CSX Train Location Updates - March 2022

[Tom49801]

L301-16 (former D700) @ 15:13 eastward reported by the DD mp CG91.9 with 34 axles & 465 feet long. CSX engine #4384 & 7 cars.

[SW]

SB L313 (former D736) just cleared Middle River. CSX 5483 + LSRC 6356 + 89 cars.

[Tom49801]

So, only 59 cars and they're using a rear dpu on 326. It seems as though they use a dpu on trains that wouldn't need one, and then you get a 326 with 120 cars with two lead units and no dpu. Just an example, it's what I've noticed. I'm sure weight of the train as something to do with this.

Sometime last year, CSX had made a change to their operating rules stating if both engines are DPU capable, they are to run in DPU mode regardless of their car count (I guess that saves them on EOT usage). We had actually seen Q327 run from Grand Rapids to Chicago with only 1 car & the engines were running in DPU mode.

For the the Saugatuck Hill at approx mp CG32.5 going eastward, trains over 10,000 tons are to run with DPU. But, we have seen trains stall out on the hill due to weather conditions (wet rails, snow) that were under 10,000 tons.

BNSF had also made a change not too long ago where their loaded coal trains are to be ran with a single leader & a rear DPU instead of the 2 engines on the headend. They still need extra power added to make it over the Saugatuck Hill & typically 2 CSX engines are added behind the leader. The reason explained to me was by doing this, no one has to go to the rear of the train to add the extra power & having also to re-program the PTC for the rear units.

[bkoole98]

So, only 59 cars and they're using a rear dpu on 326. It seems as though they use a dpu on trains that wouldn't need one, and then you get a 326 with 120 cars with two lead units and no dpu. Just an example, it's what I've noticed. I'm sure weight of the train as something to do with this.

Sometime last year, CSX had made a change to their operating rules stating if both engines are DPU capable, they are to run in DPU mode regardless of their car count (I guess that saves them on EOT usage). We had actually seen Q327 run from Grand Rapids to Chicago with only 1 car & the engines were running in DPU mode.

For the the Saugatuck Hill at approx mp CG32.5 going eastward, trains over 10,000 tons are to run with DPU. But, we have seen trains stall out on the hill due to weather conditions (wet rails, snow) that were under 10,000 tons.

BNSF had also made a change not too long ago where their loaded coal trains are to be ran with a single leader & a rear DPU instead of the 2 engines on the headend. They still need extra power added to make it over the Saugatuck Hill & typically 2 CSX engines are added behind the leader. The reason explained to me was by doing this, no one has to go to the rear of the train to add the extra power & having also to re-program the PTC for the rear units.

That actually makes sense about the EOT usage, and so does the rest for that matter. Thanks for the information.

[Tom49801]

N800-16 @ 15:45 eastward reported by the DD mp CG91.9 with 532 axles & 6,968 feet long. BNSF engine #5775 & 130 loaded coal cars & rear dpu BNSF #9190. He will take Kirk siding mp CG70.2 & tie down there since Grand Jct has a loaded coal train & Wells siding has an empty coal train tied down.

You're welcome BKoole98

[Tom49801]

L301-16 (former D700) @ 16:01:20 eastward Bangor's Division St crossing cam mp CG60.93 with CSX engine #4384 & 7 cars.

[amessmann]

L305 west over Farm Ln. ~ CH 84.5. Looked like they had just two cars.

[Tom49801]

L301-16 (former D700) @ 16:23 eastward reported by the DD mp CG44.2 with 34 axles & 476 feet long. CSX engine #4384 & 7 cars.

L301-16 (former D700) @ 16:51 eastward Holland Depot mp 25.3 Main Track to Pass Main.

[amessmann]

L303 eastbound by Farm Ln. ~ CH 84.5. 16:58

[Tom49801]

L301-16 (former D700) @ 17:31 eastward reported by the DD mp CG19.1 with 70 axles & 1,069 feet long. CSX engine #4384 & 16 cars.

[Micah_D]

6:27pm - L303-16 Clear Green Oak DD reporting 408 Axles, 5702 feet.

6:30pm - L303-16 Clear EE South Lyon.

[SW]

6:27pm - L303-16 Clear Green Oak DD reporting 408 Axles, 5702 feet.

6:30pm - L303-16 Clear EE South Lyon.

Cleared Plymouth diamond just now. CSX 3428 + 5213 + 99 cars.

