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  • 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

 #1563066  by jaymac
 
0255-0505/02-12-2021's last words hear will be the first posted -- "All I'm getting is static out of you. I can't hear you at all." That was my experience for much of the trip, 0255 starting off with hashed car countdowns.
0304 was marginally clearer when Boston West reached out with something about Winchester to what sounded like AY-3, more about whom later.
At 0316, D-3 reached out to POED with the 7534, saying something broken to me about Fitchburg setoffs. To save suspense, naught attributable would further be heard to, from, or about POED. 0323 would be when the presumed C would tell the presumed E that FI-3 -- more more about whom later -- was clear for 25. Given signal strength Fitchburg would seem the origin, that to be supported by future events.
At 0328, yes, the 333 WLs were dark, and equally yes, the usual pattern followed.
There was some noise WB up Da Hill, the 345 ELs and WLs were at Stop, and MT racks extended west on 2 from just east of the Timpany Boulevard UGB. Yard 4 had 7 loaded rack from by the easterly FP and then general west that included covered hoppers, a coil car and at least 1 CRYO-TRANS. At 0345, D-3 OKd AY-5 -- again more about whom later -- on signal indication.
A trip marginally west was undertaken, a mix of generals and racks visible along the way and the leader -- NS 6964 -- just west of the GAAMHA building at 346, so dunno what might be there for trailer/s. D-3 reached out to whatever the train was for a status check, the E advising that the C was walking back to the head end. Given the time of an inevitably hindered progress of that trek plus the time of getting paperwork done in advance of giving an update, I was gone. Suspicions of them being ED-9 would be generated both by the leader and a subsequent reception.
Just west of the Rte. 2 EB crest and at 0412, there was garble that included "thorofare," but no idea whether it was from or about Hill Yard. The next garble came at 0414 when D-3 called out to FI-2 -- yet another more about whom later -- just in time for Mount Wachusett to do what it does.
At 0420, the 333 WLs were dark, and at 0425, FI-3 advised they were coming down the Main towards FI-2, 0426 being when D-3 told FI-3 with the NS 4305 he would have to hold them at Slab City. The 330. 8 WBs had been at Clear, the 330 WLs and ELs all at Stop, and the GL and FG WLs dark. At 0435, KCIR 5966 was shoving covered hoppers east onto East Side.
Never heard if the Slab City hold had been changed, but at 0438, and in a both-sides-audible convo, D-3 asked FI-3 if he took then down to WL would they clear Snake Hill Road, FI-3 saying they thought they could fit. It would seem FI-3 had the San-Vel racks.
At 0448, the EB staggers for Derby were dark, as were -- except for snow -- the 4 company gons on the RVJ stub. 0449 was when AY-5 was told to drop the 3 and bring it back, car countdowns to follow.
At 0458, D-3 called out to ED-9 -- power ID not heard by me -- asking about a brake slip. 0458 was also when D-3 reached out to AY-3, asking if they were getting in the clear and where they wanted a cab. Garble now went into effect, so no idea where they were. They did have enough time to get home if it actually had been them that Boston West talked to earlier.
0500 was the start of more AY-5 countdowns, and you've already read about 0505.
AY-4? 22K? POAY/AYPO? Q426/7? Dunno -- never heard.
 #1563306  by jaymac
 
0255-0500/02-15-2021 was a trip featuring not much clear info, both because of a surplus of the usual hash issues and also because of a surplus of quiet.
There wasn't even hash getting to me until 0316, hash which D-3 clarified by answering Signal Truck 11517. There was more hash, and then D-3 acknowledged that Sterling Street/MP X16.80 was back in service.
There would now follow only occasional spurts of hash, none even long enough to be able to eyeball the scanner display for origin. Amid 1 burst of hash, there was a clear "22K" -- to, from, or about? -- at 0323, and at 0327, the 333 WLs were dark.
Mount Wachusett was not a factor at 0328, so D-3 was clear when asking AY-3 if the switch was lined and locked for normal movement, as was his OKing them on signal indication. D-3 next asked where they were heading, further developments unheard by me except for D-3 calling himself out. And again, the usual pattern of Stops for the 334 ELs and darkness for the 334 1 stagger and 335s did follow.
Mount Wachusett was again not a factor at 0339 when D-3 answered Q427 and fulfilled Form D G304 to Q426 with the CSXT 5431, 0341 being the time effective for Form D G301 to Q427 with the CSXT 474 for MP X25 to Burncoat, followed by the request for time into DCS. There was a broken D-3 roger at 0344, an appropriate interval.
Interwoven with the receptions was the sight of Stops on the 345 ELs and general standing on the 1 and west at the Timpany Boulevard UGB. The 345 WLs were also at Stop, and Yard 2 had general FP-FP that included covered hoppers and wrapped and tented centerbeams. There were racks and mebbe other stuff on Yard 4. The marker for the train on 1 wasn't visible from in back of Chair City Oil, so it woulda been in back of the Pratt buildings. The leader -- KCIR 7627 -- was up at First Street, trailer/s blocked from view by the lumber company racks. There was activity in the cab, but dunno if decrew or recrew. If decrew, apologies for getting your hopes up that transportation had arrived. No idea if they were FI-3 or POED, there being no receptions to, from, or about them. The 346 WL was at Stop, so with no EB in the near term, I was EB.
The EB trip was silent until 0411 hash, and 3 later the 333 WLs were dark. Further east, the 330.8 WBs were both at Clear and the 330 WLs and ELs all at Stop. There were some unattributable yarding sounds between the dark GL and FG WLs, and at 0428 the FI-1/2 parking spot was MT cuz KCIR 5966 was doing the back and forth on East Side.
FI=2 activity would be heard while I was still in range.
At 0434, the EB staggers for Derby were dark, 4 company gons still on the RVJ stub. The rest of the trip was silent, at least for me. AY-4? AY-5? AYPO? Dunno.
Let's all dodge a 02/16 cannonball. Mebbe the forecast ice will be snow.
A hedzup for infrequent travelers on Rte. 140 in Boylston/West Boylston. Message boards are advising an 0600-2000 shutdown on 02-22.
As of 0610, no X7.8 crossing noise from 427 heard inside my home.
 #1563559  by jaymac
 
