Steel City Junction Series: Morning Action At Pine/CP499. Gary, IN. 11-10-09.

8:44AM-
Amtrak Lake Shore Limited 49 seems to be running on schedule today. Looks like the lead unit sideswiped something..
P42DC #165
P42DC #138
8:52AM-
Ethanol loads roll in on the B&OCT. The lead unit is one of a few older GE's to get YN3 paint.
CSXT C40-9W #7920
CSXT SD60M #8781
9:01AM-
L51409 departs Kirk Yard with the usual power, but today I decided to shoot it closer.
EJ&E SD38-2 #668
10:28AM-
The action really takes off as some light power arrives on main two. A unit still in Conrail paint and a regular Catfish are here to take the 33G East, which is sitting in the yard. The units stop past the switch while the conductor switches to the siding and removes the derail. They soon back up and the conductor and me exchange a few words and then continues on into the yard where 33G is waiting.
NS C40-8W #8408
NS C40-9W #9321
10:40AM-
Amtrak Blue Water 365 blows by and then sounds the horn after he's through the crossing to warn the 33G crew.
P42DC #35
P42DC #33
10:50AM-
A pair of Pumpkins power a manifest most likely bound for BNSF trackage once it hits Chicago.
BNSF C44-9W #4816
BNSF C44-9W #4313
11:06AM-
33G is finally ready to go with lots of old EJ&E rolling stock and Conrail power.
11:30AM-
The tail end of 33G is just clear of the switch showing it's lack of progress East. In the meantime, a hot Z-train quickly speeds through.
NS C40-9W #9720
NS C40-9W #9906
11:39AM-
Soon enough, another intermodal enters the junction this time from the West.
NS C40-9W #9143
UP ES44AC #5532
11:43AM-
Before you ask questions, I too am clueless about this movement. Earlier this morning, the same power led a coal train across the EJ&E bridge West of the junction but instead of going to Kirk Yard, it took the interchange down to the Lake Front Subdivision where it traveled to some industrial plant nearby (not Stateline). BNSF coal trains on the CN/EJ&E are unheard of to me on the Matteson Subdivision. Later on, the coal train power went back up with a few freight cars in tow and took them to Kirk Yard. Wanna hear something else weird? I caught #9377 in the quiet town of Monmouth, Illinois on 8-27-08. Talk about some rare mileage and a contrast in locations!
BNSF SD70ACe #9377
BNSF ES44AC #5961
• BNSF #9377 Leads The E...
11:50AM-
The coil train rolls after just being loaded at ArcelorMittal.
NS SD70M #2596
NS C40-9W #9378
(c) 9th Street Productions.

[@fleecejackets]

Sweet catch on the 7920, not many ex-CR C40-8W's went out of the 7300-series renumbering. Too bad they slapped a K5LA on though. But those class lights look good with YN3 =D Awesome video as always, Frank!

[@railfanstreator94]

Gee that conductor who told you to get a life didn't seem like the friendliest of souls! Like modemeyes I find it very odd if he doesn't like railroading and yet he works on a railroad. Great Video Frank!!!

[@LinemanRailfain]

Nice variety!!!

[@trainzandbridgez101]

Thanks! I've seen that with Amtrak before.

[@gp40mc]

I think the crossing gate activated late because the train was stopped close to it and then started up again. Thats the case in my town when commuter trains stop at the station.

[@MP36er]

Train was leaving a yard track that obviously isn't connected to the crossing circuit. Gates didn't activate until the train entered the circuit on the yard lead track.

[@arlingtontrains7]

badass u gets all kinds of power :D

[@trainzandbridgez101]

tHANKS!

[@gp40mc]

Great vid! 5/5.

[@SFLRailFan]

Sweet! I was just about to pose a question about that strange move on the EJ&E until I read your description. What did that NS conductor say to you? Great job, Frank. ;-)

[@trainzandbridgez101]

Why did the crossing activate so late? Also, what did the conductor say to you?

[@DouglasP201]

Thanks 4 sharing the video :) 5*****'s

[@sethamtrak]

on ethanol trains why is there always a grain car in the front and somtimes the rear?

[@strobx1]

@sethamtrak FRA rules that "hazmat" cars must have a car in front of the hazzmat and behind the hazzmat. That way in the event of a collision, the box car, flat or gon gets the damage and the tank cars go (hopefully) untouched. Also the loco's & crew are protected in the event of a derailment. As for "Get a life", I had one C&O engineer comment, "You must not be married". If you were on duty 12 hrs x 6, I'm sure seeing trains would be the last thing on your mind.

[@staintedcards]

you didnt get kicked out this time

[@railfanstreator94]

Oh, well originally I had seen a comment about him telling you to get a life and when I listened to it that was what it had sounded like to me 2. Thanks 4 the correction.

[@boxcarfrank]

No, it was something more along the line of you wont like it when you have to make a living off it.

[@conrailforever1999]

conrail