Went up to Deshler and Fostoria, Ohio this past Saturday and had an awesome trip. On the way up US 23 just north of Delaware, I passed under a stopped NS freight on the Sandusky line between Columbus and Bellevue. Going over the route again on the north side of Marion on US 23, there was a stopped southbound NS freight under the highway with a second southbound approaching in the distance.
Arriving at Deshler, things were quiet for about an hour, and then things got busy with a westbound intermodal meeting an eastbound mixed freight meeting at the park...
A westbound tanker train...
An eastbound tanker train that had stopped west of town...
An eastbound grain train turning south...
An eastbound mixed freight...
And an eastbound intermodal.
I then headed east to Fostoria. Going across the CSX tracks at Hoytville, I saw a westbound intermodal pulling out of the North Baltimore yard. Unfortunately, it was too far away to trigger the signals for me to wait.
Arriving at Fostoria, I saw a westbound NS mixed freight stopped east of Town Street and the signals on CSX lined for a train to head west, which turned out to be a southbound CSX intermodal turning west.
After that train cleared, the NS freight was cleared to go through, stopping eastbound and westbound CSX intermodals. What made this move unusual is that CSX trains, especially intermodals, usually get priority through town over NS.
I then headed east of Fostoria to Tiffin (just missing an eastbound on CSX lined to turn north) to pick up a pizza at AJ's Heavenly Pizza, just down the street from my old college dorm. This is the drive back to the park.
While eating dinner back at the park, an eastbound NS grain train rolled through...
And then a westbound CSX intermodal came through.
A westbound NS grain train slowly rolled past the park.
CSX then wasted no time in getting two northbound coal trains underway, one turning west and the other accelerating north.
An eastbound CSX tanker train then rolled past...
Followed by an eastbound CSX intermodal.
An eastbound NS autorack train came past.
And then a westbound NS train of gondolas slowly rolled through.
A southbound CSX mixed freight (mostly autoracks) arrived and turned east at F Tower, getting met by a westbound CSX intermodal.
Soon after, a westbound CSX mixed freight came past.
I then packed things up an headed home since I had a 2-hour drive. As I was leaving the park and starting across the tracks on Poplar Street, I saw an eastbound CSX freight approaching that was lined to turn north. Unfortunately, I was already on the crossing and didn't want to stop and try to back up with a train approaching. As I got off the crossing, the signals came on behind me. Then, on the way south on US 23 when I got to Carey, I got stopped in the line of cars at the CSX crossing as the rear of a train was just passing.
So, for me the trip was a personal record of seeing 30 trains, getting 23 on video, in one day. Needless to say, it was an enjoyable day.
Kevin
http://chatanuga.org/RailPage.html
http://chatanuga.org/WLMR.html
A trip to Deshler is almost always worth it. My first trip there I was only in the park for about 5 hours and saw 8 trains. I don't even count while I'm there any more. Fosty is good as well.
There is a cam at Deshler (via Youtube) - watched the "Tonka Toys" at work there today, and a rail train doing a "U turn" as well (out the SE transfer onto the EW main, back across the diamond, then turn south on the SW transfer).
There's also an ongoing chat there, often identifying trains coming through.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Ns slows down sometimes when they cross the diamonds so they can get another train across.They make CSX wait at Vickers(east of Toledo) and other places as well.
stay safe
Joe
Deshler Ohio-crossroads of the B&O Matt eats your fries.YUM! Clinton st viaduct undefeated against too tall trucks!!!(voted to be called the "Clinton St. can opener").
tree68There is a cam at Deshler (via Youtube)
Mid-September Deshler diamond replacement time-lapse:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbdReCdV6_A&t=583s
JoeKohNs slows down sometimes when they cross the diamonds so they can get another train across.They make CSX wait at Vickers(east of Toledo) and other places as well. stay safe Joe
With CSX having Centralized Dispatching again - payback can be he double hockey sticks for NS - and they don't know where they will be hit if they persist in not playing nice somewhere.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
BaltACD With CSX having Centralized Dispatching again - payback can be he double hockey sticks for NS - and they don't know where they will be hit if they persist in not playing nice somewhere.
NS has plans to centralize their dispatchers also, so the pissing match will continue unabated. Everyone grab an umbrella.
The same thing goes on at Rochelle...
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.