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| Photos of July 10, 2007 Ops Session |
| We are in the process of trying to start a periodic, recurring operating session routine. On July 10th we had an outstanding group of local operators bring the C&M to life. The railroad, for the most part, seemed to operate well and the crew worked well together to move a substantial amount of freight (and a couple of passengers!). Here is a brief recap of the session and a couple of pictures of the participants. |
| Most of the operators were either new to the layout or have not operated on the C&M for about two years or more, so we started out with a very brief introduction from the superintendent regarding the use of the car card system and various other geographic, operational and general information adjourned to the railroad room to operate a railroad. Because the session was scheduled for only 3 hours, from 7pm to 10pm, we did not spend much time on the orientation so there were still many questions that needed to be addressed during the operations. Perhaps next time we can cover additional items in the briefing. We were scheduled to have 9 visiting operators and all but one were in attendance. The reluctant dispatcher was Dave Biondi who did a great job keeping everything moving without trains running into each other, although there were a couple of close calls. Seth Neumann volunteered for the Grand Rapids (Comstock Park) Yardmaster job and Andy Schnur took on the Mackinac City yardmaster duties. Those were the three fixed positions. The other operators functioned as the train crews and included Jim Diaz, John Blunden, Les Dahlstedt, Chris Hochschild and Jeff Osborn. Jeff, as he had done in the past, also served as assistant superintendent and all around railroad employee. Bob Osborn who was, of course, the superintendent, was called upon to step down from his lofty management position and become a Hogger from time to time. I loved It, it was great! |
| The total number of cars moved was 252 in a total of 28 different trains: 6 passenger trains 7 turns (out and back) 7 through frieght 2 PRR interchangers (out and back) 2 boat interchangers (estimated - out and back) Our on-line customers were served well, as we delivered and picked up a total of 43 cars at industrial sidings (not including the Walton Junction and Kalkaska Branch setouts/pickups) and in addition, we even picked up/setout a total of 14 express We had no serious incidences and no-one died. No blood, no foul! Good Session! |
| Click images to Enlarge: |
| Here is the first meet of the day, right on the advertised, in Traverse City. The commuter #86 is meeting the Commuter #87 per the timetable. We were off to a good start. |
| Seth is manning the Comstock Park yard at Grand Rapids. He started with a pretty fill yard, but being a yardmaster extraordinare, Seth cleaned things up in a hurry and was on top of thing all evening. Jim was looking on in the background. |
| Dave looks like he is having fun performing his dispatching duties. Although he reluctantly volunteered for the job, his performance was exemplary. We kept him This was Dave's first try at dispatching on the C&M and he did a great job, especially considering that he was not that familiar with the layout. Great job Dave!! |
Andy is busy at his Mackinac City yardmaster
position. He did a great job handling all of the
traffic plus he actually got the passenger trains out
on time!. That's a first for the C&M. Not bad for
his first C&M operations! (Below Mackinac City is
the Grand Rapids Passenger Terminal).
position. He did a great job handling all of the
traffic plus he actually got the passenger trains out
on time!. That's a first for the C&M. Not bad for
his first C&M operations! (Below Mackinac City is
the Grand Rapids Passenger Terminal).
Jim Diaz is here working in Petoskey. He is up on
the elevated platform that we need to utilize to work
Petoskey, as the track is about 68" off of the train
room floor. Jim also made short work of the morning
Cadillac Turn earlier in the day. Looks like Jim is
having fun.
the elevated platform that we need to utilize to work
Petoskey, as the track is about 68" off of the train
room floor. Jim also made short work of the morning
Cadillac Turn earlier in the day. Looks like Jim is
having fun.
| Well, that's it. I want to thank everyone. I had a great time and I hope you did too. Let's do it again |
Looks like Les needs some caffeine! Actually,
he is not sleeping, but waiting for the Grand
Rapids YM to finish up putting together Les'
train. Les ran a variety of trains throughout the
session.
he is not sleeping, but waiting for the Grand
Rapids YM to finish up putting together Les'
train. Les ran a variety of trains throughout the
session.
Here is the last crew member, Chris. He was head
well as trying his hand at a Petoskey turn. Chris is
Here is the last crew member, Chris. He was head
just getting into operations and did a fine job on the
Hogger on our passenger and through freights as
well as trying his hand at a Petoskey turn. Chris is
just getting into operations and did a fine job on the
C&M. Jeff is looking on, while resting, and John (the
Company man) is busy working in Traverse City -
other two guy are loafing! Good job John.
well as trying his hand at a Petoskey turn. Chris is
Here is the last crew member, Chris. He was head
just getting into operations and did a fine job on the
Hogger on our passenger and through freights as
well as trying his hand at a Petoskey turn. Chris is
just getting into operations and did a fine job on the
C&M. Jeff is looking on, while resting, and John (the
Company man) is busy working in Traverse City -
other two guy are loafing! Good job John.
| Here's John working Traverse City. I think he is having fun, but you would never know it from this picture! John earlier ran the morning Petoskey Turn and banged out that assignment quickly and efficiently. John's a Company man - all business! |
| to Jeff for fixing all of the radios so they worked pretty well (unlike prior problems).Thanks Jeff! |