Description
A quick stop in Channing, MI to start the day! We found ELS 1221 tied down with the dead SD40s while ELS 1224 sat idling at the depot (it was unclear if it had a crew or not). A long line of blue ELS boxcars sat ready to go south, including a very sharp blue car with "E&LS" in big letters right behind the locomotive.
From there, I decided to drive 120 miles south to Howard, WI (Green Bay) to catch ELS 400 and ELS 600 coming out of the CN yard. Just as I arrived, I spotted a massive bonus: CN 1501 arriving from the north! This is a self-propelled Track Geometry Vehicle converted from a historic 1958 Budd RDC-1. Rebuilt by Canadian National into a dedicated test and evaluation unit, it inspects track conditions across Canada and the U.S. It uses laser and sensor systems (such as Rangecam) at one-foot intervals to measure gauge, superelevation, curvature, alignment, and surface wear to schedule maintenance and set safety speeds.
After the geometry car cleared the main, ELS 400 (GP38) and ELS 600 (FP7A) came out of the yard, heading to their track where they'd point north after a couple of switching moves.
Up in Stiles, WI, I ran into Tim (the new Manager of ELS). I pulled up and had a great chat with him! He told me they had 5 grain cars for Oconto Falls, but there would be 20 more ready Friday in Green Bay, meaning this train will head back south tomorrow. First, they shoved the grain cars and full boxcars back towards Oconto Falls, WI, where they spotted the cars before tying down for the night.
Then came the 100-mile ride back north. Over 220 miles driven and $60 in gas spent, but it was worth every single penny to catch a train to Oconto Falls and find out they're heading right back to Green Bay!
00:00 - Morning in Channing & heading south
03:25 - Rare CN 1501 track geometry car in Howard
04:35 - E&LS 400 & 600 departing Green Bay
09:35 - Switching lumber cars at Lineville
22:30 - Chasing northbound with Roman
28:15 - Passing through Abrams
32:20 - Heading into Stiles Junction
37:35 - Catching up with railroad GM Tim
41:25 - Backwards shove towards Oconto Falls
45:00 - Spotting grain cars at the mill
50:15 - Switching box cars at McDermott Warehousing
56:25 - Engines tied down & wrap up
01:00:10 - Checking Pembine & drive home
#ELS #EscanabaAndLakeSuperior #CN1501 #TrackGeometry #Railfanning #TrainChasing #BuddRDC #GP38 #FP7A #WisconsinRailroads
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