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I come to work today and there is a spectacle to behold: two 241 trains heading north and a 780 train coming south. Now this may not sound like too much, buy when there is anything out of the ordinary the problems begin. In this case, the fact that there is a 100% chance at least one if not all of those trains will die on the road. I say this not out of close and critical examination of the situation at hand, but rather of the cumulative odds based on past experience. Looking over the fine record of the Infuriating Habitual Bother and the Uniformly Pathetic leads one to the quick and accurate revelation that these guys really have a hard time moving trains. So I see the Super Chief hasn't come to this revelation since he decides to make all of these quality moves all at once instead of spreading them out over several hours or even days.
So anyhow, I assume the throne and begin the usual ritual of rounding up the location of these trains and then determining what shape they're in and where to perform the recrew. 241 is working north on the UP and at first glance appears to be in good shape, but I know better. The second 241, which by the way is a light engine move ferrying the wrecked Soo 4514 to NRE in Dixmoor for repairs, had just gotten out a scant two hours ago is on the CSX near Danville. Originally we were told the Soo 4514 would be scrapped, but apparently they reconsidered that option and are sending it to Dixmoor for repairs to the bent frame. Now the big question will be if it gets a complete overhaul, what paint will it emerge as? I believe it was in Soo red and white so I would expect it to be repainted.
Anyway, there is also a 780 empty hopper train coming south from Cal Park and we have to make room for that little booger. After the initial panic of seeing all this north end fun coming my way I realize the flow will be southward with no real opposing moves. This is a relief to some extent. So I have my morning conference with the Super Chief at Latta and we discuss the situation. Bring the Cayuga train to Beehunter, 240 will be heading south to Bedford by that time and be out of the way, then bring 780 to Phoenix and Davco to set out the cars. Sounds good to me.
So remarkably these south moves go off pretty well. However,
as I'm taking care of business here at Spring Hill the subconscious
warning buzzer begins to go off. It's now been 2 hours since I
last looked at these 241 trains. Attempting to avoid catastrophe,
the phone calls are placed and the trains located. It seems that
constipation of the UP would indeed be the downfall of these trains.
They were both stuck on the UP and were about 4 or 5 deep in the
waiting line. So now the taxis are called and the relief crews
are put into motion. It has been decreed by the Super Chief that
the first 241, the actual train, will be relieved and taken on
to Bensenville while the light power move will be parked at Yard
Center and left for a later time. The Super Chief is also rather
put out by the fact that a light engine move with no real movement
restrictions related to the damaged unit cannot even make the
Harbor because Uncle Pete has constipation.
Well I say give him a blast of Ex-Lax or perhaps a bowl of prunes
to gnaw on. That might be the cure. So we'll see if the trains
are gone tomorrow or not.
780029 is a 60 car empty hopper train from Cal Park for reloading.
It's really a funny thing, that even one extra train out of the
ordinary can play havoc on "the plan". This mysterious
plan is the brainchild of the Super Chief. They even refer to
it as "War and Peace". Sometimes in excess of 7 typed
pages it outlines a plan of operations that will insure customer
satisfaction, the efficient and timely movement of freight, and
the continued growth of the sub. The problem is it never works.
Like perpetual motion and cold fusion, it is a myth. This plan
looks great to the managers who really don't know anything, but
to anyone who has a clue it is a very nice piece of fiction. I
think one of the most humorous aspects is the notion that movements
are predicated on previous moves, which are predicated on previous
moves. Now that's all fine and dandy, but if the first move fails
then the next 5 moves also fail and the whole plan comes tumbling
down. This usually seems to happen on second shift. Down here,
first shift gets the ball rolling and begins setting up second
shift, second shift really moves the trains,
and third shift performs the cleanup. So when the Super Chief
makes his plans at 9 am, the bulk of it is junk by 3 p.m. and
as a result second shift becomes a chaotic free-for-all.
