A Halloween Bartlett Grain Train rolls thru the Murrayville control point

[@davidwhiting1761]

I will say, when KCS first started running these trains they started out with 4 units consistently. Within a couple of years it then went back and forth between 3-4 units. Then a couple of years back at the end of KCS and the start of CPKC they seemed to settle on 3. Just within the last couple of days I've seen more trains with 2 units powering the train. That's PSR for you. They're seeing just how little power they actually need to run these trains. And the terrain around here is pretty flat, so I can see them getting away with running the trains with only 2 units - so long as both engines are working correctly and aren't clapped out.

[@Arty0880]

@@davidwhiting1761 yeah normally they run 2 leads & 1 rdpu, but I've also noticed more 1 lead & 1 rdpu. I did hear on the radio, the other day the lead was having power issues.. he said he getting all he can get.. maxing at 28 mph..

[@davidharris2519]

so does the springfield portion get any traffic

[@Arty0880]

Once a week, if needed, LK11 goes to the elevator in Curran and to pick up and drop off cars with the Illinois Midland RR yard (by the old pillsbury plant in Springfield)

[@davidwhiting1761]

The local heads to Springfield on Wednesdays, Jacksonville on Mondays and Fridays, and somewhere in Missouri on Tuesday and Thursdays (don't recall where). I almost wish CN and CPKC could have worked out some sort of joint operation or trackage rights deal over the Springfield line seeing how little it's used as it is. Given the joint CN-UP-FXE "Falcon" service to rival CPKC's Mexico service, though, that ain't happening.

[@Arty0880]

@@davidwhiting1761 laddonia MO

[@Arty0880]

@@davidwhiting1761 i was hoping a deal could have been made with CN, as another route into Stl or to KC.. :( keep some life in that route..