TRRS 506: Chasing Grand Elk 303 to Kalamazoo

Kalamazoo, MI - 11 May 2017
Grand Elk Train No. 303, with through service from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo, has just departed GR for an evening trot down to the railroad's central yard in Kalamazoo, with four motors and 57 cars in tow.
Our first spot of them is south of town near Byron Center, where they're working a slow order in addition to an uphill climb from the Grand River Valley, along tributary Buck Creek.
Second, we're just north of the hamlet of Shelbyville, where they're again working against gravity on an uphill ascent. The online motors are giving it a good pull, with plenty of classic EMD rumble.
After a successful summit, we catch them again rolling through Martin and shortly thereafter Plainwell. From here it is all downhill to Kalamazoo, as they're now in the namesake Kalamazoo River Valley.
Upon arriving in Kalamazoo, they're got one of the more clumsy moves to complete. They start by rumbling over the Amtrak/MDOT Michigan Line, where until recently Michigan's second-to-last manned interlocking tower stood guard...just a shell now!
Just south of downtown, the conductor and who is presumably a conductor trainee mount the rear end, for the shove around the connector for Gearhart Yard, located to the east of the just-passed diamonds on the Michigan Line.
This backup move is time-consuming, and even frustrating for the people of Kalamazoo, with several major roads tied up each time the railroad works one of these shoving movements.
Consist:
- WAMX 3534 [GP35]
- WAMX 4225 [SD40M-2]
- WAMX 4209 [SD40-2]
- WAMX 4189 [SD40-2] *WSOR Paint*
- 57 cars [Mixed]
Location/Time:
- GDLK RR, Byron Center, MI, Clyde Park Ave xing, on 5-11-17 at 18:40 EDT
- Shelbyville, 10th St bridge, at 19:36
- Martin, Allegan St xing, at 19:50
- Plainwell, Bridge St xing, at 20:06
- Kalamazoo, GR&I Diamond/Willard St xing, at 20:35
- Reversing into Gearhart, onto the AMTK Michigan Line, at 20:50
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Videography Equipment:
-Primary: Sony FDR-AX53 4K Camcorder
-Edited with: Cyberlink PowerDirector 13
Copyright 2017 Thornapple River Rail Series by Alex Christmas, All Rights Reserved

[@kevinchaves2166]

🆒 catch ✌

[@brycehodges3032]

I'm a big fan of trains

[@edtrain5]

Terrific. Great sounds of great diesels. Gave my subwoofer a real workout! Thanks!!

[@MITracks]

Always enjoy Grand Elk stuff. Well done.

[@redd7963]

the old union pacific used to be houses up in Fremont. I used to see it parked there a few times

[@ThornappleRiverRailSeries]

Fremont, MI?

[@redd7963]

Thornapple River Rail Series yes

[@iusetano]

Excellent video Alex.

[@davecasler]

I love your stuff. I really, really, really wish you would narrate your videos as you have done before, because I learn much more that way. Thanks, keep it up!

[@ThornappleRiverRailSeries]

More narrated stuff on the way - I promise!

[@philliplee980]

sweet catch. these loco's sound like SD45's. awesome power & lashup.

[@ThornappleRiverRailSeries]

It's a GP35 and a trio of SD40s behind, only the first three online.

[@YardLimit]

Great video, Alex!

[@UnitedRailfan]

Fantastic Video! If you don't mind, I had a quick question. When does Grand Elk run through Kalamazoo, MI? Is 303 the only train?

[@ThornappleRiverRailSeries]

Most of GDLK's trains are based in Kalamazoo. 303 is typically a mid-afternoon Kzoo affair but it can vary.

[@trainroomgary]

😎 Cool

[@bakerboat4572]

Refreshing to hear the rumble of an SD40-2 and SD45. Especially after learning the people who started the modern-day Mineral Range Railroad had their Little Traverse Scenic Railroad be forced to liquidate by the state of Michigan.

[@redd7963]

They are always going slow through town

[@throttlebottle5906]

does the place beside the tracks gives out free ear plugs with drinks and food? :))

[@crystalchristensen7068]

throttle bottle call789022513456687777779076543321 3238634-B07-25A 567900

[@jeep2nv92]

How do you know when a train is going through? My son loves trains and we sometimes we go through Plainwell, Martin, Wayland and even Otsego and have never seen a train. When we do see one, it's sitting for hours in Plainwell.

[@ThornappleRiverRailSeries]

I had a friend update me on this one. A good place to check is the Train Location Updates section at railroadfan.com, where Grand Elk updates are usually found under the "Shortlines" thread or the current month.

[@lukebutler3299]

that crossing is bouncing badly. FIX IT!

[@ThornappleRiverRailSeries]

No need to. GDLK will cross at that speed anyways due to other factors. No need to maintain a diamond for 60 that you're only going to cross at 10. Even Amtrak only does 30 or so singe they're always arriving or departing Kzoo. Hence, the diamond isn't necessarily everybody's number one maintenance worry. The 4" superelevated curves east of town are!