Yorkrail / NS weekly coal 510, 511

More updates: bi-weekly train is now in it's 5th week in a row.

03/20-22/09: 9351,9916,2773. All black.

03/27-29/09: 9217 (leader on the 510), 8896, 9335(leader on the 511). All black.

04/03-05/09: 9351 (leader on the 510), 9035, SD-60m 6781 in clean 'horsehead' paint (likely leader on the 511). All black.

Ted G

More updates;

After a break for the Easter weekend, last week did see a train. There is also one this weekend. Hmmm...

04/17-19/09: 9645 was the 510 leader, back-to-back with standard cab 2565, elephant-style with 9310. Although I did not see the 511, since 2565 and 9310 worked together, the 9310 had to lead Westbound. All black.

04/24-26/09: 9193 led the 510, elephant-style with 9684. Facing the other way is 9292, which will lead the 511 West. At this time, I'm not sure how they are paired. All black.

Ted G

CONRAIL BLUE 6772

It's been since October '08 when colorful power last worked the 510 / 511 coal trains from Shire Oaks to the Glatfelter paper mill. This weekend we are graced with a nice looking SD60M, BLUE 6772. She is working back-to-back with black 9493, while the second crew has 9704. Unfortunately, 9493 will lead the 511 Sunday AM, with 6772 second.

If you get this quickly, head out to Colonial Valley Rd by 3PM today (Saturday). 9493 and 6772 will be shoving emties out to grab the others, then bring them back up to the crossing and cut off. 6772 will be behind 9493 on this move. But then, run into town to Railroad St. by the school bus lot, where 6772 will lead the next cut to the mill.

Update:
05/01-03/09 Train again for the third week straight. Perhaps the paper economy is looking up! Black 9493, BLUE 6772, black 9704.

All for now,
Ted G

teamgunzi wrote:Train again for the third week straight. Perhaps the paper economy is looking up!

Ted, it actually has less to do with paper production at the mill and more to do with the output of Glatfelter's coal-fired co-gen plant. They currently have a contract with Met-Ed that allows Glatfelter to sell Met-Ed its excess electricity and put it on the grid. I'm not sure when the current contract runs out, but for now, while it's still in effect, there should be a steady stream of coal trains coming into Spring Grove.

Also, great pics of the 510/511 operations; it makes me miss catching it in person! Take care and keep up the great work!

First, let me thank 'ztabel46' for the kind words AND the insight on the useage of the plant's generators. Hey, make a buck any way you can!

Some notes on this week's operation: for the first time (that I've witnessed) one unit was shut down (#6702) and moved out of the way while the other two worked their duties solo. Could be trouble with the 6702, or perhaps a means of saving fuel? I don't know. Also, instead of shoving the loads through the dumper, today the crews backed their cuts all the way through then pulled forward one-by-one. Never noticed this done before either.

Update:

05/08-10/09 No train.
05/15-17/09 No train.
05/22-24/09 I'm told there was no train, although I was not around to 'not' witness it This would be in keeping with the curtailment of NS trains beginning Saturday night for the holiday weekend.
05/29-31/09 YES there is a train! The power is D9-40CW #9311, standard cab SD60 #6702, and std. cab SD70 #2530. Not sure which led the 510 inbound (9311 or 6702), but 2530 will lead the 511 Westbound as it's the only unit facing West.

Until next time,
Ted G

Sorry, no new shots have been posted lately (too busy chasing Circus Trains and the NS F-units ! )

http://s457.photobucket.com/albums/qq292/railtrip/

Not much time for the computer lately, but here's an update.

June 05-07: No train

June 12-14: Don't know - out of town and noone reported a train to me

June 19-21: TWO SD80MACs in the consist! 7203 and 7201. Don't have details of the operation, as I was returning from vacation on Sunday. One of the MACs led the inbound 510(both facing forward), and #6763 led the 511. Was able to chase this EXTREMELY RARE late-afternoon departure (3:30 PM from Spring Grove) through York up to Wago Jct., where it sat out of reach until at least 7:00PM.

Will post shots to my album soon, but as of today (Thursday) has not happened. Check back next week for sure

Ted G

http://s457.photobucket.com/albums/qq292/railtrip/

Yes there is a train again this weekend. I have no idea what the power is (and will likely remain a mystery) as I just arrived in Spring Grove after a day on "The Slopes", from Altoona (Railfest) to Cassandra. As I type (10:55 PM Saturday), I'm listening to the crews chatter as they hook up the EOTD and test the brake air. Looks like a nighttime departure.

Now it's 10:58PM and the device is armed and they appear ready to go. Heads Up York!

Operational note: at least the final cut of cars was unloaded by backing fully through the dumper, then pulling forward one by one.

Ted G

PS-With this trip over with, I'll be able to concentrate on posting 80MAC pictures from last week on my page(see link in previous posts).

This weekend there is a train. Of note is that it is not the usual set of cars. Rather than the newer, cleaner, some-still-consecutively-numbered set, this weekend's train has lots of Conrail and NS/N&W cars. There are several 5-digit N&W hoppers, and even a few with only 4-digits ! The 510 was led by standard cab SD70 #2563 / std. cab SD60 #6619 / D9-40cw #9483. The 511 will have either 6619 or 9483 leading.

