(ANSWERED!) Info Needed - Tracking CSX from Wayne, Mi (MAP) to New England area

[Brianstrange]

Ok, I'm not freaking out (YET) but I'm concerned about the path my rail car is headed on. The final destination for the rail car is East Brookfield, MA. Below is the path it has taken so far:

Arrive Date\Time	Location	Depart Time\Date
03/03/2022 12:01 AM	MAP Wayne, MI Ramp 4G	10:40 AM TTGX852841
03/03/2022 10:40 AM	Wayne, MI (MAP)	03/03/2022 12:38 PM
03/03/2022 9:14 PM	Walbridge, OH	3/5/2022 1:34 PM *
03/05/2022 1:48 PM	Stanley #1, OH	03/07/2022 5:10 AM
ETA unavailable	Louisville, KY

My question is, is it odd for it to back track to Louisville, KY? Has anyone else tracked from Wayne to East Brookfield?

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[Brianstrange]

I was able to confirm with CSX that this can and does happen

 

[Kos]

You can’t think about rail networks like the highway where you are going to take the most direct path possible. They’re more like airlines, where it may make sense to go out of the way to get a quicker ride based on connections and what not.


Few weeks ago I flew from San Francisco to Omaha with a connection in Chicago. It would make sense for me to connect in Denver, but Chicago gave me the shortest trip due to my connection options.

Same thing plays out on the railroad.

 

[Brianstrange]

You can’t think about rail networks like the highway where you are going to take the most direct path possible. They’re more like airlines, where it may make sense to go out of the way to get a quicker ride based on connections and what not.


Few weeks ago I flew from San Francisco to Omaha with a connection in Chicago. It would make sense for me to connect in Denver, but Chicago gave me the shortest trip due to my connection options.

Same thing plays out on the railroad.

I tracked three others for friends and they all went from Mi to Ohio onto Buffalo. I initially thought about what you're saying, but to go from KY to MA it routes back to Ohio 10 miles off it's starting point. My though was why not pick it up when it returns....

 

[Kos]

I tracked three others for friends and they all went from Mi to Ohio onto Buffalo. I initially thought about what you're saying, but to go from KY to MA it routes back to Ohio 10 miles off it's starting point. My though was why not pick it up when it returns....

All depends on if there is a scheduled work event that can pick it up. A work event means 2-3 hour delay and congestion at the yard. Unless there is enough traffic to warrant, they would rather send a few cars out of the way rather than stop an entire train that long.

 

[JaxGtc]

Here is an interesting network map. While not the most direct route, hopefully their routing will prove efficient.

Maps/Locations - CSX.com

 

[Brianstrange]

All depends on if there is a scheduled work event that can pick it up. A work event means 2-3 hour delay and congestion at the yard. Unless there is enough traffic to warrant, they would rather send a few cars out of the way rather than stop an entire train that long.

So in other words, ford has 2 rail cars from Wayne headed to MA, and 20 from KY. So send the two from Wayne to KY (if it makes sense) eliminating the need for another train to get delayed for a full load, or to just keep everything moving?

 

[Kos]

So in other words, ford has 2 rail cars from Wayne headed to MA, and 20 from KY. So send the two from Wayne to KY (if it makes sense) eliminating the need for another train to get delayed for a full load, or to just keep everything moving?

There’s a lot of factors, but essentially yes.

It’s not just Ford traffic, but all traffic going to one destination. There needs to be about 20+ cars going to the same destination (or a stop on the way to destination) before it’s worthwhile to sort them out and get them on a train in a group together. Otherwise, they’ll point the cars in the direction of a yard where they can gather those 20 cars together.

 

[shillelagh45]

No reason it should be headed to Louisville, there's a train daily from Stanley to Buffalo . If you've already tracked some you see Stanley, Willard, Cleveland,Buffalo, Selkirk then East Brookfield.
Not an huge deal there's a Louisville to Buffalo train that runs daily.

 

[Brianstrange]

No reason it should be headed to Louisville, there's a train daily from Stanley to Buffalo . If you've already tracked some you see Stanley, Willard, Cleveland,Buffalo, Selkirk then East Brookfield.
Not an huge deal there's a Louisville to Buffalo train that runs daily.

Does the train from Louisville to Buffalo run at a certain time? Do you know the typical trip duration on that trip too? Yes, I have tracked others with the stops you mentioned, that's why I was concerned about Louisville.

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