Railfanning in Central Michigan

In July of 2009, Penn Rail Videos visited the state of Michigan to attend the Train Festival 2009 event in Owosso. However, there was one day before where we had time to see some of the other railroads in Michigan. In search of ALCos, are journey takes us to the Lake States Railway out of Bay City, MI.

We first encounter the Central Michigan Railroad (a RailAmerica operation) on the other side of Bay City, as a through freight is preparing to head to Durand, MI. On the point of this train are 3 vintage GE-built diesel locomotives. All ex-Burlington Northern, the trio consisted of two C30-7s sandwiching a B30-7B (yes! a B-unit!!), and one of which has BNSF H1 paint.

Once catching this train, we move on to our feature railroad, the Lake States Railway. We'll be following the local of out Bay City to Pinconning, MI. This lash-up consists of a GP40-2 of the MKT heritage, and also a pair of ALCo diesels; an MLW M420 and a C424 (ex-Pennsy at that!). We'll catch the lumbering freight at several locations along this scenic rail line, and leave the train in the small town of Linwood, MI.

Don't worry viewers, it's only a matter of time until the Train Festival footage hits the 'tube.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• penn
• rail
• video
• central
• michigan
• railroad
• lake
• states
• railway

[phildoethedildoe]

Dude, i Do believe that all Three Engines on this train are GE U Boats, Nothing like the smooth sound of the Cooper Bessimer FDL V16 :) :) That Engine will shake the very heart of you when they are idling :) the First and third Engines are C30-7's The middle one is an older Cab less U18 B. I think???

[CSX6000]

@phildoethedildoe The middle unit is an ex-Burlington Northern B30-7B.

[xxxDeath9572xxx]

This is a Leslie free for all! a RS5T on the ALCo and a GP40-2 with a sweet RS3L!

[CSX6000]

@xxxDeath9572xxx The Leslie on the GP40-2 is actually an S3L.

[Tcaauwe2002]

great to see you got up in my neck of the woods. I live about 500 feet from the HESR yard. 1171 is not of MKT heritage however. it is as follows. FURX 1171, Ne TM 1171, Nee CSXT 6568, Neee C&O 3793

[CSX6000]

That's right, it was a Mexican engine.

[fnm9908]

A very nice ABA set of dash 7's and a great sounding leslies in both trains...great video

[720GZ]

@CSX6000 SP B30-7 BOOSTER



[Eliyahu5736]

@Tcaauwe2002 dude! There is no "ne, nee, neee"! "Nee" (with 2 Es) means "born as", 1171 is ex-TM 1171, ex(x)-CSXT 6568, nee C&O 3793.

[bnfan11]

Having seen these engines everday, HESR 5086 & CMGN 5175 have S5T's None of the Railamerica GP38-2's & HESR GP40-2W # 9712 Have Leslie's HESR 9712 has a K5LA

[STICKGUYMB]

4:56 I remember recording that when I was 11 (i think i was 11). Man, my mom was driving me somewhere... and we saw that exact train and she took me to another crossing to watch it go by. I got it on video.

[TheUnknownAvenger]

The ex-BN and ex-BNSF units were awesome! But, the horn on the former BN unit was amazing!

[jasonminier82]

I love the Zebras!  The horn rocks!

[texasrupert]

nice video and that is cool to see older GE's units are still running.