0255-0500/02-18-2021 mighta been a lull between weather events, but there was little lull between garble events. The early proof of scanner function would come from NECR Road and PW Yard. There was PAR/S clarity at 0302 when D-3 called out to AY-3, me getting a spurt of hash to follow, followed at 0306 by D-3 asking AY-3 how long they thought they'd be working up there and rogering AY-3's hash. More AY-3 will follow.
At 0312 there was Channel 1 hash on Road side followed by D-3 calling out to EDPO, followed by "3 step, AY-3," followed by hash at intervals. More EDPO will also follow.
At 0329, the 333 WLs were dark, and hash intermittency continued. The 334 ELs were at Stop and the 334 1 stagger dark. At 0335 and on the way over to the also-dark 335s, "AY-4" was the filling in a hash sandwich. To, from, or about? Dunno.
At 0339 and when I was mosta the way WB up Da Hill, a clear but unattributable "3-step" got to my ears, followed by Stops on the 345 ELs getting to my eyes. The Timpany UGB was MT as were the mains and mosta the yard -- Just west of Yard Lead switch were 2 rack loads and 3 general. Oh yeah, the 345 WLs were also at Stop.
The usual minor trip west was undertaken, and naught was visible at the usual view points, including 346, the WL of which was dark at 0358. At 0403, the 345s were still all at Stop, and naught was visible on the Dead Track at the Pearson Boulevard UGB and just east. Relay probs or the 345s reset to constant-on? Dunno. To compound puzzlement, PD Gardner had been radioactive, so any possible Channel 1 clues coulda gotten stepped on.
The EB trip featured Yard Channel hash from 0406 and on, at 0407 it sure sounded like it was BO-2 that D-3 was having a convo with. Mount Wachusett now became a factor, so naught further on that subject.
At 0412, the 333 WLs were dark, and 0413 started the sometimes-good, sometimes-not reception of D-3 talking with Q427. 426's Form D G318 == power ID lost -- was fulfilled at 0414, and 427's Form D G301 to CSXT 6352 from MP X25 to *hash* was made effective at 0415. Time into DCS was requested, but I never would hear a roger. Considering that I was in the depths of the Westminster and River Streets ZombieZones at the time, that wasn't too incomplete a reception. Oh yeah -- X7.8 crossing noise at 0604.
The 330.8 WBs were Clear, and on the way over to the 330 WLs and ELs -- all Stops -- came a both-sides-hashed D-3/AYPO convo, more -- again -- to follow. The GL and FG WLs were dark, at at 0425, the FI-1/2 parking spot was MT.
Post refueling stop and at 0436, D-3 reached out to EDPO, no developments getting to my ears in the short term. At 0437, the EB staggers for Derby were dark, and 4 company gons continued their occupation of there RVJ stub.
At 0443 again came "AY-4" outta a hash storm. 0451 was when D-3 asked AY-3 if they were gonna do a runaround or wanted a cab.. Whatever the answer was, D-3 told EDPO at 0452 that they'd pull down to Wagon Wheel for an AE-01 recrew. That was followed by a 241 -- deets lost -- to NS 6950. Guessing that EDPO had the San-Vel racks and that whatever general they brought east would be brought further east by AYPO.
 #1563864  by jaymac
 
