CP 421 Upgrade

[justalurker66]

Equipment remains on Track 2 west of CP 421. The foreman has track authority on 2 until 11:59pm. Track 2 left lined for the real North Freight.

Everyone went home.

The Track 3 to North Freight crossover west of Oakland is being used to go from 3 at CP 423 to 2 east of CP 421.

[LakeATCS]

Equipment remains on Track 2 west of CP 421. The foreman has track authority on 2 until 11:59pm. Track 2 left lined for the real North Freight.

Everyone went home.

Hmm that is going to be a mess for the dispatcher.

The early bird to the Coach track is lined eastward at 423. They wouldn't have rigged something up where 423 coach track leads to the new 3/old coach track would they.

[justalurker66]

See edit above (Track 3 crosses to North Freight at the east end of the yard west of Oakland Ave -- so a train could go from eastbound 3 at CP 423 to eastbound 2 at CP 421).

10 MPH restriction on Track 2.

When the foreman gave up his track and time (for everything except Track 2 between CP 423 and CP 421 and separately for the Kalamazoo Branch) it was made clear on the radio that the yard could use South Freight (lined to 3 east of CP 421) and North Freight (lined to 2 east of CP 421).

The final testing that you saw was under local control making sure that the North Freight to Track 2 route could be cleared in either direction. And then the crew went "home".

[justalurker66]

One more view from Friday afternoon. Close clearance!

[justalurker66]

Running 2 hours, 13 minutes late ... Amtrak 49/449 at Elkhart
(was 1 hour, 15 minutes late at Waterloo)

CP1 Kalamazoo Branch/Grand Elk
Note the small ATCS antenna (no PTC tower at this site)

CP1 Kalamazoo Branch/Grand Elk

CP 1
Eastbound to Three Rivers - Clear, Approach, Restricting, Stop (bottom head needed for restricting)
Westbound to Elkhart - Approach Medium, Approach, Restricting, Stop (no "Clear" aspect)

[justalurker66]

Not as remarkable as yesterday so far ... a little dreary, raining, lightning ... but NS is getting work done.

The end of old Track 2

Work on the new North Freight (the signal is in the way, but there is an alternate route).

Welding and grinding on Track 3 (old Coach Track)
(WB Signal for Track 2 remains lit from yesterday.)

[justalurker66]

North Freight to Track 2 has reopened.

[justalurker66]

All quiet. The new Kalamazoo connection is now in two pieces ... one snaked between the old cabinets south of Track 1, the other segment is on top of the branch track ready to be pulled west. The old rail ties and ballast has been removed from the crossing.

The new signal on Track 2 is confusing a train on North Freight. The dispatcher is checking into it.
The dispatcher is talking the train past the bagged signal.

Earlier today a train was warned not to go too slow through the curve due to the superelevation. "That will be 30 tomorrow." Slow trains look like they are leaning.

[justalurker66]

Last Train --- CP stopped transmitting at 8:03am just before 49 rolled through. (There was also a train on 3 to South Freight.)

[justalurker66]

Old signals lit ... not transmitting ATCS. I have heard trains call CP 421 long after Amtrak.

Nasty rain.

Edit: As of 9:50am Track 1 cut no more trains. Signal boxes pulled at CP 421. New signals lit WB. All old dark.

[justalurker66]

75501590010202 --- CP 1?

[justalurker66]

Removing old cabinet by bridge (in the way of new Kalamazoo Branch)

Lifting the diamond

Taking away the diamond

[justalurker66]

Connecting the Kalamazoo Branch

The new westbound signal bridge all lit up

Removing the crossover between Track 3 (old Coach Track) and North Freight?

[Dajudge]

Not sure about the rest of you and I know things change but this is a sad event. Been watching activity on these tracks for over 40 years, once the bridge is gone, its over. Such is the nature of progress. Onward and upward.

At noon today the boss's had a nice lunch spread set up for all the guys at the west of the station platform. A gazillion sub sandwiches and drink. Nice gesture, specially since they've worked long hours and now in the driving rain and wind. As noon approached in came the ubiquitous white trucks.....

[justalurker66]

[LakeATCS]

It looks like they are testing everything on 2 main southward to get it open. While 1 main is moved.

[justalurker66]

Everything is connected. Testing signals. First train 6:30?

[Dajudge]

Some changes made today.

[Dajudge]

A few more from today, (cold wet today) .....

[LakeATCS]

I think there is a pretty epic parking lot from 410 eastward. Seen a lot of westward moves at Kendalville.

At least 3 eastbound thru trains parked from 453 in to 435 out of the way for things that can use the yard.