NS Updates - May 2015

[ConrailDetr​oit]

171 picking up at Conrail's North Yard. Waiting for Amtrak 351 pass through Milwaukee Jct for headroom.

[ConrailDetr​oit]

B05 is working at Lawton.

[GTW]

BO5 is working Decatur at 10:00pm with three cars headed back to Niles.

[bctrainfan]

B57 was working Hinman yard Battle Creek and points west this morning.

What I assume was B33 came thru BC e/b at 0400, NS 3528 leading 9962 with 46 mixed cars.

[ChessieForever]

Must have been B33. I spotted the 3528 and 9962 sitting at the west end of Jackson Yard at 6pm last evening. Also at the yard was GP38-2 5330. Nice change to see road power sitting in Jackson again.

[bctrainfan]

I know some of this is old news, but someone who knows clarified a couple things for me, so I thought I would share:

B33 is the Jackson-Kalamazoo turn originating in Jackson in the evening, returning early morning hours. They drop cars for Elkhart at Gearhart for GDLK, pickup all the cars for Chelsea/Jackson/Battle Creek/etc and haul them to Jackson. They don't do any work in between Jackson and Kzoo. GDLK hauls everything back and forth between Elkhart and Gearhart/Kzoo. Not sure if B33 is everyday.

B34 still originates in Battle Creek during the day, BC-Jackson turn, hauls Elkhart cars to Jackson, brings BC cars to Hinman/BC. Not sure if they have work in Albion. They are M-F.

B57 is still the night local BC-Augusta turn, M-F. They switch Post, Kelloggs, Ralston's (now ConAgra I think), RockTenn Paper, and Knappen Milling in Augusta, all as needed. Still working on building project at the former Endres food product recycling facility next to RockTenn, with what seems to be credible rumors that the RockTenn spur will be rehabbed and extended for rail service to the new facility. 5/16 EDIT: Duh, forgot the ADM Sweetener Terminal that's right in Hinman Yard.

I am not familiar with the trains working in and around Jackson, maybe somebody can provide that info and if there have been any recent changes.

One early plan was to move all the crews to originate from Kalamazoo, but that proved impractical/very unpopular, and was dropped for now. I was also told that in addition to some savings on crew costs, the main reason for the changes was NS trying to reduce congestion in Toledo due mostly to increased crude oil traffic.

I'm sure GDLK likes the new business, if they can find room for everything! Apparently Gearharts pretty full!

Corrections/additions to this info are welcome!

[ConrailDetr​oit]

27Z ran to Sterling light engines last night around 10pm.

[ConrailDetr​oit]

Monday 5/11

CP T28 was by Delray at 1pm. CP 5906. They met 242?, CP 9600 and 6258.

LD07, NS 5347 was working the old Detroit Free Press Warehouse around 1:30pm.

21N, NS 7513 was by Delray at 3:45pm.

26V, NS 2539 & 2660 was by Wyandotte at 8:20pm. Empty autorack train to Eastside Conrail.

[bctrainfan]

B33 e/b thru Battle Creek with NS 9534 and 9962 with 67 mixed cars. Quite a few steel coil cars, who might they be for?

[Standard Railfan]

I know some of this is old news,....

Thank you for posting this. I like having a summary of operations for one line in one city for reference. Next time I get to K-zoo, I will have something to aid in finding trains in the area. Might I suggest posting a copy in the railfanning thread for easy access?

[ChessieForever]

Jackson Yard has six units present tonight. Road power appears to be 3452-9534-9962. Switching the west end of the yard was GP38-2 5334 while the 5268-5651 pair sat further back into the middle of the yard. Nice to see half a dozen locomotives in town.

[ConrailDetr​oit]

B70, NS 5337 lite, is at Whittaker, returning to Milan.

[ConrailDetr​oit]

CP 242 is at Preston.

[ConrailDetr​oit]

B18, NS 5330 & 7140 were switching coil cars around the east end of Wayne Yard around 8pm last night.

[Burb8145]

Sorry for the long absence-real life got in the way

31M on the #1 Detroit Line at Wyandotte, Oak Street at 1151 hours. SD70M 2632 (horsehead) was the sole unit.

[ConrailDetr​oit]

121 is at Scotten wyeing the engines. NS 3393, CSX 65, NS 5011.

[ConrailDetr​oit]

31M, NS 9028 is preparing to leave Sterling.

[bctrainfan]

Last nights B33 was e/b thru BC about 4am (on 5-22-15) with NS 3452 leading 9534 and 72 mixed cars.

B57 did their usual work and had returned from Augusta before B33 came thru.

[ConrailDetr​oit]

29J is coming up to Sterling.

[ConrailMan5]

Light power West by MP30 at 00:50 in Ypsilanti. Do not believe they tripped the crossing circut.