Great Lakes Central Updates April 2017

Daily whereabouts of train locations along with sightings for heads ups to other railfans.
AANscaleRunner
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Great Lakes Central Updates April 2017

Unread post by AANscaleRunner »

399 and 397 leaving Cadillac for Clare at 0910 with 1 covered hopper and 7 tanks.

AANscaleRunner
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Re: Great Lakes Central Updates April 2017

Unread post by AANscaleRunner »

395 and 392 return to Cadillac at 1745 with 1 covered hopper, 9 tie loads, 2 covered hoppers, 2 tanks, 1 covered hopper and 3 tanks. First covered hopper most likely a fertilizer load from McBain.

Todd_F
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Re: Great Lakes Central Updates April 2017

Unread post by Todd_F »

AANscaleRunner wrote:399 and 397 leaving Cadillac for Clare at 0910 with 1 covered hopper and 7 tanks.
I apologize if these questions have been asked before...
Does this train operate Mon thru Fri?
How long does it take to get to Clare (this Q is most important)?
Does it have a symbol?

Again, I sincerely apologize for the annoying questions. It is my intention to film/document GLC's Clare to Owosso, and Cadilac to Clare turns. I live in St Johns so I need to have a somewhat reasonable grasp of schedules before making the drive.

Thank you for any info you can offer!
You know that little voice in your head? My wife says I lack that.

AANscaleRunner
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Re: Great Lakes Central Updates April 2017

Unread post by AANscaleRunner »

Todd_F wrote:
AANscaleRunner wrote:399 and 397 leaving Cadillac for Clare at 0910 with 1 covered hopper and 7 tanks.
I apologize if these questions have been asked before...
Does this train operate Mon thru Fri?
How long does it take to get to Clare (this Q is most important)?
Does it have a symbol?

Trains operate Monday to Friday out of Cadillac. They run north towards Traverse City or Kalkaska/Petoskey once a week, sometimes twice, depending on the loads. The previous days incoming loads usually indicates which direction they may be headed.

I'm not sure the exact time to Clare from Cadillac. They spend time switching in Mcbain most trips. I watched them switch for almost an hour one day in McBain. From observations, a round trip can be as short as 3 hours or as long as 6.

I don't know if the train has a symbol. Someone else on the board may know.

AANscaleRunner
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Re: Great Lakes Central Updates April 2017

Unread post by AANscaleRunner »

Leaving Cadillac towards McBain/Clare at 0945.


AANscaleRunner
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Re: Great Lakes Central Updates April 2017

Unread post by AANscaleRunner »

395 and 392 return to Cadillac at 1115. Another trip to McBain only this morning.

firemedic54
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Re: Great Lakes Central Updates April 2017

Unread post by firemedic54 »

Southbound going through Howell now. Caught the tail end of it so no numbers but quite a few propane cars. Also noticed the crossing signals at National Street weren't working so I called it in. Turns out they're still waiting to hear from the insurance company as to when it gets repaired. This was from that wind storm last ninth.

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AARR
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Re: Great Lakes Central Updates April 2017

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I think the gas plant gets switched at least twice a week based on outbound shipments (40-60 per month) and the number of loading dock spaces at the plant (10). But AANR is in a much better position to know than me :D .

It'll be interesting to see how often the cement terminal in Elmira gets switched. When it first opened in the early 1990's and it was receiving up to 30something cars a week it was switched three times per week. As the years went by and some of the cement was diverted to trucks rail traffic diminished service dropped to once or twice a week.
AANscaleRunner wrote:Trains operate Monday to Friday out of Cadillac. They run north towards Traverse City or Kalkaska/Petoskey once a week, sometimes twice, depending on the loads. The previous days incoming loads usually indicates which direction they may be headed.
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...

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AARR
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Re: Great Lakes Central Updates April 2017

Unread post by AARR »

Wood chip loadings at the Biewer Sawmill in McBain is supposed to range around 40ish cars per month until the new mill in Grayling opens. Previously, Biewer's wood chips were going to the paper mill in Escanaba but that mill either cut back on production or went with another supplier so now Biewer is shipping to a mill in WI IIRC.
AANscaleRunner wrote:Leaving Cadillac towards McBain/Clare at 0945.
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...

