Shortline Train Location Updates - May 2024

[Andy24]

SB Marquette turn dropped the 2043 at Newaygo for grain loading. Tomorrow’s Z151 will have 3345-2042-3391 as power. Tied down in Sparta.

Marquette Rail Z151-06 @ 11:25 east at Godfrey mp 0.99 with BPRR #3345 leading. Engineer emphasized “G151”. They have the 90 CSX grain cars left by G090-01

[Talk]

Weed Sprayer through Grand Haven 11:31 southbound

[Plannerdad]

GRE heard in Lowell. No visual.

WB across the Grand around 11:30. 2 cars only.

[Andy24]

SB Marquette turn dropped the 2043 at Newaygo for grain loading. Tomorrow’s Z151 will have 3345-2042-3391 as power. Tied down in Sparta.

Marquette Rail Z151-06 @ 11:25 east at Godfrey mp 0.99 with MQT #3391 leading. Engineer emphasized “G151”. They have the 90 CSX grain cars left by G090-01

Marquette Rail Z151-06 @ 11:40 reported emergency at CGE 1.2 after their 76th grain car air hose was found loose, conductor is walking the entire train for any other issues

[kd_1014]

Z151 at Fuller, meeting GRE

[Chip]

CHS #3 was delivered to SMRS today. I’ll post pics when authorization is given.

[~Z~]

Grand Elk north through Byron Center at 3:28pm. WAMX 4124 and 4190 facing north with 28 cars. Foliage getting thick back there again.

[J T]

Grand Elk north through Byron Center at 3:28pm. WAMX 4124 and 4190 facing north with 28 cars. Foliage getting thick back there again.

Finally reached Hughart around 4:25. Heard them blowing for 32nd around 4:18, then I could hear the locos likely going under 28th at 4:20. Strong wind out of the east carrying the sound.

Sounds like it’s time for you to do some trimming!

[Andy24]

Grand Elk north through Byron Center at 3:28pm. WAMX 4124 and 4190 facing north with 28 cars. Foliage getting thick back there again.

Finally reached Hughart around 4:25. Heard them blowing for 32nd around 4:18, then I could hear the locos likely going under 28th at 4:20. Strong wind out of the east carrying the sound.

Sounds like it’s time for you to do some trimming!

It’s a great day to sit outside safely by the tracks and wait for a train to go by.

Are you able to let me know when you hear the Grand Elk around 28th to 44th St?

[~Z~]

GDLK - Saw a string of boxcars and tank cars near Moline about 6:30pm, so maybe they were switching on their southbound run.

[Jim_c]

GDLK - Saw a string of boxcars and tank cars near Moline about 6:30pm, so maybe they were switching on their southbound run.

That's probably the case. They didn't get to Plainwell until after 8:00. There were several, I think 8 or 9, box cars from Otsego waiting for them.

[Standard Railfan]

Grand Elk (UP) WB MP 83 1100.
Wisconsin Southern unit solo. I couldn’t see the number.
4 box 2 tanks.

[~Z~]

Grand Elk north through Byron Center at 1:26pm. WAMX 4124, 4189, and 4209 with 26 cars. Good mix of tank cars, boxcars, and covered hoppers. Hopefully they'll keep running strong, regardless of what jetlink thinks

[J T]

Grand Elk north through Byron Center at 3:28pm. WAMX 4124 and 4190 facing north with 28 cars. Foliage getting thick back there again.

Finally reached Hughart around 4:25. Heard them blowing for 32nd around 4:18, then I could hear the locos likely going under 28th at 4:20. Strong wind out of the east carrying the sound.

Sounds like it’s time for you to do some trimming!

It’s a great day to sit outside safely by the tracks and wait for a train to go by.

Are you able to let me know when you hear the Grand Elk around 28th to 44th St?

Sorry, didn't check back after I made that post. I was outside in my backyard working on a project for a couple of hours and never heard their horn for the SB run. I was listening for it though.

[~Z~]

Grand Elk south through Byron Center at 3:29pm. WAMX 4209, 4189, and 4124 with 24 cars.

[AARR]

There are a couple video's of an empty double grain unit train (180 cars) being pulled by four CSX units northbound on LSRC.

[Jim_c]

Grand Elk south through Byron Center at 3:29pm. WAMX 4209, 4189, and 4124 with 24 cars.

They were sitting just north of the M-89 crossing when I went through around 8:00PM. I'm guessing the dispatcher (or the crew) wanted to wait to be sure it was safe to proceed into Kalamazoo. When I got to the radio later, there was no EOT telemetry. so they must have headed south.

[LansingRailFan]

JAIL Z646 NB outta Mason at 10:00. RJ Corman got em back on the rails Monday and then MOW worked on the tracks rest of Monday and all day Tuesday.

For sure will have the 9 CSX coil cars empty from RSDC that they had on Monday. Unknown what else.

[GP30M4216]

GDLK Z439 CSX transfer with 19 cars returning to Elk home rails 10:35 at Godfrey/Grand Rapids, GP35 pair 3531 and 3534 leading. 6 boxcars, 2 tanks, balance covered hoppers.

[~Z~]

Grand Elk north through Byron Center at 11:59am. WAMX 4124, 4209, and 15 cars.