CSX Train Location Updates - May 2024

[LansingRailFan]

L305 is power light to Fowlerville today. Not going to Howell.

[Tom49801]

L301-16 @ 11:17 westward reported by the Defect Detector mp CG19.1 Zeeland, Mi with 69 axles (+1 error). CSX engines #4057 + #2428 & 14 cars. He’s headed into Waverly mp CG22.8 & later he’ll head west for work at Hartford mp CG68.7 & will runaround his train at Kirk siding mp CG70.2 to head back east.

R598-16 @ 12:01 copied their EC1 to depart the power plant in West Olive, Mi mp CGP 1.0 & diverge onto the Fremont sub-div & head south to the Grand Rapids sub-div in Holland, Mi with BNSF engine #8494 & 130 empty coal cars & rear dpu BNSF engine #9061. He’ll be taking Wells Siding mp CG41.4 & tie down. Sounds like the crew will be taxied to Sawyer mp CG106.4 to pick up a loaded coal train.

L303-16 @ 12:08 Grand Rapids mark up with the RN Dispatcher with: CSX engines #887 + #3109 & 95 cars (64 loads + 31 empties) @ 8,897 tons & 5,712 feet long. He’s ready to depart & is a "Key train" (hazardous) today & has work for Lansing - final destination is Detroit.

[Tlout]

West Olive empties south at Riley St. Holland 12:29 PM.

[Tom49801]

Y121-16 @ 12:30 southward on the Hamilton Branch into Holland with CSX engine #6085 & 2 cars (empty Bulkhead Flat car + Box car).

R598-16 @ 12:45 westward Holland Depot mp CG25.3 Grand Rapids sub-div with BNSF engine #8494 & 130(?) empty coal cars & rear dpu BNSF engine #9061. He’ll be taking Wells Siding mp CG41.4 & tie down. The crew will then be taxied to Sawyer siding mp CG104.6 to pick up a loaded coal train that had tied down there last night.

L301-16 @ 12:49:40 westward W. Monroe St crossing Bangor, Mi mp CG60.72 live cam with CSX engines #4057 + #2428 & 3 Tank cars. He has work for Hartford mp CG68.7 He'll be setting those cars off & returning east as lite power.

L301-16 @ 13:27:15 eastward Bangor, Mi Division St crossing mp CG60.93 live cam with CSX engines #2428 + #4057 lite power.

[Tom49801]

L303-16 @ 13:41 eastward reported from the east end Fox siding mp CH141.8 with CSX engines #887 + #3109 & 85 cars @ 8,897 tons & 5,712 feet long. He is a “Key Train” (hazardous) today & has work for Lansing - final destination is Detroit. Car total is 10 less than what his job briefing had stated.

L301-16 @ 13:54 eastward reported by the Defect Detector mp CG44.2 Pearl, Mi with 12 axles. CSX engines #2428 + #4057 lite power. He’ll be going into Holland mp CG25.3 for some work there & then head eastward.

L303-16 @ 14:18 eastward reported by the Defect Detector mp CH126.3 Clarksville, Mi with 352 axles.

L301-16 @ 14:24 eastward Holland, Mi Depot mp CG25.3 on the Main Track & diverging onto the Pass Track.

[Tom49801]

L303-16 @ 14:57 eastward reported by the Defect Detector mp CH104.3 Mulliken, Mi with 352 axles. CSX engines #887 + #3109 & 85 cars @ 8,897 tons & 5,712 feet long. He is a “Key Train” (hazardous) today & has work for Lansing - final destination is Detroit.

E800-15 @ 15:08 Wells Siding mp CG43.3 job briefing with the RN Dispatcher: BNSF engine #8494 & 130 empty coal cars & rear dpu BNSF engine #9061 @ 2,720 tons & 7,040 feet long. He’s ready to depart & proceed westward.

L301-16 @ 15:25 eastward reported by the Defect Detector mp CG19.1 Zeeland, Mi with 80 axles. CSX engines #2428 + #4057 & 17 cars. He's headed into the Grand Rapids Terminal.

E800-15 @ 15:27 westward reported by the Defect Detector mp CG44.2 Pearl, Mi with 532 axles.

[Tom49801]

E800-15 @ 15:58:30 westward N. Center St crossing Bangor, Mi mp CG60.35 with BNSF engine #8494 & 130 empty coal cars & rear dpu BNSF engine #9061 @ 2,720 tons & 7,040 feet long.

R598-16 @ 16:32 eastward mp CG93 with BNSF engine #8469 & 130(?) loaded coal cars & rear dpu BNSF engine #5976. He’ll add CSX engines #858 + #7381 behind his leader at Grand Jct mp CG54. This coal train was tied down in Sawyer siding mp CG104.6 overnight.

[TSS]

E800-15 @ 15:58:30 westward N. Center St crossing Bangor, Mi mp CG60.35 with BNSF engine #8494 & 130 empty coal cars & rear dpu BNSF engine #9061 @ 2,720 tons & 7,040 feet long.

R598-16 @ 16:32 eastward mp CG93 with BNSF engine #8469 & 130(?) loaded coal cars & rear dpu BNSF engine #5976. He’ll add CSX engines #858 + #7381 behind his leader at Grand Jct mp CG54. This coal train was tied down in Sawyer siding mp CG104.6 overnight.

Sounds like R598 had a close call with a car that drove around barricades and got hung up on a grade crossing where the pavement had been removed for the tie work. They cleared Glenlord and the tail is blocking Maiden, so I am guessing it was Brown School Rd. They said they could not stop in time, and the locomotives went past the car with about a foot to spare.

