NS Cutting Wabash Line Trains?

Anything pertaining to railfanning in Michigan.
MiRailProductions
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 337
Joined: Mon May 22, 2017 6:19 pm
Location: Ann Arbor, MI

NS Cutting Wabash Line Trains?

Unread post by MiRailProductions »

Hi all,
An NS employee in Milan told me recently that NS is cutting trains soon on the Wabash Line as part of their "precision railroading" approach. A lot of the auto parts trains are supposedly being combined to make longer trains. Does anyone have any additional information on this? It would be greatly appreciated!
"If you are ever chasing trains, you're bound to end up on a 2-lane, double-striped road with a slow poke in front of you." -Danny Harmon
YouTube - Michigan Rail Productions
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPPgdn ... wZHDIyfk_Q

User avatar
SD80MAC
Ingersoll's Mr. Michigan
Posts: 10431
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 4:59 pm
Location: Grand Rapids

Re: NS Cutting Wabash Line Trains?

Unread post by SD80MAC »

Weird, I swear I just read they were adding more trains to the Wabash.
"Remember, 4 mph is a couple, 5's a collision!"
http://flickriver.com/photos/conrail680 ... teresting/
Image

JoJames
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 733
Joined: Sat Oct 09, 2010 10:21 pm
Location: Hamler Ohio

Re: NS Cutting Wabash Line Trains?

Unread post by JoJames »

It’s seasonal downtime for the auto plants until mid July.

1TrackMind
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 222
Joined: Thu May 24, 2018 5:47 pm

Re: NS Cutting Wabash Line Trains?

Unread post by 1TrackMind »

Ive heard they are going to have longer trains with DPU. So the amount of cars should be the same, just less trains. Wabash has been on a steady down turn for the last 20 years.

Man o' War
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 1623
Joined: Fri Jan 12, 2018 5:27 pm
Location: Mount Clemens, MI/Hawks Nest, WV

Re: NS Cutting Wabash Line Trains?

Unread post by Man o' War »

1TrackMind wrote:Ive heard they are going to have longer trains with DPU. So the amount of cars should be the same, just less trains. Wabash has been on a steady down turn for the last 20 years.
This is pretty much what I've heard, as well, from two NS employees. A conductor at Oakwood yard, and a signal maintainer I chatted with in Montpelier a few week back.

Man o' War

ConrailDetr​oit
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 5917
Joined: Sun Apr 29, 2007 10:04 pm
Location: Detroit

Re: NS Cutting Wabash Line Trains?

Unread post by ConrailDetr​oit »

Word is 171, 38E / 39E abolished as of 7/1/19.

chapmaja
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 1261
Joined: Sat Nov 22, 2008 2:02 pm

Re: NS Cutting Wabash Line Trains?

Unread post by chapmaja »

ConrailDetr​oit wrote:Word is 171, 38E / 39E abolished as of 7/1/19.

171 appears to be something they can combined with 176 (I think) between Sterling Heights and Oakwood, then as need to an additional train as per the destination.

38E (Bellevue to Wayne) would be replaced by sending the cars on 331 / 332 then B19 to and from Wayne. This seems like a no brainer train.

39E (Elkhardt to Wayne) would appear to be something that could be accomplished via the Grand Elk and Michigan Line's existing trains. The only thing missing is the work of Airline Yard in Toledo.

User avatar
Ypsi
The Bestest Railroadfan... fan
Posts: 5510
Joined: Sun Feb 07, 2010 2:13 pm

Re: NS Cutting Wabash Line Trains?

Unread post by Ypsi »

I do believe some cars go Wayne-Jackson-*customers*-Kalamazoo-Elkhart instead of going back to Wayne. This routing also affects the GDLK haul going into Jackson as well as cars go Toledo to Jackson via Wayne rather than Kalamazoo.
"Ann Arbor 2373 Calling... Milkshake. Over"

All Aboard Amtrak: Northbound, Southbound, and My Hometown

Fred
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 632
Joined: Sun Mar 11, 2007 9:44 am
Location: Woodhaven, Mi

Re: NS Cutting Wabash Line Trains?

Unread post by Fred »

I believe 39E is a Wayne to Elkhart train.

User avatar
Burb8145
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 463
Joined: Tue Jul 30, 2013 2:08 pm
Location: In the Y&.

Re: NS Cutting Wabash Line Trains?

Unread post by Burb8145 »

Not sure if this is related, but this was posted by Thomas Boyer in the Trains Rule Facebook group yesterday:
Enjoy the current NS symbol system while it lasts. Once July comes in, things are gonna change. Scheduled trains (intermodals, manifests, etc) will be numbered from 001-499. Railfans will have no idea where most, if not all of the new symbols originate and terminate.

Per another FB group.
If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.
-Red Green

NS C40-9
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 204
Joined: Thu May 31, 2018 9:17 pm
Location: Saline, MI

Re: NS Cutting Wabash Line Trains?

Unread post by NS C40-9 »

Any word on how this will be affecting 289 and 181? Also, does anyone know if they will do anything to 255/256?
"Clear Milan, NS 256 out.”

OwlCaboose2853
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 2176
Joined: Fri Dec 17, 2004 9:17 pm
Location: Chelsea

Re: NS Cutting Wabash Line Trains?

Unread post by OwlCaboose2853 »

chapmaja wrote:
ConrailDetr​oit wrote:Word is 171, 38E / 39E abolished as of 7/1/19.

171 appears to be something they can combined with 176 (I think) between Sterling Heights and Oakwood, then as need to an additional train as per the destination.

38E (Bellevue to Wayne) would be replaced by sending the cars on 331 / 332 then B19 to and from Wayne. This seems like a no brainer train.

39E (Elkhardt to Wayne) would appear to be something that could be accomplished via the Grand Elk and Michigan Line's existing trains. The only thing missing is the work of Airline Yard in Toledo.
NS - Train Symbols link: https://sites.google.com/site/trainsymbols/ns
Amtrak Wolverines
NS Michigan Lines
Ann Arbor RR
The Monorail Society

Steven R. Williams

Post Reply