0210-0440/07-07-2023 was -- as the time span indicates -- eventful, starting off with Road-side hash at 0213, followed in 3 by P&W Road hash. There would be occasional P&W Road hash and even some CSX Boston Sub hash, but naught clear to, from, or about M426/7, the same applying for D-1 through 3.
At 0219, D-3 would answer 11R x2 and then advise he was ready to copy, rogering what was presumably train info. D-3 next advised that the plan was to bring it to Westminster and tie it down. Then 11R with NS 6942 would get permission to reverse direction from where they stood at CPF Camp and proceed W to 1. D-3 next said they were OK to *garbled*, but mebbe accept signal indication. There were more-- but broken -- D-3/11R convos at 0224 and 0229 involving car counts.
At 0231, there was Road-side hash, followed by FI-2 calling out to D-3 and advising that they wanted to go W. Mount Wachusett was being Mount Wachusett by this time, so D-3 went unheard, but 3 later and with my position changed, D-3 called out to 16 (six) R, advising that they were gonna be set back 4 hours to *garbled*, 16R adding their own garble about Freight Main West. Naught further would be heard to, from, or about 16R. This would be the start of a spell of radio silence, at least for me.
At 0242, the 333 WLs were dark, the same in sequence for the 334s and 335s.
Up Da Hill, the 345s were all at Stop, 2 dark EBs facing the WLs. The 1 had 264 with NS 6958 and WFRXs 8871 and 8870 while the 2 had EDWhatever with KCIR 7820 and however many obscured trailing units plus mixed general that included covered hoppers, utility poles, and boxes among the visibles. Also among the visibles were covered hoppers in the yard, the tracks not certain. I have seen 2 tied-down EBs in Gardner before, but it is uncommon and does explain 11R tying down at 335. 1 other thing seen earlier -- but not posted -- concerns the the Main Street XNG of the Heywood. The cross-bucks are still in place, but the emergency notification info has been taken off.
EB at 0306, radio silence got broken by Dispatcher-side hash. Not knowing how far 11R mighta gotten, I took the Rte. 2A exit to 335 and then heard D-3 tell 11R at 0309 that when they stopped in Fitchburg for water, they should talk to FI-2 -- working the E end of the yard -- and have them contact D-3 who'd been trying to contact them. 4 later, D-3 got back in touch with 11R with something broken about car count.
At 0322, the 333 WLs -- as had been the 335s and 334s -- were dark. 2 later, there a D-3/FI-2 garbled convo. The EB staggers for 330 showed an Approach for 1 and Stop for 2 and the 330s were all at Stop, MT racks sitting on the 2 E and W of the platform.
OCD kicked in, so I went to the Zeda's/Bike Shop lot to see how far W the MT racks went. Not that far, but at 0335, D-3 told 11R not to bother with FI-2 and then asked if they kept going, could they get past 333 before the 0425 commuter. 11R thought they could, which D-3 rogered, adding a reminder about them not having to contact FI-2. This would be the last "company" reception of the trip.
I got myself back to the platform at 0240, the 330 1 EL having gone to Clear, 1 later being when the GL WLs went from dark to Stop. 0358 was when WB brightiewhities appeared, NSs 6942, 404?, and 8081 plus 67 getting W at 0401. There were covered hoppers that included an agribusiness shortie, wrapped centerbeams, tented and probable drywall centerbeams, "company" hoppers, and a long string of MT centerbeams on the tail.
The FG WLs and ELs were at Stop, no racks visible near the gym. At 0409, dark, solo, and E-facing NewBlue 5958 sat in the FI-1/2 parking spot, the W end of East Side MT, and 6 later, the EB staggers for Derby were dark, 2 covered hoppers on the RVJ stub.
Boston East hash at 0414 plus occasional P&W Road and CSX Boston Sub hash would provide proof of scanner function for the balance of the trip.
The tips of my index fingers are sore.
"A gray crossover is definitely not company transportation."