CN Train Location Updates - January 2024

[bluewonderrails]

At 15:54 per ATCS, Q116 (2 CN) cleared cpPitt on the Holly sub near Durand. L508 [lined] behind it.

[Steve B]

Westbound by Trowbridge at 1630

[MtClemensRailFan]

A late running M383 through New Haven @ 16:49. CN 2985 & 2995 with 122 cars.

[Manistique]

I drove under the Holly sub bridge at Orchard Lake and Woodward (directly north of Pontiac Amtrak station) and there were 6 or 7 autoracks sitting on one of the mainlines all by their lonesome. I couldn’t tell if they were on M1 or M2. I had the green to cross Woodward so I didn’t have time to gawk. I heard a horn soon after, but it may have been the Charger that I also saw sitting on the siding at the station pointed northbound.

Very odd. Last train through was maybe 515 and no autoracks on it. Maybe 116 was working Pontiac Yard at the time and left them there while it did? I don't think it usually does and it makes no sense why there. So another mystery. I drove by there around 5 pm and didn't see anything there then.

[GrandTrunkPontiac]

I drove under the Holly sub bridge at Orchard Lake and Woodward (directly north of Pontiac Amtrak station) and there were 6 or 7 autoracks sitting on one of the mainlines all by their lonesome. I couldn’t tell if they were on M1 or M2. I had the green to cross Woodward so I didn’t have time to gawk. I heard a horn soon after, but it may have been the Charger that I also saw sitting on the siding at the station pointed northbound.

Very odd. Last train through was maybe 515 and no autoracks on it. Maybe 116 was working Pontiac Yard at the time and left them there while it did? I don't think it usually does and it makes no sense why there. So another mystery. I drove by there around 5 pm and didn't see anything there then.

I fired up Holly ATC about 15 minutes ago and saw a train clearing Chicago Wye westbound, so I hopped over to the Durand West cam and rewound to 17:55, and sure enough saw E251, which based on the earlier callouts they've been somewhere between Bloomfield and Durand for the past 5+ hours. I jumped over to the Fort St cam to compare the consists, and it was 100% the same engines and consist between Fort St and Durand cams, except in Durand they were short exactly 9 autoracks at the end of the train! So I guess something happened in Pontiac where they had to drop off those autoracks, and someone must have pulled them into the yard between when I passed through and when you were in Pontiac!

[MtClemensRailFan]

M385 through New Haven @ 18:35. CN 8896, 2507, & 5749 with 57 cars. No auto racks today.

[BNSFisLIT]

CN 3023 leading Q122 early this morning, cleared up Potterville 0425

[BNSFisLIT]

CN 3023 leading Q122 early this morning, cleared up Potterville 0425

The Jvo all clear trowbridge 0448. Met a very long westbound rack train with a pair of M-2 up front (8815/8939 iirc)

[LansingRailFan]

CN 3023 leading Q122 early this morning, cleared up Potterville 0425

The Jvo all clear trowbridge 0448. Met a very long westbound rack train with a pair of M-2 up front (8815/8939 iirc)

08:19 - EB Q122 with CN 3023 (EJ&E HU)/CN 2803 clear Capac.

A 12,500 foot Z148 is ahead of them.

[Delray]

251 by the Fort St cam at 9:21 CN x4

8873 + 8919 + 5817 GTW + 5720

Also CN 5709 solo at 10:42

[Manistique]

251 by the Fort St cam at 9:21 CN x4

8873 + 8919 + 5817 GTW + 5720

Also CN 5709 solo at 10:42

Passing MP 22.5 at 11:25 am. New record time, less than one hour to get here! The 5817 also looked like a remote control unit from the doodads on the cab hood and lights. Second one passing NB in two or three days. What do they use them for down there and why are they all going elsewhere? Very short train today.

