Railroaders from all over have converged on
the Ridge Lines today for the second and final operating session of the year.
Time Table and Train Orders rule the railroad on this day and block signals
convey track occupation rather than authority.
No joy rides today, all of us have a
specific job to do and must blend in with the rest of the railroad. It's a big
operation, too. Nine locals are out on the road along with four interchange
jobs and those two first class passenger trains running on their timetable. As
long as they stay on their schedule, all else must clear for the two hot shots.
And don't forget the yard guys making and
breaking the trains. Elston Yard will keep at least one heavy switcher at work
all day long building the departing trains out of arrivals under the supervision of two yardmasters and
the dispatcher. Over and over they drill the arrivals into the yard ladder
after the road crew cuts off caboose and pulls power ahead to the ready track.
Then they make up the next departure for the next available crew.
Sounds complicated, right? Yep, just like
the full-sized railroads once did, Ridge Lines trains move cars to and from the
destinations around the line using clearance cards, train orders and waybills.
Each conductor receives a clip board with Clearance Form A and specific 19s and
31s. There is a First Class TimeTable and also an individual waybill for each
revenue car on the train. And on the back is a track diagram complete with all
the sidings and spurs.
Yardmaster tells each departing crew to
simply follow the orders, drop off five cars to the destinations on their
waybills and pick up the five cars whose waybills are in the train order stand
out on the line at the stop we are working.
Sounds simple, right? Yep, sure is for
experienced freight guys, but what about passenger guys and visitors who don't
know this road well? Well, we can have fun, too! Maybe make a bunch of extra
moves or even bring in the wrong car (or two) while we learn the shortcuts
(like how many cars will fit into a run around or why that facing point switch
isn't a trail) the hard way, but we are railroading now and at the end of the
day I'm glad I drove over and 'signed the list'.
I've joined two turn jobs as rear end
brakeman, an interchange job as conductor and conducted a sweep to finish up.
Met some new friends today and caught up with a few long time ones, too.
Strange thing, though, when I get home and
tell Mrs. Caboose about my day she can't believe that I did all that for NO
pay!
Best
regards, cabooseMikey.
VID00515
Ridge Lines PART 1
http://youtu.be/XjKjyd5_N10
Ridge Lines PART 1
http://youtu.be/XjKjyd5_N10
VID00516
Ridge Lines PART 2
http://youtu.be/TPGFdxA_TU0
VID00517
Ridge Lines PART 3
http://youtu.be/7fDHUZciqnI
VID00518
Ridge Lines PART 4
http://youtu.be/nMVt14eBOOU
VID00519
Ridge Lines PART 5
http://youtu.be/_uJCzfA4NcE
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