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CSX Trains L397/L396 Ottawa, IL-Barr Yard

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CSX Trains L397/L396 Ottawa, IL-Barr Yard
Posted by SD60MAC9500 on Monday, September 2, 2024 2:29 PM

What times do these symbols generally operate, and what is the routing between the points? I was trying to figure that out, I'm assuming these trains do reverse moves at Blue Island to and from Barr Yard?

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Posted by tree68 on Monday, September 2, 2024 4:23 PM

Found several videos on YT that may help you.  Search CSX L397 or L396.

One poster indicated an evening to night time run for the eastbound.  

The train runs on the CSX New Rock sub, former Rock Island.

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Posted by BaltACD on Monday, September 2, 2024 4:48 PM

Until the early 2000's trains 396 and 397 were two important trains on the B&O/Chessie System/CSX.  396 orignated at Flint, MI and carried JIT (just in time) auto parts that were used to keep the GM assembly plants in Baltimore and Wilmington in parts required to assemble the vehicles each plant made.  The Baltimore plant was closed in May of 2005 and the land sold to a real estate developer who demolished the plant buildings and build office and light manufacturing buildings.  The Wilmingon GM plant was closed in the same time frame.  I believe over the years the plant has changed hands a number of times and last I heard it was being used to construct the Fisker electric vehicles - I believe Fisker has filed for bankruptcy.

397 was one of the trains that returned the auto parts cars from Wilmington and Baltimore back to Michigan.  Both 396 & 397 were closely watched for their performance.

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Posted by tree68 on Monday, September 2, 2024 8:06 PM

According to the CSX symbol wiki, this pair was J745/746.

LarryWhistling
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Posted by n012944 on Wednesday, September 4, 2024 3:57 PM

The routing for the westbound is to shove out of the west end of Barr yard to west of Blue Island Junction onto the IHB.  The train will then pull east down CSX's 9 track, and onto the Metra Rock Island line.  It will run west over Metra to Joliet, and onto CSX's New Rock subdivision.   The opposite is true for the eastbound.

 

The trains are scheduled to run (yes freight trains are scheduled) to run overnight, while there is not Metra service.   The westbound will shove out of Barr at 03:00 Eastern, as it has to be onto Metra before 04:00 to make its window.  The Eastbound will depart Ottawa at midnight, and will usually be waiting to go down 9 track in Blue Island after the westbound departs.  

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Posted by SD60MAC9500 on Thursday, September 5, 2024 6:12 PM

n012944

The routing for the westbound is to shove out of the west end of Barr yard to west of Blue Island Junction onto the IHB.  The train will then pull east down CSX's 9 track, and onto the Metra Rock Island line.  It will run west over Metra to Joliet, and onto CSX's New Rock subdivision.   The opposite is true for the eastbound.

 

The trains are scheduled to run (yes freight trains are scheduled) to run overnight, while there is not Metra service.   The westbound will shove out of Barr at 03:00 Eastern, as it has to be onto Metra before 04:00 to make its window.  The Eastbound will depart Ottawa at midnight, and will usually be waiting to go down 9 track in Blue Island after the westbound departs.  

 

Thanks

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