478 & 479: CSX Rail and Ballast Trains at Work

[Saturnalia]

This is a two-part miniseries on CSX Maintenance of Way around Holland in 2015 and 2016. We've got great stuff covering the operations of a rail laying machine, and a ballast dumping train. Here's the first one, second one due up soon.

Ep. 478: CSX Rail Unloading Train at Work

Oct 18, 2015 HOLLAND, MICH -- Railroad maintenance is one of the more intriguing sides of the business, where groups of skilled laborers work on the world's largest collection of private infrastructure.

In this episode of the Thornapple River Rail Series, we watch as a CSX rail-laying crew sets out new continuously-welded rail in downtown Holland, pulling the quarter-mile long sticks from the back of the specially-designed train.

D006 Rail Train Work
Consist:
- CSX 8881 [SD40-2]
- NREX 2706 [SD40-2] *SP Paint*
- 17 Rail-Rack Cars
- 1 Middle-train Car
- 15 Rail-Rack Cars
- 2 Rail-alignment/dropper cars
Location/Time:
- CSX Fremont Sub, Holland, MI, New Holland St xing/Harlem SDG, on 10-18-15 from 13:04 to 13:38
- Port Sheldon St xing, at 14:47 EDT
- CSX GR Sub, Holland, 9th, 10th & Lincoln St xings, from 15:28 to 16:05 EDT

Thanks for watching! Don’t forget to share this video, like and subscribe to Thornapple River Rail Series!

Like TRRS on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/thornappleriverproductions

Videography Equipment:
-Primary: Sony PJ790 Camcorder
-Edited with: Cyberlink PowerDirector 13

Copyright 2016 Thornapple River Rail Series

[Saturnalia]

Second video here, with a ballast train in action as the 479th Edition of the Thornapple River Rail Series

Ep. 479: CSX MOW Ballast Dumping Train in Action!

Jul 29, 2016 EAST SAUGATUCK, MICH -- For US freight railroads, maintenance of way is a critical part of their ownership of infrastructure, with companies, not the government, responsible for maintaining hundreds of thousands of miles of railroad track across North America.

Here in Western Michigan, we're following with CSX J021, a ballast-dumping train, as they lay down new stone in front of a tie gang crew.

In the video, you'll find out how and why ballast train operate as you watch one in action, in this special MOW edition of the Thornapple River Rail Series.

CSX J021 Ballast Train
Consist:
- BNSF 5879 [ES44AC]
- BNSF 6232 [ES44AC]
- 22 cars [CSX Ballast Hoppers]
Location/Time:
- (1) E Saugatuck, 136th Ave xing, from 13:43 to 17:36
- (2) E Saugatuck, 55th St xing, at 17:58
- New Richmond, 57th St xing, at 18:43
- (3) New Richmond, 131st Ave xing, from 19:00 to 19:52
- E Saugatuck, 55th St xing, at 20:07
- (4) E Saugatuck, 136th Ave xing, at 20:17
*(1) Ties onto train in the SDG, dumps on the main, gets back into SDG to meet local D700; (2-3) dumping ballast on the main; (4) crew ties down and expires in the SDG*

CSX D700
Consist:
- CSX 2680 [GP38-2]
- 1 Coil car [from Arlington Metals]
- 13 Cement CHs [from Buzzi Unicem]
Location/Time:
- E Saugatuck, 136th Ave xing, at 17:36 EDT
*meets J021*

Thanks for watching! Don’t forget to share this video, like and subscribe to Thornapple River Rail Series!

Like TRRS on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/thornappleriv...

Videography Equipment:
-Primary: Sony PJ790 Camcorder
-Edited with: Cyberlink PowerDirector 13

Copyright 2016 Thornapple River Rail Series by Alex Christmas, All Rights Reserved.

[hoborich]

Very interesting. That grey ballast car was different from the rest, and had small porches on either end, and some kind of controls.