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This was my first time chasing the train from Manistee to Walhalla. Most images are video captures.

7:30pm. Train is airing up at the yard. (not a video capture)


8:10pm. At Stronach just outside Manistee CSX 2567 and 2575 pull the evening train with 25 cars to Walhalla. I'm seen waving to the engineer.
VIDEO: http://members.trainorders.com/bb/walha ... onach1.wmv (1.5MB) Locomotives passing/higher quality
VIDEO: http://members.trainorders.com/bb/walha ... onach2.wmv (1.4MB) Whole train


8:25pm. At Custer Road in Freesoil. The Manistee train like you haven't seen on the net before going track speed on jointed rail.
VIDEO: http://members.trainorders.com/bb/walha ... l-8-24.wmv (1.7MB)


8:38pm. Passing through the small village of Fountain.
VIDEO: http://members.trainorders.com/bb/walha ... n-8-24.wmv (2.1MB)


8:53pm. Crossing US 10 in Walhalla.
VIDEO: http://members.trainorders.com/bb/walhalla/csx-us10.wmv (570KB)


9:01pm. Two engines cut off the Manistee train crossing Walhalla Road and heading down to couple to the Manistee bound cars.
VIDEO: http://members.trainorders.com/bb/walha ... halla1.wmv (905KB)


9:03pm. Two minutes later the Ludington train crosses Walhalla Road with CSX 2682 and 2503 with 12 cars. Manistee train had 2 dark blue engines and Ludington had 2 grays. Then the Ludington train backs up, couples to the Manistee cars and heads to Baldwin.
VIDEO: http://members.trainorders.com/bb/walha ... halla2.wmv (2.4MB)


9:04pm. End of Ludington train passes Manistee's locos. (not a video capture)


9:18pm. Manistee train heads across Walhalla Road. Found it funny how the guy on the motorcycle gunned it when the gates went up only to be caught by the train again on US 10 or maybe he wanted to be the first in line. (not a video capture)


9:22pm. Manistee train heads home across US 10 with 45 cars. There's the guy on the motorcyle again.
VIDEO: http://members.trainorders.com/bb/walha ... -us10a.wmv (1.3MB)
VIDEO: http://members.trainorders.com/bb/walha ... -us10b.wmv (2.5MB) Whole train


11:00pm. Arrives back to the Manistee yard.

Hope you've enjoyed. Too bad video quality goes down when the videos are resized.

Very nice report! Hope you had fun chasing the train. I always do.

Found it funny how the guy on the motorcycle gunned it when the gates went up only to be caught by the train again on US 10 or maybe he wanted to be the first in line.

Wish I was him!

Excellent, excellent series BB. Do you know if the Manistee train regularly meets the Ludington train at Walhalla, or does the manistee train pick up what the ludington train dropped off, and head to baldwin for interchange with D704?

Gregg Pullano wrote:Very nice report! Hope you had fun chasing the train. I always do.

Found it funny how the guy on the motorcycle gunned it when the gates went up only to be caught by the train again on US 10 or maybe he wanted to be the first in line.

Wish I was him!

Thanks, wouldn't have to worry about shooting pictures through a windshield on the motorcycle. Unfortunaly for the biker it downpoured after the train went through.

railroadfan wrote:Excellent, excellent series BB. Do you know if the Manistee train regularly meets the Ludington train at Walhalla, or does the manistee train pick up what the ludington train dropped off, and head to baldwin for interchange with D704?

Thanks. Not sure if they usually meet at Walhalla. This was the first time seeing the train in Walhalla. I did notice the Manistee crew lines the switch and hooks up the Manistee cars to the Ludington train.

GENERALLY, the D711 (or D712 job, still can't tell if there is a noticable difference) from Manistee and D771 from Ludington will meet at Walhalla, and then D771 will continue with their power to Baldwin to meet the 704 Job. The Manistee power I believe then stays at Walhalla and then takes their part of the train when D771 returns going west. However, there are a number of exceptions:

If the Manistee power needs to be taken back to GR for servicing and the 704 train has new power for Manistee, the Manistee engines will take the combined trains from Walhalla to Baldwin to meet D704 and switch power.

If the combined number of cars between Ludington and Manistee going east (or south, or whatever) is more then the Ludington crew's locomotives can handle, they will team up both sets, usually with the Manistee power on the front. The track west from Baldwin was graded better when it was built in the late 19th century and is in general much flatter then the follow-the-hills grading south from Baldwin, however, if they get 80 cars between the two trains, more then two GP38-2s might be necessary.

As you said earlier, occasionally, the D704 job will go all the way to Walhalla to exchange cars, rather then the 771 coming to Baldwin first. Not exactly sure why that happens. Every now and then, I've also caught a train from GR not stop in Baldwin at all but just charge around the wye and head west. Not sure if that means they only have cars for one destination or what (this is not the lime train, but mixed freight).

Great set of shots and videos, BB. Very cool how they had the two Scheme 7 units and the two in scheme 3 modified teamed up like that. Did you notice the Family Lines showing through on the #2682? More information and some of the operational questions may be answered at http://groups.msn.com/chessiechapter/baldwinsub.msnw