RailRoadFan.com

302 went south yesterday am about 7:45 with 4017 leading 4189, 4206, 4002 & an NS -9 with 150+ cars. They returned about 5:00 yesterday pm with 4002 leading and 103 cars. They left it on the main at Park tied down, and as of 2:00 this afternoon it still had not moved yet.

This morning the 4002 was really smoking so I'm guessing the 'ol girl really starts to load up after idling for so long.

Sounds like something is headed south on the Elk, not sure who or what it is but it sounds like NS power leading (K5 variant by the sound of it). Just blew for Kilgore, and I can here them blowing for Milham now

The tank cars spotted along 131 the other night were for the MSO so the company in White Piegon could clean and store them in Sturgis. They've got em stored clear to the end of the Old Road at Big Hill Rd.

How is the MSO interchange these days? Is there a fair amount of traffic for the 501 job to bring back and forth or is the MSO going through another one of its "quiet spells" with not many car movements at this moment in the calendar?

Last I heard MSO is supposed to run M, W and F but actually was operating 2x per week. One of their big customers, the paper plant in Sturgis, receives about 6 cars a week.

GP30M4216 wrote:How is the MSO interchange these days? Is there a fair amount of traffic for the 501 job to bring back and forth or is the MSO going through another one of its "quiet spells" with not many car movements at this moment in the calendar?

As I was at WP Jct. the other day when Elk interchanged with em the MSO had 10 cars outbound. 1 loaded log car 9 box cars. Delivered 1 Thiel tank car for WP paper. The 15 tank cars for cleaning/storage were delivered 2 days later. The Elk on any given day can have between 15-30 cars to deliver and take back each way on 501. Some days it swells to 40 cars with the Bristol traffic. Customers include 1 Portage, 3 Schoolcraft, 2 TR, 2 Constantine, 5 WP and Sturgis (MSO), Andersons, Fresh Solutions, 2 Bristol (big accounts) and the lumber account in Elkhart which will have bulkhead flats and boxcars in and out everyday. 501 was back at Kazoo at 17:00 and 105 followed him in at 17:30. Amtrak eb had cleared Kazoo at 16:15.

The 3534 is leading 501 southbound today (GP35)

501 was switching International Paper this morning about 5:30. 4009 was leading going back north, while the 3534 is still the 2nd unit for when they go south. I'm surprised the 3534 hasn't broke down yet
Seems like every time they get a unit that we want pictures of, such as 3534 or the 7030, something happens to it and they have to switch it out for something else.

Watco is in this months Trains mag. 35 railroads and growing.

501 went blasting through town early this morning about 3-3:30 headed back to Kazoo. That 4009 definitely makes a ruckus, you can't miss that horn.

Anything on its way to GR? Still trying to figure out the GDLK's operations.

MQT1223 wrote:Anything on its way to GR? Still trying to figure out the GDLK's operations.

The 303 works Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo and back. I think they are called around 6:00AM. That and the yard engine are about the only things you'll see in GR. 501 is the local working south out of Kalamazoo.

PatAzo wrote:

MQT1223 wrote:Anything on its way to GR? Still trying to figure out the GDLK's operations.

The 303 works Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo and back. I think they are called around 6:00AM. That and the yard engine are about the only things you'll see in GR. 501 is the local working south out of Kalamazoo.

I've heard something leave around 8 or 9 pm from GR before, what is that?

Their second shift Grand Rapids yard job goes all over town at night. I usually see them head up to Fuller after 9 pm. I've also seen them head south towards 84th St later at night too, they have a couple of customers down that way.

SD80MAC wrote:Their second shift Grand Rapids yard job goes all over town at night. I usually see them head up to Fuller after 9 pm. I've also seen them head south towards 84th St later at night too, they have a couple of customers down that way.

Me and Saturnalia heard something going north to Fuller after D700 came through around 7:30. Not sure if it was CSX or them.

302 came down friday morning about 4:30 and was "staged" at Cowling in the siding with 75+ cars and 2 of the SD40-2's. I just walked out the door and I can still here it sitting there idling. Been there for over 24 hrs now.

Early Thursday evening, the 24th, 4125 came north with a dimensional/oversize load headed for Plainwell. I took these at South St. in Schoolcraft.

Taken back on St. Patrick's Day in Schoolcraft. 4206, 4189 & 4125 bring train 101 back from Elkhart with over 100 cars.

Take a few steps back into yesteryear. Grand Elk (WAMX) 4125 was built in July 1973 and started it's life with the Milwaukee Road as #21. This photo was taken in 1980 when the unit was only 7 years old.



As she looks today, some 43 years later, with a few more coats of paint on it.

What is the purpose of this "code line" that the Elk is working on installing?

Does anyone know the status of the 7030 & 3534? I haven't seen them or heard talks about them in several weeks.

Also, 303 was crewed in Plainwell Saturday am for its trip to Elkhart. They picked up the 2nd crewman at CP Cowling and left Three Rivers at 9:30am. They did not return till 7:30 Sunday evening, where it took them an hour to get across town. They sat at Cowling just before the N. Main crossing for more than 30 mins before finally continuing north.