Covered hoppers in Ashley / Shepherd Loading / Owosso

[chapmaja]

I was wondering what the story is with the covered hoppers in Ashley. It looks as if they have some derailment damage. Two have damage that appears to be on top of the cars, while the coupler / drawbar on the third looks out of whack?

No GLC power around, but the trackmobiles were loading grain cars at Star of the West in Shepherd today, about 3:30 pm or so.

In Owosso I witnessed 386 / 397 on the west side of the shops. 397 have much of body removed and prime mover clearly visible. On the other side of the property 390, 394, 398 were stored.

The west end of San Yard is packed with cars. Some cars on the east end as well.

No "active" power was visible in the yard area, so I don't know if they were running today, or power was stored inside, or blocked by cars.

[Jochs]

I took photos of the covered hoppers when I was in Ashley last month. I hadn't really looked at the photos until I read this post, and I just noticed that the tops of them look a little bent up.

[chapmaja]

I took photos of the covered hoppers when I was in Ashley last month. I hadn't really looked at the photos until I read this post, and I just noticed that the tops of them look a little bent up.
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You can't see it on your camera shot, but the coupler / drawbar box on the underside of the frame on the far end car looks partially broken off as well. Based on your post it appears these have been there a little while. Actually it looks like both ended are beat up pretty good.

[AARR]

Those look like covered hoppers that go to ZFS in Ithaca

[GP-35]

The hopper cars were involved in a derailment last summer on the Middleton branch, sun-kinks were the reason.

[chapmaja]

The hopper cars were involved in a derailment last summer on the Middleton branch, sun-kinks were the reason.

Thanks, that's what I was wondering. Surprised they are still sitting in place.

[LansingRailFan]

The hopper cars were involved in a derailment last summer on the Middleton branch, sun-kinks were the reason.

Thanks, that's what I was wondering. Surprised they are still sitting in place.

That's why there's a restriction on the amount of loads out of Middleton now.

[AARR]

I heard they limit it to 30-35 loaded cars at a time. Does that sound about right?

The hopper cars were involved in a derailment last summer on the Middleton branch, sun-kinks were the reason.

Thanks, that's what I was wondering. Surprised they are still sitting in place.

That's why there's a restriction on the amount of loads out of Middleton now.

[1TrackMind]

Lol don't fix the track, just restrict the car loads. Sounds like a Watco railroad.

[LansingRailFan]

I heard they limit it to 30-35 loaded cars at a time. Does that sound about right?

Thanks, that's what I was wondering. Surprised they are still sitting in place.

That's why there's a restriction on the amount of loads out of Middleton now.

For loads yes. Too much harmonic rocking. Those cars were on the tail end of one of those Parrish and Hamburglar corn trains. They were 104-car trains during the Spring/Summer of 2022 headed to western Canada when they had drought conditions affecting their corn yields.