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The usual stupidity of the north end seems to have returned to the normal amount of lunacy instead of the extreme that we have been dealing with for lo these past several weeks. The IHB had a few track windows up but nothing of extreme importance. The UP is, well, the UP. And the CSX is doing their thing regardless of what the rest of the world thinks. The run-through agreement has begun with CSX units running through to Hawthorn Mine for the Cayuga loads. I guess the crews are less than excited with the power they sent: lots of GP38 type units with one "foot" in the grave so to speak. They even had to call Latta for a helper the other day to get a train up over Hoosier Hill. Not a good sign to be sure. This PM, 4/16/98, a mammoth land barge slithered out of here towards Chicago with 98-15-13041 and 6227' of choo-choo. I assisted them in their departure, and I had never quite seen 13041 tons of merchandise move through crossover switches in that manner. With loaded coal cars whipping by you, you think about where you might dive to if they decide to embark on an off road experience. For those who are interested, CP 5848 was the leader (I think) in Colormark scheme, CP 5864 and CP 6411 trailing both in flags scheme. Thank goodness the CSX is flatter than flat.
We had washouts last night between Crane and Williams. The track was impassable for something like 16 hours while the section people worked feverishly to get the line open. I guess they had something in the vicinity of 6" of rain last night. This also caused a mud slide from the top of the tunnel over the rail by the south portal. A big gooey mess to say the least. These are the days I would never want to be one of those section guys. Plowing mud off the rail, replacing ties, building cribbing, and filling holes with rock and ballast. I'll just sit in my tower and yell at the phone. Much easier. Oh well, the line was opened at 2330 EDT so I'm a happy camper.
I guess the CSX had a tornadic weather event remove a train from the rails in southern Illinois. That must be fun. The CF mentioned his line was kinda quiet tonight. I guess so! Something like 60 of the 70 cars were attempting an Evel Knievel across the countryside. I just hope my trains don't get in trouble by that! I was discussing the whole tornado-train thing with an engineer, and his comment was if there was time, you cut away from the train, pull the units away, and then take cover in the nose of the unit by the toilet. OK, I don't have a problem with the whole protection thing, but I guess if the latrine hasn't been cleaned in some time what would be more dangerous? Me, I might just find a culvert and take my chances.
I have had requests for a map of the Latta Sub. OK. I'll try one here but promise not to laugh too hard at my ASCII skills, OK. So here it goes:
| | | |\ | \ | | Fayette: the northernmost terminus of the Latta Sub. | | The XL uses the siding to run around the train | | | | | / |/ | | | |\ | \ | \ | __________ Wabash River generating station: | the reason all of this is up | here in the first place | | | | +-------- CSX crossing at Dewey | | +-------- CR crossing at Preston | | | |\ | \ | \ | \ Pizza Inn: OK pizza... | | | | | | Van Yard: the yard in Terre Haute. | | Also where North and South pool crews report to work. | | Assignment 1853 Hulman Job starts here every day as well. | | | / | / | / |/ | | | | | | | +-------- Belt Jct.: where the Latta Sub crosses the CE&D | | | \ | \ | \ ______ To Hulman Street and the south belt | | | +-------- Spring Hill: Cross the CSX CE&D again! | | | | | MP 186: Mud Road (Gross Road): a popular crew change | point where no grades are blocked | | |\ | \ | | | | Keller Siding: about 5100' of pure pleasure | | | / | / |/ | | | | | |\ | \ | \_______ Blackhawk: to the mine at Farmersburg (this is a balloon track) | / | / |/ | | | | | |\ | \ | | | | | | Lewis Dock: coal loading facility with a BIG | | siding if only I could use it all the time. | | | | | / |/ | | |\ | \ | \ | \ | | | | Latta Yard | | | |\ | | \ --------- Branch to Kindill Mine | | / | | / | / | / | / |/ | | | |\ | \ | | | | Hoosier Siding: small siding (2100' or so) | | usually blocked with empty hoppers. | | | / | / |/ | | | | +-------- Linton: crossing with the INRD | |\ | \ | | Small interchange yard at Linton | / |/ | | | | +-------- Beehunter: interchange point with ISRR. | The east leg is the Spencer Sub. | The west leg is the Hawthorn sub | to the mine at Hawthorn | | +-------- Elnora: junction with ISRR Petersburg Sub and line to Maysville | | | Odon, home of Odon Meats (very good home made beef jerky) |\ | \ Odon Film spur | |\ | \ | | Phoenix 1 loadout (inactive) | / |/ | |\ | \ | | Phoenix 2 loadout (inactive) | / |/ | |\ | \ | | Davco loadout...mostly inactive | / |/ | | |\ | \ | | | | | | Crane 5100' (Burns City, IN)...also class yards for delivery to Navy | | | / |/ | | |\ | \___ Blankenship...for North cars from Navy | = | | Tunnel (about 1200' long) | = | | | Indian Springs | | | Cale | | |\ | \ | | Williams...spur switch for MOW storage | | | | | |\ CSX Connection Switch Bedford | \ | \____ to Louisville | | to Bedford yards
...mainly cuz I forgot the rest....