[Tom49801]

E800-15 @ 18:00 is stopped at Kirk near mp CG72 inspecting their train for the cause of lost air pressure. He has BNSF engine #8494 & 130 empty coal cars & rear dpu BNSF engine #9061. Apparently while they were waiting for R598-16 clear by, someone had closed the angle cock on one of their coal cars. They reported the description of the individual to the dispatcher.

R598-16 @ 18:08:04 eastward Bangor’s Division St crossing mp CG60.93 live cam with BNSF engine #8469 & 130 loaded coal cars & rear dpu BNSF engine #5976. He'll take Grand Jct siding mp CG55.6 & tie down.

[GTWTD3]

Sounds like CSX has reinstated M326 and M327 back to 7 days per week.

out of curiosity why do train companies do split schedules and then go back to full time schedules?
is it because of product per train like if they don't have enough business they don't run unless they have to?

It's usually because average show that 5 trains can handle. It's a lagging indicator, so if traffic jumps the same week you reduce days of week, the decision is reversed. Companies that ship on the railroad aren't the best at telling them they are about to increase business.

[sparrow24]

18:30 - L302 west through South Lyon.
Green Oak DD at CH39.1 said 528 axles.

[BL2-1843]

L302-16 has 3286 + 3370 for power today with its 129 car train. Nearly 50 cars of rock and stone on the head end. Do not know if anyone has mentioned this because I have not been on this board most of the week, but have been having a GREAT TIME watching a large piece of on the rails machinery since Monday cutting trees and brush on both sides of the Isbell Street bridge here in Howell with a LONG ARM on it that reaches half way up the bank of the hill (at a safe distance, of course). Trees had grown so large and tall over the years but there is now a GREAT view of the right of way especially going west. Prior too, you had to stand in the center of the bridge to even see a train. Unless they are coming back it does not look like they will fully open up the "S" curve going east to the signal just east of Michigan Avenue.

[Andy24]

M326-16 @ 20:10 sitting at East Curtis on the Barr Sub at CP497. Looks like 2-3 trains are blocking M326-16 from getting onto the NS Chicago Line.

I think Amtrak P370-16 is on the NS Chicago Line before or you after M326-16

[Tom49801]

E800-15 @ 18:00 is stopped at Kirk near mp CG72 inspecting their train for the cause of lost air pressure. He has BNSF engine #8494 & 130 empty coal cars & rear dpu BNSF engine #9061. Apparently while they were waiting for R598-16 clear by, someone had closed the angle cock on one of their coal cars. They reported the description of the individual to the dispatcher.

R598-16 @ 18:08:04 eastward Bangor’s Division St crossing mp CG60.93 live cam with BNSF engine #8469 & 130 loaded coal cars & rear dpu BNSF engine #5976. He'll take Grand Jct siding mp CG55.6 & tie down.

E800-15 @ 20:14 was advised by dispatch he will have to wait at Kirk until Amtrak P370-16 passes by him. Amtrak is due to arrive the Bangor Station mp CG60.5 at 21:54

[Tom49801]

L302-16 has 3286 + 3370 for power today with its 129 car train. Nearly 50 cars of rock and stone on the head end. Do not know if anyone has mentioned this because I have not been on this board most of the week, but have been having a GREAT TIME watching a large piece of on the rails machinery since Monday cutting trees and brush on both sides of the Isbell Street bridge here in Howell with a LONG ARM on it that reaches half way up the bank of the hill (at a safe distance, of course). Trees had grown so large and tall over the years but there is now a GREAT view of the right of way especially going west. Prior too, you had to stand in the center of the bridge to even see a train. Unless they are coming back it does not look like they will fully open up the "S" curve going east to the signal just east of Michigan Avenue.

At 21:21 the Defect Detector @ mp CH79.9 Okemos, Mi reported 516 axles which works out for 2 engines & 126 cars. Could this be L302-16 & would he have set off 3 cars along his way to Lansing?

[Andy24]

M326-16 @ 22:25 eastward reported by DD 108.9 Lakeside, Mi with ???? axles. Too much static heard

Amtrak P370-16 @ 22:30 eastward reported by the Defect Detector mp CG66.2 Hartford, Mi with 20 axles. IDTX engine #4613 & 4 cars

Amtrak P370-16 @ 22:34 eastward Division St crossing Bangor, Mi mp CG60.93 IDTX engine #4613 & 4 cars (Venture Business + 2 Venture Coach + AmCafe) with 8 passengers Off at the station mp CG60.5

[MouseCop]

M326 past Bangor cam at 00:06:40 with two locomotives and 80(?) cars, including a few loaded coal hoppers.

[Tom49801]

Amtrak P371-17 @ 06:36 westward reported by the Defect Detector mp CG19.1 in Zeeland, Mi with 20 axles. IDTX engine #4613 & 4 cars.

Unknown @ 06:40 reported by the Defect Detector mp CG19.1 Zeeland, Mi with 50 axles. 1 engine & 11 cars.

[J T]

Amtrak P371-17 @ 06:36 westward reported by the Defect Detector mp CG19.1 in Zeeland, Mi with 20 axles. IDTX engine #4613 & 4 cars.

M327-17 (??) @ 06:40 westward reported by the Defect Detector mp CG19.1 Zeeland, Mi with 50 axles. CSX engine #(??) & 11 cars.

Just heard some horns in Grandville around 6:50am. Hmmm....

[Tom49801]

18:30 - L302 west through South Lyon.
Green Oak DD at CH39.1 said 528 axles.

L302-16 @ 23:10 westward reported by the Defect Detector mp CH104.3 Mulliken, Mi with 300 axles. CSX engines #3286 + #3370 & 72 cars. He had work in Lansing – final destination is Grand Rapids, Mi.