GP38-2W struggles to pull E251! - Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

[David Collins]

https://youtu.be/Nx_KjfhqBNg?si=F-xxyvQbO-wCaoE5

Around 8:30 this morning, I got a text on snapchat from a friend of mine with a screenshot from the Fort Street camera that I simply couldn’t believe. E251 (Flat Rock to Battle Creek general manifest) had just left Flat Rock with a solo CN GP38-2W leader. I knew this isn’t gonna happen again for a long time, if not, ever. It would also be my first time seeing a GP38-2W leading a train, AND it was probably going to be struggling with the slippery rails and a the heavy train that is E251 behind it. So I jumped at the chance to catch it.

I ended up leaving my place for Opdyke Road around 10:30 about an hour after hearing it was on the CSAO main, and I’m glad I didn’t wait to leave any longer. E251 was passing Royal Oak as I got to Opdyke. I sat for no longer than about 10 minutes when the unmistakeable sound of a 645E prime mover in notch 8 could be heard in the distance. The lead unit definitely was struggling to pull this mixed freight, and originally me and some other posters and railfans believed it wouldn’t make it up the hill, miraculously it did, and put on one heck of a show doing so.

2024 is starting out with a bang, with lots of insane catches from the first week coming in future trip reports! Stay tuned!

[Erroneous Monk]

Nice catch, how big was the train?

[David Collins]

Nice catch, how big was the train?

37 cars, all of which however were loaded.