Daily Uploads

[David Collins]

Third time's NOT the charm by David R. Collins, on Flickr

I was out doordashing (a sidehustle that I like to do) when all of a sudden I got a call from a friend of mine saying "if you're near Opdyke, head on over". I inquired why, and his awnser had me surprised.

Q116 had gone through two emergency stops between Durand and Pontiac. One in Durand proper and one in Waterford, both due to an airhose snapping. Then they went into emergency again just south of Pontiac, which led to their headend sitting on the Opdyke and Kensington Road railroad crossing in Bloomfield Hills, and at the worst possible time of the day.

During rush hour, this crossing sees a ton of vehicle traffic, and when things go sideways with a long northbound train battling up the hill or the crossing being blocked, it resonates for miles, especially with the I-75 north on-ramp at Square Lake being closed at the time.

Anyway, I pulled up, and setup for a few shots of the train while it was stopped (I only had my phone with me, so these are iPhone photos). I was pleasantly surprised to see that the second unit was a GE Tier 4 demonstrator locomotive. Later, L513 would pull up next to the stopped 116 with an SD40-2W leader, they had picked up 116's conductor from the parted airhoses and took him to the head end. 116 in the end made it to Flat Rock with basically none of their 12 hours left.

[GP30M4216]

The wind is howling and the snow is flying so let's enjoy some snow scenes from the winter of 2022-2023 along the CSX:

CSX Lansing East local L305 gets underway at CP-North Lansing, heading for work at industries in Fowlerville, Howell and the GLC.

Holland local Y121 goes about its day clearing the snow from the rails with three boxcars for Stow on the Fremont Branch. I got my shot all set up as the train was slowly coming down from the yard and neglected to consider where the gate would drop, but I don't mind it. A former Conrail GP38-2 leads the way.

This former Seaboard System SD40-2 leads a spongebob -3 and a long L301 around the curve at the famous 55th Street crossing as they coast down Saugatuck Hill toward the rail business of destinations of southwest Michigan.

[David Collins]

One after another by David R. Collins, on Flickr

Westbound NS intermodal train 29P is blasting off west out of Chesterton, Indiana after waiting for CSX M327 to get off the Grand Rapids Subdivision at CP 482, about a mile down the tracks from where I was standing.

To my surprise, as I zoomed in on the 29P...I saw another train, NS 23G, literally right on the 29P's markers. 23G would do the same thing the 29P before, rolling to a stop just east of the S. Calumet Rd crossing, waiting for a signal to head west.

29P and 23G would turn out be two of the six trains we saw in a whopping 60 minute window in Chesterton. Not bad.

[SD80MAC]

Rock Me Mamma Like A Wagon Wheel by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

Rolling along the undulating terrain of CSX's Plymouth Subdivision is E945, a train of 130 empty coal gons from Consumer's power plant in Essexville. Pairs of SD70MACs like #9456 and is companion were the rule on these trains for years, but they would soon be pushed aside by hundreds of new ES44ACs and SD70ACes. The last Essexville coal trains ran via the Plymouth Sub in 2014, and Consumer's shut down the coal plant at Essexville in 2023. 3/10/2007

Silver Plume by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

Georgetown Loop #40 has reached the summit of the railroad at Silver Plume and is now taking on water. Soon the little Consolidation will run around to the other end of its train and take the consist back down to Georgetown for another trip up winding little railroad. 10/19/2024

Michigan Ave by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

With it's work at Ensel yard complete, L303 heads east past the former Pere Marquette and New York Central Lansing depot at Michigan Ave (known simply as "MA" on CSX). The depot, which for many years housed Clara's restaurant, has recently been renovated and now hosts a Starbucks and Bobcat Bonnie's. Diners at Bonnie's have the option to dine in a vintage heavyweight with a trackside view, too.

The excavator to right of this vintage pair of CW44ACs is evidence of CSX's on-going project to replace all of the signals on the Plymouth Subdivision. Even the newer signals in this stretch from MA to North Lansing, installed in the early 2000s after the Conrail merger and subsequent single-tracking of this portion of the line, are not immune to progress. 11/10/2024

Berk @ Night by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

Pere Marquette #1225 poses on the former PM New Buffalo turntable at the Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso. The photo shoot was put on for members of the Pere Marquette Historical Society, the 1225 was posed in a number of different spots around their property. The engine was dressed as it would've appeared late in life on the C&O: visored headlight, flying number boards, and large font letters and numbers. The white running boards have also been repainted black, though there is some debate among PM historians as to whether any of the 1200s actually had their white trim painted over, or if they just got so dirty that they appeared black. Since so few color photos of these engines in revenue service exist, it is difficult to say.

