| The Dispatcher |
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| Operations - September 13, 2011 |
| Well, here we go again. We had eight operators plus the Superintendent and I think we needed one more operator to get all of the trains in. We had seven people meet at The Hopyard for a pre-operation dinner and to our surprise, it was "Pint Night" with the featured brewco being Snowshoe Brewery. So after tasting the fruits of Snowshoe, everyone got a little loose for the operations. I certainly enjoyed the opportunity to actually talk to the operators as opposed to talking operating talk through the FRS headsets!! Hope others liked it too. With only 8 operators plus a Super, we moved a ton of cars. Maybe the beer helped? |
| The Operators The operators in attendance were: John Blunden, John Sutkus, Andy Schnur, Seth Neumann, David Parks, Earl Girbovan, Tom Crawford and Steve Van Meter. A good crew indeed. Things went pretty well until the final infamous "Group Shot". We had our first injury on the railroad in all of our years of operations. Tom unfortunately got a bump and scrap on the top of his hear with everyone trying to squeeze into the photo area. Dr. Steve took command and the Superintendent applied the band aides. Tom, I am really sorry and I hope you are doing well. |
| Statistics: The total number of cars moved was 312 in a total of 31 trains: 2 1st class passenger trains, 2 2nd class Fast Freights (#210 & #211) 14 turns (out plus back), 6 through freights 2 PRR interchanger's (2 out plus 2 back), 2 boat interchanger's (1 in and 1 out) 0 Ann Arbor Interchange runs (out plus back), 1 unit coal trains (one south and none north) Online customer deliveries/pick ups totalled 100 (wow) cars at industrial sidings and in addition, we even picked up/setout a total of 15 express loads in our passenger operations. |
| The Yardmasters |
| Click images to Enlarge: |
| The Operators |
| Random Shot |
| Yes, it is true. The Superintendent actually got back in the dispatchers chair. Not sure if the railroad will ever recover. Astute crew averted a cornfield meet or two, but trains seem to run to the extent of the yard availability. It was fun dispatching again but we don't have many pictures to show. |
| Seth was back at it again and as usual, he did a great job in the Grand Rapids Yardmasters job. Look at that empty yard. It was a retirement job, right Seth? He even got a chance to got out on the road for a brief time. Now we know way the yard guys stay in the yard!!! |
| John took over the Mackinaw City Yard again. As before, he took most everything thrown at him but this time he actually pushed a cut of cars into the boat! At the end of the day, the yard looks pretty good! (everything is relative!). |
| Here is Extra 314 stalled on the hill in the Lake City Block between Cadillac and Walton Junction. Luckily, there was a through freight waiting in Walton Jct so he drifted down grade to add some tractive effort to X-314 and helped him conquer the hill. Although helper service is a fun operation, the C&M management is considering strictly limiting the number of cars on through freights or possibly double heading all northbound (up grade) through freights. We will see. X-314 was hauling 14 cars, one over the recommended limit for through freights. |
| Well, here they are, the fab six, that moved the freight and passengers. Clockwise from the top left, Andy working the second Traverse City Turn. Andy was really happy because he didn't have to dispatch again! Steve is working the first TC Turn. The industries in Traverse City are very pleased with the exemplary service they received. John is shown at the south of Comstock Park Yard working the Pennsy Interchanger. John shares the honors for the most cars moves singlehandedly at 68 cars. Wow. Earl is working the Cadillac Turn. Keeping the main line open in Cadillac is critical to moving trains on the C&M and Earl kept it clear! Tom, before his injury, is shown working the GRIND Job. I think this was his first Grind and he did a great job. Finally (left) David sure looks like he is having fun while he watches his Extra 314 head north out of Traverse City. David tied John for the most cars moved at 68. That's 136 cars between the two of them WOW. Big bucks for the C&M. |
| Unfortunately, not many picture to show for this operations. The Superintendent/photographer was pretty busy. We did get a group shot so here it is. A pretty somber looking group! Tom, I hope your head feels better! |