Description
Watch 70-year-old EMD SD9 #1224 put on an incredible show of classic diesel power on the Escanaba & Lake Superior Railroad (E&LS)!
After breaking down on the mainline the previous day, I drove up to Channing, Michigan to track down ELS 1224—and ended up catching a rare, once-a-year switching move just down the line in Kiernan, MI on Way Dam Lake Road.
First, the lone 1956-built SD9 attempts to pull a massive 90-car cut out of storage. When that proves to be a bit too much, the crew makes a cut and the 1224 digs in to haul nearly 70 railcars out on its own! You'll also see the conductors riding the shove back to pick up the rest of the train.
📍 Location & Track History:
This line heading west out of Kiernan used to run all the way to Amasa and Sidnaw, MI. Today, it acts as a massive storage track holding a few hundred railcars—unless the E&LS is gearing up for a special run!
🚂 Locomotive Details:
• Railroad: Escanaba & Lake Superior (E&LS)
• Unit: #1224
• Model: EMD SD9 (Built in 1956)
#Railfanning #EMDSD9 #EscanabaAndLakeSuperior #Trains #MichiganTrains #ClassicDiesel #ShortlineRailroad
00:00 - Checking the Tracks Between Sagola and Channing
02:18 - Spotting E&LS 1224 at the Channing Depot
04:30 - Heading West toward the Mansfield Crossing
06:45 - Catching the Rare Move & Gated Crossing
08:50 - SD9 Shoving Back to Tie onto the String
12:15 - Coupling Up and Testing the Track
14:35 - SD9 Working Hard on the Initial Pull
19:10 - Clearing the Crossing & Spotting the Siding Switch
23:15 - Breaking Down the Move: 70 Cars vs. 90
26:35 - SD9 Reversing & Pulling the Long Cut Out
29:25 - Passing Milepost 319.45
33:45 - The End of the Train Clears the Crossing
34:55 - Wrap-Up & Looking Ahead to the Next Move
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