 05-03-2008 09:00
Q33503 - MILLARD AVE OH CTT 37 05-03-2008 08:30
CP X50002 - hasn't left Chicago yet
N90303 - hasn't left Chicago yet
E94930 - W MICHIGAN CITY CP MI CG 127 05-02-2008 22:24
E94902 - not moving yet
D70002 - GRAND RAPIDS MI CG 1 05-03-2008 08:55
D00802 tied up at Waverly yesterday... train broke themselves in two so they could unload their track equipment..got part way done and ran into problems. Decided to load all their equipment back on, double up the train, and park it at Waverly. Sounds like a waste of a day.
D00703 - not moving yet
Amtrak P37103 - GROSS MI CG 62 05-03-2008 09:07

[BL2-1843]

There is an X202-02 called out of Walbridge at 1125am today with a Grand Rapids crew, supposidly with CSXT 8123,8569,8575 for power, and 47 auto rack empites. Who knows where this one is going to wind up at.

[sd70accsxt700]

Showing only 8123, more New Boston Racks headed to New Buffalo for storage until the strike is over.

[BL2-1843]

Yep, as stated, one unit, CSX 8123, os Howell at 6pm. Regular type auto racks this time, unlike the last set headed for storage.

[tsinoms]

P370 Clear WE of Livingston 20:12 Phase III Cabbage, 3 Coaches, 22, 26 back to back!!!!!

[J T]

X500-02 got into GR around 7:30. 9594 was the single leader, along with about 6-8 stacks and a dozen or so autoracks. It was dark and lightly raining when I got this shot (you can just see some droplets in the headlights), but I wish it had been pouring hard like it was about 30 minutes sooner. I'm still waiting to get one of those dark-day-pouring-rain shots!

[amtrak1007]

JT, I thought you didn't like cloudy days? But rain is ok? Hmm to each his own i guess.

X500 crossed 28th & Breton around 2130. Quite a nice catch to see a train crossing the bridge above you in the dark.

[J T]

JT, I thought you didn't like cloudy days? But rain is ok? Hmm to each his own i guess.

I shoot on cloudy days all the time. I prefer sunshine for particular shots, but cloudy days allow for photo angles that wouldn't normally look good on a sunny day with a backlit train. And now that I have a camera that handles higher ISOs better, I'll probably be shooting even more on cloudy days.

I was actually hoping for it to be raining hard when X500 came through. Catching the rain in the headlights is a really cool effect, quite similar to snow.

A shot like this was what I wanted, but the rain let up shortly before the train came:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=199022

Sometimes cloudy days ruin that ultra-rare shot that I'll most likely never have a chance to get again (4 helpers pushing this train, two bnsf and two csx...not likely to ever happen again...at least not when I'm there to capture it). Sun in this shot would have made it a winner...but all it is now is a loser:



See, now THAT is when I absolutely hate shooting on a cloudy day...especially since just minutes after the train passed, the sun was shining brightly again. I wouldn't have even bothered to get that shot if it were completely cloudy.

[Racer]

Whoa an SD70ACe! We need to track that loco! *Chris crosses his fingers that it will lead Q326 next week!

[CAT345C]

Yes a intermodual center on CSX would make so much sense in Flint.