Train Festival 2009: Update

[trnwatcher]

Heading out this AM to catch 4449 between Michigan City and New Buffalo. Will be watching for you fellow foamers. Good luck all on your chases today!

[jukeman45]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mV_CzOXgL4

WHAT AN IDIOT

Southern Pacific 4449(GS-4) flys through Downers Grove IL. on 87/18/09. Notice how I climbed on top of an Intermodel container to get this awEsome shot and picture! NOT

[GTWFRED]

WHAT AN IDIOT

Sitting back & waiting for the next youtube item: "Idiot falls off intermodal container after getting a shot of the 4449"!

[mikekmac]

4449's GPS page is still down, gol-durn it. That's going to make things trickier. And I can't seem to get the sp4449 tweets to arrive at my phone (stupid Virgin Mobile).

[CN_Okemos]

I can tell you they left Chicago about an hour later than planned. This was their last tweet "Stopped a few miles out to meet another Amtrak train. Btw we have Amtk #37 pulling our train to Michigan City.
13 minutes ago from mobile web "

[railohio]

Per a report from MDH, 4449 is still in Michigan City waiting the arrival of the train from Chicago.

[trnwatcher]

4449 is sitting in Michigan City awaiting her consist. She was brought out here around 0330am. Consist left Chicago at approx. 0945 local time.

[mikekmac]

GPS is still hosed, but I'm getting the tweets now. Guess I'll have to depend on that when I get out to my spotting location.

Are we expecting the train to go past the diamond at Durand, and then back down the wye onto the Holly Sub in order to make the turn? (that diamond being one wye short of a cloverleaf)

[CN_Okemos]

yes... as of friday night it was still unclear which side of the depot the train would be unloading passengers from but 4449 is expected to pull past the depot, and then make a reverse on the high wye back to the holly main and pull ahead that way

[mikekmac]

Scramble all aircraft. SP4449 reported leaving Michigan City, IN at or about 1:19pm.

Michigan City is 47 rail miles from Niles, 86 miles from K'zoo, 108 miles from Battle Creek, 144 miles from Lansing, and 186 miles from Durand.

[CN_Okemos]

ive got the noaa radar up and running on my laptop and if storms hold together it looks like heavy rain will at least effect some photos from k-zoo to lansing later on

[mikekmac]

Looks like she's probably running in the rain right now. Dowagiac is reporting current conditions rain.

[trnwatcher]

1515pm SP4449 holding the siding at Dowagiac awaiting WB? Amtrak. Crew is saying 20 to 30 minute wait. They are out greasing side rods and other bearings. while they wait. No rain just heavy cloud cover.

[trnwatcher]

Last sight of SP 4449 was just west of Lawton around 4:15pm. She was running smooth and sounded great as she whistled for a few crossings near us. Had to return to GR so we didn't get a change to catch her in Kalamazoo. She's way behind schedule. Late leaving Chicago, NS pimped her west of Porter, held up at Michigan City putting the consist together, went into siding at Dowagiac for what ended up being an EB Amtrak (354 maybe?). The way it's going they wil be hard pressed to make Durand before nightfall...IMHO. Good luck to anyone whose still out chasing her.

[intocable83]

4449 just went through Morrice. I totally forgot (Thanks to the margaritas I'm sipping on). Heard the horn and knew it wasn't a normal train and was able to have a nice view from my 2nd floor apt downtown Morrice. Gotta say that was pretty sweet seeing that baby pulling an Amtrak engine.

[sd70accsxt700]

4449 is at Durand, just heard Lee talking to someone about spotting the train.

[Gov. Crappo]

was a great site pulling in to Durand Union Station!!!

Zack (somebody) should start a thread just for Trainfest pics and vids...

[GTW6401]

I am quite impressed with the speed it did!

I am quite impressed on how close you stand next to the tracks with your tripod. Take a step or two back next time.

[Dan Cluley]

Does anyone know exactly where the short excursions with the #110 are going?

[mikekmac]

Every single day this week has thunderstorms in the forecast.