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3/9/2025
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Viewing Album:  Trilight Hunt in Michigan with Craig: 2/19/2025
 
By:Jacob Werling
Dates:2/19/2025 - 2/19/2025
Album Info:Craig and I had planned one final trip together before he was being shipped south to Atlanta to begin training for Norfolk Southern. He had never been up to Michigan to shoot the trilights on both the CN and Grand Elk before. So, that's where we went. Unfortunately, the day didn't go 100% as planned, but we still had a good day! Enjoy!
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WAMX 3808
Title:  WAMX 3808
Description:  The second trip in a week with Craig had finally arrived, this being the last for probably a while as he starts his new career with the railroad in just a few short days. Craig has always been big into trilights so I offered to take him up to Michigan to see some of the NYC and CN installed lights around the Schoolcraft area. We got an early start and made it into Michigan just before sunrise. CN had an eastbound nearing us, and I tried to get us to Schoolcraft, but I knew it would be impossible, so I eventually gave up. That ended up being the correct decision though, as when we came into Three Rivers, we heard GDLK dispatch tone up the GDLK 501, which was headed south for its work in Bristol. Running quite a bit earlier than its usual timeframe. Sure enough, they received more track and we made a dash for the intermediate signal in town. There was quite a bit more snow on the ground up here, compared to back home (pretty similar to the last time I was up here in 2021). The Elk came rolling into town at trackspeed and we got our shots. Looking back on it, however, we definitely should have walked closer to the signal. Just a little too dark for head-on shots still.
Photo Date:  2/19/2025  Upload Date: 3/8/2025 7:30:29 PM
Location:  Three Rivers, MI
Author:  Jacob Werling
Categories: 
Locomotives:  WAMX 3808(GP38-2)
Views:  21   Comments: 1
WAMX 3808
Title:  WAMX 3808
Description:  I did take a closer shot along as well. Oh well. We learned our lesson.
Photo Date:  2/19/2025  Upload Date: 3/8/2025 7:34:18 PM
Location:  Three Rivers, MI
Author:  Jacob Werling
Categories: 
Locomotives:  WAMX 3808(GP38-2)
Views:  12   Comments: 0
WAMX 4017
Title:  WAMX 4017
Description:  Unfortunately, we received some daunting news once we began to make the drive up to Schoolcraft. Due to a major winter storm in Toronto a few days prior to our trip, a majority CN traffic had either been annulled for the day or was sitting tied down between Battle Creek and the portal in Detroit with no crew. So... that definitely put a damper on things. The closest CN train was A491 which was still well east of Battle Creek, and also the L521 local out of Battle Creek, if it would be running. The only hope was for the Elk Road train to run. Sure enough, it was going to make a daylight appearance, with a rare leader on top of that. For the past few weeks one of the former CN widecab GP40-2Ws had found its way on to the road train rotation. Usually these are kept in local service, but this one managed to find its way to the road pool. The train departed Elkhart headed back north as GDLK 102. After meeting the local at White Pigeon, we made a run back to Three Rivers and caught the train splitting the trilights at CP COWLEY on the north side of town.
Photo Date:  2/19/2025  Upload Date: 3/8/2025 9:36:02 PM
Location:  Three Rivers, MI
Author:  Jacob Werling
Categories: 
Locomotives:  WAMX 4017(GP40-2LW)
Views:  9   Comments: 0
WAMX 4017
Title:  WAMX 4017
Description:  This was our only train anywhere close, and would be our final Elk train (at least until the local came back) so we knew we had to try to make chase to it. I was skeptical if we could hit the trilight at CP PARK on the other end of the siding. But, thanks to light traffic on US 131, we were able to get there just in the knick of time.
Photo Date:  2/19/2025  Upload Date: 3/8/2025 9:39:16 PM
Location:  Three Rivers, MI
Author:  Jacob Werling
Categories: 
Locomotives:  WAMX 4017(GP40-2LW)
Views:  10   Comments: 0
WAMX 4017
Title:  WAMX 4017
Description:  Thanks to a slowdown over the CN at Schoolcraft, hitting the distant for the diamond at U Avenue was no problem. After this, we let the train go and headed back south.
