CN derailment

[MP173]

It seems the CN has a little problem tonight on the South Bend sub (ex GTW line from Chicago to Michigan). The dispatcher is reporting there is a derailment on the single line between Marcellus and Schoolcraft, Michigan.

They have eastbounds stacked up from South bend to Haskels at each crossover and the dispatcher mentioned something about "rerouting".

My guess is the CN trains would proceed east on the NS at South Bend ...now the question is....what would be the routing?

Any word on the derailment? Or the re-route?

What proceedures go into affect in this kind of situation (derailment and rerouting of trains)?


ed

[MP173]

Just checked Terra Server. The ex Conrail line from Elkhart to Kalamazoo crosses the CN at Schoolcraft...however, if there is an interchange still there (photo from 1998 indicates a ROW, but couldnt make out the rails) it is in the NW quadrant, meaning the train would have to go north then back up onto the CN and then proceed east.

Not good.

ed

[Saxman]

No surprise there is a report of a derailment on the "single track" between Schoolcraft and Marcellus. This section of rail is badly in need of replacement. One of the answers given that replacemnet hasn't taken place is traffic levels. Can't afford to shut down the line because of the trains. Well, if this derailment was rail related. Guess what? The line is shut down.

As far as reroutes. There is not a connection from NS to CN at Schoolcraft. There was one in the NW quadrent. A more likely reroute from the west would be to get on the NS Chicago Line at South Bend. At Elkhart, use the line to Kalamazoo then the Michigan Line to the control point Gord in Battle Creek and on into the yard. Gord is the west end of the joint track of CN and NS through Battle Creek. The use of rerouting would be limited at best. Things to consider when rerouting trains: What is the availability of NS crews? CN crews would not be qualified over this route. Will NS be able to handle the trains if they have the crews? Cost of the reroutes is also a factor.

Saxman

[MP173]

Saxman:

I was hoping to hear from you on this.

Is this the section of line that GTW reduced from double to single track back in the 80's? If so, that sure was a great cost cutting move!

I assume the re-route would be as follows...take the NS line out of Elkhart to Kalamazoo, then turn east to Battle Creek.

Another possibility would be take the NS all the way to Butler, then turn left on the ex Wabash line to Detroit and then negotiate thru Detroit to the final routing. That would certainly be a difficult one for the Canadian trains.

Hopefully the derailment was minor, there were no injuries and things are back to normal.

Perhaps double tracking the line would be an option.

ed

[Saxman]

MP 173,

Yes this was the section that was single tracked in the 1980's! Believe it or not the controlled siding at Marcellus was an after thought. Your comment about great cost cutting move makes you a number one canidate for no promotion on the CN! Making comments about adding double main line is a sure fired way to get a fast downward trip on the up elevator.

As I mentioned in my post, reroutes would be of a limited nature. More than likely just the Intremodal trains (148-49). It is not as easy of a process to reroute as one might think. When we had the derailment at Potterville that was a Hazmat situation, the main line was closed for the better part of a week and we ran very few reroutes.

I have not yet been able to talk to my buddies that work the west end to find out what is going on. When I get info I'll pass it on.

Terry
aka Saxman

[MP173]

appreciate it Terry.

Hopefully it got cleaned up overnight. Havent really heard anything on the scanner today tho.

ed

[MP173]

Things must be cleared up as the dispatcher just chatted with EB intermodal 148 and indicated there were 10 westbounds coming.

Any word on what happened?

ed

[Saxman]

MP173,

Information I got about the derailment on ex GTW single track Schoolcraft to Marcellus. 24 cars derailed account broken rail. There were Hazmat cars derailed no evacuation. Main line was open when I got to work at 1330 hours.

Thats all for now.

Terry