TRRS 200: CSX Grand Rapids Subdivision -- Porter Jct to Holland with N903 скачать в хорошем качестве

TRRS 200: CSX Grand Rapids Subdivision -- Porter Jct to Holland with N903

Rarely does a whole subdivision get fanned with one train from one end nearly to the other. But, I had the awesome opportunity on the way back from Porter Junction on April 6th, 2013 It all began at Porter Junction, where the CSX Grand Rapids Sub hits the NS Chicago Line. It was nearly time to head home, when the NS West Dispatcher lined something up the Grand Rapids Sub from the second main track. Shortly thereafter, a western coal train with BNSF run-through power known as N903-06 on CSX rounded the curve near milepost 484 on the NS Chicago Line. After a medium clear at the CP 482 Home signal, the train moved to the first main track and then onto the CSX Grand Rapids Sub. After passing the CSX signal at Milepost 136.6, the train began calling signals as N903-06. Destined for the Campbell Generating Facility in West Olive Michigan, the train would run around 110 miles up the GR sub to Holland, where it would switch to the Fremont Sub for the last several miles to the plant spur. After the train cleared Porter, we stuck around for two more trains (See Episode 199) before heading north and catching up to N903. We caught them at New Buffalo, but were not in time to film. After pacing on the Red Arrow Highway, we finally got far enough ahead for the overhead shot from Lakeshore Drive in St. Joseph, Michigan, with the Hiltop Signals and Milepost 90 in view. Due to slow train speeds in St. Joseph, we were easily able to regain the lead and set up just north in Benton Harbor at the old Benton Harbor Yard. Removed in 2011/2012, the now vacant lot features only one setoff track that has not been used once. Milepost 87. After Benton Harbor, it was Coloma before we were ahead enough to catch them again. The signal lit up as the headend passed Riverside (MP 80), and a few minutes later the train roared past the Coloma Road crossing at milepost 77.5. Due to an unfavorable road network, we backtracked to I-94 to get ahead of them near Grand Junction. After setting up for a shot at the siding, where they were to hold and let Amtrak #370 pass, we heard the RN Dispatcher tell N903 they could run right through to Holland, because Amtrak's #370 was stuck in Chicago with power problems. So we ran north a few more miles to Milepost 50, the Lee Signals, and the curve known to railroaders as "Gingerbread Curve". The site of a massive 1998 wreck, the land still shows the scar. The cause was a suicidal snowplow truck driver, who drove into the path of a CP freight train. The resulting pileup closed the line for several days. But that is history, and N903 rounded the corner doing every bit of track speed. Even with the parallel road, we could not pass them before Wells at Milepost 43. There, they slowed to a stop to let D801, a pusher crew, armed with another duo of SD70MACs (BNSF 8975 & 9422) to couple to the rear of the train to assist in summiting the Saugatuck Hill. As the crews managed the coupling, we got ahead and set up in Fennville. The curve's super elevating, or "banking" allows trains to roll through much faster than if it didn't have the extra height on the western rail. About a half hour after they began the coupling, they were underway and reached Fennville, milepost 40.6. Here is where the full runby of the train is seen, with the two BNSF helper units bringing up the rear. For the finale, we went to the Amtrak Station in Holland. Located at about milepost 25, the station dates back to the steam era. Recently, the steam-era searchlight still accompanied the building, but was replaced by a set of Safetran "Darth Vader" color lights in 2012. Forty minutes after passing Fennville, and with a light rain starting to fall, the train makes her way through the city of Holland. The engineer, having seen us chasing since Porter, gives us one final salute as they take the signal. As the rain began right after the pushers cleared, we did not get another video before West Olive, their final destination about 10 miles further to the north on the Fremont Subdivision, which branches off the GR sub just north of the station. Consist (After D801 Couples on): BNSF 8903 [SD70MAC] BNSF 9906 [SD70MAC] 130 cars [Loaded Coal Gons] BNSF 8965 [SD70MAC] BNSF 9422 [SD70MAC] Location/Time (All are on CSX GR Sub on 4-6-13) Chesterton, Ind, 15th St xing, at 17:40 EDT St. Joseph, MI, Lakeshore Dr overpass, at 19:01 EDT Benton Harbor, MI, Graham St xing, at 19:15 EDT Coloma, MI, Coloma Rd xing, at 19:35 EDT Lee Twp, MI, 102 Ave xing, at 20:25 EDT Fennville, MI, Main St xing, at 20:50 EDT Holland, MI Amtrak Station, at 21:30 EDT Thanks for watching! Rate, Comment and Subscribe for more from the Thornapple River Rail Series!