GM Flint Assembly Questions

Anything pertaining to railfanning in Michigan.
GTWwatcher
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 282
Joined: Wed Sep 09, 2015 2:55 pm
Location: Somewhere along the CN Flint Sub

GM Flint Assembly Questions

Unread post by GTWwatcher »

1. How many autoracks a day are loaded now after the expansion?

2. Does the plant get switched every shift?

3. Has the number of rack trains to/from Flint increased since the expansion?

4. Is the David Rd tower still used?

User avatar
AARR
Ann Arbor RR Nerd
Posts: 37841
Joined: Wed Dec 22, 2004 7:39 pm
Location: Washington, MI

Re: GM Flint Assembly Questions

Unread post by AARR »

GTWwatcher wrote:
Wed Aug 04, 2021 3:05 pm
1. How many autoracks a day are loaded now after the expansion?

2. Does the plant get switched every shift?
Last I heard CN pulls two 30 car blocks per day which are picked up by a local from Port Huron that runs them to Battle Creek. Things may have changed, though.
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...

GTWwatcher
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 282
Joined: Wed Sep 09, 2015 2:55 pm
Location: Somewhere along the CN Flint Sub

Re: GM Flint Assembly Questions

Unread post by GTWwatcher »

Hmmmm, not aware of any locals out of Port Huron besides L533

User avatar
SD80MAC
Ingersoll's Mr. Michigan
Posts: 10412
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 4:59 pm
Location: Grand Rapids

Re: GM Flint Assembly Questions

Unread post by SD80MAC »

Does L501 no longer run out of PH?
"Remember, 4 mph is a couple, 5's a collision!"
http://flickriver.com/photos/conrail680 ... teresting/
Image

GTWwatcher
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 282
Joined: Wed Sep 09, 2015 2:55 pm
Location: Somewhere along the CN Flint Sub

Re: GM Flint Assembly Questions

Unread post by GTWwatcher »

SD80MAC wrote:
Wed Aug 04, 2021 5:56 pm
Does L501 no longer run out of PH?
L501 is now Flint to Battle Creek

User avatar
LansingRailFan
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 11108
Joined: Fri Nov 01, 2019 4:21 pm
Location: Lansing
Contact:

Re: GM Flint Assembly Questions

Unread post by LansingRailFan »

Quick facts:
1. L533 works 6 days a week on the Mt. Clemens sub and ON THE SEVENTH DAY they run to Flint and back and also work Lapeer Industrial.
2. The Flint yard job/local R943/944 work the plant as well as the parts plant and there’s a couple of other industries.
3. A491/A492/L501 work Flint and take racks East or west as needed. L500 terminates in Flint and usually moves traffic to and from Durand.
4. GM, urgent to ship out cars faster to the east coast and CN, unwilling to short haul racks down to Toledo to interchange w CSX, allowed CSX and their autorack loading subsidiary to reopen the ramps at Buick City. Trucks are trucked over to Buick City and loaded onto racks there, hauled by LSRC to Wixom and then hauled by CSX south and east.

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

Re: GM Flint Assembly Questions

Unread post by Man o' War »

LansingRailFan wrote:
Wed Aug 04, 2021 8:59 pm
Quick facts:
1. L533 works 6 days a week on the Mt. Clemens sub and ON THE SEVENTH DAY they run to Flint and back and also work Lapeer Industrial.
2. The Flint yard job/local R943/944 work the plant as well as the parts plant and there’s a couple of other industries.
3. A491/A492/L501 work Flint and take racks East or west as needed. L500 terminates in Flint and usually moves traffic to and from Durand.
4. GM, urgent to ship out cars faster to the east coast and CN, unwilling to short haul racks down to Toledo to interchange w CSX, allowed CSX and their autorack loading subsidiary to reopen the ramps at Buick City. Trucks are trucked over to Buick City and loaded onto racks there, hauled by LSRC to Wixom and then hauled by CSX south and east.
L533 works the MTC sub 7 days a week - and on one of those days will also work west on the Flint. FCA in Mount Clemens never sleeps. With the expanded GLR business in Fraser and the lumber and drywall business in Chesterfield, it is necessary to run daily.

