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  • Gardner Gawking

  • Pan Am Southern (webssite: https://panamsouthern.com ) is jointly-owned by CSX and Norfolk Southern, but operated by Genesee & Wyoming subsidiary Pittsburg & Shawmut dba Berkshire and Eastern,
Pan Am Southern (webssite: https://panamsouthern.com ) is jointly-owned by CSX and Norfolk Southern, but operated by Genesee & Wyoming subsidiary Pittsburg & Shawmut dba Berkshire and Eastern,

Moderator: MEC407

 #1505865  by jaymac
 
For 0330-0525/04-15-2019, there was a mix of strangeness, starting with the 0336 D-3 side of things to Q426 that included Harvard Switch, the crew being good to 0359, dealing with an engine issue delaying D-3's response, a power swap, LA-23 recrewing them at MCI Crossing (more about which later), and getting therm a cab ASAP. In case some might wonder about ear-hand coordination being responsible for "LA-23," that ID got repeated, causing me to wonder if that might be a crew ID for AYPO, more about which later.
In another few, D-3 would reach out to AY-3 (mebbe the 7309), asking them to advise when they were ready for permission to reverse direction. That permission would come at 0356 -- garbled -- and involved Track 1 and west to CPF-AY, followed in a few by a now-clear request for the number of MTs they were bringing, the answer being 9.
In the meantime and 0356, the FI-2 C had told the E to drop the 3-step and come ahead, more about FI-2 to follow. At 0358, the 333 WLs were all at Stop, 22K with NSs 9055, 7590, and 8373 holding dark on 1 with a fair number of racks trailing. Unless Power Control gets creative, that will be the arrangement of a future 23K's power since all 3 were east-facing. Further west, the 334 ELs and 1 stagger were all at Stop, as would be the 335 ELs and WLs, and the marker for 22K was just west of the State Road/Rte. 2A UGB.
What had been intermittent rain east of Westminster became steady, and things got even murkier due to -- your choice -- ground fog or low-lying clouds.
Up Da Hill, the 345s were and would remain dark. There were a half-dozen+-plus rack loads on Yard 1 west of the switch, probably not enough to extend back onto the Single at 335. Naught else was visible, but mebbe there were a few on 2 and/or 4 obscured by the racks. No -- no status-change for either the brush-cutter or untucked stone. Yes -- an offering was made before the straight shot down Da Hill, during which a breaking D-3 wished somebody good morning, mentioned MCI Crossing, Track 11, Track 7, and Watervilles.
At 0435, 22K hadn't turned a wheel, but the 333 Controlled Siding WL had turned to Medium Clear, the Patriots Day holiday getting a weekday schedule. Further east and after a refueling stop, the 330.8 WBs showed a Clear for 1 and a Stop for 2, and the 330 2 WL was at Slow Approach.
The GL WLs were dark, and at 0549, FI-2 got the word to start it ahead. The FG WLs were dark, and 0452, shoving east on East Side was an east-facing KCIR 7541. Dunno for sure if they were FI-2. FI-1/2 usually -- but not always -- assigned a 4-axle.
At 0458, the EB staggers for Derby were dark
A couple later, lightning joined the rain, Working on the ground in the dark and in the rain and in the fog is sufficiently stressful without adding bolts from above.
A coupla other bits of signal intelligence -- At 0506, AY-4 was told to back it up, and at 0525 and probably on Yard Channel given the scratchiness -- came "AYPO," followed by static.
 #1505883  by neman2
 
I have never heard of "MCI Crossing" before, do you have a location? Could this be the former "No Name Crossing" which I believe was somewhere near the Hill yard?
 #1505891  by jaymac
 
MCI Crossing is at X25.5, Harvard Switch at X25.7, and No Name Crossing just a bit north/TT east of that.
 #1505930  by neman2
 
So looking at Google Maps MCI is at Depot Rd Harvard, and No- Name is near Grove Pond Rd Devens?
 #1505942  by johnhenry
 
