CSX Grand Rapids Subdivision

The CSX Grand Rapids Subdivision is a railroad right-of-way in Western Michigan. The line runs from Porter, Indiana to Grand Rapids, Michigan. The subdivision utilizes the Norfolk Southern Railway (NS)) Chicago Line from Pine Junction ( MP.497) to CP482 (Porter),[1] where it diverges off toward Grand Rapids. The line was originally created by the Chicago & Michigan Lake Shore Railroad and the Grand Rapids & Holland Railroad, later the C&O/Pere Marquette Railway,[2] It has gone through two major mergers including the Chessie System and CSX mergers. Connecting the CSX Plymouth Subdivision to Chicago, the Grand Rapids Subdivision is a vital part of the Michigan Rail Network. The rail line featured Canadian Pacific (SOO) run through trains until 2010 when they are rerouted over the NS Chicago Line.[2] It has connections to two Class-III, short-line carriers (WMI and MS) and many customers including J. H. Campbell Generating Plant.

CSX Grand Rapids Subdivision
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerCSX
Localewestern Michigan
Termini
Service
Route numberZD
Operator(s)
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Route map

 Ludington Subdivision
 Wyoming Yard (Grand Rapids)
 Grandville
 Hudsonville
 Zeeland
 Waverly Yard
 Holland
Montauge Subdivision
Hamilton Industrial Track(Holland)
 East Saugatuck
 New Richmond
 Fennville
 Wells
 Pullman
 Grand Junction
 Bangor
 Gross
 Hartford
 Kirk
 Watervliet
 Coloma
 Riverside
 Grey
 Benton Harbor
 St Joseph
 Vine
 Stevensville
 Livingston
 Bridgman
 Sawyer
 New Buffalo Yard(siding 11750')
 Michigan City
 Porter
 NS

Interlocking towers location
  • Porter: Interlocking with NYCRR
  • Roundhouse(Michigan City): Former crossing with Monon Michigan City Branch, abandoned 1980.
  • St. Joseph: Bridge over St. Joseph River.

Railfanning Information

Stations

These stations are all serviced by the Amtrak Pere Marquette(370/371) Twice a day(Once to Grand Rapids[370], Once to Chicago[371])[3][4]

Café services are available[4]

Amtrak 370 Amtrak 371
Station Arrival Time*[4] (EST) Station Arrival Time*[4] (EST)
Chicago, IL 7:30pm (Departure) |||| Grand Rapids, MI 6:00am (Departure)
St. Joseph, MI 9:14pm |||| Holland, MI 6:49am
Bangor, MI 9:50pm |||| Bangor, MI 7:32am
Holland, MI 10:33pm |||| St. Joseph, MI 8:10am
Grand Rapids, MI 11:34pm |||| Chicago, IL 10:08am

These are estimated times and shouldn't be depended on**

Railcams

There is a webcam in Bangor, Michigan, hosted by Horizon Broadband.

Signals

The Grand Rapids Subdivision uses Safetran signals with satellite/cellular communication; CTC is in use.

Yard Locations

[1]

Wyoming Yard - Grand Rapids, MI
Number of tracks Total of number tracks Address
20(sidings for storage), 22(main yard) 42 850 Freeman Ave South West, Grand Rapids, MI

Waverly Yard - Holland, MI
Number of tracks Total of number tracks Address
11 11 Lincoln Avenue(south part), Kent Street(north part)

New Buffalo Yard - New Buffalo, MI (currently unused)
Number of tracks Total of number tracks Address
12(sidings which ends), 2(main track) 14 18701 Rose City Rd, New Buffalo, MI

Radio and dispatcher frequencies
  • Radio Frequency - 160.230 (AAR Channel 08)
  • Dispatcher - 160.635 (AAR Channel 35)
  • St.Joe Bridge Operator 156.6 (Marine Channel 12)

Train symbols/frequencies

[3]

Symbol Origin Destination/Turn Frequency Notes
M326 (ex Q326) Chicago, IL (Barr) Grand Rapids, MI (Wyoming) Daily Manifest
M327 (ex Q327) Grand Rapids, MI (Wyoming) Chicago, IL (Barr) Daily Manifest
C800 (ex N800) Cicero, IL [BNSF] West Olive, MI (J.H. Campbell) As Needed Loaded Western Coal; Usually runs with BNSF Power
C801 (ex N801) Cicero, IL [BNSF] West Olive, MI (J.H. Campbell) As Needed Loaded Western Coal; Usually runs with BNSF Power (Overflow Symbol)
C802 Proviso, IL

[UP]

 West Olive, MI

(J.H. Campbell)

