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Southbound 1830 with empty stone cars between Portage and Schoolcraft now. Turned this one around quick.

What about all that sand traffic from GR?? Did that dry up too?? I rarely see any sandies moving through Elkhart any more.

Yes, no sand moving from the Turner Ave site. I didn't see any cars at the Mart St site a week or so ago.

18:52: GDLK motoring southbound crossing Byron Rd in Byron Center behind 4125 and 4209, with 18 cars.

Update on WSOR power, 4189 is going to be rebuilt not 4190.

What about the dead geeps at Hughart yard?

Somebody on Facebook reported that 7030 & 3534 were being sold and moved? Any reliable info on this?

Gp-35 #3534 has left G.R. #7090 is still there. Hope someone has info on 3534.

Sunday night as we worked an accident on 131, a 3 unit GDLK train went by southbound. The red HCLX unit was leading what appeared to be 2 other 4 axle units. If 1 was 3534 then she got out of town at midnight. This was at CP Park.

I can't tell the exact location or what train it is. I'm at home and I hear Grand Elk doin something. Sounded like they went across 32nd avenue on their way to Grand Rapids. Actually could be heading towards Kalamazoo not entirely sure. Current time is 10:40am is about the time I heard the horns going. Just thought I would give a heads up that they're doing something. I can't go spot it because in a zoom meeting for class.

New update for 144th St in Moline MI.... They have dropped off more ballast (now two truck loads) at the crossing. There is also about 50 ties about every 100ft or so from 142nd to 144th St. Also they have been cutting trees and bushes along the track at 139th St crossing. Hopefully they start doing work sooner than latter.

dave989 wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 06, 2020 8:38 am

Gp-35 #3534 has left G.R. #7090 is still there. Hope someone has info on 3534.

3534 suffered a mechanical failure about a year or so ago. Sounds like it is fairly extensive since it wasn't really messed with afterwords. The GP7u is supposed to leave soon too. The word is both units are being traded for one or two operable engines.

3534 is getting an electrical upgrade.

Also 501 tied down in Bristol last night, recrew will be on at noon today to go get it.

Grand Elk 4017 & 4002 pulled empty stone train back to Elkhart this afternoon with the NS power in tow.

Saw the GDLK local as it passed southbound thru Portage about 2:30 this afternoon. Twenty-six cars, the first 25 were boxcars. I thought the boxcar was a "vanishing breed." Where were all those cars going? Other times I have seen the local with a preponderance of boxcars, too. I can't think of that many industries to divide up that many boxcars. Who gets them?

Hi GAP! How are you doing sir?

When we lived in Richland, I saw on several occasions those yellow Railbox boxcars to and from the Paper Mill in Otsego. That will probably account for some boxcars you saw, not sure where others are used.

David Lang

The mill in Otsego seems to exchange between 3 and 5 boxcars almost every day. There are usually a fair number of boxcars on the Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids line as well. Maybe some from the MQT? I believe I saw an MQT boxcar on at least 1 occasion.

There are a couple places in Kalamazoo that receive box cars too. Two packaging plants and a warehouse that I know of.

The Box cars going south on the local can be going to International Paper, Ox paper, Alliance Sheets, Robert Weed, or Northwest Hardwoods.

International Paper holds 7
Ox Paper holds 4
Alliance Sheets holds like 15 inside and 10 outside now
Robert weed holds up to 6 in 2 spots plus their siding
Northwest holds 3-4 inside

All of those are for the 50 foot box cars.

edited to correct box car length

IP and Alliance Sheets get 50ft boxcars normally. Also J Rhett, Great Lakes and Bluelinx get boxcars in, as well as MSO for the packaging plant in Sturgis. Most customers get cars from all three interchange points (NS, CN and CSX) so boxcars will travel the entire line.