Photo Date:  2/19/2025  Upload Date: 3/8/2025 9:41:57 PM
Location:  Schoolcraft, MI
Author:  Jacob Werling
Categories: 
Locomotives:  WAMX 4017(GP40-2LW)
Views:  7   Comments: 0
PREX 1616
Title:  PREX 1616
Description:  With CN not producing, it was ultimately decided that we would give up on shooting the CN trilights today and head south back to Indiana to get a little more action before the day ended. I decided, however, to make a quick stop in White Pigeon to see if the Michigan Southern was working. Sure enough, they were. I was hoping we would be able to get them coming by the depot. But, we never did. We waited on them long enough that A491 came into the picture. Since I probably will be able to get back up here myself some other day, and Craig would not, I decided to head back up to CN to at least get him one of the trilights. I did manage to snap this one photo of the MSO before we took off. Not sure why they werent using the other GP16 that faces east to work the industries down here.
Photo Date:  2/19/2025  Upload Date: 3/8/2025 9:46:06 PM
Location:  White Pigeon, MI
Author:  Jacob Werling
Categories: 
Locomotives:  PREX 1616(GP16)
Views:  6   Comments: 0
CN 8802
Title:  CN 8802
Description:  With A491 already out of Battle Creek, I knew our best bet was to go to the signal furthest to the west at Wakelee. I was skeptical that we would actually make it. But, thanks to a defect detector grabbing the train east of Schoolcraft, we ended up having more than enough time. Eventually, the problem was resolved and the train came rolling by the signal, kicking up some fresh snow that had fallen during the morning.
Photo Date:  2/19/2025  Upload Date: 3/8/2025 9:49:34 PM
Location:  Wakelee, MI
Author:  Jacob Werling
Categories: 
Locomotives:  CN 8802(SD70M-2)
Views:  5   Comments: 0
IC 6250
Title:  IC 6250
Description:  Quite literally right on the tail of A491 was L521. I was hoping we would be able to make the next signal to the east. But, ever since they took out the intermediate west of the Marcellus siding, the next signal would be east of Marcellus, and I knew there was no way we would make it without missing it. Wakelee has a nice curve on the other end of town that trains ease into, so, we decided to settle for that. IC 6250 has called this local "home" for quite some time now, and was once again the westbound leader again today. Signals or no signals, cant go wrong with a Deathstar SD40-2.
Photo Date:  2/19/2025  Upload Date: 3/8/2025 9:53:25 PM
Location:  Wakelee, MI
Author:  Jacob Werling
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IC 6250(SD40-3)
Views:  4   Comments: 0
IC 6250
Title:  IC 6250
Description:  Wider shot of L521. We were hoping the train would be kicking up snow just like the last one. But, it appeared that the other train took care of the new snow.
Photo Date:  2/19/2025  Upload Date: 3/8/2025 9:55:45 PM
Location:  Wakelee, MI
Author:  Jacob Werling
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IC 6250(SD40-3)
Views:  6   Comments: 0
Abandoned Crossing
Title:  Abandoned Crossing
Description:  The next nearest CN train was a rerouted M373, and it appeared it would be tying down at Battle Creek. So, staying with the CN the rest of the day would be pointless. We checked out the rest of the signals so Craig could get static shots of all of them before we left. We made our way back south to White Pigeon where we began following the MSO on US 12. I was hoping we would find them either in White Pigeon or somewhere along the line. But, no such luck, so it was on to the INE at Coldwater. I was hoping they were running something around town, but it turned out they had ran there earlier in the day as well. So, no moving trains here either. I decided to take us in the backway on old US 12 and we stumbled across this final crossing before the tracks come to an end on the west side of town. Had no idea this was here!
Photo Date:  2/19/2025  Upload Date: 3/8/2025 10:01:15 PM
Location:  Coldwater, MI
Author:  Jacob Werling
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  4   Comments: 0
INER 2185
Title:  INER 2185
Description:  A plethora of EMDs were in Coldwater, including one of the newly acquired SD40-2s from the Lake State Railroad. I posed my SUV with the GP30.
Photo Date:  2/19/2025  Upload Date: 3/8/2025 10:03:59 PM
Location:  Coldwater, MI
Author:  Jacob Werling
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IN 2185(GP30)
Views:  9   Comments: 0
INER 2185 and INER 1602
Title:  INER 2185 and INER 1602
Description:  High Hood GP9 sits along with the GP30 and SD40-2.