A west bound train ID'd as POAY went through West Boylston a little after 9am, calling in high water over the rails around MP 7. Was CSX power.
 #1505968  by jaymac
 
neman2 » Mon Apr 15, 2019 7:35 pm
So looking at Google Maps MCI is at Depot Rd Harvard, and No- Name is near Grove Pond Rd Devens?
Probably won't get either of us qualified for the territory, but the Horse-Shoes/Hand-Grenade Proximity-Test has been passed.
 #1506055  by jaymac
 
0335-0540/04-17-2019 had its events.The first clear reception was at 0346 when the 7.8 announced that it was checking train. Once again, I was on the no-delay side of the the Temple Street/Rte. 140/MP X7.8 crossing, and once again the announcement of no defects would come 2 minutes later, Q 427 acknowledging the Boylston -- no "West" -- detector. In more and out-of-order Worcester Main news, at 0428, D-3 would call Form D G302 fulfilled. More details are lacking cuz I was then concurrently engaged in my own convo with an acolyte at The Shrine Of The CPF-345 Dunks. Given the frequency with which WB light-power moves are taking place, wonder if CSXT crews short on time are taking their WB trains west of X25.5, headpinning, going to Worcester, and then a fresh crew going EB as a way of saving the Kitty Cat 2 roundtrip cab charges.
At 0403, a staticky AYPO with the 7594 would reach out to D-3, D-3's response being totally garbled. To save suspense, naught further would be heard to, from or about AYPO, including from D-2.
At 0404, the 333 WLs were all at Stop, NSs 6973 and 8051 plus the rest of 22K -- more about which later -- sitting dark on 1. The reds ruled at the 334 ELs and 1 stagger and at the 335 ELs and WLs, but as 2 units might indicate, 22K was short enough that no marker was visible from the 335 lot even though wells -- MTs -- had been west of the the 334s. Oh yeah -- "AY-4, back it up" got heard at 0414.
Up Da Hill the 345 ELs were at Stop, FI-2 with the 5930 called out to D-3, and a WB with at lest a coupla slurries was just clearing the Timpany Boulevard UGB at road speed on 1. There were loaded racks from mebbe the Bull Run Switch on Yard 1 and east onto the Extension, and FI-2 with KCIR 5930 was sitting with a 3 boxes facing east by New Switch. At 0425, the 346.6 came on, giving a no defects, 28°, and 2664' at 0426. The other 0426 convo was FI-2 -- probably stepping on the WB's acknowledgment -- and D-3 about the racks and 1 Deerfield on 1, and could 3 cars go on 2, and D-3 OKing it. Yes, the sttatus of the brush-cutter and untucked stone stayed unchanged.
Surprisingly, the EB straight shot down Da Hill was quiet until 0438 when D-3 and 22K began an exchange, about taking the signal and yarding instructions being 1 to 2, racks to San-Vel, and power back to 2. 22K was already on the move when I got to the lot, but -- so luck am I -- hadn't yet dropped the Medium Clear on the 1 WL. That did happen, and 4 racks and 64 wells and tables -- mebbe half MTs -- got east.
D-3 next asked 22K about their Summary, giving an updated speedo -- 30 passenger and 25 freight for 2 between Derby and the Harvard Street MP 43.33 OHB at 0444. What was puzzling about the speedo info was that I heard both parties clearly, but each party asked the other parties to repeat parts of their transmissions. Fell free to insert your least-unfavorite jaymac comms rant.
At 0445, the 333 Controlled Siding went to Medium Clear, prompting me to wait for 400. In the meantime, AY-4 advised D-3 that Track 1 was clear and later told themselves 10 more or so. At 0550, 400 gave themselves the OK to depart, a total of 3 flats and 1 bi plus the 2007 doing just that.
Further east, the 330.8 WBs showed a Stop for 1 and a Clear for 2, the 330 1 WL being at Slow Clear. The GL Controlled Siding WL showed a Medium Clear and the FG 1 WL a Clear. The FI-1/2 parking spot was unsurprisingly MT, but further east on West Side sat dark KCIR 7622 and 1 track south an equally dark KCIR 7623. Dunno about trailers, but do know -- for those who like to keep track of such things -- 400 made repeated noise during their pass-by. Oh yeah and probably new-speedo related, there were 2 tampers and a regulator in the old layover.
At 0513, AY-4's new car countdown was 30, and at 0513, the EB staggers for Derby were dark.Yes, the lower altitudes of North Leominster aren't good for 40.2 reception, but naught for 400 was heard during the usual time window, unless AY-4 stepped on it. But Boston West telling 400 there were no messages was heard at 0522
There would be some more garble and then -- at 0537 -- a clear D-3 to 22K, followed -- naturally -- by garble.
 #1506306  by jaymac
 