 As Needed Loaded Coal; Usually with UP power, rarely seen
E800 West Olive, MI (J.H. Campbell) Cicero, IL [BNSF] As Needed Empty Coal; Usually runs with BNSF Power
E801 West Olive, MI (J.H. Campbell) Cicero, IL (BNSF) As Needed Empty Coal; Usually runs with BNSF Power (Overflow Symbol)
E802 West Olive, MI (J.H. Campbell) Proviso, IL [UP] As Needed Empty Coal; Usually runs with UP power, rarely seen
R597 West Olive, MI (J.H. Campbell) Grand Rapids, MI (Turn) Friday-Wednesday Empty Coal from West Olive**
R598 West Olive, MI ( J.H. Campbell) Grand Rapids, MI (Turn) As Needed Empty Coal from West Olive**
R599 West Olive, MI ( J.H. Campbell) Grand Rapids, MI (Turn) As Needed Empty Coal from West Olive**
P370 Chicago, IL Grand Rapids, MI Daily Amtrak; Usually runs with an SC44 and 3 single-level passenger cars
P371 Grand Rapids, MI Chicago, IL Daily Amtrak; Usually runs with an SC44 and 3 single-level passenger cars
B235 (ex K862) Bensenville, IL CP Webberville, MI As Needed Unit Potash
B222 Webberville, MI Bensenville,IL CP As Needed Empty Potash
D700 Holland,MI (Waverly) Turn Abolished Abolished, Now L301, Used to run Tuesday/Thursday/Sunday
D702 Holland,MI (Waverly) Turn Abolished Abolished, Now Y121, Used to run Tuesday-Sunday
D801 N/A N/A Abolished Abolished Was Saugatuck Helper Set.***
D801* Holland, MI (Waverly) Hartford, MI Abolished Abolished Was a Local from Holland to Hartford; Uses Saugatuck Helper Set for Power, was replaced by L301***
D802 N/A N/A Not used in area anymore Not used in area anymore, Was Saugatuck Helper Set, Callsign now used in Alabama
D803 N/A N/A Abolished Abolished, was Saugatuck Helper Set***
L301 Grand Rapids, MI Sawer, MI (Turn) Monday-Friday Local;Works customers along route, stops at Waverly Yard (Holland, MI) on its way back. Was D700 and D702
Y121 Holland, MI (Waverly) Holland, MI (Waverly) Local Monday-Friday Holland area Switcher
Z627 West Olive, MI [MSRR] Holland, MI (Waverly) Monday-Friday MSRR Interchange (Formerly CSX D727; Sold to MSRR in 2005)

Extra Movements/Late Trains run with X Symbol which is not listed.

Trains R597-R599 are unusual, it is sometimes a lite power move, other times an empty coal move to Grand Rapids, other times its tied into M326.**

Helper units have been moved from East Saugatuck (MP.31) to Grand Junction (MP.54). They are unmanned and only used by Coal Trains. ***

Mileposts
Mileposts Locations
136.3 Porter
131.3 Doran
127.0 Michigan City
115.2 New Buffalo
108.9 Lakeside
105.6 Sawyer
100.0 Bridgman
98.3 Livingston
95.0 Stevensville
92.0 Vine
87.9 St. Joseph
87.5 Benton Harbor
82.8 Grey
80.1 Riverside
76.2 Coloma
73.8 Watervliet
71.2 Kirk
68.8 Hartford
62.0 Gross
60.5 Bangor
54.0 Grand Jct.
48.0 Pullman
44.2 Pearl
42.5 Wells
40.6 Fennville
36.0 New Richmond
32.5 East Saugatuck
25.3 Holland
24.4 Waverly
19.1 Zeeland
12.0 Hudsonville
6.0 Grandville
3.5 Lamar
2.0 Plaster Creek
0.7 Sunnyside, Michigan
0.0 Grand Rapids

Scanner Information

Scanner frequencies
Frequencies AAR Tag
160.23000[5] 008 Road
160.63500[5] 035 RN Dispatcher
156.600 N/A St.Joe Bridge Operator (Marine 12)
Online "Super Scanner" Road
Online "Super Scanner" RN Dispatcher

ATCS Availability

The CSX Grand Rapids sub is unavailable for use by ATCS-Monitor because the subdivision uses satellite/cellular communication. However, You can view the switch onto the Grand Rapids Sub in Porter, Indiana by viewing the Norfolk Southern Chicago Line.

References
  1. "CSX.com - CSX System Map". www.csx.com. Retrieved 2020-11-13.
  2. "Railroad Operating Information". www.chicagorailfan.com. Retrieved 2020-11-13.
  3. "CSX Train Symbols - RailroadfanWiki". railroadfan.com. Retrieved 2023-08-02.
  4. "Grand Rapids-Chicago Amtrak Pere Marquette Trains Return Next Week". Amtrak Media. 2020-06-24. Retrieved 2020-11-13.
  5. "Michigan - Michigan Railroads Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference". www.radioreference.com. Retrieved 2020-11-13.
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