0255-0445/02-22-2021 was a spell of low activity, even hash being rationed. 0319 was the first clearish reception, a both-sides-semi-audible D-3/ED-8 convo, D-3 advising that there were code issues at AY and to expect a 241, ED-8 acknowledging the 241 expectation. To get to musing. naught would be heard to, from, or about EDPO, POED, or FI-3, so wondering if ED-8/9 is the replacement for EDPO/POED and/or FI-3, given that cars to/from ED generally get married/divorced at AY by AYPO/POAY.
The next reception came at 0327 when D-3 asked AY-3 -- more about whom later -- if they would be able to make it back to the yard tonight, AY-3 providing hash, as would D-3 since Mount Wachusett by now was looming large.
At 0329, the 333 WLs were dark, the stereotypical pattern of Stops for the 334 ELs and darkness for the 334 1 stagger and 335s in effect.
The trip WB up Da Hill was silent, and the 345s were dark. Yard 4 was pretty much FP--FP with mebbe 9 rack loads on the east and general west that included unplacarded tanks. covered hoppers and lumber centerbeams. The easterly end of Yard 2 also had a few racks.
The EB trip was silent until 0354 when a broken 241 was given to ED-8. ED-8 came through enough to let me know they had NS ???? for leader, Mount Wachusett again compromising reception for D-3, so dunno if this woulda been for AY or WL with racks, naught having been heard about an AY-5 or AE-01 and there being many places where the earlier-promised 241 for AY would not have gotten to me.
At 0358, the 333 WLs were dark, and further east -- along with remarkable radio silence -- the 330.8 WBs were at Clear and the 330 WLs and ELs all at Stop. The GL and FG WLs were dark, and at 0410, the FI-1/2 parking spot was MT, but a bit further east, lit, silent, standing, and buried was an unIDable unit. At 0417, the EB staggers for Derby were dark, 4 company gons still on the RVJ stub.
0419 produced the 1st break in silence with some Yard Channel hash. At 0425, ED-8 would garble to D-3, D-3 rogering what they said and OKing them on signal indication.
At 0437 came the generally clear D-3 side of a convo with AY-3. They wouldn't be able to make it back to the yard in time, so AY-4 would recrew them and bring it back to the yard, asking where they wanted the cab, and rogering their choice. 0441 was when the new plan got announced -- there would be no recrew, so they were to get in the clear at the Milling, and D-3 would get them a cab. The next 4 minutes woulda been crickets, but it's still too cold for them.
22K? POAY/AYPO? Q426/7? Dunno.
 #1563997  by jaymac
 
0252-0445/02-24-2021 had some surprises. That old standby hash was still there but "AY-6" emerged out of a serving at the start, followed in another minute by "AY-5" and car countdowns.
Things went into quiet mode until 0305 when D-2 reached out to NA-2, making Form D G201 to the 316 for MP N12 to MP N17 in both directions effective at 0307. There was a bit more, but topography had gotten less favorable. Guess mebbe the brewery would be getting attention.
Intermittent hash would continue, "AY-6" being clear at 0316, and at 0325, the 333 WLs were dark. 0327 would bring some Dispatcher-side garble, followed in a minute by 22K getting the word that that there were 40 -- 4-0 -- to go. To save some keyboarding and reading, 22K would be a presence for pretty much the rest of my trip. And yes, the 334 ELs were at Stop and the the 334 1 stagger and 335s dark.
Up Da Hill, the 345s were and would remain dark for the brief drive through. Yard 4 had E-W on the easterly end 1 bare and 1 wrapped lumber centerbeams, 1 box, 3 coil cars, and 1 MT centerbeam, begging the wondering about MT and loaded centerbeams in the same presumably to-or-from-PW-cut.
Hash happened again at the start of the EB leg of the trip, 22K occasionally IDable. At 0355, the 333 WLs were dark, and further east, the 330.8 WBs were at Clear and the 330 WLs and ELs all at Stop. The GL and FG WLs were dark, and at 0409, KCIR 5966 faced east on the west end of a coupla boxes on East Side, more about FI-2 to follow.
At 0416, the EB staggers for Derby were dark, 4 company gons still on the RVJ stub. 22K would continue their activity, and at 0439, D-3 reached out to Q427, eventually making Form D G304 to CXT 5303 for X25 to Burncoat effective at 0441. Never heard a fulfillment for 426's Form D, but hoonose? There was more about D-3 wanting 427 to keep him updated, but there was a return to hash, so don't know the deets. Time into DCS was requested, but acknowledgment was never heard.
Starting at 0443 and ending at 0445, D-3's side of a convo with FI-2 was heard. He had been asked to find out what they had done so far and rogered whatever their response was.
AY-3? AY-4? POAY/AYPO? ED-8/9 and/or FI-3 and/or EDPO/POED? Naught heard, but not surprising since 427 and 22K had been simultaneously active in the yard.
Another hedzup for occasional Rte. 140 travelers in Boylston/West Boylston: Message boards are advising of a Rte. 140 shutdown north of Rte. 70 and -- just guessing by the staged signs -- south of Maple Street, West Boylston for 0600-2000 on Monday, 03-01.
 #1564002  by jwhite07
 