For 0330-0540/04-19-2019, no actual Gardner was gawked, causes to be seen. With occasional outbursts of static, things were quiet until 0346 when D-3 authorized AY-3 with the 7627 -- more about which later -- to enter Track 1 at the Milling and proceed west.
There would be D-3 garble at 0358 and again at 0402, "CSX" and "Form D" being the only intelligible sounds. In the meantime, the 333 WLs had been dark at 0358, as were the 334 ELs and 1 stagger in a couple. Not only were the 335 ELs at Stop, but 22K was doing a slow-roll EB, not only that, but the slow roll was on 2 and with more than enough wells already gone by to block 400 getting onto the Controlled Siding. Back at 333, the 2 WL was now at Clear, and 22K with NSs 9350, 9530, and 7518 with 9 racks, 106 loaded table and well positions, and 17 MT table and well positions getting east of the 333 ELs at 0428 to the tones of the Brake Shoe Chorus, despite the Clear. The marker wasn't outta sight around the reverse curves until 0432 and didn't go dark until 0437. To almost finish up 22K, at 0442, D-3 called out to them, switched antennas and called out again, telling them to hold at North Leominster Station. Never did hear yarding instructions, except -- as will be seen -- indirectly. Dunno if speedos or other issues discussed before I started listening were responsible for the slow-roll.
While 22K was going through 333, D-3 called out to CSX Y337 -- more about which later -- and issued Form D G305, a Line 2 from MP X6 -- Shrewsbury Street -- to Burncoat, the time effective being garbled. Oh yeah -- the power was MEC 7518, and talk included wanting to know about a power swap.There was also more AY local activity -- a 0430 1-east-at-CPF-AY-to-1 241 for AY-3 and car countdowns from AY-4, AY-4 remaining a constant intermittent.
At 0446, the 333 WLs came back on, a Medium Clear for the Controlled Siding, 0450 being when 400 gave themselves the OK to depart, a total of 3 flats and 1 bi plus the 2007 doing the expectable at expectable intervals. Further east, the the 330.8 WBs showed Stop for 1 and Clear for 2 and the 330 1 WL a soon-to-drop Slow Clear. The GL WLs hadn't yet been shunted, but thanks was due for all the unusualness, so thanks was given to The Deity Of The CPF-GL WLs/CPF-330 ELs Dunks, the 0500 completion congruent with 400 OKing themselves outta Fitchburg. The FG 1 WL was at Clear, expectable since 22K was holding on 2 at North Leominster.
At 0504 KCIR 5930 was sitting dark in the FI-1/2 parking spot, and EB 400 made repeated noise cuzza 22K's tail there on 2.
At 0505, D-3 advised AY-3 that ED-9 would be getting their marker and that the Chief had just told him that 22K's racks would be going to South Track, so their cars would have to move. There was a 0511 D-3/AY-3 continuation involving short time, the cars, the marker for ED-9, and waiting for 400 to get by. At 0512, the EB staggers for Derby were both at Approach, the 1 then going to Clear, 400 having OKed themselves outta North Leominster at 0507. Strangely and even though I was at track level, naught -- again -- was heard from the 40.2 during 400's time window.
For all but the end of the trip, AY-4 and Boston West would be contributors, but then CSX Y337 would get busy, Form DG305 being fulfilled at 0535, D-3 asking them to say when they were off the property, and Y337 saying they would be tying down at New Bond for a new crew, and things goiing quiet at 0538. The power swap? Never heard deets.
 #1506545  by jaymac
 
