Gardner Gawking

For what its worth, from an online video and personal observation at Gardner yesterday, all those cars on yard 2 and 3 (and maybe 4) came up from Worcester on the P&W on Monday night.

Well, if there's a 16R on 12-06, mebbe there'll be an 11R 12-06 or -07 or -08...

0210-0410/12-08-2023 started off quiet, naught until a broken B&E 241 to AY-3 with the 7541 at 0232, the only other clarity being "Correct." 0238 was when Boston East produced some more hash..
0241 was when the 333 WLs would be dark, as also would be the 334s and 335s.
WB up Da Hill at 0253 came some Dispatcher-side hash, but that was probably just the prelude for a spell of public-safety encroachments.
The 345s were at Stop, the #2 occupied by markerless mixed general from just W of New Switch to the Pratt yard, covered hoppers and a gon E and Clean Harbors and wrapped centerbeams W. 1 in the yard had a box and hoonose what else in back of what was on the #2, and 4 had covered hoppers and whatever else. Leaving setoffs for the P&W on the #2 seems to have become an operational pattern. Ties still sat on the old platform. Back to the gon for a bit -- it was freshly painted and had the NS logo, but the reporting marks were either WRWK or WRWX, the angle making the last letter hard to read. Either would be puzzling, and if it is WRWX, then NS is leasing from Trinity Industries.
EB at 0307 came broken yarding instructions that would clear enough to hear the B&E say that they were ready to go, but he didn't know where the paperwork was. The trailer got mentioned, and he'd try to contact the Yard Master. All this suggested 427, which then would be confirmed in a couple when the B&E called out to 427. Anyone guessing that there would be no further clarity cuzza Mount Wachusett has been paying too much attention.
At 0314, the 333 WLs were dark, the EB staggers for 330 later at Approach.
Post refueling stop, the 330.8 WBs were dark, the same for the 330s and GL WLs. The FGs, however, were at Stop, naught visible to the W. At 0335, dark W-facing ponies sat on either the 2 or FME, numbers blocked by the T coaches, the sole occupants of the W end of West Side. Trashes were behind the Ponies, so mebbe 11R.
0336 started a few minutes of intermittent Road-side hash, and at 0342, the EB staggers for Derby were dark, stub ties sameolesameole.
0350 AMTK hash proved the scanner was still working, as did 0351 and 0352 Dispatcher-side hash. 0359 was when a breaking D-2 called L067, only his acknowledging "stop" and "clear" clear, so mebbe they'd tied down for the night.
There was brief Dispatcher-side hash at 0408, but naught else by the end of 0410.

0205-0400/12-12-2023 started at 0206 with Dispatcher-side hash. There would be more in another minute from the Temple Street detector saying that the axle total was 86. Mebbe there was a 1, 2, 3, or 4 for the lead digit, but I didn't hear it, or mebbe it's recalibration time.
11 later and when I was in a normally good area, a breaking D-1 called out to M427 with CSXT 484, saying they should phone him. 427 responded by asking what antenna he was on since they had trouble hearing him when they were in Ayer. There were no immediate developments., but at 0236, there was Road-side hash, and 1 later Dispatcher-side hash, followed in another 2 by breakage to mebbe-427, advising that they would be set back 4 hours tomorrow to 2X00, that being followed by a parting good night. Dunno if there was gonna be a live recrew or tie-down, but naught further came outta the speaker to, from, or about 427 from either the P&W St. Albans Dispatcher or CSX Boston Sub.
At 0240, rhe 333 wls were dark, the same for the 334s and 335s.
Up Da Hill, the 345s were also dark. The Extension and 1 had from the E a few shorties, an MT centerbeam, trashes, 1 unplacarded tank, more trashes and then covered hoppers to the E part of the Pratt yard. On the E -- at least -- 2 had a covered hopper visible through the MT centerbeam. Dunno about the rest of 2 or 4, but at 0258, the B&E advised 16R with NS 6965 that their 11 rear trashes would be going to the #2 Main. 16R was close enough to garble. The ties were still on the platform, but won't be mentioned again until there's a change. There has been a change, however, in signage Where once there was a yellow "Jade II" sign, there is now a green "Four Season(no "s") Chinese Cuisine" sign. The sign is green, as is the seating, which is behind windows that appear to be etched at seated eye-level. Dunno whether to preserve customer confidentiality and/or customer appetites.
EB at 0306, there was Dispatcher-side hash, and at 0312, the 333 WLs were dark. 5 later, there was more Dispatcher-side hash, but this time extended.
The EB staggers for 330 were at Approach, all else up to and including the GL WLs dark. At 0322, a breaking D-2 called out to L067, asking if whatever he'd just said was correct, so mebbe they'd put themselves away for the night.
The FGs were at Stop, naught visible W. At 0327, the W end of East Side was MT, as was the West Side FI-1/2 parking spot. The T coaches seemed to have increased on the W end, so mebbe they were the shunting source.
At 0334, the EB staggers for Derby were dark and the stub ties sameolesameole, also to go unnoted until there is a change.
Stating at 0336 and for a few, there were were Road-side hashes, suggesting acknowledgments of car countdowns.
The next and last receptions came at 0359 and 0400 -- Yard-Channel hash.