While very similar in appearance to the rest of the AMC Berkshires, the PM 1200s posses some unique characteristics that set them apart. Most notable are the jacketed smoke box and fire box, along with the boiler tube pilot. Unlike the Nickel Plate's Berks, the PM engines were equipped with plain bearings on all axles, the PM being far too frugal for roller bearings. The PM engines also used slightly larger cylinders than their NKP cousins, allowing them to make a bit more horsepower and tractive effort. While some PM 1200s were equipped with trailing truck booster engines, none of the N1 class (of which 1225 is member of) was.

The former New Buffalo turntable was brought to SRI in the early 2000s. As built, it was 90 feet long and was actually too small to turn the 1200s, requiring temporary extensions whenever one was turned. The table was permanently lengthened when it was installed in Owosso. 7/25/2008

"Mop Twin" by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

Mid Michigan #180 trundles south through Holton with a pair of hoppers from the Co-Op in Fremont on a muggy summer afternoon. GP9s #179 and #180 were referred to as the "Mop Twins" by crews and fans alike, because the way their blue paint was weathering made them look like they were painted with a mop. Built for Cartier by GMD with factory low noses, #179 and #180 were usually seen doing the local work on the Michigan Shore (along with SW1200 #73), while their pair of GP38s handled the Cannonball to CSX in Holland. #180 would be repainted the following year into a nice red and white scheme reminiscent of the MS's Railtex era paint scheme. Unfortunately it would only run a few months in its new garb before its engine suffered freeze damage on a cold night and it was deemed too expensive to fix. It was cut up for scrap in 2009.

The line up to Fremont is mostly dormant these days, the Co-Op now being owned by a company that also owns a much newer elevator on Marquette Rail in White Cloud. Consequently, they moved all of their rail business over there, another blow to the Michigan Shore. 7/24/2007

KRR GP38M #3805 by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

Kiamichi GP38M #3805 sits outside of the Grand Rapids Eastern engine house in Grand Rapids along with Mid Michigan GP9 #24. When #24 failed, G&W sent over #3805 to replace it, but it only made a few runs before it too was sidelined with mechanical issues. G&W finally put an end to these 567-powered shenanigans and reassigned CF&E GP38-2 #3885 to the GRE, where it has remained ever since.

#3805 was originally a Texas & Pacific GP35, which the MoPac rebuilt and de-turboed in the 1970s, creating the "GP38M". #3805 would later be reassigned to neighboring Marquette Rail, who would fix it and use it for a couple of years before it would suffer a major failure. The locomotive was deemed a total loss and shipped out to be scrapped. 4/25/2015

Santa Crosses The Muskegon by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

Marquette Rail’s second annual Santa Express, featuring freshly-painted SD40-2 #3001 and caboose #3158, makes its way across the impressive bridge over the Muskegon River in Newaygo. The train stopped at several towns along the Marquette system, allowing Santa to see all of the children. In later years, I believe they also collected toys and food for Toys for Tots. 12/15/2007

Elkhart Pumpkins by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

Two sets of what were, at one time, the most numerous models on BNSF's roster, the C44-9W and the SD70MAC. Immediately following the BNSF merger, the railroad placed orders for hundreds of both models, with the SD70MACs being primarily for coal train service and the Dash 9s working everything else. An NS intermodal with a pair of the DC GEs waits for a light outside of the yard in Elkhart while a loaded coal train grinds its way past on Main #2. 11/1/2008

Welcome To Decatur by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

Kansas City-Bellevue freight 148 arrives in Decatur behind a quartet of black GEs. 7/6/2024

Wyoming Yard Circa-1950 by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

Not really, but the equipment present certainly added to the illusion. Pere Marquette #1225 and caboose #A909 are in position for the night photo session that will shortly commence for members of the Pere Marquette Historical Society. #1225 is "blacked out" (no white trim) and appears as it did nearing the end of its service life on the C&O. By 1950 it and its sisters were true C&O locomotives, but the N1s and N2s were never re-lettered due to the rules surrounding their equipment trusts. #1225 was retired by the end of 1951 and sent to the deadline in New Buffalo, C&O having fully dieselized the PM. 7/25/2008