[Delray]

251 by the Fort St cam at 9:21 CN x4

8873 + 8919 + 5817 GTW + 5720

Also CN 5709 solo at 10:42

Passing MP 22.5 at 11:25 am. New record time, less than one hour to get here! The 5817 also looked like a remote control unit from the doodads on the cab hood and lights. Second one passing NB in two or three days. What do they use them for down there and why are they all going elsewhere? Very short train today.

2 hours, you are looking at the time for the second train

[David Collins]

The 5817 also looked like a remote control unit from the doodads on the cab hood and lights. Second one passing NB in two or three days. What do they use them for down there and why are they all going elsewhere?

5831 and 5817 (on yesterday and today’s E251’s respectively) are both used in hump service down in Flat Rock. They’re probably heading to Homewood or Battle Creek for their annuals.

[Graham Halverson]

CN 507 by the Fort St cam 14:34. CN x2.
Lots of autoracks today, long train.

[Manistique]

The 5817 also looked like a remote control unit from the doodads on the cab hood and lights. Second one passing NB in two or three days. What do they use them for down there and why are they all going elsewhere?

5831 and 5817 (on yesterday and today’s E251’s respectively) are both used in hump service down in Flat Rock. They’re probably heading to Homewood or Battle Creek for their annuals.

Thanks. I thought they removed the hump from Flat Rock years ago, David. Maybe they just lowered it some? The hump was one reason DT&I bought some SD38's when they constructed it, to be hump power.

[Manistique]

Quiet day on the South Holly. Only the scheduled Amtraks so far plus 251. No 515 today (not unusual for a Sunday) and no 116 yet.

[Manistique]

An early 508 just went past MP 22.5 at 4:50 pm. Three containers on the head end and the rest mixed with just about everything ut gondolas and boxcars. Sand hoppers, grain hoppers, a lot of autoracks, coiled steel cars (covered, which reminds me, I haven't seen any coiled steel on 508 lately), tanks. Medium-long train.

[Manistique]

CN 507 by the Fort St cam 14:34. CN x2.
Lots of autoracks today, long train.

Passing MP 22.5 at 5:31 pm. He is racing to get past Pontiac Depot to beat Amtrak 355 out, it looks.

The train looks more like a 251 with some containers it is so long and full of autoracks. Is the end near for 251 I wonder?

5:45 update: Yep, Amtrak 355 just went past MP 22.5 ten minutes late, stabbed by 507 in Pontiac.

[Delray]

251? by the Fort St cam at 8:53 CN x3

Almost has as many engines as cars (6). CN 100 leading

[LansingRailFan]

Sundav - 01/28 - CN Flint Sub highlights - MP 205 unless noted

MP 204.4 cam - Charlotte
10:30 - WB M399 with CN 3196/CN 3846
11:00 - EB A492 with CN 3138/CN 3043
11:25 - EB M396 with CN 3116/CN 3328
14:05 - WB E251 with CN 8873/CN 8919/GTW 5817/CN 5720
14:20 - WB A491 with CN 3838/CN 3155
15:25 - EB M394 with CN 3302/CN 3101 and mid DPU CN ex-Citirail 3918
19:10 - EB U714 with CN 8951/CN 2551/CN 8933
19:30 - WB E271 with CN 2223/CN 8854
20:22 - EB P364
22:15 - WB M301 with CNx2
22:48 - EB L500 with solo CN

Mishawaka, IN - MP 105
Saturday
WB M397 with CN 3302/CN 3101 - 11:30 am
EB M302 with CN 2856/CN ex-Citirail 2796 and mid DPU CN 3315 (BCOL HU) - 19:40

Sunday
12:05 - EB M394 with CN 3302/CN 3101 and mid-DPU CN ex-Citirail 3916
12:55 - WB Z149 with CN 5665/CN 8935 - stacks and racks
14:20 - WB M399 with CN 3196/CN 3846
15:10 - EB U714 with CN 8957/CN 2551/CN 8933
20:45 - EB Z148 with CN 2839/CN 2865
20:50 - EB M302 with CN 3838/CN 3306 and mid-DPU CN 3303
23:05 - WB E253 with CN 8915/CN 8939