Still had some left over cars from yesterday's big L302 that didn't make 327 today, along with the usual collection from MQT and local traffic, betting that M32728 is still 130+ cars.
M327-28 @ 7:25 westbound reported by Defect Detector mp CG19.1 in Zeeland, Mi with 648 axles. CSX #5282 + 105 cars + mid-CSX #7273 + 54 cars. Total of 159 cars
Note: M327 had one car’s brakes stuck and it caused sparks as they passed me in Grandville this morning
Correct Pudgy, M327 has 159 cars this morning
Last edited by Andy24 on Thu Sep 28, 2023 10:35 am, edited 1 time in total.
Average railfan reporter on Grand Rapids Sub, Plymouth Sub, and Area Short Lines Railroads.
As of August 2023, CSX now restricts all passenger trains (excluding CSX’s own OCS and track geometry trains) with 16 axles or less to 30 mph. You may now start seeing extra cars on 370 and 371.
Still had some left over cars from yesterday's big L302 that didn't make 327 today, along with the usual collection from MQT and local traffic, betting that M32728 is still 130+ cars.
M327-28 @ 7:25 westbound reported by Defect Detector mp CG19.1 in Zeeland, Mi with 648 axles. CSX #5282 + 105 cars + mid-CSX #7273 + 54 cars. Total of 159 cars
Note: M327 had one car’s brakes stuck and it caused sparks as they passed me in Grandville this morning
Amtrak P371-28 @ 07:37:50 westward N. Center St crossing Bangor, Mi mp CG60.35 IDTX engine #4610 & 3 cars (Baggage Car + 2 Horizon Coaches) with 8 passengers On at the station mp CG60.52
M327-28 @ 7:25 westbound reported by Defect Detector mp CG19.1 in Zeeland, Mi with 648 axles. CSX #5282 + 105 cars + mid-CSX #7273 + 54 cars. Total of 159 cars
Note: M327 had one car’s brakes stuck and it caused sparks as they passed me in Grandville this morning
And did you call in the stuck brake?
No? The sparking lasted for about 20 seconds before the car disappeared out of my view. Also, I’m not sure about CSX’s policy for railfans calling in
Looking back at my video, it was very hard to see what car that caused the sparking
Anyone that sees something obviously wrong with a train is encouraged to call the CSX PSCC number posted on every CSX crossing. It doesn’t matter if you don’t know exactly what car it is, a simple “hey one of the cars on 327 was throwing a lot of sparks” would suffice.
M327-28 @ 08:36:11 westward Bangor, Mi N. Center St crossing mp CG60.35 live cam with CSX engine #5282 + mid dpu CSX engine #7273 & 159 cars (41 loads + 118 empties) @ 9,136 tons & 9,631 feet long.
Amtrak P371-28 @ 08:50 westward reported by the Defect Detector mp CG91.9 St Joseph, Mi. with 16 axles. IDTX engine #4610 & 3 cars (Baggage Car + 2 Horizon Coaches).
M326-28 @ 09:35 eastward reported by the Defect Detector mp CG91.9 St Joseph, Mi with 305 axles (+1 error). CSX engine #5264 + 1 & 73 cars.
L301-28 between 09:46/10:16 Grand Rapids, Mi job briefing with the RN Dispatcher: CSX engine #4070 & 8 cars (4 loads + 4 empties) @ 692 tons & 434 feet long. He has work for Buzzi Cement mp CG5.2 & then go west into Waverly mp CG22.8 or proceed directly to Hartford mp CG68.7 & Sawyer mp CG105.2 depending on M326-28's progress. L301 had said they'll update the Dispatcher later.
Last edited by Tom49801 on Thu Sep 28, 2023 10:33 am, edited 1 time in total.
As of August 2023, CSX now restricts all passenger trains (excluding CSX’s own OCS and track geometry trains) with 16 axles or less to 30 mph. You may now start seeing extra cars on 370 and 371.
L301-28 @ 11:07 westward reported by the Defect Detector mp CG19.1 Zeeland, Mi with 50 axles. CSX engine #4070 & 11 cars. He’s headed west into Waverly mp CG22.8 & later to Hartford mp CG68.7 & Sawyer mp CG105.2
M326-28 @ 11:09 eastward reported by the Defect Detector mp CG44.2 Pearl, Mi with 304 axles. CSX engines #5264 + #5437 & 73 cars.