Wyoming Yard by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

Eastern coal loads N904 are rolling down E02 track with a train of 90 Bethgons for the JH Campbell generating plant in West Olive. There's not a GE in sight as the coal train's pair of SD70MACs pass inbound Q335's pair of SD40-2s, which were tied down after cutting away from their train in E06 due to their crew being short on HOS. The tracks here are, from right to left: the NYC Transfer (since removed), Service, Main, E02, E04, E06, and E08. E02 was the perfect parking spot for these eastern coal trains waiting to head to the plant, being able to just hold a pair of engines and 90 cars. 11/3/2007

[Erroneous Monk]

Eastern coal loads N904 are rolling down E02 track with a train of 90 Bethgons for the JH Campbell generating plant in West Olive. There's not a GE in sight as the coal train's pair of SD70MACs pass inbound Q335's pair of SD40-2s, which were tied down after cutting away from their train in E06 due to their crew being short on HOS. The tracks here are, from right to left: the NYC Transfer (since removed), Service, Main, E02, E04, E06, and E08. E02 was the perfect parking spot for these eastern coal trains waiting to head to the plant, being able to just hold a pair of engines and 90 cars. 11/3/2007

Very cool
When did eastern coal stop getting shipped into Campbell?

[SD80MAC]

Eastern coal loads N904 are rolling down E02 track with a train of 90 Bethgons for the JH Campbell generating plant in West Olive. There's not a GE in sight as the coal train's pair of SD70MACs pass inbound Q335's pair of SD40-2s, which were tied down after cutting away from their train in E06 due to their crew being short on HOS. The tracks here are, from right to left: the NYC Transfer (since removed), Service, Main, E02, E04, E06, and E08. E02 was the perfect parking spot for these eastern coal trains waiting to head to the plant, being able to just hold a pair of engines and 90 cars. 11/3/2007

Very cool
When did eastern coal stop getting shipped into Campbell?

The last train was in very early 2015 IIRC.

[SD80MAC]

The First One by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

What had started as a bar conversation earlier that year eventually turned into Marquette Rail's 1st Annual Santa Express. The railroad had leased a slew of GATX GP38-2s a few months prior and the best looking one, GMTX 2635 in fresh GATX paint, had its lettering nicely modified and MQT logos added. Along with their freshly-repainted former Chessie widevision caboose, the little train spent the day touring the entirety of Marquette Rail, stopping at most of the towns along the way so the kids could see Santa. A rousing success, the train ran every year until the G&W takeover. This would be the only time the 2635 would pull the train, as in subsequent years it was powered by either SD40-2 #3001 or GP38-2 #2005. The first train is seen here arriving in Kent City. 12/16/2006

The Coolest GEs by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

Huron & Eastern's fleet of former Central Michigan GEs was one of the most eclectic fleets of pre-Dash 8 units anywhere. Rostering a pair of U23Bs, a pair of C30-7s, a B30-7, and 3 of the unique B30-7A B units, these old blub-blubs actually outnumbered the Central Michigan's EMDs at one point. Well-liked by the railroad's crews, time eventually caught up to them, with the C30-7s being the last units retired in early 2013. In happier times, the 702 is seen arriving in Durand behind both C30-7s, one of the GP38ACs, a B30-7A, and the B30-7. (5175, 5086, 8804, 4065, and 5492, for those keeping score) 10/22/2005

Q287 by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

C40-8 #7577 and SD50-2 #8530 rumble their way north on the Saginaw Sub through Carleton with 39 autoracks. In a few miles they will stop at TDSI in New Boston and drop most of the racks before finishing the remainder of their trip to Rougemere Yard. 1/18/2011

420 BLAZE IT by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

MP36 #420 shoves an in-bound commute under the former Pennsy signal bridge at CP Morgan. This area has changed considerably in the last few years, the most notable change being the closing of the last freight customer served out this way and the subsequent severing of the south-most two tracks. 4/21/2024