Man o' War

User avatar
LansingRailFan
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 11108
Joined: Fri Nov 01, 2019 4:21 pm
Location: Lansing
Contact:

Re: GM Flint Assembly Questions

Unread post by LansingRailFan »

Man o' War wrote:
Thu Aug 05, 2021 1:12 pm
LansingRailFan wrote:
Wed Aug 04, 2021 8:59 pm
Quick facts:
1. L533 works 6 days a week on the Mt. Clemens sub and ON THE SEVENTH DAY they run to Flint and back and also work Lapeer Industrial.
2. The Flint yard job/local R943/944 work the plant as well as the parts plant and there’s a couple of other industries.
3. A491/A492/L501 work Flint and take racks East or west as needed. L500 terminates in Flint and usually moves traffic to and from Durand.
4. GM, urgent to ship out cars faster to the east coast and CN, unwilling to short haul racks down to Toledo to interchange w CSX, allowed CSX and their autorack loading subsidiary to reopen the ramps at Buick City. Trucks are trucked over to Buick City and loaded onto racks there, hauled by LSRC to Wixom and then hauled by CSX south and east.
L533 works the MTC sub 7 days a week - and on one of those days will also work west on the Flint. FCA in Mount Clemens never sleeps. With the expanded GLR business in Fraser and the lumber and drywall business in Chesterfield, it is necessary to run daily.

Man o' War
Cool. I was told it was 6/1. Good for them if they can make both at the same time! I do know that sometimes A491 or 492 has been known to work Lapeer as well, probably due to 533 not having enough time.

User avatar
conrailmike
Signal Maintainer
Posts: 2832
Joined: Tue Jan 30, 2007 9:59 pm
Location: Less than 100' from CSX (LSRC) Saginaw Sub. MP 61.4 in Highland, MI

Re: GM Flint Assembly Questions

Unread post by conrailmike »

From my job on the line, I can usually see them switching autoracks and frames at least once during my shift, if that helps. It may have slowed down a little, all 3 shifts were laid off this week and 2 weeks ago only one shift was working. Lol, there aren't too many trucks shipping out right now due to a shortage of chips which leads to a shortage of ECM modules. We've got trucks all over Flint right now, including Swartz Creek and Bishop Airport.

User avatar
AARR
Ann Arbor RR Nerd
Posts: 37841
Joined: Wed Dec 22, 2004 7:39 pm
Location: Washington, MI

Re: GM Flint Assembly Questions

Unread post by AARR »

In the Trains Magazine article it says LSRC is handling 1,000 car loads a month from Flint. This is apparently traffic CN doesn't want because they would short haul it to Toledo and hand over to CSX. That is a significant amount of traffic CN is declining on.
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...

David Lang
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 982
Joined: Thu Nov 24, 2005 9:43 am

Re: GM Flint Assembly Questions

Unread post by David Lang »

I agree Don Simon.

1,000 car loads / 30 days per month = 33 loaded autoracks per day.

User avatar
AARR
Ann Arbor RR Nerd
Posts: 37841
Joined: Wed Dec 22, 2004 7:39 pm
Location: Washington, MI

Re: GM Flint Assembly Questions

Unread post by AARR »

From the other board
Posted by jim on 11/26/2021, 5:13 pm
Trains magazine's recent article about Lake State Railway stated that there are loads both in and outbound from Buick City in Flint. Would those inbound loads be auto parts traveling there in 86 foot auto parts boxcars? Anybody know?
I didn't recall the article saying LSRC's Buick City auto loading yard was handling inbound vehicles. But I don't think they would handle inbound autoparts but as LSRC has been at developing new business maybe they are.

As a side note it seems autoparts, including light weight items like plastic components and stampings, are loaded into 60' hi cube box cars more than 86's.

CN receives autoparts at the giant warehouse in Swartz Creek IIRC.
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...

Steve B
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 1249
Joined: Thu Jul 12, 2007 8:03 pm
Location: East Lansing

Re: GM Flint Assembly Questions

Unread post by Steve B »

I drove over the Dye Rd. crossing earlier this month and can confirm the Swartz Creek CCA facility is still receiving 86 footers.

