I have heard twice this week NS train 17R. This appears to be a new train on the Chicago - Ft. Wayne line.
Just got back from watching it. It was quite the train with 130 cars. Most of the cars seemed to come off of the CN…lots of WC covered hoppers, probably 20+ flats of lumber, JM Huber tankcars and Thiele tanks and covered hoppers.
Does anyone know what this train is? It seems very similar to the old 143 that used to run frm Chicago down to Macon, but got rerouted to old NYC line via Elkhart.
I’m not sure, but if they run a 17m which starts out of Wistem Salem N.C., that could be an extra 17m.We have run extra’s a few times here on the Poca. Division called m7m,which is an extra 17m.Than again it could be a bunch of backed up freight that needs to be cleared out of a yard for space.A Railroad is only alotted so many symbols and sometimes use weird symbols that they use on the same division,but not in that exact sub distict,and so they don’t have a same symbol for a 24hr. period.Also symbols give direction to a trains movement.Such as our UPS train east is 218,and west is 217.Maybe this might explain the odd symbol your hearing ?
It is coming out of Chicago and has quite a bit of CN type freight (both CN and WC cars).
The NS Chicago - Fort Wayne line used to have trains 143/144 which ran down to Chattanooga with this type of freight. After NS took over Conrail, that train was rerouted to the Conrail line via Elkhart and then down to Cincinnati.
I think it is a possible overflow train, bypassing Elkhart, or a new train. That is what I am hoping to find out.
BTW…217 and 218 are regulars here in Valparaiso. Both come thru about 5 to 6:30am.
What size are the trains leaving NC? The trains up here are only carrying about 50-60 trailers/containers and as far as I can tell, only a few UPS. Mostly Schneider, and other truckers.
The 218 and 217 as far as I know are the same size for the whole trip (same size that you mentioned).The 234 and 233 pickup and set off in Columbus,Ohio at Watkins Yard 's ramp.They run double stacks out of Columbus towards Bellvue,Ohio but not towards Portsmouth,Ohio.But in about three years we will when the tunnel projects are finished.
It sure looked like CN to me with those WC covered hoppers.
Do you know when it began running? Is it on any type of schedule? Has there been that much pickup in business to warrant this new train (obviously, if it is running) or is the traffic coming off of 306 and 177? Or is it a reroute of traffic off of the Elkhart line?
The tunnel projects are in WVa and Va.Most are in WVa.It’s 29 tunnels all together.It’s going to cost $150-$190 millon over three years,starting in 2006.I’ve even heard it mentioned that some of our single track tunnels may be made double track,which would be great .We sometimes wait for an hour or more waiting our turn to get thru a tunnel.I think the 217 comes out of Greensboro to Roanoke over the NS,then to Bluefield WVa.In Bluefield it runs in an Interdivisional ( I.D.) pool, all the way to Portsmouth,Ohio.It’s then run again in I.D.pool to Bellvue,then to Ft.Wayne to Chicago it’s ending terminal and the 218’s starting terminal,all on the NS.It is a very hot shot train everywhere it goes.Maybe the hottest train on the NS ?
Thanks again. I assume you are in train service, based on your “our turn” comment.
I go to Emerald Isle,NC about every other year on vacation and usually stay overnight in Princeton, WVa and am just amazed by the beauty of that area. The curved trestle over the interstate is neat. I saw a hopper train on it one time.
So, what makes 217/218 the hottest train? The UPS freight? I know it is very regular up here in NW Indiana.
When you state “interdivisional pool” (ID) does that mean that it skips a normal crew change? What are the benefits of that for the railroad? for the union? Does that mean a faster schedule ( it seems so)? How much time is lost for a crew change?
I would assume the crews get paid more for ID runs, but that is just a guess.
