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I noticed that there's a viewing platform at Imlay City. While these aren't usually my thing, I have been looking a smaller town along the CN west of Port Huron to spend a day sometime. With that in mind, what is the traffic like east of Durand these days?

You’ll see a few trains but bring a book because there is a lot of down time

I think on a busy day you might see 6-8 trains east of Flint during the daylight hours. I have also seen days where there has been over 7 hours without a single train out there.

IIRC you can see the “foreign flyer”, CSX D710/D711, they run on the CN to flint.

David Collins wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 01, 2021 7:58 pm

IIRC you can see the “foreign flyer”, CSX D710/D711, they run on the CN to flint.

Runs 3-5x per week depending on LPG traffic and occasional coal traffic to DTE

I was in Lapeer a couple weeks back from about 11am-2pm and heard at least two trains roll through during that time.

There’s a daily Amtrak around 06:30 and 23:00, other than that your normal assortment of freight trains. Usually CN power with some other assorted oddballs thrown in occasionally.

What day of the week would be a good day to catch some busy traffic along this line. Also what Train IDs run out here? (If someone could provide a list that would be fantastic!)

RoyalKingoftheRails wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 24, 2022 10:36 pm

What day of the week would be a good day to catch some busy traffic along this line. Also what Train IDs run out here? (If someone could provide a list that would be fantastic!)

Just watch the CN Train location updates. Any day of the week is the same.

LansingRailFan wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 25, 2022 5:20 pm

RoyalKingoftheRails wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 24, 2022 10:36 pm

What day of the week would be a good day to catch some busy traffic along this line. Also what Train IDs run out here? (If someone could provide a list that would be fantastic!)

Just watch the CN Train location updates. Any day of the week is the same.

Alright thanks! What about the train IDs? What typically comes through?

Usually around 15-20 trains a day use this portion of the CN Flint Sub. I dont care for railfanning this portion as I prefer west of Flint with places like Durand, Lansing, Battle Creek and etc. But if you time it right you can get some decent action. Here are the trains from my knowledge. Updates with these symbols are much appreciated.
CN M394 Gary IN to Toronto ON monster mixed freight train daily
CN M396 Memphis TN to Toronto ON mixed freight daily
CN M397 Toronto ON to Gary IN mixed freight daily
CN M399 Toronto ON to Salem IL mixed freight daily
CN A491 Sarnia ON to Gary IN works Flint and Battle Creek daily
CN A492 Gary IN to Sarnia ON works flint and Battle Creek daily
CN E274 Chicago IL to Toronto ON hot auto rack train 6-7 days a week
CN E275 Toronto ON to Chicago IL auto racks 6-7 days a week
CSX D710/D711 usually one direction per day. One day it may go east another it may go west I am not exact with that operation
CN Z148 Homewood IL to Montreal QC stacks daily
CN Z149 Montreal QC to Homewood IL stacks daily
CN B731 westbound potash train few times a week
CN L533? Yes I know, but according to ATCS there seems to be a westbound that leaves PH yard for Flint and return during the middle of the day. But I could not figure out if it was L533 or another train.
Extras and reroutes have been very common in the last several months. You might see a Q123 or a Q120 or a CN M301 and etc. Just follow the CN Heads up page like Lansing Railfan said. They seem to be busy on the weekends or Friday-Sunday and much slower on Monday-Wednesday from what I have seen. Like I said I dont railfan anywhere from Flint to Port Huron because there is zero ATCS coverage and its lighter traffic than places like Durand and Port Huron. When I railfan the old Grand Trunk I just pick a place where it intersects another line or two like Durand or Port Huron or Lansing and just chill there. Anyway bring a magazine or book and good luck!