The closure of Route 140 (including through the Temple St/X7.8 crossing, to make it somewhat on topic) is due to filming scenes for an episode of the Showtime series "Dexter". They had the road closed yesterday too. To further make it on topic, Route 140 traffic was and will be rerouted across the Shrewsbury St/X6.0 crossing. No trains will be harmed in the filming of these scenes (well, we hope, anyway).
 #1564047  by jaymac
 
jwhite07 wrote:... No trains will be harmed in the filming of these scenes (well, we hope, anyway).
Tnx -- As long as all the Kitty Cats are safe, all is almost well.
 #1564217  by jaymac
 
0255-0505/02-26-2021 had some surprises, not the initial spell of Yard Channel hash, not even the 0304 fulfillment of Q426's Form D 6322, but in the convo that led up to the 0306 time-effective for Form D G303 to Q427 with CSXT 3237 for MP X25 to Burncoat. D-3 had asked 427 if they'd picked up the QGRY engine. Yep -- Québec & Gatineau going onto the Worcester Main! D-3 also asked for time into DCS, that probably being 0309 when D-3 answered, paused, and then called himself out.
There would be occasional and unattributable car countdowns, and at 0330, the 333 WLs were dark. 0330 was also when D-3 reached out to AY-3, rogered their response, and then advised AY-3 that AYPO was out on the Main picking up cars, then asking if AY-3 could do their runaround between Graniteville and Westford. There was the expectable garble, D-3 saying at 0335 that he'd get them headed to Graniteville and recrew them wherever they were. Some of the preceding and following garble would seem to be from AYPO.
No surprises that the 334 ELs were at Stop and the 334 1 stagger and 335s dark. A period of radio silence would start; extend past the dark 345s, the E-W 3 NS gons, SOU box, the steel-loaded mini-hi bulkhead, and the ?? gon on Yard 1 just east of the Yard Lead switch; and end at 0356 when D-3 reached out to AY-3, paused, asked them to say again, asked him many MTs they had, and then -- at 0357 -- get overridden by a much-stronger-to-me D-2 answering BODO and advising there were no changes on D-2, presumably to the Summary.
Hash would now make a comeback, and at 0401, he 333 WLs were dark.
Further east, the usual pattern of Clears for the 330.8 WBs, Stops for the 330 WLs and ELs, and darkness for the GL and FG WLs was in effect, and at 0414, KCIR 5966 was solo and east-facing in the FI-1/2 parking spot.
Post-refueling-stop and at 0427, the EB staggers for Derby were dark. The RVJ stub's 4 company gons? Gone. 0427 was also the start of a Yard Channel hash fest between D-3 and AYPO, the escaping bits being that AY-3 was doing their runaround, so AYPO would have wait for D-2 to take them. AY-4 also got mentioned, but they were never heard by me. Mebbe AY-4 recrewed AY-3. Dunno.
As I was staring to climb upgrade at Oakdale, so was Q427, giving me more than ample time to stop south of the Temple Street/Rte. 140/ X7.8 crossing. The signals activated, and at 0456, the talker let the radio audience know he was checking train.
CSXTs 3237, 7267, and 768 plus QGRY 756 crossed over, and I headed south, the no defects not coming until 0502, so it was a substantial train. 0505 was when radio listening stopped, by at 0505 and at the right interval, crossing noise was heard for Shrewsbury Street/MP X6.0.
22K? EDPO/POED? FI-3? AY-5? Dunno.
 #1564636  by jaymac
 
0255-0455/03-01-2021 off started rainy and slow and got rainier, but busier. 0256 presented some Dispatcher-side garble on Channel 1, only "AY" escaping into intelligibility. The possible explanation came at 0318 with what would be an ongoing series of 22K car countdowns, 3-steps, and brake tests. 0256 coulda been the 22K C letting the E know what was on CPF-AY for their shove.
OT, but 1 of the many good features of LED headlights is that they turn skunk stripes into visi-gear stripes. A near miss is still a miss.
With 22K providing the soundtrack, the 333 WLs were dark at at 0332, the expectable Stops on the 334 ELs and darkness on the 334 1 stagger and 335s to follow.
Darkness was also displayed on the 345s, Yard 1 having rack loads from Royal Steam Heater east onto the Extension and general west to a bit shy of the FP. There was general on Yard 2 visible through rack gaps, but no guesses about Yard 4. At 0352, the D-3 side of a convo advised ED-8 -- the probable source of what was on Yard 1 and mebbe 2 -- that everything but the San-Vel racks was to be set off on the Camp, adding that it would include the coach car, no other deets heard by me on that.
The EB trip had a 0357-and-just-west-of-the-Rte.2-EB-crest-both-sides-hashed AY-6/D-3 exchange. At 0405, the 333 WLs were dark, and at at 0409, there was D-3 garble to, from, or about -- possibly -- POED. Further east, the 330.8 WBs were at Clear, the 330 WLs and ELs and GL WLs all at Stop. In another few, the FG WLs were dark, and FI-2 was doing car countdowns as they shoved onto East Side east of FG. Guessing that the earlier-lit GLs were from FI-2 crossing the road.
At 0419 -- no surprise -- the FI-1/2 parking spot was MT, and at 0426, the EB staggers for Derby were dark. Quiet -- at least for me -- was the mode until 0447 when D-3 answered the somebody who was calling, naught further heard by me until 0449 when he advised Q426 that they'd be holding at Still River cuz POAY was over at Graniteville. It was AY-3's turn to be answered at 0450. The Milling Switch was lined and locked for normal movement, correct? The location was between Wagon Wheel and San-Vel? D-3'd get a cab rolling. The remaining couple were quiet. AY-4? AY-5? Naught heard, to from, or about.

