As far as traffic goes, a train is made up in Gladstone most mornings. Usually Power at both front and mid ship. The cars in the first "half" are a mixture of two, three, and four funnel hoppers with taconite for the Soo. The second half varies with coil cars, an occasional box, usually empty bulk head flats, some shorty white tankers, and +/- a dozen covered gons (mineral ore heading to Canada), and an occasional empty spine car (often on the bitter end)
There is an afternoon local, which I have never seen. But I have seen it heading west at 20:00 to 21:00. Stops and picks up any thing at the Manistique paper mill. From the few times I have seen it, usually cause I am in town for a evening meeting, there is bulkhead flats loaded with pulp, maybe an LP gas tanker...or two, and I have seen up to half dozen spine cars with bundles wrapped in a colored/printed plastic (maybe lumber, plywood, or ???). If I catch them when they are switching, the rest of the consist is parked east of Houghton Ave.
As far as when the main train returns from the Soo, I have heard the horn at the Thompson Crossing at 02:00, 05:00, 08:00, and passed it at 09:30 at a number of points between Cooks and Rapid River, while I am heading to Esky.
Hope this helps.
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