For 0328-0540/04-22-2019, things didn't go smoothly, especially and as will be seen at CPF-AY.
At 0328, there was a both-sides-somewhat-audible POAY-with-the-7545/D-3 exchange, a cancellation of Form D G301. Do wish I'd heard it being issued so as to know the reason for a Form D between 312 and AY.
At 0537, there was a garbled "AY-3." naught further being heard to, from, or about that particular local. There would be some yarding transmissions, attributable in a couple to FI-2, more about which later. "ED-9," followed yet again by garble, was heard at 0355, and at 0358, the 333 WLs were dark, as would be things at 334 and 335. At 0407, there was a mutually garbled Yard Channel exchange between D-3 and ED-9, and at 0411, D-3 gave foul time to Keolis TC 351 on 2 from East Wye to the limits of CPF-AY until 0450, much more to follow.
Up Da Hill, the 345s were and would remain dark for the duration of my brief stay. Ground fog did limit visibility a bit, but Yard 4 had a pair of covered hoppers, an unplacarded tank, and a pair of MT racks on its easterly end, and Yard 2 had racks from in back of Royal Steam Heater to the west. To maintain continuity on the Sameoldsameold Ledger entries (Gardner not gawked on 04-19), the brush-cutter remained on the House, and the untucked stone remained on the Heywood.
An offering was made, the straight shot down Da Hill being quiet.
At 0433, the 333 WLs were still dark, and further east, the 330.8 WBs showed a Stop for 1 and a Clear for 2, a Slow Approach on the 330 1 WL, and darkness at the GL and FG WLs. At 0441, there was a mutually garbled D-3/AYPO Yard Channel exchange, "switch" and "Keolis" being the only bits of clarity, and at 0442, the FI-1/2 parking spot was MT, but a solo unit -- ID unseeable -- was shoving cars east on West Side. 0445 would be when more D-3/AYPO garble would be heard, "correspondence" the only clarity.
0445 would be when AY-4 would -- clearly -- call out to D-3 on Channel 2, asking about foul time and loaded waters, D-3's responses hopefully being clearer to AY-4 than they were to me.
Sitting dark on 2 and clear of North Leominster were NSs 9271, 8051, and 9673 with 22K, mebbe a dozen-plus racks up front. D-3 and AYPO would begin a Channel 1 convo at 0455, the train info including 7x0 (yes, seven by zero), 709 tons, and a CSX marker. At 0459, FI-2 let D-3 know they wanted to cross the road to call it a night, D-3 advising they'd wait for 400 who was in 330.
The EB staggers for Derby showed an Approach for 2 and a Clear for 1, dropped at 0510 by 400 with 2 bis sandwiching 2 flats and the 1033 doing the work. What might seem like clear sailing for the 400 wasn't. D-3 had made repeated and unanswered transmissions to TC 351 about foul time and had asked ED-9 if they could eyeball the Foreman to have him contact D-3. With no apparent-to-me success in those efforts, D-3 told 400 at 0522 to have someone walk CPF-AY to make sure they were lined 1 to 1, a 241 for that move issued at 0525, the T Service Alert showing a 5-15 minute delay to North Station because of switch problems.
At 0508, D-3 had given FI-2 the OK on signal indication, their West Side work providing 1 PW plus whatever else for ED-9 who had also gotten their own OK.
D-3 would tell AYPO they were OK to East Wye and to accept signal indication at CPF-AY, but at 0535 to make sure they were lined 2 to 1 at AY, and -- no pressure, I'm sure -- "we're all counting on you."
Q426/427 or CSX local IDs? Naught was heard, but POAY, AYPO, and ED-9 in and around Ayer in short order might hint they were still or already west. Naught was visible at either the Rtes. 12/140 UGB or Shrewsbury Street. MP X6 crossing.
Did D-2 and the TC 351 Foreman ever reestablish communications? Not that I heard by 0540.
 #1506751  by jaymac
 
