Is CN using mid-train helpers in Michigan now?
Posted: Sun Jun 13, 2021 11:58 pm
Hello everyone, long time no see!
Today, after working in my yard all day I decided to head up to the Sunrise in Memphis and get a slice of pizza and a couple of Bosco sticks for "dinner". I figured I'd head up to the CN Flint Sub to see if anything's going on while enjoying that absolutely gorgeous sunset! I hit the tracks around Goodells and saw a headlight coming from the west. As I was sitting at the crossing watching the train go by, I was thinking how long the train seemed. Right on cue, here comes CN 3044 facing backward and RUNNING, followed by a bunch more cars.
Now, due to certain circumstances going on in my personal life, I have not been able to do much railfanning in the last 8-10 years. I would catch the CN on the MTC Sub when I came down to work the MTM train or track crews, and noticed the trains are getting longer and longer, but I have never seen a HELPER on a train in SE Michigan! This one caught me completely by surprise. I found my way to the e-way and came around from the Biz Loop to Griswold, where I JUST missed the engines, as they passed behind a waiting WB with a red/white/blue BC Rail unit bracketed by a pair of CN units sitting at Tappan. Noticing how the train was slowing for the yard (but not falling for thinking they couldn't just blow right into the tunnel), I decided to turn around and head for the Amtrak station on 16th st. there in Port Huron.
As I approached the tracks, the signals went off- HA! I beat it! My goal was to count the cars, but was greeted by a WB flying out of the Tunnel instead! After it passed, I pulled into Amtrak and waited. Now, I've railfanned PH for years and I've seen trains pull up to the signals, appearing ready for a trip through the Tunnel, only to have them sit for an hour awaiting a crew change or green signal. I don't have a scanner so I gotta go with my gut... which, unlike Agent Gibbs, is usually wrong... THIS TIME, though, the high beams came on and it started moving east. I really got lucky with this one- maybe because it was so long, they didn't want it to tie up the yard (?)
Anyway, here are the stats: I'm sorry I don't have a train number, but it arrived at Tappan about 21:30 and departed Tunnel Yard about 21:50. Led by CN 3029 & CN3801, there were 133 cars before CN 3044 appeared as the mid-train helper, followed by 47 more cars. It finished passing about 21:58 with a total of (3) six-axle locomotives and 180 cars! I've seen some long trains on the Flint Sub but never that many and NEVER with a helper! Is this a normal occurrence nowadays, or did I catch a rare sight? Sorry no pics, as it was getting dark. Well, that and my flip-phone camera sucks...
Hope everyone is doing well,
Dave J
Today, after working in my yard all day I decided to head up to the Sunrise in Memphis and get a slice of pizza and a couple of Bosco sticks for "dinner". I figured I'd head up to the CN Flint Sub to see if anything's going on while enjoying that absolutely gorgeous sunset! I hit the tracks around Goodells and saw a headlight coming from the west. As I was sitting at the crossing watching the train go by, I was thinking how long the train seemed. Right on cue, here comes CN 3044 facing backward and RUNNING, followed by a bunch more cars.
Now, due to certain circumstances going on in my personal life, I have not been able to do much railfanning in the last 8-10 years. I would catch the CN on the MTC Sub when I came down to work the MTM train or track crews, and noticed the trains are getting longer and longer, but I have never seen a HELPER on a train in SE Michigan! This one caught me completely by surprise. I found my way to the e-way and came around from the Biz Loop to Griswold, where I JUST missed the engines, as they passed behind a waiting WB with a red/white/blue BC Rail unit bracketed by a pair of CN units sitting at Tappan. Noticing how the train was slowing for the yard (but not falling for thinking they couldn't just blow right into the tunnel), I decided to turn around and head for the Amtrak station on 16th st. there in Port Huron.
As I approached the tracks, the signals went off- HA! I beat it! My goal was to count the cars, but was greeted by a WB flying out of the Tunnel instead! After it passed, I pulled into Amtrak and waited. Now, I've railfanned PH for years and I've seen trains pull up to the signals, appearing ready for a trip through the Tunnel, only to have them sit for an hour awaiting a crew change or green signal. I don't have a scanner so I gotta go with my gut... which, unlike Agent Gibbs, is usually wrong... THIS TIME, though, the high beams came on and it started moving east. I really got lucky with this one- maybe because it was so long, they didn't want it to tie up the yard (?)
Anyway, here are the stats: I'm sorry I don't have a train number, but it arrived at Tappan about 21:30 and departed Tunnel Yard about 21:50. Led by CN 3029 & CN3801, there were 133 cars before CN 3044 appeared as the mid-train helper, followed by 47 more cars. It finished passing about 21:58 with a total of (3) six-axle locomotives and 180 cars! I've seen some long trains on the Flint Sub but never that many and NEVER with a helper! Is this a normal occurrence nowadays, or did I catch a rare sight? Sorry no pics, as it was getting dark. Well, that and my flip-phone camera sucks...
Hope everyone is doing well,
Dave J