Remember the rain? OT, but Dexter and mebbe even Dexter will be wet. Trucks were pulling into the Temple Street/Rte. 140 deer-checking station, and further south, white work-lights and blue light-bars were illuminating the climb outta the West Boylston/Boylston sag 1+ hours before the advertised shut-down.
 #1564873  by jaymac
 
0305-0455/03-03-2021 was a little light on activity. At 0310, there was a spurt of Yard-Channel garble, and at 0314, D-3 rogered whatever whomever he'd been talking to had just said. The guess -- later borne out -- was 22K was the other side of the convo, that when D-3 said that 1 to 2 was correct.
0320 would start receptions -- sometimes clear and sometimes not -- that could be attributed to 22K. In fact, there was only 1 other company reception -- deets later -- that was not attributable to 22K for the rest of the trip. 0329 would be when somebody unattributable would tell 22K something about the west end of the pad and then the 22K C or U would call out a Restricting so the shove could start.
At 0334, the 333 WLs were dark, and as you might guess, the 334 ELs were at Stop and the 334 1 stagger dark. The 335s would also be dark, but with a break in routine. 5th Mass. Turnpike was shut down at 334 -- probably cuzza still-uncleared windstorm damage -- so a detour was taken.
Up Da Hill, the 345s were dark, and PD Gardner was radioactive, so any possible company activity mighta not gotten to me. Just west of the Yard Lead switch, Yard 1 had -- E-W -- 3 unplacarded tanks, a box, 2 coil cars, another box, and a covered hopper. Dunno if the lack of racks indicated a late ED-8 or other EB or mebbe no racks today for the PW.
Amid the rare EB spurts of garble, another 22K ID was heard at 0403, 5 later being when the 333 WLs were dark. Further east the 330.8 WBs were at Clear, and the 330 WLs and ELs and GL WLs all at Stop. As on 03-01, the FG WLs were dark and -- at 0421 -- the FI-1/2 parking spot was MT, but unlike on 03-01, there was neither sight nor sound of FI-2. Mebbe relay issue for the GL WLs or -- equally mebbe -- FI-2 had gotten far enough east of the FG WL to unshunt and still be in a place not visible from the roadway.
22K car countdowns continued, and at 0427, the EB staggers for Derby were dark.
At 0435, there was garble followed by "drop the 7594," that followed by calls for sets and releases. Mebbe 22K had both the 7594 east, or equally mebbe somebody else was on the air. On the air for the balance of the trip was only unattributable and miserly servings of hash.
EDPO? ED-8? POAY/AYPO? AY-3? AY-4? AY-5? Q426/7? Dunno -- naught attributable heard. Also unheard as of 0545 was any crossing noise that might indicate 426/7 was in the neighborhood.
 #1565035  by jaymac
 