For 0325-0540/04-24-2019, the data came more from sound than sight, as will be seen.
At 0331, D-3 advised AY-3 -- more about which later -- that 22K was coming through North Leominster and would be tying up the Main for a half hour to 45 minutes, so AY-3's runaround would have to be between 312 and WL. AY-6 was the next convo, a need for them to clear up so AY-3's runaround could happen. Things were switched back to AY-3 to confirm if they were good to 0600.There was more talk about possibilities -- 22K taking only 2 tracks so mebbe AY-6 could take the racks.
The next convo -- 0345 -- involved AYPO, advising that someone -- unheard clearly by me -- was bringing a marker down from Fitchburg, D-3 then switching to AY-6 to confirm that the San-Vel Switch was lined and locked for normal movement on 2. 0349 was when D-3 fulfilled Form D G303 to Q427 with CSXT 5215, they being west and clear of Burncoat. D-3 asked if they were tying down at New Bond, the response unheard by me.
At 0358, the 333 WLs were dark, and a couple earlier, ground fog or a low-hanging cloud had begun compromising visibility. In between the dark 334s and 335s, an equally dark 5th Mass. Turnpike decided to test my reflexes by having a doe decide it was a good idea to jump across the road just ahead of me. Let's all be real careful out there, to re-borrow from Sgt. Phil of Hill Street Blues.
Up Da Hill, the 345s were all at Stop. There was a solo rack on Yard 1 just west of the switch, and Yard 2 had 1 hopper, 3 covered hoppers, 1 unplacarded tank, and 2 possibly MT racks. No changes were apparent for either the brush-cutter or untucked stone. Post offering-of-thanks, the 345s were still lit, so a short trip west was taken. Racks were visible at the Wilkins Road dogleg, as were number boards at Parkers, the WL also at Stop. The view from First Street showed KCIRs 7727 and 5930 doing an elephant impression, The 5930 had probably cycled offa FI-1/2 duty and was headed for the shop. There mighta been a 3rd unit, but Chairtown Lumber structures blocked the view. Guessing it was an ED-9, but never heard.
On the way EB, the 345s remained all at Stop, and at 0439, D-3 would 241 AY-3 with the 7609 from 1 east at the Willows to 1 on the Freight Main.
Down Da Hill and at 0444 came a garbled "loaded waters" with naught else intelligible. At 0345, the 333 WLs hadn't yet come on, so the decision was made to stay ahead of the 400. Further east, the 330.8 WBs showed a Stop for 1 and a Clear for 2, the 330 1 WL at Slow Approach, and the GL and FG WLs were temporarily dark.
At 0456, KCIR 7591 was dark and solo and facing east in the FI-1/2 parking spot. Just guessing, but mebbe there had just been a swap for the 5930. At 0457, 400 called the Slow Approach at 330 and at 0600 a Medium Clear for GL.
22K had earlier been given a Restricting and the OK to start shoving, and AY-4 and 22K were alternating yarding transmissions. The EB staggers for Derby, came on at 0505 with a Clear for 1 and an Approach for 2, meaning 400 would be on 1 and that the FG 1 WL had been at Clear, so there would been no signal-call for me to hear. 400 got on the move outta North Leominster at 0507, and a total of 3 flats and 1 bi plus the 1131 did the 0509 dropping.
The D-3 side of convos with AY-3 resumed at 0511 when he asked if they were still within the interlocking, responding OK to what they replied, then telling them to tie down and that he would send a cab, next asking them to confirm that the switch was lined and locked for normal movement on the 1, again their side unheard. Also unheard a couple later and on schedule was anything from the 40.2 for the 400.
There would be occasional Yard Channel garble, clarity returning at 0537 when AYPO with the 7575 called out to D-3, a both-sides exchange beginning at 0538, D-3 asking for train info. AYPO's response included the 7575 and 3 -- mebbe 4 --other 7????s, 7x12, 1500 tons, and 2200'. Were some of the 12 MT waters? The marker was also given, but just a number and not CSX. The final sounds were D-3's 241 to AYPO for passing the Stop signal on East Wye and proceeding east to the 2.
 #1506959  by jaymac
 
