CSX Train Location Updates - December 2023

[Tom49801]

ReC800-27, running down to take a look...

R597-31 @ 15:29 copied their EC1 to depart Grand Jct mp CG54 & head east to Wells Siding mp CG41.4 to add CSX engines #3201 + #3293 behind his leader. BNSF engine #8523 & 129 loaded coal cars & rear dpu BNSF Executive engine #986. This was C800-27 that had tied down there on 12/29.

[train91]

Update: 118th Ave crossing, S of Fennville, NB High Green, over 2 Red Signals.

[Tom49801]

L302-31 @ 15:40 westward departing Detroit with CSX engine #521 leading.

[train91]

Bravo, 113th Ave, NB Signal block 461 is "dark".

[train91]

Pullman, Lee Township, 109th Ave crossing, Train headlights at 2 miles to the South.

[Tom49801]

Update: 118th Ave crossing, S of Fennville, NB High Green, over 2 Red Signals.

R597-31 @ 16:03 eastward reported by the Defect Detector mp CG44.2 Pearl, Mi with 528 axles. BNSF engine #8523 & 129 loaded coal cars & rear dpu BNSF Executive engine #9826. He'll add CSX engines #3201 + #3293 behind his leader at the east end of Wells mp CG41.4 Usually takes 45 minutes to 1 hour to add the CSX power & get back on the move.

[train91]

C800-27 coming into EE Wells. High Green on East track.
Limo driver (Hallcon) waiting for them.
Notice: Only one (1) engine on the lead, a. BNSF. Did not see the trailing engine(s).
Crossing gates down, approaching and stopped south of crossing.
BNSF 8523.
Crossing gates back up. (4:07pm).
Train stopped.

[sparrow24]

16:06 - Signals are lined for L302 and L303 to meet in South Lyon. L303 will go into the siding.

[Tom49801]

C800-27 coming into EE Wells. High Green on East track.
Limo driver (Hallcon) waiting for them.
Notice: Only one (1) engine on the lead, a. BNSF. Did not see the trailing engine(s).

This train is actually R597-31 & has BNSF engine #8523 leading & rear dpu is BNSF Executive engine #9826. They usually add the CSX power behind the BNSF leader.

[train91]

So as indicated, this is R597-31. Crew disconnected BNSF from train, pulled around and has now connected to CSX Engines. Conductor still on ground.
Limo will follow up to West Olive.

Can hear air checking.

[sparrow24]

16:34 - L303 east into the South Lyon siding. CSXT 76, CSXT 5336, 20 cars.
Green Oak DD at CH39.1 said 92 axles.

16:45 - L302 west through Salem.

[train91]

4:40pm: Now at 55th Street and 133rd Ave Crossing. Sand road here.
Waiting on R597-31.
Might be interesting, as was raining steady, but now stopped; tracks are good and wet;
4:55pm: slightest raindrops. All quiet...

[sparrow24]

16:56 - L302 west through South Lyon. CSXT 521, CSXT 5287, 74 cars.
Green Oak DD at CH39.1 said 308 axles.
L302 has 28 to drop in Lansing.

17:01 - L303 east out of the South Lyon siding.

[Tom49801]

R597-31 @ 17:34 eastward Holland, Mi Depot mp CG25.3 with BNSF engine #8523 & CSX engines #3201 + #3293 & 129 loaded coal cars & rear dpu BNSF Executive engine #9826. This was C800-27 that had tied down in Grand Jct mp CG54 on 12/29. In about ½ mile he’ll diverge onto the west end of the Wye & onto the Fremont sub-division & will be picking up 4 loaded coal cars from Harlem Siding mp CGC28.8

[Tlout]

R597-31 coal drag north at Riley St. Holland 5:53 PM.

[BL2-1843]

L302 west through South Lyon at 16:56. CSXT 521, CSXT 5287, 74 cars.
Green Oak DD at CH39.1 said 308 axles.

Thanks to sparrow24, I did not have any problems with numbers tonight and can confirm them. I was ecstatic to hear what 302 had on as well as I already had my 2023 yearly sighting report added up for different locomotives seen and lacked but two units of seeing 500 CSX even this year, and I had not yet seen either of these. 526 total including lease and foreign. Not many compared to years ago, but this was the most I had seen since 2019, all seen in Howell as I have not been out of town since 2019. Have all 500 units listed numerically from lowest to highest.

In 2022 saw only 335 CSX units, 10 foreign-lease for a 345 total, and in 2021 saw only 259 CSX with 15 foreign-lease for at 274 total. For me, its a been a great year. Happy New Year everybody!!

[train91]

R597-31 went up hill to E. Saugatuck, at about 5:10pm. I was able to observe that he started to slow, when half the train was up the hill. When the Green/White BNSF trailing pusher got to the crossing, the train was down to 8-9mph.

This was on my Bucket List to observe one of these coal trains in person, charging up/working hard up the hill!

[train91]

R597-31: waiting at W. Olive CP yard. I can't tell if she is in the yard or not. The Limo seems to be sitting at the gate, but unclear if waiting on her

[Talk]

R597-31: waiting at W. Olive CP yard. I can't tell if she is in the yard or not. The Limo seems to be sitting at the gate, but unclear if waiting on her

Sitting in Harlem currently

[Tom49801]

R597-31: waiting at W. Olive CP yard. I can't tell if she is in the yard or not. The Limo seems to be sitting at the gate, but unclear if waiting on her

R597-31 @ 18:35 locked the switch into its normal position at Harlem Siding mp CGC28.8 & is currently coupling up the 4 loaded coal cars to his train he had picked up from there. He'll then proceed northward & take the Consumers Energy spur at mp CGC33.6 (which is mp CGP 0.0 on the spur) to head to the power plant (about 1.1 miles) with BNSF engine #8523 & CSX engines #3201 + #3293 & 133 loaded coal cars & rear dpu BNSF Executive engine #9826.

R597-31 @ 18:52 released his form EC1 & Switch Awareness to the Dispatcher & will be departing northward.