[SW]

SB D716 (or whatever it's called now) just cleared Plymouth diamond. CSX 6143 + 4 boxcars + 5 gons.

[LansingRailFan]

19:30 - Plymouth

NB 2-unit Q510 clearing now w unknown power. Big heavy tren.

Edit: leader was CSX 357

NB 2-unit I132 with UP and KCS next. Stopped at Lilley.
Edit: power was…UP 4793/KCS 4110

L302 waiting to to go West w CSX 5313 up front

D714 is SB with CSX 6543ish

L311 with CSX 5276/second unit unk

[rob]

So, only 59 cars and they're using a rear dpu on 326. It seems as though they use a dpu on trains that wouldn't need one, and then you get a 326 with 120 cars with two lead units and no dpu. Just an example, it's what I've noticed. I'm sure weight of the train as something to do with this.

Sometime last year, CSX had made a change to their operating rules stating if both engines are DPU capable, they are to run in DPU mode regardless of their car count (I guess that saves them on EOT usage). We had actually seen Q327 run from Grand Rapids to Chicago with only 1 car & the engines were running in DPU mode.

For the the Saugatuck Hill at approx mp CG32.5 going eastward, trains over 10,000 tons are to run with DPU. But, we have seen trains stall out on the hill due to weather conditions (wet rails, snow) that were under 10,000 tons.

BNSF had also made a change not too long ago where their loaded coal trains are to be ran with a single leader & a rear DPU instead of the 2 engines on the headend. They still need extra power added to make it over the Saugatuck Hill & typically 2 CSX engines are added behind the leader. The reason explained to me was by doing this, no one has to go to the rear of the train to add the extra power & having also to re-program the PTC for the rear units.

That actually makes sense about the EOT usage, and so does the rest for that matter. Thanks for the information.

it s nothing to do with eot. it's because the engines comes from Wyoming with 3 engine and they would set out the rear dpu and hand off to csx. the when the train got to grand jct we would put the csx one on the rear and go up the hill. we had problem getting the csx and bn to talk to each other and too much time to get them to work. so the trainmaster(mto) at the time came up with the using the bn dpu and add the csx up front as a faster was to get it set up for the hill and using lest crews. it does cause more moves at the plant to get the engine where they need to be

rob

[Tom49801]

Sometime last year, CSX had made a change to their operating rules stating if both engines are DPU capable, they are to run in DPU mode regardless of their car count (I guess that saves them on EOT usage). We had actually seen Q327 run from Grand Rapids to Chicago with only 1 car & the engines were running in DPU mode.

For the the Saugatuck Hill at approx mp CG32.5 going eastward, trains over 10,000 tons are to run with DPU. But, we have seen trains stall out on the hill due to weather conditions (wet rails, snow) that were under 10,000 tons.

BNSF had also made a change not too long ago where their loaded coal trains are to be ran with a single leader & a rear DPU instead of the 2 engines on the headend. They still need extra power added to make it over the Saugatuck Hill & typically 2 CSX engines are added behind the leader. The reason explained to me was by doing this, no one has to go to the rear of the train to add the extra power & having also to re-program the PTC for the rear units.

That actually makes sense about the EOT usage, and so does the rest for that matter. Thanks for the information.

it s nothing to do with eot. it's because the engines comes from Wyoming with 3 engine and they would set out the rear dpu and hand off to csx. the when the train got to grand jct we would put the csx one on the rear and go up the hill. we had problem getting the csx and bn to talk to each other and too much time to get them to work. so the trainmaster(mto) at the time came up with the using the bn dpu and add the csx up front as a faster was to get it set up for the hill and using lest crews. it does cause more moves at the plant to get the engine where they need to be

rob

The EOT comment was in reference to Q326 & Q327 - not about the coal trains.

[GRHC]

Amtrak P370-16 is running 24 minutes behind schedule @ 20:42 according to my ex-wife who’s on board the train

[Tom49801]

Amtrak P370-16 is running 24 minutes behind schedule @ 20:42 according to my ex-wife who’s on board the train

Amtrak P370-16 @ 21:32 eastward reported by the DD mp CG91.9 with 16 axles & 305 feet long. IDTX #4630 & 3 SuperLiners.

[Tom49801]

Amtrak P370-16 @ 22:09:16 eastward Bangor’s Division St crossing cam mp CG60.93 with IDTX #4630 & 3 SuperLiners (2 passengers Off at the station mp CG60.5)

[Dan Cluley]

L302 west through East Lansing at 22:21