For 0330-0550/04-26-2019, things were somewhat outta their usual sequence.
Things started off quiet, but the Rte. 140 view of the Oakdale causeway showed WB headlights, so it was over to the Rtes. 12/140 UGB. Before arrival, there was a garbled FI-2 -- more about which later -- transmission to D-3, D-3 acknowledging that the switch wouldn't work, Billing would be notified, and that it was OK from Derby west to Freight Main West.
CSXTs 3412 and 3292 got 47 west of the Rtes. 12/140 UGB at 0349, including MT centerbeams, solo and then a cut of LPGs. boxes that included a Pan Am and Big G, full-size covered hoppers, and a shortie placarded for 1495, sodium chlorate, possibly for compounding herbicides, but more likely for bleaching paper. The 7.8 talker would come on at 0352 and give a no defects at 0356.
Because refueling was the most pressing personal business, that priority permitted an earlier-than-normal of the 330 WLs -- Stops -- and the 330.8 WBs -- Clears. Refueling done, the WB staggers or 330 showed a Stop for 1 and an Approach for 2, the 330 ELs and WLs -- as well as the 334s and 335s -- all dark. At 0425, AY-4's car countdown had been heard, and AY-4 would be an intermittent constant for the rest of the trip. It is possible -- even probable that the earlier Q427 had their Form D fulfilled during refueling: I never heard.
There were other car countdowns on the way up Da Hill plus Stops on the 345s cuzza activity in Gardner. 22K with NSs 7596, 7283, and 4006 was in the process of setting off however many PW racks on Yard 1, the rest of the train morphing into wells and mebbe tables a bit east of the the Timpany Boulevard UGB. There was general-- including a wrapped centerbeam on Yard 4, and Yard 2 looked like it coulda been MT. The Sameoldsameold Ledger? Brush-cutter and untucked stone, as expectable at 0445.
An offering of thanks having been made, the straight shot EB was started. At 0454, D-3 reached out to 22K, but given that I was EB, it was just about time for Mount Wachusett to exert its electromagnetic penumbra, so further deets got lost.
At 0500 -- 400 well east -- the 333 WLs were dark, and at 0454, the River Street Zombie Zone let only the ID part of D-3's shoutout to AYPO escape into intelligibility. Further east, the 330.8 WBs were back to Clears and the 330 WLs at Stops, the GL and FG WLs being dark.
At 0512, NewBlue 350 was doing a slow haul west on West Side, and at 0519, D-3 would give FI-2 with the 350 both the signal and the OK to proceed on signal indication for their West-Side-to-East-Side request.
AY-4 continued on the airwaves, but naught else was heard to, from, or about other expectable sources.
To demonstrate that sometimes OCD can be stronger than ADHD, a side trip to the Shrewsbury Street/MP X6 crossing was made to see if Q427 mighta tied down there. MT at 0541.
 #1507192  by jaymac
 