So this 780 train, being an extra headache to deal with, is
moved along in a timely fashion with the hope that it will be
performing at Davco out of the way of the regular yard
engines, and that they can get their work done before second trick
has to use that real estate to move trains. In the case of today's
780, it arrived here at 6:30 am and was in Latta by 8:00 am. Being
this early, it was a stroke of good luck. It avoided the road
switchers at Latta and it was able to perform at Davco unhindered.
It got back into Latta at 2:00 p.m., out of the way of later moves.
But more often than not it comes here right in the middle of the
din. Then it becomes a Chinese fire drill to either move this
train out of the way, or to bury it somewhere where it will be
out of the way.
Keller Siding is a piece of real estate that is used and misused. Looking at Scott's page, you will see it is a siding near Spring Hill measuring approximately 5300' long. Well, this is really a good piece of fantasy, as the only real useable portion of it is more like 4800' at best. Like any good siding, there has to be a road crossing in the middle of it, and in the case of Keller it is a farmer's crossing that is closely monitored by the farmer. Blocking his crossing for any length of time results in a veritable shower of phone calls not necessarily of a complimentary nature. So Keller has to be cut. The Super Chief likes to use Keller as a storage place for hoppers and anything else he can think of. Now contrary to popular belief, we actually use Keller quite a bit. For example, the afternoon XL usually has either 240 against him on the Northward trek from Latta, or 67 against him on the trek back. Keller provides a great place to meet these trains, as opposed to holding them. It is also a great place to stage a 780/781 train or any other move shy of 80 cars since it is close to Spring Hill and is in a convenient place to make a move once the conditions are right. However, this piece of track and its importance seems to escape the Planner. It seems that every time the siding is blocked a situation arises where it could really be used. But no matter, we will survive.
And then talk about some superstitious business, Friday the
13th was one of those days I would just as soon forget. So I make
my way up to the little ivory tower and I have this feeling that
it just might be a good day. The sun is out, the birds are chirping,
the sounds of fall abound and I just feel terrific. So I take
the turn over and even the 3rd trick guy remarks that it might
be a good day. OK, that sounds even more reassuring. So I sit
my big petunia down and things look promising. The coal trains
are up there around Chicago, 240 is coming towards me with
no opposition, and the south end is devoid of any real problems.
Hey, I can handle this! But wait. As I look across the Plains
of Indy, in the distance I can see that one black cloud that's
looking for me. I even try to hide in the bathroom, but to no
avail. Yessiree, this little puff of evil is making its way to
me like a homing pigeon.
So the phone rings, and I think this is either Satan or the Service Center, take your pick. Well I'm wrong, it's the police. They would like to know why the gates are down over Hwy. 41 and when we might find think about getting that whole situation resolved. Well, since it was the first I heard of it, I call the Communications Center and report it so they can send the correct personnel out to resolve the situation. OK, now the phone begins ringing off the hook with everybody and their brother asking the same question: When will you fix the gates? And when I say everyone, I mean people who shouldn't even have the number to the tower. The grocery store calls, the gas station calls, the apple market calls, Mr. and Mrs. Myers vacationing from Kokomo call, the South Vigo marching band calls, and even the Professor Emeritus of History at ISU. All call with one vital issue on their minds: Will the gates be fixed soon?
So while I'm handling about 82 phone calls, 240 arrives and I park him north of the tower and order the outbound. I did manage to get orders requested and get the train cleared to Louisville. So now the crew gets on duty and no CSX orders. Meanwhile, I'm still explaining to the police department for the 4th time that I do have someone called to fix them and they are on the way. Meanwhile, the Super Chief in Latta decides to call the afternoon XL and a 783 train to come north. So this 240 is still waiting for orders and now here comes the opposition, and no where for them to go except Keller. Thankfully Keller was clear for a change and I could fit both the XL and 783 both in there.
