Page 56 of 84

Re: GDLK Operations

Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2019 12:07 pm
by MQT1223
justalurker66 wrote:
kd_1014 wrote:Where exactly are the fixed semaphores? Are there any pictures of them??
GDLK538n-Google.jpg
GDLK559s-190105.jpg
The northern semaphore is now easier to view since brush cutting commenced on the right of way a few weeks ago.

Re: GDLK Operations

Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2019 3:14 pm
by PatAzo
MQT1223 wrote:The northern semaphore is now easier to view since brush cutting commenced on the right of way a few weeks ago.
It's a semaphore in spirit. It's made from a grade crossing light with a yellow lens and a blade cut from plywood.

Re: GDLK Operations

Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2019 3:38 pm
by PatAzo
justalurker66 wrote:Dark and rainy on Saturday ... have any changes been made at "White Pigeon Jct"? I didn't see anything obvious.
Not GDLK operations but as you pass White Pigeon Junction...

Up to the NYC rehabilitating the Airline between Jackson and Three Rivers, the Kalamazoo Branch had been diverging route and trains moved at speed on the Old Road. Part of the project included a new switch at White Pigeon to allow track speed onto the Kalamazoo Branch. For a time after it was installed the normal position of the switch remained to the Old Road with a 15MPH limit. In November 1957 an eastbound passenger train was diverted off the mainline to the Old Road. The engineer unaware of the restriction maintained 50MPH+/- and the train derailed at the switch. The conductor realizing they hadn't slowed was headed to dump the air when the derailment occurred. I can across the ICC report once (can't find it now) that retraced the sequence of events. If I recall they attributed the cause to the engineer not receiving the bulletin with the speed restriction or the NYC not ensuring it was reviewed before he departed.

http://www.gendisasters.com/michigan/20 ... C-nov-1957

Re: GDLK Operations

Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2019 4:50 pm
by GAP
About 2:30 this afternoon I saw the thru freight pass southbound thru Portage. Because of the six-axle engines and also several coiled steel cars I knew it was the thru freight. The puzzle is that it also had 4 or 5 loaded centerbeams. I understand loaded centerbeams northbound or southbound on the local but why loaded ones on the southbound thru freight? I thought they took everything to Elkhart so where were they going and where did they come from? Part of the fun of railfanning is trying to figure things out but this one has me baffled.

Re: GDLK Operations

Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2019 5:23 pm
by Super Chief
I think operations have been turned topsy turvy, with different crew numbers and start times. 503 seems to be the 1st local now then 501 bats clean-up. Theres been 102 crews on various assignments with road trains. It will all be good.

Re: GDLK Operations

Posted: Fri Nov 08, 2019 9:25 am
by Super Chief
Southbound road train thru Schoolcraft now will encounter WMAX 4189 LHF with HERZOG railtrain at CP Park on main. Don't know destination of rail though? Somebody is upgrading infastructure. Super Chief crew 333 out.

Re: GDLK Operations

Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2019 8:16 pm
by GP30M4216
As of 4pm today, south of Schoolcraft:

1 covered hopper visible at J Rettenmaier.
2 covered hoppers at Van Beek Nutrition
At least a dozen tankcars at Wilbur Ellis

GMTX 2204, and 4009(?) were running but uncrewed at CP-Park on the siding, with approx 40 cars. It's great, and rare to see a train in the modern age that is mostly boxcars. The entire consist was boxcars of various sizes and reporting marks with a few empty centerbeams and tankcars at the end. Is this the 501 job?

Re: GDLK Operations

Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2019 9:06 am
by PatAzo
Super Chief wrote:Southbound road train thru Schoolcraft now will encounter WMAX 4189 LHF with HERZOG railtrain at CP Park on main. Don't know destination of rail though? Somebody is upgrading infastructure. Super Chief crew 333 out.
I'm going to speculate Amtrak/MDOT. They have been replacing rail on the Michigan line. Some of what they run on is re-laid rail that's 60+ years old.