Photo Date:  2/19/2025  Upload Date: 3/8/2025 10:08:25 PM
Location:  Coldwater, MI
Author:  Jacob Werling
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IN 2185(GP30) IN 1602(GP9)
Views:  12   Comments: 0
INER 2185 and INER 1602
Title:  INER 2185 and INER 1602
Description:  High Hood GP9 sits along with the GP30 and SD40-2.
Photo Date:  2/19/2025  Upload Date: 3/8/2025 10:09:20 PM
Location:  Coldwater, MI
Author:  Jacob Werling
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IN 2185(GP30) IN 1602(GP9)
Views:  13   Comments: 0
INER 3067 and INER 1602
Title:  INER 3067 and INER 1602
Description:  Shot from the other side with the LSRC SD40-2.
Photo Date:  2/19/2025  Upload Date: 3/8/2025 10:10:37 PM
Location:  Coldwater, MI
Author:  Jacob Werling
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IN 3067(SD40-2) IN 1602(GP9)
Views:  11   Comments: 0
INER 3067
Title:  INER 3067
Description:  Looking forward to catching one of these running soon!
Photo Date:  2/19/2025  Upload Date: 3/8/2025 10:16:40 PM
Location:  Coldwater, MI
Author:  Jacob Werling
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IN 3067(SD40-2)
Views:  10   Comments: 0
INER 1602
Title:  INER 1602
Description:  INER 1602 sits on the spur track down to the industrial park in Coldwater.
Photo Date:  2/19/2025  Upload Date: 3/9/2025 7:36:57 AM
Location:  Coldwater, MI
Author:  Jacob Werling
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IN 1602(GP9)
Views:  3   Comments: 0
INER 1602
Title:  INER 1602
Description:  Side shot of INER 1602
Photo Date:  2/19/2025  Upload Date: 3/9/2025 7:37:33 AM
Location:  Coldwater, MI
Author:  Jacob Werling
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IN 1602(GP9)
Views:  4   Comments: 0
NS 4029
Title:  NS 4029
Description:  With INE running nothing, the only thing left was to go down to the mainlines back in Indiana. We chose NS to ride out the remainder of the day.Once we arrived in Waterloo, NS was already hopping with traffic with two trains lined both directions. Eastbound NS 310 came first.
Photo Date:  2/19/2025  Upload Date: 3/9/2025 7:41:44 AM
Location:  Waterloo, IN
Author:  Jacob Werling
Categories: 
Locomotives:  NS 4029(AC44C6M)
Views:  3   Comments: 0
NS 4392
Title:  NS 4392
Description:  NS 4392 brings up the rear of NS 310.
Photo Date:  2/19/2025  Upload Date: 3/9/2025 7:43:29 AM
Location:  Waterloo, IN
Author:  Jacob Werling
Categories: 
Locomotives:  NS 4392(AC44C6M)
Views:  6   Comments: 0
NS 7132
Title:  NS 7132
Description:  NS B43 heads for home close behind NS 310 passing the depot in Waterloo.
Photo Date:  2/19/2025  Upload Date: 3/9/2025 7:45:32 AM
Location:  Waterloo, IN
Author:  Jacob Werling
Categories: 
Locomotives:  NS 7132(GP60)
Views:  2   Comments: 0
NS 4077
Title:  NS 4077
Description:  NS 29P races west through Waterloo passing the freight depot and the Amtrak station platform. When I was here last in November, the sign was no longer working. Looks like it is back up and operating again.
Photo Date:  2/19/2025  Upload Date: 3/9/2025 7:47:36 AM
Location:  Waterloo, IN
Author:  Jacob Werling
Categories: 
Locomotives:  NS 4077(AC44C6M)
Views:  2   Comments: 0
ILSX 9 and NS 4740
Title:  ILSX 9 and NS 4740
Description:  Since we missed a majority of the CN trilights with trains, I promised Craig we would get down to the trilights at CP 358 in Butler, so we began moving east. While following US 6, we noticed that Dekalb Agri was loading out a grain train with ILSX 9. Bunge had bought Dekalb Agri from The Andersons a few years prior, and the faded light blue SW was painted black and yellow. This is the second time that Ive managed to catch it loading a train. Pretty neat! The inbound AC44C6M sits over to the side.
