TRRS 546: The Misadventures of CSX Q327

HOLLAND, MICHIGAN - 02 May 2020
When the trailing unit on a sizable CSX Q327 stopped pulling on the hill out of Holland, an afternoon of shuffling began on May 2nd, 2020.
As seen in this edition of the Thornapple River Rail Series, Q327 would take the rear of the train to Wells after previously taking the head end to Saugatuck. At Wells, they meet Q326, before a recrew arrives. Then, the new crew goes back to Saugatuck to collect the head end, double it all together at Wells and then finally resume the run for Chicagoland.
Train Details and Location Information:
CSX Q327
Consist:
- CSX 5437 [ES40DC]
- CSX 594 [CW44AH]
- (1) Front Half: 69 Mixed Carloads
- (2) Back Half: 89 Mixed Carloads
Location/Time:
- (2) CSX Grand Rapids Sub, Holland, MI, 32nd St xing, on 02May2020 at 15:03 EDT
- (2) East End Saugatuck, 138th Ave xing, at 15:17
- (2) East End Wells, 122nd Ave xing, at 15:44
- (2) Wells SDG, 120th Ave xing, at 16:04 Meets Q326
- (Lite Power) Saugatuck Hill, 55th St xing, at 17:23
- (1) West End Saugatuck, 136th Ave xing, at 17:28
- (1) New Richmond, 131st Ave xing, at 18:24
- (1) West End Wells, 118th Ave xing, at 18:40
- (Whole Train) East End Grand Junction, at 19:48
- (Whole) Coloma, Paw Paw St xing, at 20:30
CSX Q326
Consist:
- CSX 3200 [ES44AH]
- 43 Loaded Stone Hoppers for Grand Rapids
- 67 Mixed Carloads
- CSX 3230 [ES44AH]
Location/Time:
- CSX Grand Rapids Sub, Fennville, MI, Wells SDG, 120th Ave xing, on 02May2020 at 16:04 EDT Meets Q327
- East Saugatuck, MI, 140th Ave xing, at 16:42
Thanks for watching! Make sure to leave a like and subscribe, for more from the Thornapple River Rail Series! Your support keeps this channel rolling - don’t forget to leave your thoughts and questions in the comments below!
Also like TRRS on Facebook! / thornappleriverproduct...
Videography Equipment:
- Primary: Sony FDR-AX53 4K Camcorder
- Aerial Platform: DJI Phantom 3 Advanced Drone
- Radio Scanner: Uniden Bearcat BC125AT
- Edited with: Cyberlink PowerDirector 16
Created by Alex Christmas. Copyright 2020, as the Thornapple River Rail Series, All Rights Reserved

[@EntertainmentWorldz]

great video bro

[@netrioter]

It's like you can see Stobe the Hobo go by

[@Backstretch1]

The death of Stobe in 2017 and the 2020 election shenanigans makes me long for the short-lived optimism 2016 gifted us.

[@Metal9040]

@@Backstretch1 lol what the hell are you on about?

[@trashrabbit69]

My god, how could CSX let their trains go at that speed on such poorly spread ballast? Thing looked ready to derail with how much those cars jumped around.

[@Henry5623]

The short answer: Common sense. The long answer: With interruptions to through traffic as well as the cost to re-tamper the ballast, it simply isn't worth it. Especially when taking into consider that that unless a near obsessive level of reoccurring maintenance is performed, no right of way will ever remain truly flat for long. Geology and physics ensures that. So until the problem becomes severe enough to consequently be deemed a safety concern, there's no justifying the cost and complexities of the work needed to fix it. Also track work near a grade crossing is notoriously time consuming and intricate, as you have multiple track circuits effecting different things all converging through a given area. Modifying the track in any meaningful way, means taking all of those circuits into consideration, and subsequently having to re-certify that every circuit is active and functioning properly. All of this translates to the all mighty dollar and reaffirms what I said about the cost to fix it would offer no operational gain. So it doesn't happen. Consider this; notice how potholes in most cities seem to never get fixed properly if at all until the road itself is completely resurfaced/rebuilt? There's a reason for that too. Hopefully that clarifies things. -Over two decades now working for UP.

[@Backstretch1]

I find myself seeking out your videos with all the BS going on in our country right now. Thanks bud.

[@Backstretch1]

Do you have a Patreon or equivalent link?

[@ThornappleRiverRailSeries]

Nope

[@Henry5623]

I think most people with a soul feel that way as well. Hence why whenever a content creator suddenly brings the all destroying leviathan that is politics/social drama onto their channel, things typically go downhill rapidly. Thankfully some, like this channel, value quality of life and avoid topics like that. It's one reason among many why I'm subscribed.

[@iusetano]

Awesome as usual Alex. Excellent video.

[@spencerwood2093]

CSX do build monster trains!

[@ChadsRailfanExperience]

I need to get up around Saugatuck in the fall for some action

[@brycehodges3032]

I can't wait to see it!

[@the_darkgameryt]

Same!

[@michaelbutler2583]

Hellow C.S.X. keep rollin"rollin"rollin... now

[@denisetindall1487]

I like train videos on KZbin 👍

[@michaelmoses8745]

2 days. Why such a tease?

