Kalamazoo/Jackson - MC line notes

Anything pertaining to railfanning in Michigan.
GP30M4216
Saver of all History
Posts: 4801
Joined: Wed Oct 27, 2004 10:35 pm
Location: Feel the Zeel, MI
Contact:

Kalamazoo/Jackson - MC line notes

Unread post by GP30M4216 »

Scooter B and other local railfans have been doing a good job over the past half month report on all the different unusual moves along Norfolk Southern's Michigan Line. Grain Trains, Ballast train, Track Geometry Train, plus the usual locals and manifests 38J/39J. So, I've compiled the following list from the past half month about the various unusual moves (and some regular ones too). I can't seem to find much of a pattern, but keep the updates coming!

11/16/04
NS 922 is heading west. Just stopped in Jackson waiting for Amtrak at 12:45pm. Ballast train w/ engines 9156 and 9040. Had to get a running start to make it west out of town up the hill later in the afternoon.

B1G went westbound on the MC line at 3:10pm today from Kalamazoo with GP40-2s 3066 (CR Q) and 3068 (NS) and 11 cars. One of these was an Amtrak Ballast hopper, the rest were normal boxcars and loaded bulkhead flats.

11-13-04
36-E went north through Kalamazoo about 8 a.m. with a really sad horn. It had 2 SD-40-2's and a deadheaded GP38-2. The SD40-2s were in the 6xxx number series.

After that 39-J went south with 2 BNSF pumpkins, 2 deadheaded GP-40-2's and 104 cars, half of which were coiled steel cars. He passed the city market in Kalamazoo at 8:30 a.m.

51Z was going to stop at KAL mid-afternoon due to track work ahead. He stopped right there south of the road crossing and the engineer said it was time for a 1/2 hour nap. 75 covered hoppers headed to Albion
So thats where 51Z came from just heard on the scanner at 6:00 p.m. that he is at Albion working. This is the 3rd grain train I have heard seen this week. (scooter B)

11-12-04
5:00 p.m. hearing a eastbound NS 27M going by CP East Jackson. Have no idea of origin or destination.

11-11-04
NS 52Q grain train headed east at 10:45am through Jackson, CN 2639 for power.

11-10-04
8:30am Kalamazoo
36-E was "coming across Milham Road."
B-1-G was returning to Botsford after retrieving B-57 from somewhere over Battle Creek direction. ("dog catcher")
39-J was also at Botsford, waiting to go south after 36-E cleared Gibson.

10-28-04
NS 9179 on point in Jackson leading track geometry car NS 34 plus observation car NS 31 at 3:00 p.m. heading west but not sure how far it will be going or if it will be hanging around Jackson. Symboled 905. In Kalamazoo by October 30/31, and Eastbound in Elkhart by November 2.

Any ideas about how this all makes sense??
-Nathan 8)

User avatar
~Z~
Sofa King Admin
Posts: 12909
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 2:14 pm
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Contact:

Unread post by ~Z~ »

yeah, that's all making sense so far... that 51Z stopped just south of Kilgore Rd.. we were down near Botsford when we heard BO tower pipe up, telling 51Z to park it at block station KAL...at that time, they were crossing the diamond at Schoolcraft according to the conversation between 51Z and Kankekee dispatcher... Nice to see them pulling to a stop while eating some Jr. Bacon Cheeseburgers :)
Just glad to see the extra action on the line.
Webmaster
Railroad photos on Railroadfan.com

Post Reply