HZRX SDM #858 by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

Horizon Rail #858 sits in its usual spot on the Stone Co spur on Lansing's west side. This vintage EMD was built as a Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range SD18 #191. It was rebuilt by the Missabe into an SDM in the 80s and by the early 2000s had been transferred to sister US Steel railroad Bessemer & Lake Erie. Retired upon the CN takeover, the unit was sold to Larry's Truck & Electric, who later sold it to Horizon Rail. This unit recently replaced the clapped-out former Norfolk Southern B32-8 that Stone Co had previously leased for their Lansing location. 11/10/2024

All Memories Now by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

After turning their power on the wye at McGrew, CSX's E927 is now rolling south on the Saginaw Sub behind a CW60AH/CW44AH duo. Now operated by Lake State Railway, the second main has been removed through here, and the AC6000s are long gone from CSX's active roster. It seems that we are also fast approaching the day where even the YN2 paint scheme will be nothing but a memory. 12/3/2010

Trunk Geeps by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

A pair of former Missouri Pacific GP38-2s work Durand Yard off the Holly Subdivision. 35 of these Geeps were purchased from Helm Leasing in 1987 and were numbered GTW 5700-5734. They were moved to the 4900 series in the late 1990s to avoid number conflicts with CN's new SD75Is. 7/22/2006

LOUD & NASTY by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

After waiting around the corner for L301 to clear the single track, L303 is now roaring east onto the Plymouth Sub behind L&N Mullet unit #1850 and an AC4400 at Seymour. 12/26/2024

Foreigners In The Snow by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

For a brief period in early 2011, CSX did away with its pair of freights between Barr Yard and Detroit via Grand Rapids, Q326 and Q327, and tried something else. The pair of trains running between Grand Rapids and Stanley Yard in Toledo, Q334 and Q335, were extended west to the BRC's Clearing Yard in Chicago. This arrangement lead to a lot of interesting foreign power, as well as rail cars, on the trains through GR. Illustrating this on a bright and sunny winter day were BNSF C44-9W #740 and NS SD70 #2531, rolling west through Jenison with Chicago-bound Q335. This arrangement apparently was not to CSX's liking, and eventually Q334/335 would be cut back to their usual GR-Toledo routing, and Q326/327 would be reinstated between GR and Barr Yard.

BNSF #740 is notable as being the very first BNSF locomotive delivered in the "Heritage II" paint scheme. 2/12/2011

[David Collins]

Dwarfed by aloneinbigrapids, on Flickr

NS train 333 is sitting short of the dwarf signal at Control Point YD in River Rouge on the southwest side of Detroit, once the conductor gets on, the crew will take the turn off the connection track onto the Conrail Detroit line. The dwarf signal looks tiny next to the big ES44AC leading the 333, alongside 5 other units.

From a by-gone era by aloneinbigrapids, on Flickr

While on one of my several MQT chases back in 2023, I snagged this photo of Marquette Rail SD40-2 #3391’s cab roof. The 3391 still sports its Canadian style classification lights and cab mounted style bell. Unfortunately the 3391 has seen its last days of service on the MQT, and is in the process of being readied to be sent overseas to another G&W operation.

Stranded by aloneinbigrapids, on Flickr

This photo has a story, and an interesting one, for better or for worse. You be the judge.

My dad and I were stranded in Altoona after the turbos on our 6.4 powerchoke powered F450 decided to bite the dust, and as a result we had to leave our fifth wheel camper behind at the campground south of Altoona (I can’t recall the name of the town it was in).

Once we learned how screwed we were with the status of the truck (it wasn’t going anywhere for a month), we decided to book two tickets in Business class on Amtrak’s Pennsylvanian between Altoona and Pittsburgh to get a rental car. I did some foaming up on the pedestrian bridge above the station in Altoona just to kill some time, and this was one of the catches. There were still about 150 thoroughbred painted Dash 9’s around at the time, but after seeing from the air how many of them were lined up for rebuild in Altoona, I knew that I had start shooting as many of them as I could. I managed to shoot this 9400 series unit leading westbound intermodal 27G, which was retired not long after this photo was taken, and was rebuilt to a ubiquitous AC44C6M.

Anyway, back to the sh*tshow, I was all over this idea of riding the pennsylvanian, I had always wanted to ride a train around horseshoe curve, we had gone there a few days prior just to see the darn place and shoot trains.

We picked up the car, but then decided to drive back allll the way to the campground near Altoona (2 1/2 hours) in order to get our stuff from the camper, which the campground would put into storage for us after we left. It wasn’t too bad since we had a brand new (only 62 miles on the dash) Jeep Wrangler with heated and ventilated seats.