Yeh your exactly right on both.The regular run I’m on is out of Portsmouth Ohio to Williamson,WVa.That’s a 112 mile short pool.Then there’s the regular short pool from Williamson to Bluefield,WVa that is 102 miles.The I.D. run does over lap the stop at Williamson and runs straight on thru with no stop or crew change,and runs all freight and no coal.The I.D. pool out of Portsmouth Ohio to Bellvue,Ohio runs alot of different types of trains from the “pig trains” to coal trains that are mostly run thru trains at Bellvue.Then there is also a short pool from Portsmouth to Columbus.This pool is 100 miles and is really picking up business.Along with the tunnel projects,but on a different budget is the new “ramp” yard being built at the old Reckenbacker A.F.base outside of Columbus which when done will run to Norfolk Va.(Heartland Corridor)It’s to bring alot of new business for the NS with upwards of 20,000 new jobs to the whole terminal which will service planes and trucks also.A new “ramp” yard is planned for Prichard WVa (between Portsmouth Oh and Williamson WVa).That will most likely be built at the end of the tunnel project.And right now the 217 and 218 have increased with size with alot of new shippers other than UPS(I figure because of the fuel prices).I have seen some Famliy Dollar and Lance Snack’s trailers here lately. I have worked 15 years on the NS and the last 13 as engineer.My dad was a machinist on the CSX for 42 years.All my Granddads and Great Granddads also worked on the Railroads at different places and positions.and that’s not counting the uncles and cousins that worked for the RR’s.There’s alot of crap to put up with,but it’s about like the old Army slogan.It’s not just a job,it’s an adventure.And believe me the railroad is something new,everyday.
Thanks for all your info. Like I said earlier, that Bluefield area is incredible.
Like any job there is always “crap”, but the important thing is that you have a good employer with a plan. Imagine working a few years ago for Enron and all the razzle dazzle they did with the books.
I listen in on the scanner to NS here and the railroad runs pretty good. Other than the intermodals and manifests, we have coal trains you no doubt run…882, 883, 884, and 885, plus there seems to be a 412 and 413 showing up regularly.
Are these trains daily? It sure seems like it.
An interesting sidebar about empty hopper trains. The other day an engineer was talking to another and was asked he was running…he replied “one engine and 110 parachutes.”
Is Williamson the staging area for all the coal coming out of WVa?
I had watched enough of the Hurricane Katrina on TV tonight and needed a little distraction, so when 17R called the signal west of town, I jumped in the car (I know burning that precious gasoline) and drove down to watch it pass.
2 engines, 112 cars (50+of lumber on flats) passed thru Valpo at 10pm tonight. Like the other night, there was a lot of tank cars and WC covered hoppers. This looks like a heck of a daily train. Wonder how the traffic was moved prior to establishing the train?
Well sometimes they use Williamson to stage,but not like they used to and need to.They build alot of the West bound coal drags up east from Williamson,mostly on the Buck Main.I had a train today (850) that had two six axles and 240 loads (around 30,000 tons,12,000 feet).We call those “Hellar from Wellar”,meaning parts of the train came from Wellar yard off the Buck main.And yes we run those symbols here.The engineer calling his empties “chutes” referres to how an empty coal hopper drags the speed down on the train when it traps the air in the car.Empty trains like that are easy to handle.We run 150-200 car empty trains out of Portsmouth,sometimes with one motor.
The line is mostly level from Willaimson to Kenova,Wva.From mp.na57.0 (.0.10 incline)to about the middle of the Ohio River bridge,mp.n.568.3 (0.30),as listed in my track chart.Kenova to Portsmouth is alittle up and down ,but not bad.Before you get on the scale track at Prichard,WVa I got them up to 40mph.Going across the Ohio river bridge it would have ran about 25mph if I didn’t have to stop at mp.na57 for trains ahead.Once across the bridge it ran about 40mph again because of trains still ahead of me.200 car trains will run better than one would think.At times their easier to handle than the short ones which push you around.A 270 car train ran out earlier that day.The biggest I have seen was a 282 car with 3 old sd40-2’s! On the valley I really don’t have a grade chart,but it is somewhat steeper than on the Kenova district.That’s why a 170-180 car coal train going that way is uncommon.They do not use pushers.The old P-vine that ran from Portsmouth to Cinncy was the steepest mainline grades on the old N&W.At on time they used a radio car with pushers in the middle of the train.I was told thay worked very well.Sad ,but the P-vine was closed a couple of years ago (high cost of maintainace).