0250-0455/03-05-2021 had some surprises. There was radio silence -- at least for me -- until 0303 when D-3 rogered whatever FI-2 -- more about whom to follow -- had just said. Silence went unbroken until some 0318 Yard Channel garbles, and then at 0320, there was a both-sides-mostly-clear AY-3 with the 7489 -- another more about whom later -- and D-3 convo about the Milling switch be lined and locked normal.
0324 would be when the 333 WLs were dark and D-3 gave out a some-deets-hashed 241 to FI-2 with the 5966 for the #2 at Derby. There was another spurt of Dispatcher-side garble at 0326, and the 334 ELs were at Stop, the 334 1 stagger and 335s dark. %th Mass. Turnpike was almost back to normal, safety cones squeezing the width for a low-hanging utility line 100+ yards west of the 334s.
WB up Da Hill and at 0336 came a broken D-3 permission to FI-2 to reverse direction from where they stood, and up Da Hill, the 345 ELs were at Stop, WB covered hoppers on the #1 on the Timpany Boulevard UGB at road speed. At road speed, I went to Parkers, but only in time to hear the 0342 346.6 announcement that she was on the job and see a whole bunch of covered hoppers pass in review. 0346 was the rime for a no defects, total axle count 440, 12°, and 5925'. The acknowledgment wen unheard by me, but it hadda be an EGT. There was an alphabet soup of reporting marks with UP predominant. I did feel marginally younger after seeing a few CNWs go by.
Back at Gardner, the 345s were dark and the yard MT, musing about which to follow.
The EB trip featured more Yard Channel garbling, starting at 0357 and while still west of the Rte. 2 EB crest. At 0359, D-3 would start a broken -- hiya, Mount Wachusett! -- convo with Q427, fulfilling 426's Form D G320 to CSXT 3205 at 0400. Form D G302 was made effective at 0402, the deets have been hashed. D-3 asked for time into DCS and then -- back into hash -- said something about a cab.
0403 was when a clear FI-2 told D-3 they'd like to cross over from West Side to East, and 2 later the 333 WLs were dark. 0406 was when D-3 241d AY-3 1 east to 1 at CPF-AY, and a minute later and deeper into ZombieZone, D-3 reached out to AYPO, naught further to heard to, from, or about those guys.
The 330.8 WBs were at Clear, the 330 ELs and WLs at Stop. The Stops on the GL WLs were most likely cuzza FI-2 crossing the road, the FG WLs dark in another few, and KCIR sitting dark, solo, and west-facing in the FI-1/2 parking spot at 0418.
Post refueling stop and starting at 0426, D-3 engaged in a 1-sided-and-broken-to-me convo with FI-3, involving a runaround, going down to Fitchburg, grabbing racks, and copy that? Next would be added racks off the Camp and down to the #2 main. Assuming FI-3 had been on their EB leg, they mighta been highballed east of the 335 and mebbe even Fitchburg to keep outta the way of the supposed EGT and either FI-3 or FI1 would be hauling stuff back to MT Gardner. Could also be issues of short time.
At 0429, the EB staggers for Derby were dark, and at 0435, D-3 would give permission to reverse direction from wherever AY-3 stood, the Deities of Distance and Topography not permitting me to get either full deets or AY-3s answer for how many West Main Street MTs.
The Deities of Distance and Topography were a bit more in the giving vein a touch later when 427 -- yes, I actually heard them -- told D-3 they'd tie down at New Bond and not Burncoat, D-3 saying he'd update the cab and call it for 0630.
Only occasional hash got served until the 0455 end of listening. Crossing noise for X7.8 would be heard at 0550 and for X6.0 at 0600.
EDPO/POED? AY-5? Unheard, at least by me. Guessing today's ED-8/9 was FI-3.
 #1565289  by jaymac
 
0255-0445/03-08-2021 had some sights and some sounds, starting with 0258 Dispatcher-side spaced servings of hash on Channel 1, not followed until 0325 and then with Yard Channel hash, 0326 being when the 333 WLs were dark.
The 334ELs and even the 1 stagger were at Stop, and at 0330 D-3 would enter into a both-sides-audible convo with 22K advising there was a 3-hours setback to 0230 for tomorrow, 22K rogering. The west got bright, and NS 695? plus a stablemate hauled an uncountable number of tables and wells east, all loaded -- as best as I could tell -- and including 1 trailer, the marker east at 0335, the same minute that D-3 and AY-3 -- more about whom later -- engaged in a mutual-to-me hashfest.
The 335s were dark, and the trip to the also-dark 345s was quiet, at least to me. Yard 4 was almost FP-FP with general, mostly covered hoppers. Yard 2 had loaded racks from the easterly FP to Royal Steam Heater. Dunno if they arrived on 03-07 too late for the PW or had been dropped by an unheard-by-me 03-08 FI-3 or EDPO. There was also 1 rack on the Extension, guessing it was a set-out since there was more than ample room on Yard 2.
The EB leg of the trip was quiet until 0355 when Mount Wachusett hashed the D-3 side of a convo with AY-3 that involved a possible WL 241, and at 0400, the 333 WLs were dark. A bit further east, FI-2 called out to D-3 on Channel 1, further developments lost in the Westminster Street ZombieZone. The 330.8 WBs were at Clear and the 330 WLs and ELs and GL WLs all at Stop. 0408 featured some broken car countdowns on the the Dispatcher side of Channel 1, followed by a "Restricting," followed by the sight of Stops on the FG WLs and west-facing power shoving EB, KCIR 5966 plus covered hoppers on the #1. Yes, the FI-1/2 parking spot was MT at 0414.
At 0417, D-3 called out to 22K and, evidently not getting a response, changed to AY-3 with the 7489 for a 1-east-to-1-at-AY 241. Dunno if the WL 241 discussed earlier hadn't been necessary or hadn't gotten to me.
At 0418,D-3 went back to 22K, telling them it was OK to pull down. After a brief pause, he asked if they copied that. Then at 0420 on a different antenna or on the Yard Channe, D-3l tried to raise 22K again. At 0421, the EB staggers for Derby looked dark from Nashua Street, that vantage cuzza RVJ lot activity, and at 0423, D-3 reached out to 22K again. Sure hope the new owners tweak the comms system.
Also at 0423, FI-2 reached out to D-3 on Channel 1, advising that they wanted to run down the Main Line to OX, increasing distance hashing whatever else they had to say and Mount Wachusett again in the way of D-3's response.
At 0427, D-3 reached out to AY-3 and said that the pig train would be blocking the wye -- Hooray for contact with 22K! -- so to go by the trailer and wait for a cab. AY-3 asked about the Camp, D-3 advising that there were trash cars there. There would be another, but compromised reception of D-3 talking to AY-3 at 0433, the clarity being that AY-3 could reverse direction from where they stood. Yard Channel hash at 0445 was the last thing heard.
AY-4, AY-5, FI-3, EDPO, POED, AYPO, POAY, Q426/7 ? Each and all produced no sounds that got heard during my trip, although at 2330/03-07, I was at the right/wrong stage of sleep to hear X7.8 crossing noise, later noise at such intervals to suggest an EB.
 #1565477  by jaymac
 
