CPKC Holiday Train 2023

[Jim_c]

Here is the route and the stops.

https://www.cpkcr.com/en/community/HolidayTrain

[NickThatRailfan]

I would like to know when the CPKC holiday train will go through Michigan on the Ex Wabash because I have tried looking at the schedule but it just confuses me to much, thank you!

[sparrow24]

The only guess that can be made is that it will come through Michigan sometime on the night of 11/24 after the event in Windsor.

Last year I caught it coming through the tunnel into the US at 9:30pm, a couple years ago I caught it in Allen Park at 10:30pm. It varies.

[NickThatRailfan]

We are gonna catch the CPKC Holiday Train in Waterloo, IN on the NS Chicago Line any ideas of whem it might get on the Chicago Line?

[~Z~]

Prior years, Waterloo approx 11:30pm to 1am timeframe.

[NickThatRailfan]

Prior years, Waterloo approx 11:30pm to 1am timeframe.

Thank you, I have also heard rumors that this years holiday train will be lead by the CP OCS F Unit? Does anyone have any info on that?

[Jochs]

I've seen it go through New Carlsisle, IN a couple of times, once in 2019 and again last year. Both times it around 5:00 am.|
Here it is last year at 5:03 am on 12/2/22 at Walnut Rd just east of New Carlsile.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQppdhHOnAY
(Turn the sound down....it was windy that morning. )

[David Collins]

Are we sure that it’s going to come through Michigan? The schedule looks to be saying otherwise given that it’s going to be in New York after Windsor.

[Dan Cluley]

Their schedule is always a mess. There is the "US Train" schedule & the "Canadian Train" schedule, but when you look at the US schedule they include the Canadian train if it is in the US. Those are the New York stops. The US train is in Windsor on the 24th & Bensenville IL on the 25th, so yeah, pretty sure they will come through Detroit.

[MikeB89]

Are we sure that it’s going to come through Michigan? The schedule looks to be saying otherwise given that it’s going to be in New York after Windsor.

The train does come through Michigan but doesn't have any stops, that is why you don't see anything on the maps. It will leave its event from Windsor, Ontario, come through Detroit on its way to Indiana.

If you want to catch this train, I believe it goes along the NS line that goes through Romulus. CP runs its train on this track via trackage rights and the Holiday Train goes along these tracks. It will be later in the night. Be aware that the train may not have the decorations on but last year's video of it going through Romulus does show the decorations on. Romulus is a great area to view this train and I hope to be there myself.

[LansingRailFan]

Thunderbowl Lanes gets pretty wild.

I went near the Carbon Athletic Club last year in Detroit. They have a big holiday party with food trucks and such.

Romulus
Milan
Adrian
Butler
Elkhart
Chesterton

[David Collins]

Just realizing this: Given that it’s running the day after thanksgiving, it’ll probably be even lower on the food chain of priority as NS may run some extra trains to make up for the lost traffic from Thanksgiving. So it’s probably gonna be a late one for those who plan on seeing it.

If it’s possible, I would like to use this thread as a heads up/location updates thread for the run.

[LansingRailFan]

2022

21:26 - lined out of Windsor
21:50 - Michigan central station
22:40 - entering Oakwood Yard
22:53 - departing Oakwood Yard
00:05 - Belleville
00:25 - Milan
00:52 - Raisin Center
01:09 - MP 63
01:16 - MP 69
01:43 - Kunkle

[sparrow24]

I went near the Carbon Athletic Club last year in Detroit.

How packed does that get? I was there once for an event and don't think there being much extra space in their lot!

[LansingRailFan]

I went near the Carbon Athletic Club last year in Detroit.

How packed does that get? I was there once for an event and don't think there being much extra space in their lot!

Packed. It was a lot of fun tho. I was one of the sponsors.

[David Collins]

5:50 PM: The Holiday Train is officially in Windsor and getting ready for it’s 6pm performance.

[David Collins]

Holiday train is having customs done in Michigan this year rather than in Canada. No word as to when the american on crew is OD.

7:24 PM: Train is reversing onto the main in Windsor and about to go through the DR tunnel.

[sparrow24]

19:45 - Sounds like they’re getting ready to go through the tunnel. On the radio, CBP requested all personnel at the head end and maintain 6-8 MPH.

[DaveO]

hopefully cbp meant the first passenger car

[sparrow24]

20:02 - Update/Correction: CBP cleared them on the Canadian side to enter the tunnel. They will have to stop again on the US side.

20:16 - They just called the College Ave. signal, so they’ll be disappearing into the tunnel momentarily.