Dear KittyCat-
I know that you know that I know that it is merely inconvenient when I -- and thus the readers -- can't get clear receptions. I also know that you also know that it is a concern of far greater magnitude when crews can't get or give clear transmissions. Please don't further jeopardize either your investment or the public.

It's recalibration time, my guess... 427 doesn't typically work Worcester or West Springfield, and while they went by the unblinking eye of the Westfield railcam this morning my blinking eyes counted 3 locos and 90 cars (378 axles). That's a ways off from 86...

=jaymac post_id=1634784 time=1702372107 user_id=17772Dear KittyCat-
I know that you know that I know that it is merely inconvenient when I -- and thus the readers -- can't get clear receptions. I also know that you also know that it is a concern of far greater magnitude when crews can't get or give clear transmissions. Please don't further jeopardize either your investment or the public.

I don't understand why they continue to use the separate dispatch and train frequencies on channel one. This creates so many incidents of "doubling" especially around Ayer. Doubling is when more than one person talks on the radio at the same time. CSX doesn't use this split "duplex" on the B&A and it's not used in Northern Maine.
With the Littleton detector on now there are many times it drowns out D2 or B+E.

0204-0410/12-13-2023 started off with D-2 asking L067 -- more about whom later -- if they set off at CPF WA, the response not repeated.
There was brief Road-side hash at 0208, things quiet until 0223 and the start of a spell of intermittent Yard-Channel hash at least some of which mighta come from M427, as will be seen later.
0226 was when D-2 gave a broken 241 to L067 with the 516 involving NC, other deets hashed. 11 later, the 333 WLs were dark, as would be the 334s and 335s.
Up Da Hill, the 345s were all at Stop. The mains and yard were MT, and a short trip W was started to see the source of the shunting. The Wilkins Road dogleg was MT, as was the stretch E of the 346 WL which was dark at 0302. Of note were the 2 small equipment bungalows and 1 precast mast base where ties are normally staged at Parkers. The current 346 WL isn't that old, so mebbe things are for the ELs. A trip back to the Pearson Boulevard UGB was taken to see if there might be something on the Dead Track, but naught was visible.
EB at 0311, there was Road-side hash, and at 0318, D-1 answered 427, confirmed that they were 22x69, asked for the tonnage and length (unrepeated), and then asked if they were ready to copy. Next came time-effective 0321 Form D G103 for WOR1 to Burncoat, followed by notice -- broken -- of a set-back. To wrap up 427, XNG noise at 0431, 0440, 0444, and 0450 is appropriate for Prescott, Temple, Shrewsbury, and Burncoat Streets.
At 0322, the 333 WLs were dark. The EB staggers for 330 were at Approach, darkness on the others up to and including the GL WLs.
The FGs were at Stop, naught visible W, and at 0336, EFitch was a copy-and-paste of 24+ hours earlier, the same 7 later for the EB staggers for Derby.
There was Dispatcher-side hash at 0345, followed in 2 by brief Yard-Channel hash, followed by radio silence for the rest of the trip.

1 reason that might account for the differences in B&M v. NYC radio systems is that -- whatever the tonnage differentials might be -- the B&M has always had more movements. With T Worcester service now having a separate frequency, that differential has been magnified. Could design for historic B&M lines be improved? Yes, but it's in queue with lotsa other needs.

