The Dispatcher
Click images to Enlarge:
Operations - May 12, 2009
We are back to regular operating sessions with the regular crew (mostly).  Things went
swimmingly well.  Maybe, after the last ops, anything would have seem smooth,
however, the crew really did make the C&M hum. The Dispatcher kept things moving
and the yardmasters (all three of them) kept the yards clear and ready for action.  
Great job crew.
The Operators
We had seven crew members plus the superintendent, but we made the railroad hum.  Jeff Osborn volunteered for the dispatcher
position, Seth Neumann was quick to volunteer for the Grand Rapids Yardmasters position (what's new?) and since no-one seemed to
want to be the Mackinaw City YM, Andy Schnur and Les Dahlstedt decided to share the Yardmaster duties.  Rounding out the crew
were John Blunden, Stanley Keiser and a first time C&M operator, Earl Girbovan.  I know that statistics don't make the session fun,
but since everyone seemed to be having fun, the stats seem to bare that out!  We started a little late and ended pretty much at or
before 10pm and still generated a pile of revenue for the Railroad.  Best part was that the Superintendent got to run some trains!
Statistics:
The total number of cars moved was 299 in a total of 26 trains:
5 1st class passenger trains
0 2nd class Fast Freights (#210)
9  turns (out plus back)
7 through freight
2 PRR interchanger's (out and back)
2.5 boat interchanger's (out and back)

Online customer deliveries/pick ups totalled 74 cars at industrial sidings and in addition,
we even picked up/setout a total of 6 express loads in our passenger operations.  
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The Yardmasters
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to Enlarge:
You just can't beat this Move of the Day.  Talk about meets!  Unfortunately, the
meet took place on the same track.  The Northbound Commuter #88 (on the
left) and the Southbound Commuter #89 (on the right) met right in front of the
Traverse City passenger station.  I think the meet was supposed to be on two
different tracks?  Astute crew members, dispite a glitch in the paperwork,
stopped short of a disaster.
Jeff volunteered for the key position of
Dispatcher for this operation.  Jeff had
complete control of things throughout the
session and he kept the traffic moving without
running into each other (except for once - see
the Move of the Day).  He was wearing his
Detroit Red Wings shirt, but it wasn't enough to
help the Wings close out their series against
Anaheim!
Here are a couple of hard working crew members.  That's Stanley on the
left working with the GR YM waiting for his next assignment.  On the right is
the first time C&M operator Earl.  Although it was Earl's first time on the
C&M, he obviously has operated before!  Between John, Stanley and Earl,
they moved a lot of freight (and some passengers too).  Good job crew.
Seth was the first to volunteer for the "skilled" operating positions.  He, of course, wanted to be
the Grand Rapids, Comstock Park Yardmaster.  Since he probably has more experience at that
job than anyone else, we expected great things from him and he did not disappoint.  The yard
was clear all session and no-one had to wait to get into the yard.  You know Seth, you are setting
the bar pretty high for future operations.  Keep up the good work.  Even though, in the photo at
the right, he is out of focus, he was focused on the yard all evening!
The photos above are
of Walton Junction
which had a lot of
activity.  John ran the
new Walton Jct Turn
that worked both WJ
and the Kalkaska
Interchange.  A bit
challenging, but John
knocked it off with no
sweat.
The Move of the Day
Below on the left is Andy who manned the Mackinaw City Yard for the first trick.  He was ahead of
the game his entire shift, but he made the ultimate mistake, he was gloating that he was ahead of
the game and had the yard down pat.  For awhile there, it looked like he was going to have to eat
those words, but luckily, the yard was kind to him this time and Andy gave the yard to Les is pretty
good shape.
In the middle,is the "handoff" of yardmaster duties from Andy to Les.  Andy is pointing the finger
(and when he does that, you better listen).  Les doesn't seem very impressed!
On the right is Les trying to figure out what is in his yard!  The Handoff must have worked because
Les kept that yard humming for the entire second trick.
Great job from all of the Yardmasters - Thanks.
1
2
4
3
Photo 1 is a meet in Walton Jct; 2 is the WJ
turn working the back track; 3 is an overall
shot of John loading empty grain cars and
Photo 4 is a shot of the Grain Train heading
back to Grand Rapids.  The photo of John is
from a previous ops as the Superintendent,
Engineer and company photographer got
pictures of his work, but didn't get a shot of the
most important part - John!!!  Sorry John.
Here is Andy
concentrating on
running his favorite
(and mine too)
passenger train, the
northbound Local
#102.  He is rolling
up to the Cadillac
station on his way to
Mackinaw City.  He
delivered six high
dollar express cars
on his run.


Here is the 102
heading north out of
Traverse City after
dropping off two of
his express cars
Well, that's it for this ops.  I had a great time and it
appeared the everyone else was having a good
time, plus the railroad lite up and did what it was
supposed to do!

Unfortunately, the railroad was left in such a good
condition, I won't have anything to do before the
next session!!

Great Job, See you next time.

Brakemanbob
Superintendent, Sometime Conductor & Company
Photographer