So 240 is still waiting for orders and then the coal trains in Chicago call in and say they're going to die because the UP can't move a train, and then the NS calls and says the Ohio River Bridge will be out of service from 1100 until 1600 for repairs. And then the Super Chief decides he's had a rough day and goes home and there I sit. Now this little black cloud, a personal friend of mine it seems, has parked over the tower and is piddling on me just as glorious as can be. Now the phone calls still have not ceased, the trains are coming to a halt, and now all of these people who had been dealing with the Super Chief are now calling me looking for him. Then, as if that wasn't bad enough, the computers lock up and I can't do anything! No warrants, bulletins, or clearing up of trains. In the middle of all of this I begin to hallucinate from frustration.
It's kind of an allegorical hallucination you see. So I'm walking in this tropical garden. There are gorgeous plants everywhere, birds and animals of all kinds, and the sweet aroma of spring in the air. As I walk along this path, I come to a fork and must choose which way to go. Both appear equally delightful and the choice is hard. Just then, as I'm deciding which way to go a serpent appears in the tree next to me. The serpent stares at me and I stare back, mesmerized. And just as I'm about to make my choice between left or right, I begin to hear a ringing sound. And it slowly grows in intensity. I cannot ascertain where it is coming from, and it becomes a bit of a puzzle. Just then, the serpent looks at me and says, "Hey, it's for you" and grabbing the receiver with its mouth hands me the phone. I answer. "Hello?" The phone answers back. "Still no CSX orders." Suddenly the whole scene shatters like a pane of broken glass. The beautiful skies become boiling black infernos. The grass burns away to reveal scorched earth. The animals are all gone and only their charred skeletons remain. The smell of spring transforms into the smell of Gary, Indiana. And as I'm searching for an answer to this horror unfolding in front of me, I see a vision in the sky. And as it slowly crystallizes I see Satan...in the Dufford Center in Jacksonville laughing his evil laugh.
I awoke with a start. Thankfully, the sun was out and the grass was still green. But there was a deep laugh originating from the CSX block phone...
The section circus has been working on the Ohio River Bridge for the past 3 weeks or so, and they have been working with a window of 1100 until 1600, give or take. I guess they wait to get a hot Ford train out and then close the bridge. The most amazing part about all of it is the lack of communication between the CSX and the NS. Neither seems to know what the other is doing. And when they begin fighting like little kids among themselves, they use us as the messenger of bad news.
So I have this 241 train all switched out and ready to call. The NS reminds me that the bridge will be out again today. OK, so I decide to confer with the CSX as to whether they can get out in a timely manner. They say sure, as soon as their 208 gets in there will be no opposition to Mitchell. Great, and oh by the way the NS is closing the bridge again today. Now that friendly voice on the other end transforms into Satan and idle threats are sent my way for the NS. Not being employed by Ma Bell, I decide to ignore his little tirade and go about my business. I also elected not to call the train since I know they will shaft it into pieces.
So then the NS calls me and wants to know when I called the
train. I inform him I didn't since the CSX had traffic ahead and
it would be doubtful I could get the train out before the curfew.
Now he's
a little upset because he supposedly spent all morning with a
cast of thousands switching out this 25 car train and now it won't
move. I gently reminded him to inform the CSX about the bridge,
and was given equally satanic messages to relay to the CSX, which
of course I didn't.
So I go about the business of keeping this turd afloat, and just before I'm ready to go home I call the NS and check on the possibilities of getting a 241 out of there later. He remarks that the CSX dispatcher is a little ticked off because nobody would talk to him and now he has 3 dead trains at Vernia waiting to come across the bridge. I guess there was a little satisfaction that in what comes around goes around, and now he can deal with being shafted by the NS.
Van Yard Engine: SOO 4403
Farmersburg Power: CP 5777 - CP 5967 - CP 5928
Maysville Power: SOO 4445 - SOO 2066
Kindill Power: SOO 4443 - SOO 4452 - SOO 4434
XL Power: SOO 6619 - CP 777
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Editorial content (C) 1998 Mike Dettmers
