Switchers, high hood, Conrail: Carbon Works & Downriver 4/13-14/2023
Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2023 9:29 pm
This might not have all the variety of a ConrailDetroit trip report, but I did catch a few interesting things on a tour around Downriver yards and mainlines back on April 13 and 14.
First up, CN 8860 and 8960 are on the point of a southbound empty rack train at milepost 41 on the Shoreline, Oak Street Wyandotte, 15:45. This was autorack train Q116.
Cruising north along Jefferson, I bailed off Jefferson to get a photo of the BASF EMD switcher power parked at the north end of the Wyandotte plant. I had hoped to catch the Conrail job that brings cars to and from BASF, but my timing wasn't good. 8922 is a former CR/NYC SW9 switcher wearing its original NYC road number. I believe 8959 is also an SW9 but got a new cab at some point.
Continuing the yellow switcher theme, USS 72, bell chiming, leads the way through the maze of tracks at the Ecorse finishing mills near Quality Drive at what remains open of the USS Great Lakes Works. I'm not sure exactly what parts of the mill are still open here - but I think slabs are delivered by rail from Gary for finishing. The "J" gon to the left is a nice touch.
First up, CN 8860 and 8960 are on the point of a southbound empty rack train at milepost 41 on the Shoreline, Oak Street Wyandotte, 15:45. This was autorack train Q116.
Cruising north along Jefferson, I bailed off Jefferson to get a photo of the BASF EMD switcher power parked at the north end of the Wyandotte plant. I had hoped to catch the Conrail job that brings cars to and from BASF, but my timing wasn't good. 8922 is a former CR/NYC SW9 switcher wearing its original NYC road number. I believe 8959 is also an SW9 but got a new cab at some point.
Continuing the yellow switcher theme, USS 72, bell chiming, leads the way through the maze of tracks at the Ecorse finishing mills near Quality Drive at what remains open of the USS Great Lakes Works. I'm not sure exactly what parts of the mill are still open here - but I think slabs are delivered by rail from Gary for finishing. The "J" gon to the left is a nice touch.