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Kinda quiet today on the north end of the world. They were supposed to run a potash train (symbol 636) and the standard 240 train to Louisville. But then someone had one brain cell too many working and decided to combine the two trains into one. Now don't get me wrong, I'm all for combining and saving money. The problem here lies in the fact that when they decide to make one big train it really puts a damper on things. For one, it becomes (to coin a phrase from the planner) a land barge. If you look at a SOO timetable and refer to the tonnage ratings in the special instructions, you will come to find that the steepest grades on the system are between Latta Yard and Bedford. And I have hy-railed that section. You are in the screaming wilderness and the grades are nasty. So when one of these land barges docks down here, we end up splitting it anyway. But now we don't have power to move it and it sits and congests an already congested yard! HMMMMM. And where are the savings?
...241 coming up today will have the CP 5680, SOO 6601, SOO 764, and that stray GP-35 CP 5024 going back per mechanical department request. HMMMM, wonder what that's about?
The midsection was moderately busy today. Had the empty Cayuga train going back to Hawthorn Mine with 0-100-3144 tons and about 5810 feet with power. He came up to Spring Hill with the loads (101-0-13,139 and about 5874 feet with power). This train is interchanged with the CSX who takes it up to PSI Cayuga generating station. Their train is symbol T501. Anyhow, the Cayuga empties get their warrant and proceed south towards Beehunter. Now, to break up the monotony, I like to guess as accurately (or more often than not inaccurately) as possible the time they will arrive so I can pass that information on the ISRR, in this case. So I decide to utilize my Motorola equipment in its more productive capacity.
"CP Indiana Dispatcher to the Hawthorn Turn, CP 3019 South, over."
"CP 3019 South, over."
"I've got the ISRR on the phone here, and I was figuring you guys to be at Beehunter calling to him by, oh, say 9:22. Is that in the ballpark, over?"
"I don't think we'll make it before 9:23, over"
"HMMM. 9:23. Geez, I'm really losing it these days, over."
"That's OK. We understand, over."
"Thanks. CP Indiana Dispatcher out."
"CP 3019 out."
Now the ISRR dispatcher has been listening to this.
"9:23 at Beehunter?"
"Yup, that's the figure, plus or minus 30 seconds."
"OK. You know I'll be watching this one."
"Well, if they stop to smell the coffee I have no control over that, but I would say look for them to call out to you in the 9:23 vicinity, again, plus or minus 30 seconds."
"OK, thanks for the info."
And with that the race was on. Would they make it in time? Would I look like a fool? (Don't answer that.)
I became busy with the computer people for a while trying to solve a software problem and didn't really watch the CTC. Anyhow, when I looked up again they were already over on the ISRR. My Crane radio chimes up and I answer.
"CP Indiana Dispatcher Crane Radio, over."
"CP 3019 South reporting clear of the limits of track warrant 7014 9:30 Jeanneret, over."
"CP 3019 South reporting clear of the limits of track warrant 7014 at 0930 Jeanneret, over."
"That is correct, over."
"And just out of curiosity, what time did you show arriving Beehunter, over?"
There was just a chuckle
"Thanks, CP Indiana Dispatcher out."
To quote George Peppard, "I love it when a plan comes together!"
Congestion has been the rule of thumb lately. Train 241 from Louisville took something like 7 1/2 hours to get out of Louisville! Nasty! Sensing another dilemma coming on, I call the CF Dispatcher in Jacksonville. The phone rings busy. I repeat this about 5 times. Boy, I guess they have their hands full! So I call the Louisville Chief. He picks up right away. I ask him how my northbound guy (CSX symbol Z490) is doing. Well, he figures he'll make it to Bedford, and we can take it from there. OK, fine. Except, one problem. I had a 240 train (CSX symbol Z491) already south out of Latta going to do work at the Navy (Blankenship) and was wondering if we could meet them at Orleans or somewhere on the CSX. The Chief says no, do it on our rails. So I open my big 110 watt mouth.
"CP Indiana Dispatcher to SOO 6052 South, over."
"SOO 6052, over."
"Well, I guess the game plan has changed somewhat. CSX won't let us meet you and 241 on their rails so we'll have to meet at Crane, over."
"OK, meet 241 at Crane, over."
So I fix them up for the meet by putting 240 in the hole at Crane. I gave him a work warrant to MP 241 to do his work and then get back to his train for the meet. I really was hoping to meet a little further south, but if CSX has congestion then we do what we have to do. So about 1 1/2 hours elapse, and 240 has set out his cars at Blankenship and is back on the train waiting to go. Finally, my Bedford radio chimes up.
"CP Indiana Dispatcher Bedford radio, over."
"241 coming up to Mitchell, Mike. Looking for a warrant, over."
I look at my clock. It's 11:30, and he dies at 14:00. This one's going to be close.
"OK, I plan on meeting you and 240 at Crane. Do you think you can make Crane, over?"
"We'll give it a shot. I think we can make it, over."
That's all I need to hear. Without hesitation... "Make it track warrant 7030, March 7 1998 to CP 5680 North at Bedford. Check line 2, proceed from CSX Connection Switch Bedford to North Siding Switch Crane on main track. Track warrant 7030 issued with one line checked, line number 2, dispatcher MRD, over." He repeats it back and I give him the OK.
"240 is in the siding right now waiting for you at Crane, over."
"All right, here we come, over."
I didn't want them doing any sightseeing coming north. 240 is already a dead duck and it's just a matter of where he will die on the CSX. So I get busy again clearing trains and all that good stuff. My console chimes up again and I look to see it's my Crane radio. Could it be? I look at the clock: 13:00.
"CP Indiana dispatcher Crane radio, over."
"Yea, Mike. 241 coming into Crane. Is our taxi getting close, over."
Before I could answer, the cabby chimed in. "Right here at the depot."
"At the depot. OK."
Whew! Glad he made it there on time. I forgot about him. Glad I called him early when I did! So 241 parks it at Crane, I get 240 rolling south. 241's relief passes 241's original crew around Latta (I hear them talking to each other). So the plan goes well, right? Well, not quite. Right before my relief comes in, my Bedford radio chimes up again. Who's this?
"CP Indiana Dispatcher Bedford radio, over."
"Yea, Mike. 240 here in yard limits. Better figure the relief at Bedford or maybe Orleans, over."
The CSX hadn't taken him south yet! And I had told his relief Fogg for him. I guess the best laid plans of mice, men, and dispatchers....
Power:
Maysville power: Soo 4452 - Soo 4400
Kindill power: CP 3019 - EMDX 189 - Soo 4512
Hawthorn power: Soo 4405 - Soo 2041 - HATX 111 - HATX 402 - Soo 4435
Farmersburg power: CP 5864 - CP 5829 - SOO 6400
XL power: CP 5730 - CP 6411
XL power set: 2 SOO 6620 - CP 5699
Soo 2041
Soo 2066
Soo 4445
Hulman Street engine: Soo 4443
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Editorial content (C) 1998 Mike Dettmers
