GDLK Operations

[1TrackMind]

911 &1000 were there but 2 months ago only 1 and the caboose/office. If theyve got 2 do you know the unit #s?

Just drove through there sunday, they had two units. Didn't see the numbers.

[justalurker66]

911 &1000 were there but 2 months ago only 1 and the caboose/office. If theyve got 2 do you know the unit #s?

911 and 912 were there on March 28th.
911 painted Elkhart and Western
912 painted Pioneer Lines in a diamond
The caboose (500 007) has propane and electrical service and isn't moveable.

I don't look often, but I usually notice when one engine is missing. I have not seen an engine missing in April.

[MQT1223]

Elkhart and Western is down to one unit also. Maybe 1603 is back-up for them and MSO?

E&W have two units in Elkhart.

It wouldn't make sense if the E&W and MSO both used the 1603. It would be a huge pain in the rear just to get that unit down to the E&W between all of the interchanging that would have to take place just to go the distance.

[NS3322]

It appears #1000 was reassigned to the Gettysburg and Northern.
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=5280797

[justalurker66]

It appears #1000 was reassigned to the Gettysburg and Northern.

And the pioneer homepage ( https://pioneer-railcorp.com/the-gettys ... ilway-get/ ) features a picture of 912.

[NS3322]

It appears #1000 was reassigned to the Gettysburg and Northern.

And the pioneer homepage ( https://pioneer-railcorp.com/the-gettys ... ilway-get/ ) features a picture of 912.

That photo was taken by Jim Pearson when #912 was assigned to the Indiana Southwestern. Pioneer purchased a few of his photos for the updated website.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jimpearso ... yYS-kzZoRn

[chapmaja]

I think #1000 is on the Gettysburg Northern or something like that. Saw a facebook video of 1000 and 1001 and I think it said they were in Gettysburg

[PatAzo]

Which GDLK units were #1000 and 1001?

[SD80MAC]

Which GDLK units were #1000 and 1001?

???? They were never owned by Grand Elk, they’re owned by Pioneer.

[dave989]

4206, 4209 & 4002 are sitting at the Hughart house today. Still wondering if gp-35 #3534 is going to live?

[NSSD70ACe]

Grand Elk nabbed another ped today in the vicinity of Cork and S. Burdick in Kalamazoo. Looks like 501 or whatever they’re calling the south end local now. 4009 leading.

Victim is alive and was cited by KDPS for trespassing on ROW. Apparently they had their headphones in.

[justalurker66]

Which GDLK units were #1000 and 1001?

Sorry for the confusion. The engines came up in discussion because of 1000's former use on the Elkhart & Western, which connects to NS west of the southern end of the GDLK line in Elkhart. If one follows GDLK's interchange trains to the NS Elkhart Yard it is hard to miss the Elkhart & Western engines not far from the Elkhart passenger station. The owner, Pioneer Lines, also operates the Michigan Southern in White Pigeon. GDLK delivers cars to the MSO interchange in White Pigeon.

[justalurker66]

GDLK may deliever PREX 1603 to the MSO today. It came up from Elkhart last night.

Delivery successful.

1603 Saturday in White Pigeon

1616 in yard

[justalurker66]

How accurate is the wki for GDLK train symbols and schedules?
http://railroadfan.com/wiki/index.php/Grand_Elk

(A GDLK went in to the Elkhart Yard at about 1:20am Monday Morning.)

[NSSD70ACe]

How accurate is the wki for GDLK train symbols and schedules?
http://railroadfan.com/wiki/index.php/Grand_Elk

(A GDLK went in to the Elkhart Yard at about 1:20am Monday Morning.)

It looks fairly accurate to me. The train you saw go in might’ve been very late 102.

[Super Chief]

Last I talked to the trainmaster, the 501 crew has been abolished for now. Usually runs as a 503 crew. 102 is usually called as needed. Remember these are crew numbers, not train symbol numbers. 503 would be the south local, 302 & 303 would be north and south road freights. 105 would be the Pfizer turn and any other 100 crews are extras. Those living in GR could give us those local numbers that would be helpful.

[~Z~]

Up in Grand Rapids, a block of 8 empty centerbeams has been pulled from the former mainline that's just west of Eastern Ave. The other 40+ empty centerbeams are still on the disconnected trackage around Steelcase.

[SD80MAC]

Last I talked to the trainmaster, the 501 crew has been abolished for now. Usually runs as a 503 crew. 102 is usually called as needed. Remember these are crew numbers, not train symbol numbers. 503 would be the south local, 302 & 303 would be north and south road freights. 105 would be the Pfizer turn and any other 100 crews are extras. Those living in GR could give us those local numbers that would be helpful.

AFAIK the yard jobs in Grand Rapids are still 120 (1st shift) and 221 (second shift).

[Ypsi]

Before covid-19

100- Yard job
105- Kalamazoo switcher
302- Manifest 302
102- Manifest recrew
501- South Local
503- 501 Recrew
303- GR turn
101- 303 Recrew
120- GR day shift
121- GR night shift

700, 103, 104, 107 etc all extra symbols. (Grain, stone, extra manifest, extra local, extra yard job etc). The train number doesn’t mean much, other than an identifier in the computer. So technically you could mark up any symbol and do any job, but you keep your symbol as it is your bulletins/ clearance for NS or CSX. Generally speaking though, they keep it consistent.

[chapmaja]

Before covid-19

100- Yard job
105- Kalamazoo switcher
302- Manifest 302
102- Manifest recrew
501- South Local
503- 501 Recrew
303- GR turn
101- 303 Recrew
120- GR day shift
121- GR night shift

700, 103, 104, 107 etc all extra symbols. (Grain, stone, extra manifest, extra local, extra yard job etc). The train number doesn’t mean much, other than an identifier in the computer. So technically you could mark up any symbol and do any job, but you keep your symbol as it is your bulletins/ clearance for NS or CSX. Generally speaking though, they keep it consistent.

So, a car coming off the GRE from Amway (for example), would see the following routing to get to Elkhart.
120 or 121 (depending on which crew goes north to the GRE interchange)
101 (I assume runs K'zoo to GR and return).
302 to the NS interchange in Elkhart.

Did they at one time run a train straight through from Grand Rapids to Elkhart like NS and Conrail used to do?

Also, how far north and south do the locals from K'zoo go. What else goes the GR turn do other than run to GR and back? How far south does the GR shifts work from the yard?