0205-0405/12-15-2023 started at the start with a few Yard-Channel hashes. At 0209, D-2 answered EDPO x2, but then went into garble mode, next switching at 0210 to M427 with garble about "pick up," things going quiet until 0227 and Boston West hash.
Road-side hash got answered at 0234 by D-1 telling M427 that the Chief said they were OK to *garble* Ayer, probably to run through it, given later events.
At 0235, the B&E called EDPO light power and told them it was OK to drop the signal at CPF WL. That got repeated, and the B&E told them to give him a call when they got there. Naught further to, from, or about EDPO would exit the speaker.
At 0237, there was brief Yard-Channel hash, the 333 WLs dark 2 later, as would be the 334s and 335s.
At 0249, FI-2 advised that they were at *hashed* and had 4 Arrowheads to take down there. 1 later, the B&E called out to AY-3, the local land mass next doing its mischief. Anybody else get the idea Ayer was a happening place this ayem?
The Yard-Channel hash continued and even got clearer as I continued W. Why? 11R was picking up Gardner. The 345s were all at Stop. Temporarily at least, trashes were sitting on the 2 at the Timpany Boulevard UGB, the crew busy with countdowns and 3-steps. Starting at the computer company on 2 and extending however far E of the Pearson Boulevard UGB on the Single were racks. There were cars on 4, but dunno if they'd been left by EDPO or were WBs. To this civilian's way of thinking 11R would be busy for another hour or so, so I got EB and out of the range of their transmissions.
At 0310, the 333 WLs were dark. Approaches would be on the EB staggers for 330.
Post refueling stop, the 330.8 WBs and 330s were dark, the GL WLs at Stop as would be the FGs, naught visible W. What was visible at 0330 were 3 dark W-facing Ponies on either the the 2 or FME. The coaches on West Side blocked the view of what might be trailing. Dark NewBlue 5943(W) was in the FI-1/2 parking spot, trailed by another NewBlue, probably the 502, but the T Engineering building blocked certainty.
1 later, D-1 answered 427, but my scanner remembered it was in a ZombieZone, so the rest got lost. 4 later, D-2 answered L067 with the 516, and repeated that they were S and clear of *hashed,* suggesting that they were done for the night.
At 0337, the RVJ yard was busy, so there was no viewing of the EB staggers for Derby.
There would be some occasional Channel 1 hashes, but the significant noise --XNG -- came at 0405 when I was getting out od my car. There was naught from the 18.2 detector, and that -- plus wind direction -- suggested Prescott Street, 0413, 0418, and 0422 noises giving confirmation. Dunno whether tie-down or live recrew, the wind direction not favorable for hearing New Bond noise. Also unheard was 427's Form D, but there are too many places where that coulda gotten eaten.

0205-0400/12-19-2023 was quietish, not even aught from the P&W or CSX Boston Sub, let alone anything IDable from the B&E, D-1, or D-2 to, from, or about 426/7. Dunno if the weather of 12-18 was involved. The 1st proof of scanner function came at 0215 with AMTK hash, brief Dispatcher-side hash not until 0227.
At 0233, the 333 WLs were dark, as would be the 334s and 335s. 0243 offered more and more extended Dispatcher-side hash, "eastbound signals" being the sole clarity.
Up Da Hill, the 345s were dark. 4 in the yard was nearly FP-FP with trash, and 2 E from the MART garage had a mix of general that included covered hoppers, shorties, 1 @ unplacarded tank and scrap gon, and 1 Clean Harbors table up by Royal Steam Heater. At 0257, there was a mix of both public-safety encroachment and a Dispatcher-side OK to reverse direction, the rest lost. The time was good for FI-2, more about whom later.
Quiet got broken EB by brief Road-side hash at 0304, and 5 later, the 333 WLs were dark. The EB staggers for the 330s were at Approach and the 330.8 WBs, 330s , and GL WLs dark.
As has become pattern, the FGs were at Stop, naught visible W. At 0324 and in a break with pattern, dark and W-facing NewBlue 5943 was S of the T coaches on the W end of West Side. There mebbe mighta been a trailer but the T Engineering office was being obstructionist. The W end of East Side looked MT, and 5 later, the EB staggers for Derby were dark.
Cumby gas prices prices haven't been noted in more than a bit. Cleghorn was $2(yes, two).96 nonmember, and Main Street was $3.21 nonmember. Cleghorn also still showed a $ .10 member/nonmember difference, but Main Street has been showing a $ .20(twenty) difference.
The last reception of the trip started at 0340 and was a both-sides broken FI-2/B&E convo, broken so bad that I couldn't tell for sure if it was a 241. "7517" and "2 E to 2" being the only clear bits. It kinda seemed like Camp or AY might be involved and that the FI-2 crew might be involved in some AY-3 duties...