We then made the 8 hour drive home from Altoona next the day back to the D, getting back at around 4pm. If that wasn’t enough on my platter, I was up at 0430 the next morning heading down to Toledo for NTD festivities.

We still have that truck to this day, and after dealing with the new turbo install, and a DPF delete, that thing runs pretty darn well.

[~Z~]

Some new ones to contribute to this thread:

WAMX 4189 leading GDLK 303 south by ~Z ~, on Flickr
Grand Elk heads south nearing Moline MI. Train slowly made its way through Byron Center, saw we had some decent sunlight this morning, so headed down to the county line at 108th St, just west of US-131 for this shot of them rounding the corner here. 07/21/23

Red and silver by the dump by ~Z ~, on Flickr
Grand Elk heads out of Byron Center MI, passing part of the Kent County landfill, running long hood forward with WAMX 4190 and 4189 pulling south. 11/30/23

WAMX 4017 and WAMX 4190 in Moline by ~Z ~, on Flickr
Grand Elk Job 303 stops to work Nutrien Ag Solutions in Moline MI. Conductor unhooking from his train to pull clear of the switch, and reverse to pickup their empties. 2/9/24

Sunny winter day in West Michigan by ~Z ~, on Flickr
Grand Elk 303 south through Byron Center MI, crossing 104th St. WAMX 4206 leading Wisconsin Southern painted WAMX 4190 on 2/19/24.

NS Roadrailers - Fostoria by ~Z ~, on Flickr
NS 9948 leads a pack of roadrailers east through Fostoria Ohio on 9/20/14 in the morning hours. Was down with large group from railroadfan.com for the day before heading to Deshler for the evening.

GDLK 303 - Byron Center by ~Z ~, on Flickr
Grand Elk south by 104th Ave on the south side of Byron Center at 2:18pm on 3/30/23. WAMX 4189, WAMX 4125, and 31 cars.

Big Frank in Deshler by ~Z ~, on Flickr
At a RailRoadFan.com meetup in Deshler Ohio, Big Frank provided his typical comic relief, much to the annoyance of the videographers in front of him. 06/11/22

[GP30M4216]

I see Z man's nice GDLK photos and raise you this shot of job 501 southbound at Three Rivers on October 28, 2024.

You can find a few more photos and a trip report here: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=40097

----

This photo has a story, and an interesting one, for better or for worse. You be the judge.

Anyway, back to the sh*tshow, I was all over this idea of riding the pennsylvanian, I had always wanted to ride a train around horseshoe curve, we had gone there a few days prior just to see the darn place and shoot trains.

So, we heard the whole story but you neglected to mention anything about actually riding the Pennsylvanian! How was it? I've been around the curve on Amtrak but only the eastbound run, not westbound.

[SD80MAC]

MAC Blizzard by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

Grand Rapids-Detroit freight L303 creates a ground blizzard as it rolls east by milepost 146. A newly-rebuilt SD70AC leads the way. 12/21/2024

MQT Grainer by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

With class lights lit white to denote its "Extra" status, a rare Saturday Z151 rolls at Casnovia south behind a GP38-2 and a trio of SD40s with half of loaded grain train from Newaygo. Lake Effect snow adds some action to this frigid scene. 1/4/2025

Weaving Through Town by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

Delaware Lackawanna's PT98 is meandering its way through East Stroudsburg as the freight makes its way towards the Norfolk Southern interchange at Portland. The old DL&W mainline through town shifts from the old track #2 to the old track #1 alignment and then back again. 10/1/2016

Comstock Park by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

Marquette Rail's Z151 rolls down the hill into Comstock Park with 2042-3408-3345-3413 leading half of a loaded grain train and a few cars of mixed freight. Only a few miles remain until the crew will copy an EC-1 and head south onto CSX rails for interchange. The building at the right, once part of a fish hatchery, now houses a model railroad club. 1/4/2025

Over The Grand by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

With 105 cars in tow, MQT #3413 leads a quartet of EMD products across CSX's impressive bridge over the Grand River in Grand Rapids. Despite being repainted into G&W colors with Marquette logos in 2014, the lead unit worked on the Chicago, Fort Wayne & Eastern for 10 years before finally coming "home" to the MQT in mid 2024. #3413 was built as Onieda & Western #9952 in 1979. 1/4/2025