Last edited by Tom49801 on Thu Sep 28, 2023 11:11 am, edited 1 time in total.
L301-28 @ 11:07 westward reported by the Defect Detector mp CG19.1 Zeeland, Mi with 50 axles. CSX engine #4070 & 11 cars. He’s headed west into Waverly mp CG22.8 & later to Hartford mp CG68.7 & Sawyer mp CG105.2
Cleared Zeeland Michigan @ 11:09
Note: this morning‘s train had 3 loaded straggler coal cars for the power plant in Port Sheldon Michigan.
L303-28 between 11:16/11:46 Grand Rapids, Mi job briefing with the RN Dispatcher: CSX engines #3302 + #905 & 49 cars (19 loads + 30 empties) @ 3,078 tons & 3,070 feet long. He’s building his train & has work for Lansing.
L301-28 @ 11:50 westward, Pass Track to Main Track, Holland, Mi Depot mp CG25.3 with CSX engine #4070 & 3 CH cars. He his going straight to Sawyer mp CG105.2
M326-28 @ 12:01 eastward reported by the Defect Detector mp CG19.1 Zeeland, Mi with 304 axles. CSX engines #5264 + #5437 & 73 cars.
L303-28 @ 12:24 eastward with an Approach Limited signal Schaffer mp CH145.4 with CSX engines #3302 + #905 & 49 cars.
L301-28 @ 12:24 westward reported by the Defect Detector mp CG44.2 Pearl, Mi with 18 axles. CSX engine #4070 & 3 CH cars. He has no work for Hartford mp CG68.7 & is headed straight to Sawyer mp CG105.2 to pickup 1 Coil car.
L301-28 @ 12:46 westward N. Center St crossing Bangor, Mi mp CG60.35 live cam.
L303-28 @ 13:01 eastward reported by the Defect Detector mp CH126.3 Clarksville, Mi with 208 axles. CSX engines #3302 + #905 & 49 cars (19 loads + 30 empties) @ 3,078 tons & 3,070 feet long. He has work for Lansing.
L301-28 @ 13:44 westward reported by the Defect Detector mp CG91.9 St Joseph, Mi with 18 axles. CSX engine #4070 & 3 CH cars. He has work at Arlington Metals in Sawyer, Mi mp CG105.2 to pickup 1 Coil car.
L303-28 @ 13:56 eastward reported by the Defect Detector mp CH104.3 Mulliken, Mi with 208 axles. CSX engines #3302 + #905 & 49 cars (19 loads + 30 empties) @ 3,078 tons & 3,070 feet long. He has work for Lansing.
L302-28 between 14:08/14:38 Rougemere Yard/Detroit job briefing with the RN Dispatcher: CSX engines #5421 + #(??) & 60 cars (23 loads + 37 empties). He’s doubling up his train at this time. Could only hear the Dispatcher's side of conversation & he happened to read back the the car loads & empties.
Last edited by Tom49801 on Thu Sep 28, 2023 3:09 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Wednesday, after L302 passed Howell, GLC requested permission to come out on to CSX at Ann Pere, go west and back into the Howell pass to pick up 77 cars that D705 set off a few days ago. They brought 35 cars with them. From experience of 53 years of living next to CSX just west of the wooden bridge, I know the main line from the house here is 35 car lengths to the EAS signal at the west end of Howell. Additionally, it is 65 car lengths from the house west to Highlander Way. When GLC pulled west they had 112 cars not including the three locomotives with them that required them to far west of Highlander Way for the first time that I am aware of.
Previously, they had occasionally gone west far enough to activate the crossing protection at Highlander Way without coming anywhere close to the crossing. GLC engineer mentioned this as for the first time they were close enough to see the signal at MP56 to see they had a green light. He mentioned this to the conductor at the east end of the train who responded by saying "Thats good to know".
L303-28 @ 15:23 released his EC1 for Ensel / Lake Odessa & ready to depart eastward from Lansing & headed to Detroit with CSX engines #3302 + #905 leading.
L301-28 @ 15:40 eastward reported by the Defect Detector mp CG91.9 St Joseph, Mi with 22 axles. CSX engine #4070 & 4 cars (1 Coil + 3 CH).
