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NS Cutting Wabash Line Trains?

Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2019 1:01 pm
by MiRailProductions
Hi all,
An NS employee in Milan told me recently that NS is cutting trains soon on the Wabash Line as part of their "precision railroading" approach. A lot of the auto parts trains are supposedly being combined to make longer trains. Does anyone have any additional information on this? It would be greatly appreciated!

Re: NS Cutting Wabash Line Trains?

Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2019 2:05 pm
by SD80MAC
Weird, I swear I just read they were adding more trains to the Wabash.

Re: NS Cutting Wabash Line Trains?

Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2019 2:12 pm
by JoJames
It’s seasonal downtime for the auto plants until mid July.

Re: NS Cutting Wabash Line Trains?

Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2019 8:43 pm
by 1TrackMind
Ive heard they are going to have longer trains with DPU. So the amount of cars should be the same, just less trains. Wabash has been on a steady down turn for the last 20 years.

Re: NS Cutting Wabash Line Trains?

Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2019 9:14 pm
by Man o' War
1TrackMind wrote:Ive heard they are going to have longer trains with DPU. So the amount of cars should be the same, just less trains. Wabash has been on a steady down turn for the last 20 years.
This is pretty much what I've heard, as well, from two NS employees. A conductor at Oakwood yard, and a signal maintainer I chatted with in Montpelier a few week back.

Man o' War

Re: NS Cutting Wabash Line Trains?

Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2019 6:38 am
by ConrailDetr​oit
Word is 171, 38E / 39E abolished as of 7/1/19.

Re: NS Cutting Wabash Line Trains?

Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2019 2:11 pm
by chapmaja
ConrailDetr​oit wrote:Word is 171, 38E / 39E abolished as of 7/1/19.

171 appears to be something they can combined with 176 (I think) between Sterling Heights and Oakwood, then as need to an additional train as per the destination.

38E (Bellevue to Wayne) would be replaced by sending the cars on 331 / 332 then B19 to and from Wayne. This seems like a no brainer train.

39E (Elkhardt to Wayne) would appear to be something that could be accomplished via the Grand Elk and Michigan Line's existing trains. The only thing missing is the work of Airline Yard in Toledo.

Re: NS Cutting Wabash Line Trains?

Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2019 9:00 pm
by Ypsi
I do believe some cars go Wayne-Jackson-*customers*-Kalamazoo-Elkhart instead of going back to Wayne. This routing also affects the GDLK haul going into Jackson as well as cars go Toledo to Jackson via Wayne rather than Kalamazoo.

Re: NS Cutting Wabash Line Trains?

Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2019 9:45 pm
by Fred
I believe 39E is a Wayne to Elkhart train.

Re: NS Cutting Wabash Line Trains?

Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2019 10:37 pm
by Burb8145
Not sure if this is related, but this was posted by Thomas Boyer in the Trains Rule Facebook group yesterday:
Enjoy the current NS symbol system while it lasts. Once July comes in, things are gonna change. Scheduled trains (intermodals, manifests, etc) will be numbered from 001-499. Railfans will have no idea where most, if not all of the new symbols originate and terminate.

Per another FB group.

Re: NS Cutting Wabash Line Trains?

Posted: Mon Jul 01, 2019 12:43 am
by NS C40-9
Any word on how this will be affecting 289 and 181? Also, does anyone know if they will do anything to 255/256?

Re: NS Cutting Wabash Line Trains?

Posted: Mon Jul 01, 2019 3:11 am
by OwlCaboose2853
chapmaja wrote:
ConrailDetr​oit wrote:Word is 171, 38E / 39E abolished as of 7/1/19.

171 appears to be something they can combined with 176 (I think) between Sterling Heights and Oakwood, then as need to an additional train as per the destination.

38E (Bellevue to Wayne) would be replaced by sending the cars on 331 / 332 then B19 to and from Wayne. This seems like a no brainer train.

39E (Elkhardt to Wayne) would appear to be something that could be accomplished via the Grand Elk and Michigan Line's existing trains. The only thing missing is the work of Airline Yard in Toledo.
NS - Train Symbols link: https://sites.google.com/site/trainsymbols/ns