Photo Date:  2/19/2025  Upload Date: 3/9/2025 7:54:36 AM
Location:  Waterloo, IN
Author:  Jacob Werling
Categories: 
Locomotives:  ILSX 9(SW1200) NS 4740(AC44C6M)
Views:  4   Comments: 0
ILSX 9
Title:  ILSX 9
Description:  Head on shot of ILSX 9 drilling cars as grain dust flies into the air.
Photo Date:  2/19/2025  Upload Date: 3/9/2025 7:56:51 AM
Location:  Waterloo, IN
Author:  Jacob Werling
Categories: 
Locomotives:  ILSX 9(SW1200)
Views:  4   Comments: 0
NS 8079
Title:  NS 8079
Description:  While we were still there, NS 260 caught up with us racing east.
Photo Date:  2/19/2025  Upload Date: 3/9/2025 7:57:55 AM
Location:  Waterloo, IN
Author:  Jacob Werling
Categories: 
Locomotives:  NS 8079(ES44AC)
Views:  4   Comments: 0
BNSF 8785
Title:  BNSF 8785
Description:  Moving into Butler, we grabbed our only train by the trilights that evening; NS 266 with a BNSF SD70ACe leader.
Photo Date:  2/19/2025  Upload Date: 3/9/2025 7:58:45 AM
Location:  Butler, IN
Author:  Jacob Werling
Categories: 
Locomotives:  BNSF 8785(SD70ACe)
Views:  1   Comments: 0
UP 8010
Title:  UP 8010
Description:  UP 8010 trails 2nd on NS 266.
Photo Date:  2/19/2025  Upload Date: 3/9/2025 7:59:11 AM
Location:  Butler, IN
Author:  Jacob Werling
Categories: 
Locomotives:  UP 8010(AC45CCTE)
Views:  4   Comments: 0
NS 8002
Title:  NS 8002
Description:  NS 28X slowly rounds the bend into Butler hitting yellow signals behind NS 266.
Photo Date:  2/19/2025  Upload Date: 3/9/2025 7:59:44 AM
Location:  Butler, IN
Author:  Jacob Werling
Categories: 
Locomotives:  NS 8002(ES44AC)
Views:  4   Comments: 0
NS 1065
Title:  NS 1065
Description:  The Savannah and Atlanta heritage unit trails 2nd on NS 28X. This was leading a westbound train on the UP just yesterday. Quick turn-around for sure.
Photo Date:  2/19/2025  Upload Date: 3/9/2025 8:00:28 AM
Location:  Butler, IN
Author:  Jacob Werling
Categories: 
Locomotives:  NS 1065(SD70ACe)
Views:  6   Comments: 0
NS 4054
Title:  NS 4054
Description:  NS 23G rounds the bend out of Butler.
Photo Date:  2/19/2025  Upload Date: 3/9/2025 8:00:55 AM
Location:  Butler, IN
Author:  Jacob Werling
Categories: 
Locomotives:  NS 4054(AC44C6M)
Views:  4   Comments: 0
NS 4361
Title:  NS 4361
Description:  With the sun long gone, it was time for the day to come to an end. NS had one more eastbound lined up that was nearby, so we went to the library and grabbed NS 6K4 before calling it a day.
Photo Date:  2/19/2025  Upload Date: 3/9/2025 8:02:09 AM
Location:  Butler, IN
Author:  Jacob Werling
Categories: 
Locomotives:  NS 4361(AC44C6M)
Views:  2   Comments: 0
KCS 4806
Title:  KCS 4806
Description:  KCS 4806 trails 2nd on NS 6K4. Not the way we had planned on today going, but at least NS upped our train totals for the day! Had a great time. Wishing Craig the best on his NS journey!
Photo Date:  2/19/2025  Upload Date: 3/9/2025 8:03:08 AM
Location:  Butler, IN
Author:  Jacob Werling
Categories: 
Locomotives:  KCS 4806(ES44AC)
Views:  3   Comments: 0

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