[@RobertCoggins9]

I know and what a stoopid compromise

[@ThornappleRiverRailSeries]

Because I had to upload the video before going on vacation and won’t have time until then to be there for the premiere. KZbin requires creators to declare a premiere at the time of upload and immediately creates a watch page. I wish they’d wait until T- 24 hours to create the page but I don’t make the rules or write the code!

[@GMTRAINS64]

Amazing video, and what a horn!!!! Greetings! :))

[@RailsOfTheSouthProductions]

What runs on the line now days? I was up in St. Joseph last week and only saw 2 freights, both had the same power

[@tomy6917]

CSX trains Q326 (Chicago to Grand Rapids, Mi) & Q327 (Grand Rapids to Chicago) run 7 days a week at no given time schedule. Q327 usually runs in the morning & Q326 in the afternoon. Amtrak #371 is scheduled for its St Joseph Station stop at 8:09 a.m. but track work has him a bit a delayed sometimes. Amtrak #370 is scheduled for the St Joe station stop at 9:13 p.m. Both Amtrak trains are running 7 days a week now. The BNSF loaded & empty coal trains (with a CSX crew) run as needed.

[@RailsOfTheSouthProductions]

Tom Y dang, not much remains on the line then :( I remember when CP freights ran thru on it

[@DavidKott]

Tom Y any idea what one runs through south Lyon ,novi and Wixom

[@tomy6917]

@@DavidKott Hi David, I'm not sure what runs there but guessing it's Canadian National. You could check out railroadfan.com for people who report what trains they see in various states & locals. Once on that site, click the "Heads Up / Train Locations" tab.

[@malcolmtucker8611]

Great video. Good catch of unusual issue. Not just the normal fast train.

[@ТилегенДуйсен]

5437пойыз рақмет жаным ❤

[@donhunking2286]

Pretty lively car action , methinks a bit of reballasting and packing are in order .

[@ajknaup3530]

Why has there been such a reduction in traffic over the last decade?

[@railfan101productions7]

Excellent video! every upload of yours is a good one

[@chrischiampo7647]

Reminder Set 😀😊😊😊

[@the_darkgameryt]

Same!

[@RobertCoggins9]

Lol

[@RobertCoggins9]

Same here

[@brycehodges3032]

Same

[@danielsharon524]

Your narrative & technical explanations of what's going on are great. Subscribed.

[@choochoovroomvroom7612]

🤩

[@jerrysinclair3771]

at 4:45, was the conductor relieving himself in the bushes? Or, just inspecting the ''trucks" as the high speed rolled by? ya, right! :)

[@pooletrainboy]

I would doubt it because they have a toilet onboard and it's far nicer than the outdoors.

[@ThornappleRiverRailSeries]

Just a roll by inspection

[@tudieu-qng6817]

Nice video my friend! Thank for sharing!

[@h8GW]

5:23 - 5:55 Should I be concerned about that amount of rail flex?

[@masabinindra1399]

Nice video,.. Greetings from Indonesian..

[@StormySkyRailProductions]

Very nice looking CSX video.

[@JT-ee1ii]

Really enjoyed that, I love trains!

[@Bhil3]

Well done, enjoyable video.

[@Paragneis]

What are the numbers of the trains that you mention? They do not correspond to the four digit numbers of the front of the locomotives.

[@ThornappleRiverRailSeries]

I was referencing the train symbol, which is different from the locomotive number. If you check out the description, I have the train consist details listed based on which train they were on. For instance, CSX locomotive number 5437 lead train Q327. Some railroads tend to use the locomotive number to identify trains (ie "CSX 5437 east") more than the schedule-based symbols (ie "CSX Q326 east"), but CSX uses the symbol when referencing the trains almost exclusively. Good question!

[@brunodejong1695]

Holland Michigan :) Proud to be Dutch :)

[@ThornappleRiverRailSeries]

If you ain't dutch, you ain't much!

[@johnuhelski8613]

This is SO typical of CSX and the "Precision Transportation" model. I live in Tennessee and both CSX and NS now do this. I see trains around here stall all the time , even using DPU ! Well done videos , rock steady and brilliant sound .

[@Henry5623]

PSR gets a lot of blame, and it rightfully should. But PSR isn't a new concept. It's been implemented in North America multiple times throughout the history of the industry. It won't last forever. It never does. It's a cash grab technique of the same variety as fuel shortages that "conveniently" put billions of dollars into the hands of oil companies. They create a shortage under the disguise of one obligatory excuse or another, rake in billions, then when things are about to collapse, "conveniently" fuel prices drop, the shortages seize to exist further, and life returns to normal until the next shareholder fueled money grab attempt is set in motion. Welcome to mega-corporation fueled greed. The rail industry isn't exempt from it either. PSR will last until the big business politics backing it have pushed things as far as they can, then things will settle down again. Though, for people who doubt that PSR has existed industry wide and/or company wide prior, consider how the SP built their entire system wide operational ideology off of this concept. They weren't the only ones doing it either. Bigger longer trains, but fewer of them. It's not a coincident that it sounds suspiciously similar to PSR. -Two decades and counting working for UP.

[@Mrcharles.]

Perhaps this is why people in Plymouth are complaining about trains blocking the roads.

[@michaelbutler2583]

Silver chair, 48813.... tomorrow

[@irvinklugh8858]

LIKE IT