Eastern Railroad Discussion > Downsizing CSX Saginaw Sub. Mi.

https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2013/11/13/2013-27111/notice-of-application-for-approval-of-discontinuance-or-modification-of-a-railroad-signal-system

Looking North from Bristol Rd. Burton, Mi.

Sections of Main 2 have been removed between Burton and Flint
which will include 1 set of diamonds with the CN. The main 2 signals
are dark but not turned or removed yet.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/12/13 04:58 by jukeman5391.

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Sad. I remember back in the 90's the Saginaw sub really would come alive at night (which was really frustrating because daylight traffic was sparse). How many trains per day running to Flint now?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/12/13 05:57 by PittsburghMike.

I would say about 10. 12 on a good day. Thats counting D710 going to and from Port Huron/St Clair via the CN Flint sub. And the LSRC as well.

Posted from Android



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/12/13 09:02 by GTWMISteve.

just found out csx plans on removing its signals on it line thru grand rapids as well

I drove up to London Ontario and rode the International to Flint Michigan and back a couple days before the end in 2004. In between trains in Flint I rode on a transit bus route (Rt 10, I think) that crossed both the CSX and CN at grade multiple times. The friendly driver said they got stopped by trains on both lines so much that sometimes the whole trip was missed and even part of the next. After riding I got lucky and caught a southbound CP on the CSX crossing the CN diamonds. I also got a picture of my friendly bus driver's relief driver waiting on the same train at the crossing immediately north of the diamonds.

Another before and after that the after is not as fun as the before. Thank you for the update and stirring up memory.

Jim

CSX runs Q321/Q322 between Flint and Walbridge, plus grain, stone, and coal trains (not that many), locals, and whatever auto traffic survives Ford's closing of the Wixom plant. I'd say 10-12 trains per 24 hours would be a busy day. There is not much traffic left on CSX in to Flint at all.

Propane out of Sarnia is what's keeping this line going.

Posted from iPhone

Back in the day (late 90's), there was a Q335/Q336 to/from Chicago via Grand Rapids, a Q297/Q296 hot parts train to the east coast, a Q286 general freight/auto train to Cumberland via Walbridge, and Q239 north from Walbridge to Saginaw, the Q321/Q322 to Toledo, a D735/736 road local to and from Detroit, plus grain and coal and stone. If you were willing to get up early you could drive to someplace like Holly and get some nice shots on the later running CSX and GTW trains going thru town in the morning, but both lines were almost always dead from Noon until sundown. I'll have to get those slides scanned sometime.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/12/13 11:30 by PittsburghMike.

And if that traffic gets moved over to CN's Mount Clemens sub, I could see it being short lined.

Posted from Android

Sell the line to the State of Michigan and begin Detroit-Lansing-Grand Rapids service, just as the C&O did.....

I thought the Sarnia traffic was forwarded by CN on its 383/382 these days, but there was still chemical traffic off the PH&D keeping the line afloat.

toledopatch Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I thought the Sarnia traffic was forwarded by CN
> on its 383/382 these days, but there was still
> chemical traffic off the PH&D keeping the line
> afloat.

I'm pretty sure I remember there being large natural gas liquids/propane storage facilities at Marysville on the PH&D. I'm also pretty sure you are correct and that Sarnia traffic moves to CSX @ Stanley via the CN.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/12/13 13:58 by PittsburghMike.