Fostoria CSX Q Trains

[ChessieForever]

Will soon be making my yearly trek over to Fostoria next month. What's the traffic like these days on CSX? Last year's train counts were the lowest I have ever seen since my first trip there in 2002. Here is my list of CSX Q Trains I sighted during my last 30 hour marathon in May of 2009. This is an accurate list as I did not miss a thing (except sleep). I would appreciate any comments / additions / deletions / corrections to my list please from you regulars who visit often and are in 'the know' so I will be better prepared when I arrive town again........

Q109
Q110
Q112
Q113
Q114
Q117
Q118
Q119
Q135
Q136
Q146
Q147
Q150
Q151
Q156
Q157
Q159
Q161
Q164
Q169
Q231
Q246
Q339
Q342
Q351
Q358
Q359
Q368
Q369
Q375
Q380
Q381
Q383
Q386
Q390
Q393
Q394
Q396
Q397
Q634
Q635
Q637

[MDH]

Welcome to the site! You may or may not have noticed that the site is having a 'meet' in Fostoria on the weekend of June 12th. The thread about the meet also has a fair amount of current info on trains through Fostoria that goes more to the question you're asking:

http://www.railroadfan.com/phpbb/viewto ... 15&t=16546

Personally I'd note that aside from the Q trains there are quite a few unit trains that add to the mix and some of those bring the more interesting power (western power on coal trains, ICE/DME or SOO/CP power on ethanol trains sometimes, etc...) Also, Q393 is the one to keep an eye out for when it comes to GE new deliveries to BNSF.

Regards,
Michael

[Y@]

Add Q389 to your list, they run with some pretty good lashups at times.

Like this: http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=323733

Or this:


Also, many of these trains are running with extra sections on a fairly regular basis. The Q388 symbol has returned, running as an extra section of Q386 when needed.

Q162 has been added.

Q242 will also return soon.

[railohio]

Q162 has replaced Q118 in the same time slot.

Q267 is an as-needed Auto-Max train to Marysville via Fostoria-Marion-Ridgeway.

[sd70accsxt700]

Q160 replaced Q112

[ChessieForever]

Thanks MDH for the nice welcome! I'd love to be in town with you guys on June 12 for your meet but I will be in Chicago that weekend so I'll have to pass on it this go round. Thanks too for all who have responded so far. I appreciate your continued input. Some quick questions though if I may. Has Q140 and Q165 been annuled? Are Q137 and Q138 still running? I've heard rumor about a Q161 and Q163 too through town. Can anyone confirm? Finally, can I still catch Q091 and Q100 early on Thursday morning?

[StupidFlee​t]

Thanks MDH for the nice welcome! I'd love to be in town with you guys on June 12 for your meet but I will be in Chicago that weekend so I'll have to pass on it this go round. Thanks too for all who have responded so far. I appreciate your continued input. Some quick questions though if I may. Has Q140 and Q165 been annuled? Are Q137 and Q138 still running? I've heard rumor about a Q161 and Q163 too through town. Can anyone confirm? Finally, can I still catch Q091 and Q100 early on Thursday morning?

Q140 and Q165 are gone.
Q137 and Q138 still run.
Q161 should still be around.
Q163 replaced Q159 and you can catch Q100 on Thursday morning and sometimes Q091.
Add Q395 to your list also.

[ConrailForever]

As Michael Mentioned, there are plenty of trains besides Q trains to add to your count. The amount of ethanol, PRB coal and even coke is on the rise. Lately CSX has been running up to two K380/381's in a 24 hour period, coke express trains. N859 and U994 have been running close to daily eastbound, loaded BNSF PRB coal, returning as E940 and U994 westbound empty respectively. There have also been other miscellaneous BNSF coal trains running regularly, including N954 which goes up to the Toledo Docks and returns as E947. There's also a recent rise in CSX-based coal trains in the area. Up to six ethanol trains per 24 hour period have been common lately, as well, including power from CITX, CP, DME, ICE, CSX, and BNSF. There should be plenty of variety and trains to keep you interested for 30 hours!

[Steel Inferno]

As Michael Mentioned, there are plenty of trains besides Q trains to add to your count. The amount of ethanol, PRB coal and even coke is on the rise. Lately CSX has been running up to two K380/381's in a 24 hour period, coke express trains. N859 and U994 have been running close to daily eastbound, loaded BNSF PRB coal, returning as E940 and U994 westbound empty respectively. There have also been other miscellaneous BNSF coal trains running regularly, including N954 which goes up to the Toledo Docks and returns as E947. There's also a recent rise in CSX-based coal trains in the area. Up to six ethanol trains per 24 hour period have been common lately, as well, including power from CITX, CP, DME, ICE, CSX, and BNSF. There should be plenty of variety and trains to keep you interested for 30 hours!

N954 goes to Consumers Energy's Karn Weadock complex in Essexville Michigan via the SBS at Flint. I think the BNSF coal train for the Toledo Docks is or was the U927. Also, the PRB coal trains to Detroit Edison via the CN at Toledo are the N820, N821 I believe.

[Y@]

The coal trains that I know of are:

V771
N859
N850
U994
T909

I'm sure this isn't the entire list.

[ChessieForever]

Glad to hear of so many ethanol trains running thru town now! Thanks too for all the coaltrain information and numbers. I am really looking forward to getting back to Fostoria next month. One final question that comes to mind though is whatever happened to Q351 and Q390? Do these pair of trains still exist west of Willard? If not, what replaced them? Thanks again! I always liked Q351 for the UP Power I could always count on seeing.

[StupidFlee​t]

Glad to hear of so many ethanol trains running thru town now! Thanks too for all the coaltrain information and numbers. I am really looking forward to getting back to Fostoria next month. One final question that comes to mind though is whatever happened to Q351 and Q390? Do these pair of trains still exist west of Willard? If not, what replaced them? Thanks again! I always liked Q351 for the UP Power I could always count on seeing.

Q351 and Q381 do not run west of Willard, but Q390 and Q380 still do.

[bnsfben]

I could be wrong (by no means CSX expert), but I believe there is also a Q200. When I was there in April, I saw a Q200 come from the west and go north. I dont know if that was a extra or anything, but I remember seeing that.

[railohio]

Maybe. For a while it was turning south in Deshler but it's back running through Fostoria of late.