Trainwatching Thread

[Anonymous]

[:)][:)]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Nora

QUOTE: Originally posted by Train Guy 3

I keep seeing these ballast cars with a odd name over the last two months. The name is " HERZOG ", the letters are in white, and the cars are like maroon / rust in color. Does anyone know who or what " HERZOG" is.

I have seen a Herzog ballast train around here several times this summer and fall. I learned that (let's see if I can remember this right) they've got a computer with the whole NS system programmed into it, and by using GPS the train can drop the ballast as it goes along, all controlled by the computer and the GPS. It knows where the road crossings etc. are and will stop dropping the ballast right before the crossing and start up again just past it. It sounds pretty neat, but I haven't gotten to see it doing that yet. I usually have seen it just coming into or out of the yard.

--Nora

[:)]Me And SLIC were just thinking about that UP has A ballast train thats remote controlled I remember when it was air controlled I guess It works like gps I noticed they have solar panels on one corner of the top
so I guess that how It works[:D]

[Anonymous]

Yesturday I saw.. A whole bunch of cars in the 1950 CP rail Script font...

Looked like they escaped from the scrap yard..

[Nora]

We saw a lot of neat stuff while we were driving around today. In NS's Conway Yard we saw three UP engines, the NS exhibit car and two SD80MACs which I hardly ever see -- I saw them one other time about a month ago.

Then we drove around some more and ended up in New Castle PA near the CSX yard there. There was a burgundy and gray (I think) engine that had "Electro-Motive Division" on it, number 2000, and either a GM or EMD logo on it or both. What is this all about (I know EMD is the manufacturer but I've never seen an engine painted like this)? Does it belong to CSX? Anyone know?

--Nora

[Anonymous]

I agree with the previous comments about Blue island Crossing. While it is one of the premier hotspots in the Chicago area, you do need to worry about your safety and be cautious. If you railfan at Blue Island [and you should], go with several friends.

I also agree the area around Dolton Junction is gritty and blue collar. However the junction is right next to the police station. You should have no problems at Dolton Junction during daylight hours.

[Anonymous]

As JoeKoh stated earlier (Nov 23), CSX has been running old UP locos lately. I have seen a few along the old B&O Metropolitan sub(now CSX/MARC Brunswick line), and many days 2 or 3 have come through on seperate trains! I have also seen an old hopper still carrying the B&O logo too![:o]

[techguy57]

LaGrange- I gotta ditto what Jim said about Blue Island. It is not the kind of place you want to go alone if you can help it. If you go, go with at least a couple of people with you and just be cautious.

Maybe we can arrange for some of the Chicago folks to meet up there some time. I've been told there is a lot of train action there and at Dolton but have been warned that the Dolton neighborhood can be a little rough and I know that Blue Island can get that way too. Also if you go to Joliet, I recommend the day time as well, although it isn't as bad as it used to be.

If there isn't already, it could be fun to organize a Chicago area railfan group. It would be a great way to meet other foamers and share pictures and info and what not. Just a thought.

techguy

[Willy2]

On Sunday I saw a freight on the Union Pacific with 4 very burnt and beat up Southern Pacific and Cotton Belt engines behind the lead units. The rest of the train looked battered up too. It gave the appearance that it was heading for the junk-yard.

[JoeKoh]

I saw a ten engine train(yeah thats it) going to chicago the two engines working the yard in defiance.a csx coal drag in cario and a ns mixed freight while coming home on the nkp line.
stay safe
Joe

[Anonymous]

On 11/20 sometime after 3:00 am I was trainwatching in Moorhead, MN (across the river from Fargo, ND) on the BNSF. I was at the crossing of the old GN and NP main lines. I saw a frieght backing up going West from the yard in Dilworth about 2-3 miles away. Since it was backing up on the main line it had a caboose with two flares on the back porch. It was pretty cool seeing the caboose brightly lit up from the flares as it slowly glided by.