0255-0500/03-10-2021 would feature -- as will be seen -- AY-3, FI-2, and AYPO as the prime radioactives, starting off at the start with D-3 asking AY-3 if the switch was lined and locked at the Milling and then rogering the response. Only occasional garbles would follow, some car countdowns being clear. At 0323, there was an "A-01" for an ID, making me wonder if I'd misheard AE-01, but "A-01" got repeated at 0325. So dunno.
0328 was when the 333 WLs were dark. On the way over to 334 -- the ELs at Stop and 1 stagger dark -- there was more garble on the Dispatcher side of Channel 1. The 335s were dark and the WB trip up Da Hill was quiet, at least for me.
Up Da Hill, the 345 ELs and WLs were at Stop, the shunting on the #2 coming from rack loads from Chair City Oil west to the easterly end of the Pratt yard the morphing into a few general -- a covered hopper and CRYO-TRANSes -- as far as the easterly Pratt building. The yard looked MT, so dunno if there was switch trouble or the yard was being kept open for big activity from the PW. Just to be shunt- sure, a short trip west was taken, and at 0355, the 346 WL was at Stop, and not only were there no occupants to the immediate east, but also there was no WB in the near term.
At 0350, D-3 had called out to FI-2, went into garble mode, then said something -- amid more garbling -- about racks to Fitchburg, FWM, would they all fit there?, and put them on East Side.
On the EB leg of the trip, there was 0401 garble, "ready to copy," and "AYPO in the yard" being clear. AYPO will get mentioned again, but naught was heard to, from, or about Q426/7, saving some either EB or WB distant crossing noise as I had been getting into my car.
At 0405, there was a big serving of hash on both sides of Channel 1, and at 0408, the 333 WLs were dark. At 0412, there was hash, "AYPO," and Road-side hash. Further east, the 330. 8 WBs showed a Clear for 1, the 330 WLs and ELs and the GL WLs all at Stop. 22K was sitting either side of the platform, but by the time I got to the FG WLs, they were starting to haul east, the 2 WL at Medium Clear. The GLs aren't normally shunted when just the #2 is occupied, so dunno the FG 2 WL being at Medium Clear for a #2-to-#1 move had some to do with it. NSs 6960 and 6942 got 100 loaded -- 1 trailer among the containers -- table and well positions east of the FG Els at 0425. Yes, the FI-1/2 parking spot was MT, but a bit east on East Side sat an EB marker on racks, and yes, those who keep track of such things, 22K had made noise. FI-3 or EDPO? Dunno.
D-3 would now enter into a convo series with FI-2. -- "Oh, wow. That's been happening a lot lately. Let me talk to the Chief." Garble mode would reassert itself, soon easing enough to hear D-3 tell FI-2 he'd get them a cab for Ayer, garble next back in force.
At 0429, a breaking Boston West had something to say to BODO, D-3 being clear -- temporarily -- at 0430. A cab for FI-2 to Ayer was coming , and they should grab an engine there. AY-4? Talk to AY-3 up at the Milling, and D-3 would get a mechanic. FI-2 was now getting through a bi.t so mebbe they were Derbyish.
0430 was when the the EB staggers for said Derby showed a Stop for 1 and an Approach for 2, 22K mebbe on 1 for however far. 0435 was when D-3 asked AYPO if they'd picked up any waters, rogering the response.
The next semiclarity would come at 0445 with a question about a cab and roger for the response. next would be a Track 1 to 2. 22K? Semiclarity returned at 0452 with both sides of a D-3/AY-3, "power for FI-2," "leave them there." "the fuel gauge hasn't worked," "7489," and -- of course -- "Roger."
At the risk of seeming too cynical, dunno if the word's gone out to maximize the value of the purchase price by minimizing the expenditures of maintaining the OldPaints, NewBlues, and KCIRs.
 #1565681  by jaymac
 
