471: Amtrak Into the Hole, Freight Train Coming

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471: Amtrak Into the Hole, Freight Train Coming

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Ep. 471: Amtrak 'in the Hole' - Drag Freight Coming!

May 7, 2016 FENNVILLE, MI -- Ordinarily, Amtrak and other passenger trains receive priority handling over freight trains, especially those long and slow drags now ubiquitous among the American Class Is.

But in some instances, it is Amtrak who gets to take the trip through the siding, in this case, a 9,000-footer rated for just ten miles per hour. Why? Because CSX has a freight train in the way, who is holding the main.

For one reason or another, the RN Dispatcher has let Q326 hold the main, while a D801 manned helper crew tied onto the rear. Most likely, the DS has put the helpers in the hole, meaning the freight would have to pull by on the main instead of on the siding.

Whatever the case, as the handsomely powered, 119-car train looks on, Amtrak #371 Pere Marquette lumbers into the hole at East End Wells. Shortly thereafter, Q326 gets their light and takes off eastward, towards the trying grades of Saugatuck Hill, for which the additional rear-end power has been added.

Later, they're seen again, sans helper power and crew, as they're cruising along between Hudsonville and Zeeland, just minutes away from the terminus at Grand Rapids.

Amtrak #371 Pere Marquette
Consist:
- AMTK 90368 [NPCU]
- 4 cars [Horizons/Amfleets]
- AMTK 83 [P42DC]
Location/Time:
- CSX GR Sub, Fennville, MI, Wilson St xing/EE Wells, on 5-7-16 at 07:15 EDT

CSX Q326 w/ D801 Helpers
Consist:
- CSX 3039 [ES44AH]
- CSX 8736 [SD60I]
- CSX 7588 [C40-8W]
- 119 cars [Mixed]
- BNSF 5991 [ES44AC] *D801*
- BNSF 5778 [ES44AC] *D801*
Location/Time:
- CSX GR Sub, Fennville, MI, Wilson St xing/EE Wells, on 5-7-16 at 07:18 EDT
- West of Hudsonville along Chicago Dr, at 08:28
*D801 cuts off at 140th Ave [south of Holland, not shown]*

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Recorded with a Sony PJ790 Camcorder
Edited with Cyberlink PowerDirector 13

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