Shortline Train Location Updates - May 2024

[kd_1014]

E&LS SD40-2 503 went on the ground Monday or Tuesday in Stiles, WI. That may be in the same location where they had a large grain train derailment last year.

I think for every ELS update i’ve seen this year, at least 1/4 of them are derailment updates.

[Standard Railfan]

E&LS SD40-2 503 went on the ground Monday or Tuesday in Stiles, WI. That may be in the same location where they had a large grain train derailment last year.

Man, they have a shoestring maintenance budget up there, don’t they?

The ELS has a shoestring budget for everything.

[AARR]

E&LS SD40-2 503 went on the ground Monday or Tuesday in Stiles, WI. That may be in the same location where they had a large grain train derailment last year.

Man, they have a shoestring maintenance budget up there, don’t they?

by kd_1014 » Wed May 22, 2024 8:32 pm

AARR wrote: ↑Wed May 22, 2024 6:00 pm
E&LS SD40-2 503 went on the ground Monday or Tuesday in Stiles, WI. That may be in the same location where they had a large grain train derailment last year.
I think for every ELS update i’ve seen this year, at least 1/4 of them are derailment updates.

There are several people who take regular videos of E&LS north and south end operations and I try to keep track of them.

L-P in Sagola gets a lot of in and outbound business. The scrap yard in Iron Mountain has become a steady customer and they expanded their spur recently to hold 10 cars. There are several log yards in WI that ship regularly to L-P in Sagola. There seems to be a handful of steady customers from Crivitz Jct. and south.

But they have lost a lot of log business because their only connection, CN, has raised its rates and those shippers are trucking now.

I don't know E&LS financial condition, but I would suspect they have to be very frugal to be profitable.

[~Z~]

Grand Elk north through Byron Center at 3:08pm. WAMX 4124, WAMX 4209 and 16 cars. First half covered hoppers, second half boxcars.

Grand Elk back south through Byron Center at 4:51pm. Looked like 4209 and 4124 with 8 covered hoppers.

[Jim_c]

Grand Elk north through Byron Center at 3:08pm. WAMX 4124, WAMX 4209 and 16 cars. First half covered hoppers, second half boxcars.

Grand Elk back south through Byron Center at 4:51pm. Looked like 4209 and 4124 with 8 covered hoppers.

They pulled out of Plainwell between 6:45 and 6:55. I was going to catch them pulling out after a quick errand. They left during the errand.

[Talk]

MS Z627-24 os Grand Haven Southbound @ 08:40. MMRR 2170 leading by horn

[Plannerdad]

GRE EB under M-21 around 9:05a. Looked like a fairly long train.

[kd_1014]

GRE east thru Ada at 09:50a. Long train as Plannerdad mentioned

[kd_1014]

GRE was back west thru Ada around noon.

[Plannerdad]

King “yard” in Lowell is full this weekend, mostly BNSF hoppers.

[Andy24]

Hearing Grand Elk train horns in the Wyoming, Mi area at 10:20pm

[GP30M4216]

Stone train heading up the Grand Elk this evening, visible on the Elkhart depot cam at 19:35. Lead locomotive is NS 4209 with 1176.

[kd_1014]

Z151 heading north now. Normal consist plus grainer at the end. Front street at 13:15

[Andy24]

Grand Elk horns heard in the distance of Wyoming 54th to 44th St at 10:39pm. The horns sounds very warbled. Assuming NB run since the horns sounds are getting further and further away

[GP30M4216]

Grand Elk NB at the Elkhart camera 08:24, 4124, 4209, 68 cars.

[Andy24]

Grand Elk horns heard in the distance of Wyoming 54th to 44th St at 10:39pm. The horns sounds very warbled. Assuming NB run since the horns sounds are getting further and further away

Grand Elk(?) horns heard in the far distance of Wyoming, Mi around 44th to 32th St area at 9:52am

Maybe a SB run?

[kd_1014]

GRE east thru Ada 11:11

[kd_1014]

GRE back west thru Ada at 13:12.

[Andy24]

Grand Elk horns heard in the distance of Wyoming 54th to 44th St at 10:39pm. The horns sounds very warbled. Assuming NB run since the horns sounds are getting further and further away

Grand Elk(?) horns heard in the far distance of Wyoming, Mi around 44th to 32th St area at 9:52am

Maybe a SB run?

Grand Elk horns heard in the distance of Wyoming, MI again at 2:46pm. Sounds like a SB run

[~Z~]

Grand Elk north through Byron Center approx 2:45pm. Looked like WAMX 4189 and definitely 4190, maybe 20ish cars.