Re: GDLK Operations

Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2019 4:19 pm
by NS3322
PatAzo wrote:
Super Chief wrote:Southbound road train thru Schoolcraft now will encounter WMAX 4189 LHF with HERZOG railtrain at CP Park on main. Don't know destination of rail though? Somebody is upgrading infastructure. Super Chief crew 333 out.
I'm going to speculate Amtrak/MDOT. They have been replacing rail on the Michigan line. Some of what they run on is re-laid rail that's 60+ years old.
Recently they have been doing a lot of work between Kalamazoo and Augusta. I regularly see trucks unloading ties in front of Galesburg-Augusta High School.

Re: GDLK Operations

Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2019 7:41 pm
by justalurker66
CP 14 - No signals in service. Note new four light dwarf.
CP 14 - No signals in service. Note new four light dwarf.
CP 16 - Signals not yet in service.
CP 16 - Signals not yet in service.
MSO Connection - No change noted.
MSO Connection - No change noted.

Re: GDLK Operations

Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2019 7:23 pm
by Super Chief
The new dwarf at CP 14 will be Red,Amber,Green & Flashing Red top to bottom. I see the ole searchlight heads are off the taller mast already.

Re: GDLK Operations

Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2019 8:11 pm
by kd_1014
Who dispatches the signals on GDLK? Do they have their own in one of the yards or does NS do it for them?

Re: GDLK Operations

Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2019 8:26 pm
by Super Chief
Pittsburg Kansas dispatches the Elk. Watco dispatchers.

Re: GDLK Operations

Posted: Sun Nov 17, 2019 5:50 pm
by PatAzo
Solid train of empty two bay hoppers went south this afternoon. They must have cleared out all the NS hoppers in GR. I wondered if NS wanted them back or GDLK cleared space for more store cars.

Re: GDLK Operations

Posted: Sun Nov 17, 2019 5:51 pm
by Super Chief
NS wanted them back to be stored in Toledo.

Re: GDLK Operations

Posted: Sun Nov 17, 2019 6:37 pm
by NSSD60M
PatAzo wrote:Solid train of empty two bay hoppers went south this afternoon. They must have cleared out all the NS hoppers in GR. I wondered if NS wanted them back or GDLK cleared space for more store cars.
Did it run straight into Elkhart or tie down somewhere?

Re: GDLK Operations

Posted: Mon Nov 18, 2019 1:41 pm
by PatAzo
NSSD60M wrote:
PatAzo wrote:Solid train of empty two bay hoppers went south this afternoon. They must have cleared out all the NS hoppers in GR. I wondered if NS wanted them back or GDLK cleared space for more store cars.
Did it run straight into Elkhart or tie down somewhere?
The CN had two eastbounds close so I didn't follow them. They had the the 4009 trailing a couple six axles. It looked like it was dead. I wondered if it was departing.

Re: GDLK Operations

Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2019 7:54 am
by Super Chief
4009 was leading the Grand Rapids train yesterday with 4125. Gearhart had NS 3452, 3015 & 3462 on the engine servicing lead. Also 4 other NS units in the yard, 2 on the Jackson train and 2 on the Battle Creek train down on the east end. 3015 is a GP-40-2m slug master. So the Michigan Line hosts all kinds of different NS units. GP60s on the Burns Harbor turn and all these eastern side units. 3452 has a cool long short hood on it. Wonder if the ITCS equipment is inside it as the PTC stuff is on the roof of the cab.

Re: GDLK Operations

Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2019 9:20 am
by Buster Manning
from what I heard, NS got a waiver somehow from the ITCS on the east end of da rayrhode; hence why you see all sorts of various NS units coming outta Jackson and Battle Creek

Re: GDLK Operations

Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2019 3:34 pm
by Ypsi
Yet the scuttle butt was they wanted GDLK to have PTC for trackage rights into Elkhart..