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NOTE: See the last paragraph for important info about INRD dispatching and the fate of Springhill tower.
It's amazing what a few flurries will do. Take for example, the dusting that the Chicago area took just a while back. That's been- what 4 or 5 days ago?- and we are still recovering from that. When that weather event took place, little did we expect the backlog we got. The CSX kept moving trains north from Evansville until the UP closed the door. And then it got interesting. I thought they said they had something like 13 trains parked between Terre Haute and Danville including 4 in Brewer Yard because of the flurries. The Utterly Pathetic had to call out snow plows (probably with their own FRA pilot) to move snow. So by the time the route is opened, the traffic flow is in a decidedly northward direction.
As the CSX parade begins past my window I can't help but wonder when my trains will move. Bensenville had tried to call a 240 south but the Universal Problem wouldn't take it. And about the time they decide maybe they will move it the Incessant Human Bother decides they have more than 4 trains to contend with and now they won't take it. So we sit on these trains waiting patiently while everyone else runs.
Well, anyway, by last night the 13th (which I didn't realize until I had to sign the train sheet) we thought that things may be better. You know, sunny skies, birds chirping, the whole nine yards. Well...I guess I still have a lot to learn about the CSX, UP and so on. I look to the sheet and notice that a 241 train (CSX Z452) was called at 1545 and released account the Utterly Pathetic wasn't moving (again). Imagine that! Now, I also notice that it has been called again for 2310. OK. Fine. Move it and be done, right? Now that would be far too easy. The CSX night dispatcher calls me on the block phone to inform me that the train may not move until Mr. Sunshine shows his face. Wonderful.
>Meanwhile, the crew is already heading over to the train. So I inform the corridor manager that it might be a good idea to release this crew. He says hold on while he checks with the big wheels in Canada. So I wait. And wait. And wait. Finally I get a call from some traffic manager in Calgary. Hold on to the crew while we try to see if we can persuade the CSX into taking it. Right! He has 4 of his hot, hot tote trains parked and this fine gentleman thinks the CSX will move our land barge before their own tote trains? I like free humor. It helps me make it through the day. So I wait on the final verdict. And wait. And wait. And wait. Finally the word comes: release them. 4 1/2 hours later! Now I like looking at the inside of engines, but not for 4 1/2 hours in the middle of the night.
Although there is some gratification in knowing that the CSX suffers too when the Unorganized Problem can't move freight (which is becoming more and more frequent). And to top all this off, Bensenville calls a southbound potash train right in the middle of this quandary! Again, free entertainment is what I live for. The CSX guy gets wind of this and takes on a decidedly negative attitude towards the whole thing. He is afraid the Unorganized Problem will move the train and dump it on him, and he has nowhere to go with it. So I guess payback's a bitch, huh? Again, free humor makes my day! I had told him I would take the 240 train that is coming, but I wasn't sure about that potash. Now he gets slightly agitated. He mumbles something resembling a thinly veiled threat and hangs up the block phone. Perfect. Now I feel better. I guess the moral of this story is if you have track, don't get rid of it in favor of trackage rights.
While the north end is beat up pretty bad, the midsection is just heavily bruised. A 241 train manages to hobble north from Bedrock and has to pick up something like 22 boom-booms from Crane. Well, it becomes obvious rather quickly that they will die on the hours and it's now just a matter of where. I would like to get them to Latta, but as it turn out they will not leave Crane. So I call the fine cab company and arrange a ride for the train crew back to Van.
The crew calls me after they have died and ask where their cab is. HMMMMM. Good question. I call the cab outfit. Oh, it's a new guy and he's working his way in that direction. He'll be there any time now. Yea, right. The check's in the mail, too.
So I ask the crew from Assignment 124 (the 2300 roadswitcher) if I could "borrow" their cab. They went down to Beehunter with light power and got 106 empty hoppers to take to Blackhawk for loading.
"CP Indiana Dispatcher to 124's extra, the SOO 6620 North, over."
"6620 North, over."
"When you're done with your work at Beehunter, I would like to have your cab head for Crane and take 241's crew to Van, over."
"What will we use at Blackhawk, over?"
"I'll have their cab meet you at Blackhawk, over."
There was one of those short, reluctant pauses. "OK. We'll try to get done here as quick as possible, over."
"Thanks. CP Indiana Dispatcher out."
"SOO 6620 North out."
I call the cab outfit again. Oh, we can't seem to get hold of our driver. We don't know where he is. Maybe you could try getting him on the radio. HMMMM.
"CP Indiana Dispatcher to the driver heading for Crane, over."
Those little Motorola induced electrons cruise all over the Indiana countryside but cannot seem to find this driver. While I am worshiping a higher presence with he hopes that this driver will return radio waves to me, the crew of 241 chimes in.
"Dispatcher, this is 241. We're still here at Crane. 13 hours on the train, over."
Really? Still at Crane. No alien abductions or sudden migrations south, huh? Well, actually this is their way of letting us know we screwed up.
"I'm trying to get you ride on the line right now, over."
"241 out."
I keep trying to get this mystery driver but to no avail. Meanwhile, other fires pop up and I go about my business. Then, quite unexpectedly, my Crane radio chimes up.
"CP Indiana Dispatcher Crane radio, over."
"This is the driver from Beehunter. I'm here at Crane and the crew is gone."
Well, I guess the mystery driver had found his way.
"OK. Well, why don't you start heading for Blackhawk for your assist, over."
"OK. I'll head for Blackhawk."
"Thanks. CP Indiana (taxi) Dispatcher out."
This is one of hose things the average railfan gets to see: all of the other things we have to do to keep things running smoothly. But I guess it's all in a days work.
Now the south end, which is usually a problem child, has been OK. CSX answers the phone in a timely fashion, as well as the NS. Geez, I guess it's the simple things that keep me going. I tried to get through to the CF dispatcher the first time and the line kept ringing back "all circuits busy", so I called the Louisville Chief. Now usually the Louisville Chief is somewhere between gruff and indifferent. So then I get the most helpful and courteous Chief ever, I have to take a step back. Is this the CSX? This guy was very helpful and courteous in taking information and working to get this movement under way. So I guess the moral here is that every incompetent, oversized railroad does have at least a few competent people.
We begin dispatching for the INRD (Indiana Railroad) beginning the 21st of March. Boy, I sure hope this goes well. They say about 15-20 more warrants per day but I think that's conservative at best. Look for us to be even busier than ever! And we have been officially informed by the company that we will be moving to Latta around May or June. And that means the tower will be dozed. So get your pix now while you can!
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Editorial content (C) 1998 Mike Dettmers
