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Slow Order in Grandville explained Wilson Ave Xing to close

Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2018 6:55 pm
by MQT1223
A recent observation by many, especially some of the local railfans that frequent the Unstable Bovine is the noticeably slower trains that have been passing through Grandville on the GR Sub, I finally got an explanation per some of my sources. A slow order is in place and for good reason

Apparently for the better part of a month the wiring for the Wilson Ave crossing, the busiest Crossing in town has been giving maintainers quite the hassle. It is leading to signal activation that is way later then what would be consider safe or satisfactory, with some trains having to slow down to nearly walking speeds while approaching the crossing before the signals activate (it tends to vary with no pattern) per crew reports. This has been affecting trains from both directions, but explains why everything is moving slower then normal in town as a precautionary measure. With nothing seeming to work CSX is having to resort to ripping up the crossing AGAIN to diagnose the problem, which was only done two years ago and in my opinion was done very poorly. Work is set to commence on the 9th of this month.

On a side note, the Grandville Ave crossing near the Amtrak station in Grand Rapids is set to be repaved this year (part of the GR Terminal Sub) and the Chicago Dr Crossing on the Acme Lead (Wyoming) is also set for a much needed rebuild around August as well, as that crossing is in notoriously bad shape. Maybe when they are at it they can replace the crossbuck that has been missing at Beverly Ave since May! :lol:

Re: Slow Order in Grandville explained Wilson Ave Xing to cl

Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2018 1:06 pm
by barnstormer
O Scale Railfanner wrote:.... Maybe when they are at it they can replace the cross-buck that has been missing at Beverly Ave since May! :lol:
The cross-buck is the responsibility of the state to replace/repair, not CSX...they must decide when they'r going to replace it, as there are, obviously, no electrical circuits involved....

-barny

Re: Slow Order in Grandville explained Wilson Ave Xing to cl

Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2018 9:13 pm
by dave989
The timetable for the Acme Lead Crossing at Chicago Drive has been moved up to
next week. Replacement begins July 16.

Re: Slow Order in Grandville explained Wilson Ave Xing to cl

Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2018 9:47 pm
by dave989
The MOW crew told me Friday that the crossing at Wilson would be done today/
Not!

Re: Slow Order in Grandville explained Wilson Ave Xing to cl

Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2018 10:38 pm
by dave989
Grandville Ave. crossing still not done. WWhhaaaaattttt??!!!!

Re: Slow Order in Grandville explained Wilson Ave Xing to cl

Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2018 10:12 pm
by dave989
Crossing ready for paving. CSX may coordinate with the city of Grandville as Wilson Ave. is
also under repair between Chicago Drive and 28th Street.

Re: Slow Order in Grandville explained Wilson Ave Xing to cl

Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2018 10:38 pm
by Saturnalia
dave989 wrote:Grandville Ave. crossing still not done. WWhhaaaaattttt??!!!!
These sorts of projects are a lot more complex than one might imagine, and rely on several different railroad departments and city road departments all working in unison. That is not an easy feat in reality.

Re: Slow Order in Grandville explained Wilson Ave Xing to cl

Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2018 11:48 am
by MQT1223
Saturnalia wrote:
dave989 wrote:Grandville Ave. crossing still not done. WWhhaaaaattttt??!!!!
These sorts of projects are a lot more complex than one might imagine, and rely on several different railroad departments and city road departments all working in unison. That is not an easy feat in reality.
First of all, Grandville Ave is a totally different crossing.

Chicago Drive on the Acme Lead is already done.

The City of Grandville is coordinating with CSX to resurface this part of Wilson to avoid congestion headaches.

CSX had to run a certain amount of trains over this crossing to settle the tracks as the rails were physically removed and replaced from what it looks like. Lots of new welds in the area of the crossing.

I'd expect the whole thing to be done this week.

It's going to be a lot better then the botched repave they did 2 years ago when they did it in two days.

Re: Slow Order in Grandville explained Wilson Ave Xing to cl

Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2018 3:54 pm
by Saturnalia
Them running trains over it was about raising the track speed, not the crossing’s elevation...at least, that’s assuming them have a tamper operator in Grand Rapids, and I’d be astounded if they didn’t.

Re: Slow Order in Grandville explained Wilson Ave Xing to cl

Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2018 7:52 pm
by Doktor No
Them have tamper operator.

Re: Slow Order in Grandville explained Wilson Ave Xing to cl

Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2018 9:58 pm
by dave989
Doc is correct. Saw it and them working Grandville on the 18th.

Re: Slow Order in Grandville explained Wilson Ave Xing to cl

Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2018 11:55 pm
by MQT1223
Saturnalia wrote:Them running trains over it was about raising the track speed, not the crossing’s elevation...at least, that’s assuming them have a tamper operator in Grand Rapids, and I’d be astounded if they didn’t.
Never said it was about the elevation, they had to settle the track first before putting pavement in. The speed was only reduced because the crossing wasn't operating properly.

Re: Slow Order in Grandville explained Wilson Ave Xing to cl

Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2018 1:47 am
by Saturnalia
O Scale Railfanner wrote: Never said it was about the elevation, they had to settle the track first before putting pavement in. The speed was only reduced because the crossing wasn't operating properly.
What do you think tampers are for then? :lol:

And they'd almost certainly have a tonnage-related "step-up" slow order out because they disturbed the track with the replacement and tamping.

Re: Slow Order in Grandville explained Wilson Ave Xing to cl

Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2018 7:15 pm
by MQT1223
Saturnalia wrote:
O Scale Railfanner wrote: Never said it was about the elevation, they had to settle the track first before putting pavement in. The speed was only reduced because the crossing wasn't operating properly.
What do you think tampers are for then? :lol:

And they'd almost certainly have a tonnage-related "step-up" slow order out because they disturbed the track with the replacement and tamping.
Yes. Until the track was totally settled they slowly upped the speed in town. The crossing is finished to my knowledge and Wilson from Chicago Drive to 28th St. was milled and resurfaced simultaneously to avoid further congestion.

Re: Slow Order in Grandville explained Wilson Ave Xing to cl

Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2018 8:52 am
by dave989
Wilson Ave. opened yesterday. Aahhh nice!

Re: Slow Order in Grandville explained Wilson Ave Xing to cl

Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2018 8:54 am
by ~Z~
dave989 wrote:Wilson Ave. opened yesterday. Aahhh nice!
Rode my bike over it Tuesday night and the north set of tracks weren't very smooth at all.

Re: Slow Order in Grandville explained Wilson Ave Xing to cl

Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2018 7:13 pm
by MQT1223
~Z~ wrote:
dave989 wrote:Wilson Ave. opened yesterday. Aahhh nice!
Rode my bike over it Tuesday night and the north set of tracks weren't very smooth at all.
To be fair you were on a bike.

In a vehicle it is much improved over the last time they did it two years ago. They didn't reuse the previous crossing materials, instead going for a new wood setup and not rushing it in two days.