For 0330-0530/04-29-2019, there were surprises. The 1st one came at 0534 and from the southerly side of the Temple Street/Rte. 140/MP X7.8 crossing when the talker talked. The 0535 arrival showed this was no spurious shunt or relay defect, cars -- power already west -- doing their 10 MPH pass in review. 0540 was when the gates went up, and the proclaimed no defects, Q427 acknowledging. The time was right for about 50 cars. To save suspense, no cancellation or fulfillment of the Form D was heard, and at 0518, the track east of the Shrewsbury Street/MP X6 crossing was MT. There was a good amount of intervening D-3 garble, so hoonose?
0357 would bring sounds of FI-2 -- more about which later -- being active, and 0402 would show the 333 WLs dark, as would be things in turn at 334 and 335. On my way up Da Hill, D-3 would answer POED -- more about which later -- and roger a coupla times whatever POED had said a coupla times.
Up Da Hill, the 345s were and would remain dark for the duration of the brief drive-through. There were racks on Yard 4, almost FP-FP general on Yard 2, and loaded racks on Yard 1 from about Royal Steam Heater east onto Yard Lead. The brush-cutter still was on the House and untucked stone still around the Heywood, but Gardner did have its own surprise -- a non-VW rabbit racing through the Jade lot.
Offering made and straight-shot EB trip undertaken, a reward of sorts came at 0430 in the form of a both-sides-broken AY-4/D-3 exchange, clarity returning at 0432 when D-3 told 22K with NS 8173 that it was OK to proceed east from Catecunemaug Road -- isn't Slab City easier to say and hear? -- and that AY-4 had said that Track 1 was clear. D-3 added something, but garble mode was now in effect.
At 0436, the 333 WLs were dark, and further east, the 330.8 WBs showed a Clear for 1 and a Stop for 2, the 330 2 WL at Slow Approach. FI-2 sounds continued, and the GL and FG WLs were dark. At 0447, NewBlue 350 as FI-2 would be shoving east on East Side, and at 0455, the EB staggers for Derby were dark.
At 0457, D-3 would reach out to POED with the 7500 and ask what was at 312, the answer providing a 0458 Single-west-to-1-at-312 241. For the balance of my trip, alternating car countdowns from AY-4 and 22K would provide the audio data. AY-3? Naught heard.
OT, but wouldn't be too surprised if the "relatively" inexpensive fuel prices in some parts of Fitchburg and Leominster are back over $3.00 in the not-distant future.
 #1507304  by johnpbarlow
 
It's interesting that even though Slab City is no longer a Control Point as its signals are gone, the dispatcher will still use the locale to occasionally stop or tie down a freight.

Q: Jaymac, in your recent observations is the air plant at Gardner no longer operational or in use? Last time I was there a month or so back, I don't recall hearing any breathing sounds coming from the little shed.
 #1507339  by jaymac
 
Even after the Slab City signals got removed, the phrasing for EBs not running through Ayer would sometimes be to hold at Slab City. When a commuter or other window opened up or a recrew got done, then there would be on OK to proceed east. I don't listen 24/7, so it may have happened before, but 04-29 was the first time I heard Catecunemaug Road being used. The really curious thing is that "Catecunemaug" was in my iMac spellcheck without me putting there.
As far as the air plant, the lights are still on, but It's been more than a bit since I've heard any compressor noises. It's also been a similar amount of time since I've seen ground-air hoses connected, but predawn lighting levels may be a contribution.

Edited for reasons that will be obvious:
It's "Catacunemaug," so how did the iMac dictionary get the incorrect spelling?
Last edited by MEC407 on Thu May 02, 2019 5:53 pm, edited 1 time in total. Reason: unnecessary quoting
 #1507363  by johnhenry
 
I was in Gardner this afternoon and when I arrived I watched FI-1 (350) light engine heading west on 2 to grab a string of covered hoppers sitting there, pull them east past 345, double back to some freight on 1, and then head east (at least they had disappeared 1/2 hr later). While this was happening, ED-8 (twin triple axles) was setting off freight on yard 4 and then headed back to 2, where the rest of their train was (I am guessing FI-1 took the Fitchburgs to save ED-8 a stop there) - whereupon D3 let the P&W into the yard (all tracks occupied with out-bounds) with the caveat that ED-8 was on 2 blocking the west switch. When I stopped back 1/2 hr later ED-8 was also gone, P&W in the process of pulling the yard. Oh yes, I saw ED-8's conductor put air on the track 4 set-off.
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