CSX DPU?

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chapmaja
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CSX DPU?

Unread post by chapmaja »

Is CSX running monster trains requiring DPU's across Michigan? The reason I ask is that tonight, on NB US-23 I witnessed a CSX train slowly crossing the bridge over US-23. east of Brighton. As I approached I saw CSX 3211 in the middle of some cars facing EB (The train was heading WB). I could not stop or detour to see the train, but I know the locomotive had cars on both sides of it. It appeared to be a manifest freight.

The time was 5:39 pm.

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Tom49801
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Re: CSX DPU?

Unread post by Tom49801 »

chapmaja wrote:
Tue Jan 26, 2021 9:51 pm
Is CSX running monster trains requiring DPU's across Michigan? The reason I ask is that tonight, on NB US-23 I witnessed a CSX train slowly crossing the bridge over US-23. east of Brighton. As I approached I saw CSX 3211 in the middle of some cars facing EB (The train was heading WB). I could not stop or detour to see the train, but I know the locomotive had cars on both sides of it. It appeared to be a manifest freight.

The time was 5:39 pm.
You had seen D705-26 that runs westward from Detroit to Grand Rapids on Tues, Thur & Saturdays & typically has a mid or rear DPU with CSX engines #738 leading + #3211 as the DPU. D706 runs eastward from Grand Rapids to Detroit on Monday, Wed & Friday with the same CSX engines. The order of the engines do change - who is leading & who is the DPU (D706 most likely will run next with the #3211 leading + the CSX #738 as a DPU).
On the Grand Rapids sub-division, Q326 & Q327 run daily & at times with DPU & can be seen on the Bangor Michigan live rail cam.
CSX has a rule if both engines are DPU capable, they will run in DPU mode even if they have just 1 car, which we have seen happen on the Bangor cam.

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SD80MAC
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Re: CSX DPU?

Unread post by SD80MAC »

D705/D706 have had the same two engines (738 and 3211) since the first week of December. Very efficient use of power, but rather boring for railfans.
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Crow T Robot
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Re: CSX DPU?

Unread post by Crow T Robot »

What time does this run on Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday? When does the eastbound come through plymouth normally?
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Micah_D
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Re: CSX DPU?

Unread post by Micah_D »

Crow T Robot wrote:
Sun Feb 28, 2021 2:22 am
What time does this run on Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday? When does the eastbound come through plymouth normally?
There are no set times on which the trains come through. They try to run on certain days but they are often running behind.

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David Collins
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Re: CSX DPU?

Unread post by David Collins »

It honestly depends on the train, It's mainly the 705/706 rotation, but it's not rare for 508/509 since they're giants to have mid train DPU's...
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