AANscaleRunner
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Re: Great Lakes Central Updates April 2017

Unread post by AANscaleRunner »

392 and 395 leaving Cadillac for Clare at 0945 with the covered hopper from McBain, 2 tanks, 2 coke hoppers and 5 tanks.

csx801
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Re: Great Lakes Central Updates April 2017

Unread post by csx801 »

Great Lakes Central North through Mount Pleasant at 11:50am

GLC 397 leading
GLC 399

3 tanks
10 hoppers (TSBY marks)
3 woodchip hoppers
2 centerbeams (empty)
13 tie loads
3 LPG tanks
1 plastics hopper
1 loaded centerbeam

36 total

csx801
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Re: Great Lakes Central Updates April 2017

Unread post by csx801 »

Great Lakes Central south through Mount Pleasant at 3:10pm

GLC 399 leading
GLC 397

1 hopper
1 tank
4 woodchip loads
1 empty centerbeam
8 plastics hoppers
8 tie gons
1 tank
2 coke empties
5 LPG tanks


31 total

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AARR
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Re: Great Lakes Central Updates April 2017

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Rosebush or Cadillac perhaps?
csx801 wrote:10 hoppers (TSBY marks)
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...

csx801
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Re: Great Lakes Central Updates April 2017

Unread post by csx801 »

AARR wrote:Rosebush or Cadillac perhaps?
csx801 wrote:10 hoppers (TSBY marks)
Im guessing Rosebush. From what I have seen, TSBY hoppers usually only go North towards Cadillac in the fall months. I could be wrong though!

AANscaleRunner
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Re: Great Lakes Central Updates April 2017

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Didn't see them return to Cadillac. Drove past Selma Yard this evening and counted 2 tanks, 3 wood chip hoppers, 2 empty centerbeams and 13 tie loads brought in. No loaded centerbeam though.

AANscaleRunner
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Re: Great Lakes Central Updates April 2017

Unread post by AANscaleRunner »

csx801 wrote:
AARR wrote:Rosebush or Cadillac perhaps?
csx801 wrote:10 hoppers (TSBY marks)
Im guessing Rosebush. From what I have seen, TSBY hoppers usually only go North towards Cadillac in the fall months. I could be wrong though!
They have also been stored on the Marion siding in the past.

TC Man
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Re: Great Lakes Central Updates April 2017

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AANscaleRunner wrote:Didn't see them return to Cadillac. Drove past Selma Yard this evening and counted 2 tanks, 3 wood chip hoppers, 2 empty centerbeams and 13 tie loads brought in. No loaded centerbeam though.
Loaded center beam by engine house?
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AANscaleRunner
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Re: Great Lakes Central Updates April 2017

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395 warming up outside engine house at 0730.

Todd_F
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Re: Great Lakes Central Updates April 2017

Unread post by Todd_F »

AANscaleRunner wrote:
Todd_F wrote:
AANscaleRunner wrote:399 and 397 leaving Cadillac for Clare at 0910 with 1 covered hopper and 7 tanks.
I apologize if these questions have been asked before...
Does this train operate Mon thru Fri?
How long does it take to get to Clare (this Q is most important)?
Does it have a symbol?

Trains operate Monday to Friday out of Cadillac. They run north towards Traverse City or Kalkaska/Petoskey once a week, sometimes twice, depending on the loads. The previous days incoming loads usually indicates which direction they may be headed.

I'm not sure the exact time to Clare from Cadillac. They spend time switching in Mcbain most trips. I watched them switch for almost an hour one day in McBain. From observations, a round trip can be as short as 3 hours or as long as 6.

I don't know if the train has a symbol. Someone else on the board may know.
Thanks so much for the info. I appreciate it!
Do ou know what their speed ristrictions are, 25? 35?
I think I'm going to Clare tomorrow around 10-11am and then chase the Owosso train back south, since the sun would be better for that run in the afternoon. If the trains aren't there when I arrive, I'll hit Cops & Donuts and the Whitehouse and wait for them to arrive. :)
You know that little voice in your head? My wife says I lack that.

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James Sofonia
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Re: Great Lakes Central Updates April 2017

Unread post by James Sofonia »

AANscaleRunner wrote:395 warming up outside engine house at 0730.
I saw 395 pulling two empty centerbeams crossing Holiday rd. at 1210. They were coming from Williamsburg headed toward the train station in TC.
MOW pickup was sitting on the side of the road watching the signals then he went into town without stopping at any of the other crossings.

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