0210-0430/12-20-2023 started off at 0211 with Dispatcher-side hash, only "racks" being clear. 15 later came some AMTK hash, and Road-side hash 10 after that,
At 0243, there was Dispatcher-side garble that included a request for a total and then changed into a broken Form D G101 that would get 0245 as the time effective, so M427. That would be followed by D-1 advising that they would tie down at Still River and that he would get a cab rolling, There was more, but badly broken. While all this was going on, the 333 WLs had gone from Stop to dark. The 334s were dark, but the 335 ELs and WLs were at Stop, so it had been a WB.
At 0255, there was Dispatcher--side hash, and 2 later, a breaking FI-2 -- more to follow -- called the B&E, naught further soon to be heard.
Up Da Hill the 345s were at Stop. The Extension and 1 had -- from the E -- MT centerbeams, scrap gons, a short white tank, covered hoppers that included shorties, 2 unplacarded tanks up to Royal Steam Heater, then changing into trashes to about the midpoint of the Pratt yard, more tanks filling things out. The E end of 2 had covered hoppers.
At 0308, the B&E answered 11R, no immediate further developments. The 345 ELs were still at Stop, and at 0312, 11R with the NS 6945 called an Approach for the 345s. 1 later, the B&E advised 11R that they'd need a 241 for 345. I waited by the laundromat, but my ADHD kicked in -- even without caffeine -- so I got EB without seeing the 11R. Part of it mighta been Mount Wachusett, but I never even heard the promised 241.
At 0334, the 333 WLs were dark. The EB staggers for 330 were at Approach and the 330.8 WBs, 330s, and GL WLs dark.
At 0348, the B&E called FI-2 and asked which side they were looking for. The 1st part of the response was broken, but they added that they had 7 tonight. The FGs were dark, and the stopped FI-2 got the C's go-ahead, NewBlue 7523 and KCIR hauling W of the Credit Union on 2. At 0356, the W end of East Side was temporarily MT. The W end of West Side still had the T coaches but NewBlue 5943 -- and probably NewBlue 502 -- had gone elsewhere. 2 6-packs for FI-2? Channel 1 would be busy with a now-broken series of FI-2 C/E exchanges, and at 0402, the EB staggers for Derby were dark.
Things were quiet until 0424, the start of P&W Yard garble that would fill out the balance of the trip.

0205-0405/12-22-2023 was quiet, naught until 0222 and alternating sides of Channel 1 hash. something which would continue intermittently while range and/or topography permitted. To save suspense, there would be naught to, from, or about M426/7 on Channel 1 or the totally silent P&W Road and CSX Boston Sub channels.
At 0238, the 333 WLs were dark, the same in sequence for the 334s and 335s.
Up Da Hill, the 345 ELs were at Stop and the 1 WL at Clear. There would be naught outta the speaker to/from a possible EB, although 0255 would be the start of some public-safety encroachments. Mebbe whatever signal issues prompted the 12-20 241 to 11R persist. In the yard, the Extension and 1 had mixed general including boxes, covered hoppers and LPG tanks, and from the W end of Chair City Oil W, the 2 had a long string of trash. Dunno about 4.
At 0308, the 333 WLs were dark, and the EB staggers for 330 would later be at Approach.
Post refueling stop, the 330.8 WB were dark, as would be all others up to and including the EB staggers for Derby at 0333.
At 0327, the T coaches had still been on the W end of West Side, but the FI-1/2 parking spot and W end of East Side had been MT.
At 0341, there was a broken B&E 241 involving 1 to 1 and the Camp, other deets lost.
0347 was the start of frequent Yard-Channel hash that would clear by 0404 to car countdowns for 264, mebbe the recipient of the 0341 241. Towards the end of 0405 came "That'll do, 264. 3-step when you get it."
The 1st full day of astronomical winter was winter-like.

