0320-0550/05-01-2019 -- as the timespan might indicate -- was busy. Just as soon as the scanner turned on, so did the 7.8 talker, no surprise since the rhythm of low-throttle 4-stroke exhaust was in the air. I didn't get any older due to suspended animation at the crossing cuz the no defects came at 0323, a good 5 minutes before I got there. Never heard an acknowledgment, but there are topographic challenges in the area. To finish off, D-3 called Form D G301 fulfilled at 0347, Q427 with -- mebbe -- CSXT 4797 being west and clear of Burncoat. There was a following question about whether they would be leaving the property, the unheard-by-me answer being rogered. Did seem like another light-power move.
Bak to chronology: At 0335, D-3 would give AY-3 with the 7528 a breaking-to-me 241 involving 2, Freight Main, and Willows, followed in a couple by asking if they were going back to Ayer and then adding that AY-4 was moving around in there.
At 0346, D-3 would reach out to 22K with NS 7623, advising that there was a WB freight going through North Leominster and that they would pull down to Catacunemaug Road, more evidence of "Slab City" evidently no longer being in use. The 0350 approach to Wachusett showed the 333 WLs all at Stop and a stopped 22K with NSs 7623, 7596, and 9422 on 1. There was no brightness to the east, so a trip east to the 333 ELs with the 1 EL at Medium Clear and then west to the 334s was taken, where the 2 EL was at Approach Medium and the 1 stagger and Controlled Siding EL at Stops. Back at 333, the east was getting whiter at 0407, KCIRs 7541 and 7517 making noise and hauling 22 racks west at 0409. 0412 was when the 333 1 WL went to Clear, and marker calls were exchanged. 22K was on the move at 0413, 14 racks and 107 well and table positions east at 0419. There were a coupla MT slots up front, but the rear half-or-so was all MT.
A straight shot up Da Hill was taken, and AY-4 made their presence known on the way. The 345s were initially dark, but by the time the yard survey -- 4 almost FP-FP with general and a few racks and mebbe a half dozen rack loads on 1 from just west of New Switch and onto the Extension, a Slow Approach was now showing on the Single EL, all other 345s at Stop. An offering was made, during which and at 0436, the Slow Approach got called. The WB came to a stop on 2 with the markers just a bit west of the air plant, which had been quiet. Also, if the cars on 4 were the same ones johnhenry had seen one 04-30, it looked like the yard air was no longer connected. Hold on jaymac! "Markers?"" Yep, Besides a blinking Mr. Blinkie, there was a knuckle flag. Never heard any transmissions from them, but they were probably an ED-9. At 0445, a breaking D-3 would reach out to the LGT, the clear parts involving OX and asking how many cars they were bringing down, followed by the request to stand by a minute. Not that it means anything, but naught further was heard to, from, or about the LGT. The LGT in the Fitchburg area could go far to explaining the earlier puzzlement of the routing for the 22K/WB meet at 333.
During the straight EB shot down Da Hill and at 0451, D-3 would engage in a broken-to-me discussion about a Line 4 for 354 to 363 and a meet at Tyters. 0455 would be when "AYPO'" would get heard, followed at 0456 by a Yard Channel exchange between AY-4 and D-3 involving waters and AY-4 being definitely clearer than D-3, and at 0508, the 333 WLs were dark.
Following a refueling stop, the 330.8 WBs were both at Clear and the 330 WLs predictably at Stops. The GL and FG WLs were dark, and at 0519, NewBlue 350 was sitting dark and solo on West Side.
Further east, the EB staggers for Derby were dark 0522, and a couple earlier nothing LGT-wise had been visible west from the old station platform.
After a coupla antenna-switching shoutouts, D-3 would give 22K the 0529 OK to continue east to Camp, the yarding instructions being 2 to 3, and hopefully then to 1 if it had gotten cleared. Didn't hear anything about racks or power. 0542 was when D-3 told POED that it was OK to take North Leominster, and 0545 was the start of Yard Channel -- thus garbled to me by then -- exchanges between D-3 and 22K.
Bak to chronology: At 0335, D-3 would give AY-3 with the 7528 a breaking-to-me 241 involving 2, Freight Main, and Willows, followed in a couple by asking if they were going back to Ayer and then adding that AY-4 was moving around in there.
At 0346, D-3 would reach out to 22K with NS 7623, advising that there was a WB freight going through North Leominster and that they would pull down to Catacunemaug Road, more evidence of "Slab City" evidently no longer being in use. The 0350 approach to Wachusett showed the 333 WLs all at Stop and a stopped 22K with NSs 7623, 7596, and 9422 on 1. There was no brightness to the east, so a trip east to the 333 ELs with the 1 EL at Medium Clear and then west to the 334s was taken, where the 2 EL was at Approach Medium and the 1 stagger and Controlled Siding EL at Stops. Back at 333, the east was getting whiter at 0407, KCIRs 7541 and 7517 making noise and hauling 22 racks west at 0409. 0412 was when the 333 1 WL went to Clear, and marker calls were exchanged. 22K was on the move at 0413, 14 racks and 107 well and table positions east at 0419. There were a coupla MT slots up front, but the rear half-or-so was all MT.
A straight shot up Da Hill was taken, and AY-4 made their presence known on the way. The 345s were initially dark, but by the time the yard survey -- 4 almost FP-FP with general and a few racks and mebbe a half dozen rack loads on 1 from just west of New Switch and onto the Extension, a Slow Approach was now showing on the Single EL, all other 345s at Stop. An offering was made, during which and at 0436, the Slow Approach got called. The WB came to a stop on 2 with the markers just a bit west of the air plant, which had been quiet. Also, if the cars on 4 were the same ones johnhenry had seen one 04-30, it looked like the yard air was no longer connected. Hold on jaymac! "Markers?"" Yep, Besides a blinking Mr. Blinkie, there was a knuckle flag. Never heard any transmissions from them, but they were probably an ED-9. At 0445, a breaking D-3 would reach out to the LGT, the clear parts involving OX and asking how many cars they were bringing down, followed by the request to stand by a minute. Not that it means anything, but naught further was heard to, from, or about the LGT. The LGT in the Fitchburg area could go far to explaining the earlier puzzlement of the routing for the 22K/WB meet at 333.
During the straight EB shot down Da Hill and at 0451, D-3 would engage in a broken-to-me discussion about a Line 4 for 354 to 363 and a meet at Tyters. 0455 would be when "AYPO'" would get heard, followed at 0456 by a Yard Channel exchange between AY-4 and D-3 involving waters and AY-4 being definitely clearer than D-3, and at 0508, the 333 WLs were dark.
Following a refueling stop, the 330.8 WBs were both at Clear and the 330 WLs predictably at Stops. The GL and FG WLs were dark, and at 0519, NewBlue 350 was sitting dark and solo on West Side.
Further east, the EB staggers for Derby were dark 0522, and a couple earlier nothing LGT-wise had been visible west from the old station platform.
After a coupla antenna-switching shoutouts, D-3 would give 22K the 0529 OK to continue east to Camp, the yarding instructions being 2 to 3, and hopefully then to 1 if it had gotten cleared. Didn't hear anything about racks or power. 0542 was when D-3 told POED that it was OK to take North Leominster, and 0545 was the start of Yard Channel -- thus garbled to me by then -- exchanges between D-3 and 22K.
"A gray crossover is definitely not company transportation."