UPDATE:
July 3-4-5 No Train

July 10-11-12 Don't know if train or not. Busy vending MOPAR parts at the Chryslers at Carlisle fleamarket.

July 17-18-19 Three black engines arrived Spring Grove at 6:33AM with 105 cars. 2563(std cab), 6619 (std cab), 9483.

Ted G

BLUE Conrail D8-40cw #8447 is in Spring Grove today. The 510 was led by 8370, with 8447 facing forward, then 9841 facing the rear. 9841 will lead the 511.

I'm predicting a Sunday 511 out of town, as 'shaker' problems at the mill have seriously delayed progress. The first cut of 15 cars was not finished until shortly after 10 AM : about 2 hours behind. Cars are taking about 10 minutes each as opposed to about 6-7 minutes each (times 105 cars).

Beginning at @1020, 8447 is dumping 15 coal loads, paired with 9841. Shortly after Noon, you can catch 8447 "leading" the next cut of loads in good lighting at the Railroad Ave. crossing (by the baseball field). Just prior, the pair will shove their empties at Colonial Valley Rd, then return light to RR Ave. Listen in on 160.335, 160.395, and 160.965 (two crews).

NOTE:Tall corn is limiting photo angles at Colonial Valley and other locations.

Ted G

BLUE Conrail Quality (NS)# 8329 led the 510 today.
She worked the first cut, finishing at @907AM and running light at Colonial Valley to grab the third cut from within the mill at @935.

She'll sit on the 'Flank' until the two black units are done with the 2nd cut. While she's dumping cut 3, the Catfish will shove their empties and go to RR road for their next 15 cars. This should all begin around 1130, give or take.

About two hours later, say 130-200-ish, 8329 will shove empties to CV, then run to RR rd and "lead" her cut to the mill.


UPDATE: Blue D8-49cw # 8329 (510 leader)facing West, black D9-40cw #9455 (facing West), black D9-40cw # 9___ facing East (will lead the 511). NOTE: could not see the whole number sitting on the 'flank', and, well, a black D9 doesn't warrant any heroics or effort to get up close...

Ted G

There is a train this weekend. Power is a three-pack of SD70M-2s, at 4000 HP each.

UPDATE: 2678 led the 510 into town, followed elephant-style by 2695. A very dirty 2741, facing the other way, will lead the 511 out. As of 8:30, 2678 was still working the 5th car (of 15) on the first cut. Maybe around 9:30, she'll shove empties to Colonial Valley then grab the loads already inside the mill. Not much action, really, until around Noon when the pair gets to run around town.

Ted G

Ted,
What Time did 510 arrive at the Mill? I was there early 7ish and checked out the area. I saw a string of loaded hoppers inside the mill, but no signs of any power!
Guess I'll have to try again.
Fran

Fran- the train sits in York's (NS) Windsor Yard on Friday night, then makes the short trip to Spring Grove for arrival right at 6:30 AM. Sorry you didn't see anything. Re-read the very first entry in this thread for tips on where to look. When they first arrive, it takes at least a half-hour to an hour before they get settled in and begin dumping. Unless I catch the arrival (June lighting is the best at this early hour), I am sure to go back on the trails to the lake by 8:30 (park at the soccer complex and walk back to the storage shed: the trail is just to the left). Here you can see the progress of the first cut. When they're on the 15th (final) car, the single engine will be ALMOST fully onto the WM bridge! When they pull away from the dumper to go to the flank, within minutes the second cut will back across the bridge. That's how I usually get my power update for this thread. However, if the first cut had foreign (or Blue) power, I'll run back to the car and head to Colonial Valley and wait. Then I just have to go back in to see what the other engines were. Contact me off-list the next time you plan to come out :-)

UPDATE:
August /14-16/09 No train.

August /21-23/09 Three dirty 'Catfish': 2594 (led the 510) working alone, 9474 and 9580 elephant style and both facing backward on the 510. 9580 will lead the 511 out.

Ted G

Today has three GE wide-cabs. #9620 led the inbound 510 and worked the first cut (should be done by this time, 9:30AM). Second cut has 8392 (was elephant-style with 9620) and 9298. 9298 is back-to-back with 8392 and will lead the outbound 511, as it's the only unit facing the right way.

UPDATE:
08/28-30/09 No train

09/04-06/09 Labor Day weekend, no train

09/11-13/09 D9-40CW 9620, elephant-style with D8-40CW 8392, back-to-back with D9-40CW 9298.

Ted G

This weekend's trian has 3 'catfish' on it. Of operational interest: All three units stayed together through dropping off the cuts inside the mill and out on the Flank, and then unloading of the first cut of the day. Rare to catch all three units together on the Fast Freight Lines bridge, except when they first arrive or are leaving town. After unloading the first cut, they pulled up on the Flank where the lead unit (2751) cut off, then shoved the loads from the flank back to the dumper. The 2nd and 3rd units, back-to-back, then ran around the empties and shoved out to Colonial Valley before returning to hook onto the cut just inside the mill.

Update: 09/18-20/09 No train this weekend. Seems to be falling back to an alternating week schedule. Perhaps less PPL demand for supplemental electricity due to the mild weather.

09/25-27/09 SD70M2 # 2751 led the 510, elephant style with STANDARD CAB D9-40C # 8832 (looking pretty ratty), then back-to-back with D8-40CW # 8321. 8321 will lead the 511, as it's the only unit facing the right way.

Ted G