0205-0350/12-27-2023 was uneventful, naught until 0225 and P&W Road hash, a " of which came at 0233. There would be brief Road-side hash at 0243.
At 0237, the 333 WLs were dark, as would be the 334s, 345s, and 345s. Gardner yard was MT.
EB, 0259 AMTK hash proved the scanner was still working, and 3 after that, there was B&E hash involving West Main Street, so possibly also involving AY-3, more about whom later.
At 0305, the 333 WLs were dark. The EB staggers for 330 were at Approach, all others dark, up to and including the EB staggers for Derby at 0324. 5 earlier, the W end of East Side had looked MT, the T coaches still on the W end of West Side, and the FI-1/2 parking spot MT, although naught got heard to, from, or about that crew.
At 0329, there had been extended Dispatcher-side hash, and at 0332, there was Boston East hash and more hash 1 later from P&W Road again.
At 0338, the B&E called AY-3 and asked if ??? was clear. Did they pick up the cars on West Main? There was more, but garbled.

0200-0405/01-02-2024 got going at 0203 when the B&E called out to SAED x2. Things went quiet until 0207 Dispatcher-side hash, followed in 5 by the B&E calling SAED again and then answering them the same minute. He said he was ready to copy, but his repeat and other further developments got hashed by the relative position of the local land mass. Things cleared up when he told them they were OK down to 312 whenever they were ready.
There was 0230 Road-side hash, and 3 later, the 333 WLs were dark. There would be intermittent Channel 1 hashes that suggested car countdowns on the way over to the also-dark 334s and 335s.
Most of the way up Da Hill and at 0243 was the start of an EDSA/B&E convo. Guessing that EDSA mighta been the source of some of the earlier Channel 1 hash. They -- with the NS 6959 -- wanted permission to reverse direction, getting just that along with the OK to head E to 335. They also wanted to know where the Fitchburgs were going -- OX -- and what to do with the Ayer trash -- TBD and unheard by me. When I got up top, the power was sitting on the Single in the woods. There were shorties on the Pearson Boulevard UGB and crossing over to the 2, followed by trashes. On 1 from the lower lot W to the ambulance company and the marker sat racks. The C gave the E the go-ahead and the trashes on 2 hauled E. Interestingly, there would more trashes sitting W, either on 2 or in the yard that extended however far W of the Timpany Boulevard UGB on 2. Dunno if to or from the P&W. The Ayer trashes had hauled E of the 345 ELs, and the C advised the E, so the E called the B&E to get lined back to 1 and the racks.
EDSA would be occupied for a bit, so I got myself EB. There would be some more Channel 1 hash, not surprised if from EDSA.
At 0310, the 333 WLs were dark. The EB staggers for 330 were at Approach and the 330.8 WBs dark, but the 330s and GL WLs were at Stop. There were racks on 2, the marker towards the E end of the platform, but 2 being occupied doesn't shunt the GLs, a guess to follow.
At 0321, there was Dispatcher-side hash, and 1 later, the now-clear B&E called out to the also-and-surprisingly-clear AY-3. SAED was now outta the way, so they could head to San-Vel. They didn't know if they'd have the time to get much done. They were to do what they could, and a cab would be called for 0530 at Wagon Wheel to get them back to Ayer.
The surprise visual of the day was the Clear on the FG 2 WL, which would get dropped at 0326 by NSs 6951, 4081, and 6040, the 40 racks getting E of the ELs at 0329. Not all AY-3s deal with oil and grain.
At 0332, the W end of East Side looked MT. West Side still had the T coaches and NewBlues 502 -- W and W-facing -- and 5943 in the parking spot. If they were recent arrivals, they coulda been what shunted the GL WLs by pulling W and clear of the 1 FG to back to the barn, especially if the moves were done by signal alone.
At 0339, the EB staggers for Derby were dark.
There would be 0347 garble, only "EDSA" clear. EDSA would get another mention in 0404 B&E garble when he advsised somebody that he wanted to get EDSA outta the way 1st.
My index fingers hurt.

