L301-15 (former D700) @ 11:29 westward reported by the DD mp CG19.1 with 30 axles & 351 feet long & message "Axle count malfunction". CSX engine #4384 & 6(?) cars. He’s going into Waverly.
L303-17 (former D706) @ 11:29 copied his EC1 at mp CGT 2.0 to proceed eastward with CSX engines #5444 + #5313 & 64 cars (29 loads + 35 empties). He has work for Lansing.
L303-17 @ 12:29 is stopped at the east end of Fox mp CG141.8 (think he's waiting on Y106 to clear up).
@ 12:34 Slow Clear, siding to main, east end Fox.
R597-17 (former D803) @ 12:19 eastward reported by the DD mp CG44.2 with 532 axles & 7,139 feet long. BNSF #9195 & CSX engines #3138 & 127 loaded coal cars & the rear dpu BNSF #9240? This was N801-15 that had tied down yesterday in Grand Jct siding mp CG54.
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.
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.
This was actually a CSX-forced change, which BNSF does not like. CSX's thinking was that they would be able to save 30 minutes by not having to add DP power to rear of the train for the hill and save $$$ on not having to call a taxi to get the crew back to the head end. BNSF has to pull an engine off the front in Chicago on the loaded trains and add an engine to the empties when they arrive in Chicago (they run their empties 2x0). This could all be avoided if they would just hammer out an agreement to run them 3x1 or 2x2, but CSX doesn't want to pay for that.
Q326-17 @ 13:36 eastward called an Emergency a mp CG32.9 with a pull apart. NS engines #1129 + #9551 (elephant style) & 123 cars.
L303-17 (former D706) @ 13:58 eastward reported by the DD mp CH104.3 with 268 axles & 3,959 feet long. CSX engines #5444 + #5313 & 64 cars. He has work for Lansing.
Q326-17 @ 13:36 eastward called an Emergency a mp CG32.9 with a pull apart. NS engines #1129 + #9551 (elephant style) & 123 cars.
L303-17 (former D706) @ 13:58 eastward reported by the DD mp CH104.3 with 268 axles & 3,959 feet long. CSX engines #5444 + #5313 & 64 cars. He has work for Lansing.
Q326-17 @ 14:36 reported to the Dispatcher the coupler on the 30th car was replaced & was found to be over 50% rusted. They're ready to back their train to couple up with the rest of his consist.
Q326-17 @ 16:09 advised the Dispatcher they cannot make it over the Saugatuck Hill mp CG32.5 & they only have 20 minutes of on duty time left. They will need to be re-crewed. Q326-17 @ 13:36 eastward called an Emergency a mp CG32.9 with a pull apart & a knuckle had to be replaced on the 30th car. He was running at 9 mph in the 8th notch while he was on the hill when the pull apart occurred. He has NS engines #1129 + #9551 (elephant style) & 123 cars (62 loads + 61 empties) & was around 9,600 tons.
CSX Lite power south at Riley St. Holland 6:24 PM.
R597-17 (former D803) @ 18:39 westward Holland Depot mp CG25.3 with CSX engines #797 + #3138 lite power. He's headed to the east end of Wells siding mp CG41.4 to tie down.