The train has to back up from the yard in order to clear the switch to go south on the old GN mainline. There is no interchange between the tracks going west->south, only east->south. It was very fun as I got to see the train go by backing up and then again as it proceeded down the south bound track. The Northern Lights were even out.[:)]

[eolafan]

I would suggest that a 14 year old NOT go to Blue Island Crossing, especially after dark, without an adult or two with him/her. The neighborhood is so-so during the day, and as long as you keep an eye on your surroundings you should be just fine, but I would definetly not suggest it for a kid all alone to hang around. Hope this helps. Jim

QUOTE: Originally posted by LaGrangeIll

Today on I-57 and I-80 saw a small glimpse of Chicago's Blue Island Crossing. While on the expressway I saw a CSX coal train, with a CSX AC6000CW and a UP AC4400CW. And a little further on the expressway I saw an IHB Grain Train, with two repainted Geeps.

I wish I was going there instead of my Aunt's House!

Also a big qusetion......
Is Blue Island Crossing in a safe enough neighborhood for a 14 year old to go?

[JoeKoh]

We shall see what we find today as I go to my sisters house in Dayton.We go past the gm yard csx cross ns(nkp line) at kieferville pick up the north south B&O line in ottawa. go under that line in lima and cross the I&O too(old dt&i) and follow the B&O as it cris crosses I-75.hmmm maybe mamma better drive.
stay safe
Joe

[Anonymous]

Thanksgiving day..... ex Conrail SD90's in the new CSX paint scheme.... They looked REALLY good in this livery

[Anonymous]

Today on I-57 and I-80 saw a small glimpse of Chicago's Blue Island Crossing. While on the expressway I saw a CSX coal train, with a CSX AC6000CW and a UP AC4400CW. And a little further on the expressway I saw an IHB Grain Train, with two repainted Geeps.

I wish I was going there instead of my Aunt's House!

Also a big qusetion......
Is Blue Island Crossing in a safe enough neighborhood for a 14 year old to go?

[JoeKoh]

Today
three up engines with a csx freight going west in holgate ohio.a csx&/gm demonstrater train west bound freight.a local with repainted gp38-2 and an sd 40 and an eastbound intermodal(see csx starting over)plus the usual fine folks watching trains in deshler.
stay safe
Joe and Matt

[Train Guy 3]

Yeah I'm glad i didn't have my water bottle in hand.

[JoeKoh]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Train Guy 3

Computer progamed train cars .... man i hope they didn't install microsoft.


I was on top a bridge today running and I stoped to watch a mixed frieght pass by. I waved at the train and got a very suspicious look from the train crew..... that is becoming to common these days. The odd thing was that the autoracks that were on the train were missing a bunch of side panels. Does anyone know a reason autoracks would be missing side panels. The autoracks were empty.

the auotracks could have been going to be scrapped.Csx is still in the process of sending old autoracks to omnisource here in Defiance.other places have been contracted to do the same. About the train crew there have been instances where people are throwing rocks at a train from bridges[:(!] they are makeing my taking pictures harder[:(!]
stay safe
Joe

[Train Guy 3]

Computer progamed train cars .... man i hope they didn't install microsoft.


I was on top a bridge today running and I stoped to watch a mixed frieght pass by. I waved at the train and got a very suspicious look from the train crew..... that is becoming to common these days. The odd thing was that the autoracks that were on the train were missing a bunch of side panels. Does anyone know a reason autoracks would be missing side panels. The autoracks were empty.

[Nora]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Train Guy 3

I keep seeing these ballast cars with a odd name over the last two months. The name is " HERZOG ", the letters are in white, and the cars are like maroon / rust in color. Does anyone know who or what " HERZOG" is.

