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Somebody posted on facebook another stone train northbound about 4 hours ago. Was in Elkhart to see 4124 & 4209 go by the depot but didn't see it. Caught UP engines on stack train with one of the new 9800s leading 2 others. That was about 3:30 ish.

GAP wrote:Do the stone trains run with any kind of predictability? I know there is no such thing as a "schedule" but are there any certain days or times that are more likely? Or is it totally random?

I was told "no set schedule." So pretty much random.

NS3322 wrote:

GAP wrote:Do the stone trains run with any kind of predictability? I know there is no such thing as a "schedule" but are there any certain days or times that are more likely? Or is it totally random?

I was told "no set schedule." So pretty much random.

Even working there we have no clue, it’s random. The days have changed over the course of weeks, the times we pick it up, which crew picks it up, how long it takes to unload, and then the same questions repeat itself when the train is trying to go back to Elkhart. My stone train got into Elkhart around 2000 tonight, NS power empty. Just depends on the day the crews, how much we have to wait on going down, and the big one how much NS wants to hold us out.

I did talk to a stone pit employee today when I was building the train, he said only about 4 more weeks of stone before they are done for the season.. so my guess is 3-4 trains then nothing till spring.

I have a question, are they loading the cars with a front end loader in Rich Valley or did they get a conveyer system in place? I know Kalamazoo has an unloading conveyor system but Google Maps never seems to be updated so I never see one at Rich Valley? Also when one train went under the overhead bridge in Three Rivers the cars looked to be half full? Is there a reason for this?

I see they do have a conveyor system on the last Maps update, however the rail system into the complex is not completed to show a loading method. An NS employee told me about the front end loader method which would really slow train departures. Maybe thats the case but with only 4 trains to go oh well. Are South Bend stone trains done?

They are only loaded half full because they don't want to OVERLOAD the cars. More cubic feet then weight capacity. That's why sand and cement cars are shorties. Remember the runaway on Cajon Pass a few years back? Idiot at the stone plant in the desert saw that the cars were only half full so he filled them to full. They showed the cars at old weight and not the overweight. Power was added to train to dynamically control a train that was VASTLY overloaded. The rest is history.
Remember, just because your pickup has a box on the back does NOT mean you can fill it up with ROCKS.

Elk has a WSOR passenger car here for shippers specials this Friday , Saturday and team member special Sunday. There possibly is another car coming from Lake States too. Nice touch to do this for the local communities. Running ahead of 303 Friday morning from Kazoo to Grand Rapids, Saturday running to Bristol on the south end, and Sunday running to Three Rivers and back. You now know.

Super Chief wrote:Elk has a WSOR passenger car here for shippers specials this Friday , Saturday and team member special Sunday. There possibly is another car coming from Lake States too. Nice touch to do this for the local communities. Running ahead of 303 Friday morning from Kazoo to Grand Rapids, Saturday running to Bristol on the south end, and Sunday running to Three Rivers and back. You now know.

Nice touch despite the fact that getting it from Janesville to the BRC was a 14 hour day for me

What NS operations still travel to/from Gearhart from the east? I caught a couple of NS SD40s leading a rather lengthy train EB from the yard, I think the 29th. Looked too long to be for BC.

NSSD70ACe wrote:What NS operations still travel to/from Gearhart from the east? I caught a couple of NS SD40s leading a rather lengthy train EB from the yard, I think the 29th. Looked too long to be for BC.

You likely saw the road train to Jackson: B33. The BC local does not use SD40s.

Does 303 still go on duty at 1000?

NS3322 wrote:

NSSD70ACe wrote:What NS operations still travel to/from Gearhart from the east? I caught a couple of NS SD40s leading a rather lengthy train EB from the yard, I think the 29th. Looked too long to be for BC.

You likely saw the road train to Jackson: B33. The BC local does not use SD40s.

Does 303 still go on duty at 1000?

Yeah I thought I heard somewhere that B33 was annulled but I guess not.

Any idea why #4009 was hauling only one car today at around 11:30? Would this be 105?

Anyone have a departure time for Sundays run to Three Rivers?

-Jeff

Super Chief wrote:Elk has a WSOR passenger car here for shippers specials this Friday , Saturday and team member special Sunday. There possibly is another car coming from Lake States too. Nice touch to do this for the local communities. Running ahead of 303 Friday morning from Kazoo to Grand Rapids, Saturday running to Bristol on the south end, and Sunday running to Three Rivers and back. You now know.

Indeed 4009 was the 105 yesterday, followed 501 around the wye by about 10 minutes according to the radio traffic with the Amtrak train director.

2 trains to Three Rivers Sunday. 1st train arrives 10am, leaves 10:30, 2nd train arrives at 2:30pm leaves at 3. Run around train at GM siding both times.

I'm sorry you asked for departure times, departs Kazoo 9am and 1:30 pm.

Thanks!

-Jeff

Super Chief wrote:2 trains to Three Rivers Sunday. 1st train arrives 10am, leaves 10:30, 2nd train arrives at 2:30pm leaves at 3. Run around train at GM siding both times.

Super Chief wrote:2 trains to Three Rivers Sunday. 1st train arrives 10am, leaves 10:30, 2nd train arrives at 2:30pm leaves at 3. Run around train at GM siding both times.

How far into Three Rivers are they going? And where is GM siding? Is that the American Axle plant?

Theres been a change, GM siding is full of cars now. So the plan is the run arounds will be at Park and Cowling both times. Being power switches it will take a little longer.

Super Chief wrote:Theres been a change, GM siding is full of cars now. So the plan is the run arounds will be at Park and Cowling both times. Being power switches it will take a little longer.

Might limit the view in both directions from the theater car, but a push-pull arrangement would save a whole lot of effort. Probably a spare GP35 laying around resting on a Sunday...