GRE Grand Rapids Eastern (Lowell)

[run8ed]

Well, at some point this morning they brought in more cars from the yard and I didn't hear the horn, nor did I hear my scanner--the latter due primarily to the fact that the volume was turned down to zero. I'm sure they are back in G.R. by now... and the small yard south of Lowell is currently empty for the first time in a few weeks...

[Plannerdad]

GRE was parked on the east side of Ada around 11:00am, pointed west with a long line of cars. The lights were off and crew was inside. Maybe waiting for work to finish on the Spaulding crossing?

[kd_1014]

GRE was parked on the east side of Ada around 11:00am, pointed west with a long line of cars. The lights were off and crew was inside. Maybe waiting for work to finish on the Spaulding crossing?

They tied down there yesterday, not sure if it had to do with the Spaulding crossing or not.

[Plannerdad]

The loaded lumber car has been in the yard all week.

[Plannerdad]

GRE just crossed the Grand WB. I lost count but over 30 cars, including 2 AMWAY hoppers mid-train. Long day for the crew!

[Plannerdad]

GRE just headed east across the Grand. Maybe 15-17 cars.

[GRRailFan08]

GRE just headed east across the Grand. Maybe 15-17 cars.

Plymouth Ave. @ 10:35 AM

[Plannerdad]

Wife reported WB south of Lowell around 1:30. She would not be amused with a car count!

[tsinoms]

They have returned back downtown GR. Mission failed on the horn change.

[run8ed]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni9aUND4KxA
hopefully this plays--it is a youtube "shorts" video and I'm not sure how to upload this type of video.

Grand Rapids Eastern pulling out of King Milling across the Flat River in Lowell, with 4 empties. Just a few minutes earlier they had dropped off a cut of loads and within about a half hour of this video were headed back to Grand Rapids with all the empties. 9.5.2023 Tuesday morning ~9am

[Plannerdad]

Seemed to work. Nice shot!

[Andy24]

Today’s M326 brought in more grain cars for GRE. 3 green Burlington Northern in consist with a lot of BNSF grain cars.

[kd_1014]

GRE heading east near Plainfield/Creston neighborhood 09:05

[Plannerdad]

Appears to be back in the yard, but I missed it.

[run8ed]

I saw one of those green BN cars at King today. Fun fact: when I cross the tracks there with the bus, I HAVE to stop, open the door, and look both ways! This assists me greatly in observing operations...

Yard tracks at Segwun empty--evidently they took everything they brought out of GR straight into King Milling.

Inbound cars have been very consistent for a couple months now. And yet I noted not a single car at King in a recent Bing maps aerial map (maybe late spring 2023??). So I am wondering--are the heavy carloadings due to low grain prices to free up capacity for the harvest, low grain prices due to the current harvest, or increased need for grain due to expansion?

In other observations, many of the cars appear to be older 263k capacity cars. I am curious if the 286k cars are fully loaded? So many questions!!!

[MQT1223]

Once they get back to Grand Rapids, they split up their outbounds for CSX and GDLK (each RR has their own interchange track at Fuller), then put their engine in the barn.

Does GDLK interchange directly with MQT or CPMY? Or are both these handled via CSX and/or GRE?

All has to go via CSX. GDLK only goes up to switch their tank car transload if I remember right.

On an unrelated note… expect a lot of trackwork in Lowell soon. Sounds like the existing trackwork in town is going to be rebuild and expanded upon to accommodate the increase in traffic by the end of the year

[Plannerdad]

They could use a couple switches toward the Flat River, if there is room. It would limit backup moves to the west.

[run8ed]

If they are expanding capacity at King, that would be interesting to see. They already have room to put 25+ cars north of M21 plus a few more on the siding (in addition to the 25+ capacity south of M-21). That crossing, like the one on Hudson street, is automated and their trackmobile can really zip along so it would seem feasible to me to simply put excess cars on those tracks. It will be neat to see what they decide to do!

[run8ed]

Also, regarding Grand Rapids Eastern, according to their website they interchange with both CSX and Grand Elk, along with Coopersville and Marne. And the line is rated for 286k cars!

https://www.gwrr.com/gr/

[SD80MAC]

Once they get back to Grand Rapids, they split up their outbounds for CSX and GDLK (each RR has their own interchange track at Fuller), then put their engine in the barn.

Does GDLK interchange directly with MQT or CPMY? Or are both these handled via CSX and/or GRE?

All has to go via CSX. GDLK only goes up to switch their tank car transload if I remember right.

No. GDLK has direct access to interchange with GRE. The west/south interchange track on the CSX-GRE connection at Fuller belongs to the Elk.