I have seen a Herzog ballast train around here several times this summer and fall. I learned that (let's see if I can remember this right) they've got a computer with the whole NS system programmed into it, and by using GPS the train can drop the ballast as it goes along, all controlled by the computer and the GPS. It knows where the road crossings etc. are and will stop dropping the ballast right before the crossing and start up again just past it. It sounds pretty neat, but I haven't gotten to see it doing that yet. I usually have seen it just coming into or out of the yard.

--Nora

[JoeKoh]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tillerthekiller

Hey JoeKoh do they still run anyting on the ex-conrail line through Bryan. Do you think its as much as the Conrail Days.

Tyler Winkelman.

Tyler
even more traffic than the conrail days! email me your address I have some pics but the other roll isnt done yet[:)] This morning as I got off work down the line in Archbold ohio I saw two intermodals pass each other.ns power eastbound bnsf runthrough power westbound.throw in the switching that ns does for the local factories and you have one busy mainline!
stay safe
Joe

[ironhorseman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Train Guy 3

I keep seeing these ballast cars with a odd name over the last two months. The name is " HERZOG ", the letters are in white, and the cars are like maroon / rust in color. Does anyone know who or what " HERZOG" is.

HERZOG is a contracting corporation. http://www.herzogcompanies.com/ I used to see gondola cars from HERZOG come through here all the time, but not as often as before.

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As for the U-boat sighting of mine: I coulda swore it was but maybe I'm mistaken. It looked like it from afar, but it was just a similar looking type. These trains go by fast, sometimes obsured by trees, sometimes in the twilight. Sometimes I rub my eyes when I see something just to make sure I'm awake and not dreaming. Who knows where it came from. Usually when the Triple Crown train comes through it's unpredictable what unit(s) will be on it. Could be a Dash-9 or a GP30 or anything else in between.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And for the switcher: it was probably just power being moved from local to another, or maybe it needed repairs or something. I did see a UP switcher pulling 8-10 boxcars north out of Wichita once a couple years ago. I was on a bike ride at the time and didn't have my camera. Why does all the good stuff go by when I'm busy or don't have a camera????????!!!!!!!!!!!!

As it was explained in the video: if you see 7, 8, 9, or 10 locos on a train it's because power is being moved to where it's needed. I'lll never forget that time I saw 8 blue and yellow ATSF locomotives on the front of a train. I think they were all GP units.

[Train Guy 3]

I keep seeing these ballast cars with a odd name over the last two months. The name is " HERZOG ", the letters are in white, and the cars are like maroon / rust in color. Does anyone know who or what " HERZOG" is.

[Train Guy 3]

I saw the most graffitied hopper pass through Altavista today. I couldn't tell what the cars acttual paint was. Heck I dont even know if was a NS car or not.

[Willy2]

I haven't been trainwatching in a long time, but I'm planning on going on Saturday, so I'll see how it goes. Hopefully good.

[Anonymous]

Hey JoeKoh do they still run anyting on the ex-conrail line through Bryan. Do you think its as much as the Conrail Days.

Tyler Winkelman.

[Anonymous]

Man its cool to hear what you guys are seeing from different parts of North America!

[Anonymous]

Runthrough power from the Susie-Q in upstate New York. 2 SD-40T Tunnel Motors still in SP paint but no lettering along with a unit going back to the Roberville& Saugeney which looked like a Dash-8 of some kind. These were going on a CN runthrough.

[mudchicken]

Ironhorseman:

Sounds like the "thing" you saw was a leased Georgetown GRX "Dump Train"....one of the neatest things to see work since sliced bread.

MC

[JoeKoh]

Today while giving the csx guys a calendar and eastbound intermodal westbound intermodal and eastbound autorack train.All with mixed csx and run through power.
stay safe
Joe

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

The 6-axle switcher may be one of BNSF's hump slugs which were rebuilt from SD9's. They have a cab to help get the engineer away from the engine noise. I wouldn't venture a guess as to what it was doing on the main line.

[Anonymous]

I couldve sworn that all U-Boats have been retired.........[?]