Lake State Z127 Flint turn

[MDH]

With all the changes this year does anyone happen to know how the Lake State interchange run down to CSX in Flint is being run these days? What days of the week and what time on duty in Saginaw? I'd like to get up there again sometime.

Thanks,
Michael

[Todd_F]

Last I heard (a week or two ago), Saginaw crews are on duty about dawn and can depart for Flint between 8 and noon Sunday thru Thursday. Hopefully one of the more knowledgeable local guys can correct me if I'm wrong.

[SD80MAC]

I saw on FB last week, quote "Z127 goes on duty around sunrise. Backlit on the trip south and backlit again by the time they head north again"

[MDH]

Thanks for the replies guys!

Michael

[Todd_F]

I saw on FB last week, quote "Z127 goes on duty around sunrise. Backlit on the trip south and backlit again by the time they head north again"

LOL! A southbound train on that line will be beautifully lit the entire way to Flint from 9:00am to 5pm. When in doubt, consult http://suncalc.net/#/43.409,-83.941,9/2017.09.13/18:02

[Todd_F]

Michael,
If you want to see some scenes from this particular run, I have a couple LSRC videos on YouTube from this year.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0lYfF ... 3Gg/videos

[Y@]

I saw on FB last week, quote "Z127 goes on duty around sunrise. Backlit on the trip south and backlit again by the time they head north again"

I saw that too and thought WTF?! When I chased an afternoon Z127 back in the spring, all I could think was how nice a morning southbound would look at a bunch of spots south of Bridgeport.

[Evan]

Z127 goes on duty in the early morning, usually around 5am. They have been going south anytime between 06:30-11:00.
Typically to get a "good", well-lit northbound train it'd have to run sometime after 1600. Otherwise it's horrendously backlit.

[MDH]

I saw on FB last week, quote "Z127 goes on duty around sunrise. Backlit on the trip south and backlit again by the time they head north again"

I saw that too and thought WTF?! When I chased an afternoon Z127 back in the spring, all I could think was how nice a morning southbound would look at a bunch of spots south of Bridgeport.

The comments on that are *mostly* right, but if it runs right at the ass-crack of dawn on a mid-summer morning the southbound would be mostly side-lit (which some refer to as backlit) and would be horribly lit on a mid-afternoon return north. The one time I got a good chase of Z127 a couple years ago the light was great, but it was mid to late morning on a fall day. If anything, there were spots where it was a bit nosy because it was a little too late in the morning for the best sun angles.

Regards,
Michael