User avatar
LansingRailFan
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 11108
Joined: Fri Nov 01, 2019 4:21 pm
Location: Lansing
Contact:

Re: GM Flint Assembly Questions

Unread post by LansingRailFan »

AARR wrote:
Wed Nov 17, 2021 8:43 am
In the Trains Magazine article it says LSRC is handling 1,000 car loads a month from Flint. This is apparently traffic CN doesn't want because they would short haul it to Toledo and hand over to CSX. That is a significant amount of traffic CN is declining on.
They seem to get a handful of inbound loaded autoracks a week. Mostly out of Mexico it seems.

User avatar
AARR
Ann Arbor RR Nerd
Posts: 37841
Joined: Wed Dec 22, 2004 7:39 pm
Location: Washington, MI

Re: GM Flint Assembly Questions

Unread post by AARR »

Thank you LRF
LansingRailFan wrote:
Sun Nov 28, 2021 12:30 am
AARR wrote:
Wed Nov 17, 2021 8:43 am
In the Trains Magazine article it says LSRC is handling 1,000 car loads a month from Flint. This is apparently traffic CN doesn't want because they would short haul it to Toledo and hand over to CSX. That is a significant amount of traffic CN is declining on.
They seem to get a handful of inbound loaded autoracks a week. Mostly out of Mexico it seems.
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...

User avatar
conrailmike
Signal Maintainer
Posts: 2832
Joined: Tue Jan 30, 2007 9:59 pm
Location: Less than 100' from CSX (LSRC) Saginaw Sub. MP 61.4 in Highland, MI

Re: GM Flint Assembly Questions

Unread post by conrailmike »

LansingRailFan wrote:
Sun Nov 28, 2021 12:30 am
AARR wrote:
Wed Nov 17, 2021 8:43 am
In the Trains Magazine article it says LSRC is handling 1,000 car loads a month from Flint. This is apparently traffic CN doesn't want because they would short haul it to Toledo and hand over to CSX. That is a significant amount of traffic CN is declining on.
They seem to get a handful of inbound loaded autoracks a week. Mostly out of Mexico it seems.
Last time I drove by the lot across from Buick City, it looks like they're also getting a lot of vehicles from Arlington, TX. as there was a lot of full size SUVs out there.

As for Swartz Creek, they're just a warehouse/packaging facility. It could be anything going into those 86' cars nowadays. Used to be only the big things like axles, engines, transmissions would be shipped in those but GM cut a lot of that out when "just in time" shipping came into play.

User avatar
AARR
Ann Arbor RR Nerd
Posts: 37841
Joined: Wed Dec 22, 2004 7:39 pm
Location: Washington, MI

Re: GM Flint Assembly Questions

Unread post by AARR »

From LSRC's most recent news letter is information about their Flint Vehicle Distribution Center (VDC)
https://www.lsrc.com/wp-content/uploads ... letter.pdf

Also, an interesting article about how they are handling steel coil rod in box cars
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...

User avatar
AARR
Ann Arbor RR Nerd
Posts: 37841
Joined: Wed Dec 22, 2004 7:39 pm
Location: Washington, MI

Re: GM Flint Assembly Questions

Unread post by AARR »

I watch several YouTube channels that show the daily LSRC train from Flint to Toledo. I have not seen any auto racks in their consist for a while. Is LSRC still handling vehicles in Flint?
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...

atrainguy60
Saginaw Sub Foamer
Posts: 4075
Joined: Sun Oct 30, 2011 1:54 pm
Location: None of your business......

Re: GM Flint Assembly Questions

Unread post by atrainguy60 »

AARR wrote:
Sun Oct 23, 2022 6:10 pm
I watch several YouTube channels that show the daily LSRC train from Flint to Toledo. I have not seen any auto racks in their consist for a while. Is LSRC still handling vehicles in Flint?
This video from Thursday shows the southbound hauling autoracks through Grand Blanc:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/4544276 ... 321033260/

User avatar
LansingRailFan
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 11108
Joined: Fri Nov 01, 2019 4:21 pm
Location: Lansing
Contact:

Re: GM Flint Assembly Questions

Unread post by LansingRailFan »

AARR wrote:
Sun Oct 23, 2022 6:10 pm
I watch several YouTube channels that show the daily LSRC train from Flint to Toledo. I have not seen any auto racks in their consist for a while. Is LSRC still handling vehicles in Flint?
They get racks when they can. It’s spotty at best. If CSX gets 200 racks a day into Michigan and potentially needs those all in New Boston, LSRC won’t get any allocated.

Post Reply