More Than Meets The Eye by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

Under the typical January-in-Michigan permacloud, S988 rolls off the final miles of the Plymouth Sub behind ES40DC #5289. The special train is carrying a new transformer for the D.C. Cook nuclear power plant near Stevensville, MI, which will be delivered the following Tuesday. 1/3/2025

WNYP RS3M #406 by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

Burbling away between switching moves in Olean was then-recently rebuilt RS3M #406. Originally built for the Delaware & Hudson in 1952, the D&H chopped its nose sometime in the 1970s. Unwanted by Guilford, the locomotive was sold to the Tioga Central in the late 1980s and was later purchased by the Livonia, Avon & Lakeville in 2014. LA&L sent the locomotive to sister property Western New York & Pennsylvania, who thoroughly rebuilt the unit at their shop in Olean. It emerged as WNYP #406, complete with LED headlights and ditch lights, remote control equipment, and a spiffy paint job. The little Alco could then usually be seen switching the yard in Olean. With WNYP's recent shift to EMD power, their once vast Alco fleet has been whittled down in recent years. #406 was sold to the Arcade & Attica RR, where it operates today as their largest locomotive. 9/30/2016

Fine Day For A Math Test by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

For what seems to be becoming a yearly tradition, CSX's W003 Geometry Train arrived in Grand Rapids the week before Christmas. #9969 was taken off the train and sent to Cumberland for servicing, while the train itself was placed in the old GR Car Shop for storage. Last week, #9969 returned to Grand Rapids on M326, and on Tuesday the locomotive was reunited with its train and went east to Detroit. Two days later, it returned west to Grand Rapids, and tested every siding on the Plymouth Sub. Nearing the end of its journey, W003 is seen rounding the sweeping curve between East Paris and 36th streets in Kentwood on a sunny (but very cold) January afternoon. 1/9/2025

Severed by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

Marquette Rail's Z151 has completed its interchange at CSX's Wyoming Yard and is now navigating the plant at Plaster Creek as the crew heads back north with 105 cars. The track in the foreground is what's left of the now-removed Maggie's Lead, and its dwarf still guards the plant. Though the east end of Maggie's had been severed for decades, in recent times it was used as a headroom track for switching moves at the east end of the yard to keep the Main and Sunnyside leads clear. It also hosted many EHBO cars as they awaited their date with the gas wrench. It was removed, along with several other lightly used tracks in Wyoming, during CSX's scrap blitz of the early 2020s. 1/4/2025

Durand Happenings by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

On a cool and cloudy June day, Huron & Eastern 701 is seen heading up the old Grand Trunk Western Bay City branch behind the usual C30-7 pair. Meanwhile, the 765 Durand yard job works with CORP GP38AC #3838. I definitely miss this colorful era of the HESR, as you never truly knew what you might see! 6/1/2012

Cummins Critter by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

Southern Indiana's repowered Alco S2M #103 shoves its short train into the CSX interchange at Jeffersonville. The SIND was a unique little shortline comprised almost entirely of former interurban trackage. They pretty much existed to switch one customer, the large Heidelberg cement plant in Speed, IN. Operations changed, and the Louisville & Indiana now serves the plant, making the SIND essentially redundant. The railroad has since shut down and its pair of Alcos are for sale, last I heard. 5/1/2019

Turner Street by Jonathon Leese, on Flickr

Z151 is about to regain home rails as the train rolls off the last few hundred feet of CSX's Grand Rapids Terminal Subdivision. At right is the north end of the Grand Elk's transload operation, built on the ROW of the old Pennsy (Grand Rapids & Indiana). The PM and PRR paralleled each other for about 5 total miles, before crossing each other a little north of here at Comstock Park. The Pennsy was last operated by the Michigan Northern, who would interchange with Conrail at the yard that once occupied this spot. 1/4/2025

[David Collins]

So, we heard the whole story but you neglected to mention anything about actually riding the Pennsylvanian! How was it? I've been around the curve on Amtrak but only the eastbound run, not westbound.

It was 4:30am and I hadn't slept when I made that post

It was great, the lighting was PERFECT for any railfans that were out when we went around curve and passed the surrounding towns (Gallitzin, Cresson, Derry, Latrobe, etc). It was also probably the last time I'm going to be able to ride behind a P42