The Missing Thermos
In the fast paced world of train dispatching, the time element is at a premium. It is almost always a constant battle to stay ahead of the game. But every once and a while you just have to stop and smell the rails, so to speak. And sometimes you can even find great humor and enjoyment in the world. This was the case a few days ago.
I get to the tower and it's gonna be a "fun" day already because the third shift guy isn't ready for turnover yet and that means a busy night, which in turn means a busy day. Sure enough, 3 hours into the day I'm up to my eyeballs in doo-doo. Dead trains scattered about the countryside. Fax machines on the blink, and no way of getting orders to the crews. Taxis that are AWOL. Clerks in Minneapolis wondering what's going on (as well as myself). A cranky Corridor Manager (planner). And right in the middle of this insanity and ever escalating din, I get a phone call from one of the section guys wondering if anyone had reported finding his Thermos since he had left it somewhere.
Now the whole morning so far I wasn't really accomplishing anything, and intense frustration was setting in. I was on the edge of committing various capitol offenses against random people. Suddenly, the way became clear. A holy beam of light shone down upon me in my little tower. A vision of a better society, a more satisfying way of living our lives just hit me. The insanity suddenly became petty. The whole idea of moving the nation's freight paled by comparison. I was blessed with a divine calling, a mission of sorts: find the Thermos.
OK, so where do I start? Well, I get as much info as possible. The victim was last seen in the greater downtown Latta area, specifically on or near the welding foreman's truck. The victim is described as about 1'-4" tall, medium build, dark pewter complexion, dark black cap, tattoo "Thermos" on the torso clearly visible, and a piece of black electrical tape assisting the handle with it's chore. OK, good enough.
Rest assured, I am now on a mission. OK, fire up the Motorola. Find the welding foreman. What? Off today? OK, where is his truck? Not sure, huh. OK, no matter. Who's using the welding truck? Nobody is talking. Sounds like the Invisible Man. Suddenly, the scenario clarifies: a conspiracy. Yes, this shadowy figure is the same figure in the Zapruder film on the Grassy Knoll. The Babushka Lady could probably identify the culprit. I try the radio again. You THINK the truck is down near Beehunter? OK, try again. YES! An answer! What?!?? OK, look again. Are you sure? HMMMMM.
Oh, now the seductively conceived deception becomes clear: the Magic Thermos Theory. I see. I am supposed to believe that this 1'4" pygmy torpedo was traveling due south and, in mid air, reoriented itself to a heading of 210 and is now moving towards Sandborn on the Hawthorn Turn? Hey, I wasn't born yesterday pal. I can smell stink, and brother, I smell stink.
A quick call confirms my suspicion: no Thermos moving towards Hawthorn Mine. More investigation reveals a shroud of controversy. OK, Sherlock, give me some inspiration. Ah ha! I'm being led astray. So I call the track inspector heading north from Latta. Are you sure? Take another look. What? Well, it's gray, black cap...you know. WHAT!?!?? Cloned?!??!? How? Like that sheep in England, huh? Who? OK, I'll try him instead. Thanks.
The steely grip of justice is steadily closing in on the thief. Where were you on the night of August 23, 1973?? Why?? Well...oh, no matter. Ok, so where is it? RIGHT NEXT TO YOU!! With your name on it?!?? HMMMM. I smell more deception. Finally, with the iron grip of justice constricting ever closer the thief buckles under the pressure. It's in the yard office! Where was it? Out in the Roadmaster's truck?? But ... how??? Oh, the welders put it there thinking it was.....oh, I get it. The ol' Shell Game. OK, thanks.
Motorola in hand I proudly make the announcement that the victim has been located and proudly identified. Yes! I did! Right! OK. What?? You went out and bought a cup of coffee?? Aaah...yea. Right. OK. Thanks.
I guess sometimes everything really is for naught...
Well gotta go...I have a sick cat to attend to....
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Editorial content (C) 1998 Mike Dettmers