0200-0425/01-03-2024 got going at 0202 with occasional Yard-Channel hash, the probable source shown in a bit.
At 0209, there was some CSXT Boston Sub hash, but not to , from, or about M427 cuz at 0230, M427 with CSXT 483 called D-1 and advised that they were near ready to depart Ayer. There was more, but increasing distance from 427 and increasing nearness to 1 of many Mount Wachusett ZombieZones hashed whatever got said in the form of updates or in the form of a Form D.
At 0234, the 333 WLs were dark, as would be the 334s and 335s.
WB up Da Hill, there was a fair amount of Dispatcher-side hash, but that would prove to be public-safety encroachments. The 345s were at Stop, but the Mains MT. 2 in the yard was pretty well fillked with a box, a few tanks, and covered hoppers E, but then trash the rest of the way W. A few tanks and MT centerbeams were visible on the E end of 4, more for 2 and 4 to follow. The Wilkins Road dogleg was MT and the 346 WL dark at 0300, the 2 equipment bungalows and precast mast base not having moved. Pete's Tire Barn on Broadway seemed to be the focus of at least some of the public safety activity.
At 0314, the 333 WLs were dark. Just after that, the B&E acknowledged that the #1 Main was lined and locked normal, so mebbe AY-3. The EB staggers for 330 would show a Stop for 1 and an Approach for 2. Post refueling stop, the 330.8 WBs were at Clear, and WB power noise got heard by the former pedestrian overpass, so it was uie time and back to 333 where NS 6959 and 5 fellow Ponies got 34 racks W at 0334. Not even gonna guess a symbol cuz that seemed more of a let'sget extrapowerandafewracksW move. But there will be more.
The uie unuied, the EB staggers for 330 were at Approach and the 330.8 WBs dark. The 330s and GL WLs, however, were at Stop, racks -- MT racks -- on the 2 from the station head-house however far E. The FG WLs and ELs were also at Stop, although naught was visible. At 0351, only the T coaches were visible at the W end of EFitch. Also at 0351, D-2 called out x2 to NA-2, no further clarity getting to me.
At 0400, there would be prolonged Dispatcher-side hash. Given the timing and the lack of any other later input, guessing it mighta been D-1 to 427 which woulda been well W.
The last semiclarity came at 0407 when presumably the B&E said, "...cars and 28 Deerfields on Tracks 2 and 4," suggesting the WB would be clearing out Gardner. Mebbe they were tight for time as possible explanation for not taking the MT racks by the Fitchburg platform.

0210-0410/01=05-2024 started at the start with the P&W giving CSXT ??? permissioin into the yard as long as they 1st talked with WX-3. The CSX was not -- as will be seen -- M427.
At 0215, there was brief Road-side hash, and then 7 later, 427 initiated a both-sides-broken convo with D-1 about hose trouble with a car. They needed a long hose, but there was none on any of the power. A bit later, D-1 said the Chief needed the car number. That got repeated in another couple.
0239 was when SAED got on the air with the B&E. They were to pickup trashes off FME, but not the freight. There was also something broken about 38 autos. More SAED will follow.
At 0242, the 333 WLs were dark, " for the 334s and 335s.
Up Da Hill, the 345s were at Stop, naught on the Mains downtown. The Extension and 1 had a mix of boxes, LPGs, covered hoppers -- including shorties -- and wrapped centerbeams. the E end of the Extension had a solo NS coil car, so mebbe a set-out. 2 had boxes and covered hoppers, and 4 was pretty well obscured.
EB and at 0310, AY-3 broke the radio silence by asking the B&E for permission to open up the #1 Main. I was losing elevation and gaining Mount Wachusett, so the only other clarity from their extended chat was 0x7.
At 0315, the 333 WLs were dark. Starting at 0320, D-1 called M427 a total of 3 times. That would be the last clarity, to, from, or about 427, save for 0450 and 0458 XNG noise for Temple and Shrewsbury Streets, the 3-minutes-extra interval presumably for a stop E of Burncoat, a hint of a longer train.
The 330.8 WBs and 330s were dark, but the GL WLs and FGs would be at Stop, SAED's Channel 1 car countdowns now coming outta the speaker. At 0330, the T coaches and sitting NewBlues 502(W) and 5943 were on the W end of West Side and NS 6953 plus 1 non-B&W Pony trailer were hauling trashes from East Side up to and through FG, getting a 2-E-to-2 241 for FG at 0342, 1 before the EB staggers for Derby were dark.
At 0351, there was a broken 241 for the 1-1 at CPF WL, probably so AY-3 could complete their runaround. There was some Yard-Channel hash, but the trip closed out with P&W Road hash.