0400-0550/03-12-2021 was a late start cuzza late sleep -- I'm sure there'll be a supervisory call about that -- that produced some interesting observations. 0356 was the start of occasional Yard Channel hash, almost-clarity happening at 0407 when D-3 called out to somebody, things getting a bit clearer with the 0408 fulfillment of Form D G326 to CSXT ???/? and then the time-effective-0409 Form D G301 to CSXT 843 for MP X25 to Burncoat. D-3 asked for and rogered the unrepeated update and followed with the request for time into DCS. That mighta been acknowledged by the 0413 D-3 hash. To finish off Q427, naught further would be heard until -- and then from inside Château-jaymaque -- crossing noises came at 0556, 0606, and 0614, appropriate intervals for X7.8, X6.0 and Burncoat Street.
At 0415, D-3 called out to AY-3 -- more about whom later -- and then returned to garble mode, next clearly adding a roger and a D-3 out. At 0426 there was a spurt of hash on the Road side of Channel 1, and at 0330, the 330 WLs were dark. The same minute, D-3 would give AY-3 with the 7535 permission to reverse direction from where they stood and proceed west at CPF-AY.
At 0432, Keolis 7400 started their air test, and in a a couple, the 334 ELs were at Stop and the 1 stagger dark. At 0538, the 7400 was crossing the State Road/Rte. 2A UGB and the 335 WLs were at Stop, as would be the 335 ELs in another couple. The lack of a near-term EB kept me WB, the timing good enough that Mount Wachusett didn't block D-3's 0444 yarding instructions to 22K -- 1 to 2 to 3-- and hedzupping that AY-3 would be in the yard at Moores. More will follow about 22K.
Up Da Hill, the 345s were and would remain dark. Yard 2 had 1 box followed by single-high blue containers east from about the FP. How far east was blocked by the rack loads from just west of the Yard Lead switch to between Royal Steam Heater and the ambulance company. Yard 4? Dunno.
The EB leg of the trip was quiet until 0500 hashes that mighta been car countdowns. At 0505, the 333 WLs were dark. Further east was what has become boiler-plate -- the 330.8 WBs at Clear and the 330 WLs and ELs and the GL WLs all at Stop. The FG WLs were dark, and at 0519, KCIR 5973 was dark, solo. and east-facing in the FI-1/2 parking spot, mebbe having just put up from FG as explanation for the earlier GL WL display. At 0526, the EB staggers for Derby were dark.
At 0532 came somebody telling somebody else "You broke up again." Anybody thinking that anything other than hash would follow is too optimistic.
At 0538 would come the last clear reception -- D-3 giving 22K with NS 6924 permission to reverse direction from where they stood and proceed east on the #2 at CPF-AY. Only occasional hash would be heard until the 0550 end of listening.
 #1565975  by jaymac
 
0252-0450/03-16-2021 started off with some garbled car countdowns, garble to be taken as a given for much of the trip.
At 0358, there was a semi-clear response from D-3 to the 518 about cycling and asking if they said they were going to cut "it" out, any immediate developments lost in even more garble.
0306 was the start of POED's turn to be involved in garble when D-3 said something about them to somebody else. 0308 was when D-3 said good morning to POED, garble next back in force. 4 minutes later, The Deity Of Randomness Of Reception was in a giving mood, giving me both-sides audibility of a 241 to POED with 7534 for the Single west to the #2 at 312.
Another gift was received at 0320 when AYPO with the 7620 asked for and got a 241 for East Wye at AY east to the #2, AYPO next advising that they might have to take a penalty before getting really going.
0324 was when the 333 WLs were dark, and the freshly-cut-and-stacked timber on the westerly side of Development Road indicated the recent winds hadn't been kind. The 334 ELs were at Stop and the 1 stagger dark at 0328, the same time as "AY-2" emerged from garbled car countdowns. And yes, the 335s would be dark.
At least some of the garble WB up Da Hill would become attributable to ED-8 at 0337. The 345 ELs and WLs were at Stop, and shorties sat on the #2 at the Timpany Boulevard UGB. There was a fair-size string of wells with RGSU containers extending east to Chair City Oil, and NSs 6950 and 9546 were impersonating elephants by the easterly switch to Yard 4 as the C was winding the brakes on the racks -- 6 -- that then became general to the west -- a lumber centerbeam, CRYO-TRANSes, and what ever else was obscured. Guessing the containers would also be left in the yard and that the shorties were for Lafarge. Dunno how many more racks and/or what else might be west of Timpany.
The C was starting a brake test at 0346, PD Gardner decided to get radioactive at the same time, and I was EB, but in another couple, D-3 advised Extra 518 that he couldn't get a light at the Willows and was waiting for POED, so give him a call later. To save suspense, naught further would be heard to, from, or about the 518.
At 0356, the 333 WLs were dark. Further east, the 330.8 WBs were at Clear and the 330 and GL WLs at Stop. The 330 Controlled Siding and 1 ELs were at Stop, but the 2 EL was at Clear, a few minutes' wait producing no WB.
The FG WLs were dark, and at 0412, KCIR 5973 was dark, solo, and east-facing in the FI-1/2 parking spot, and post refueling stop, the EB staggers for Derby were dark at 0424.
At 0429, there was a hashed D-3 permission to reverse direction from where they stood in the interlocking limits of CPF-AY to AYPO, so guessing that a double was in progress. 0436 was when D-3 reached out to AY-3 to confirm that they were in the clear at the Milling and that the Main Line switch was lined and locked for normal movement., adding that there would be a 0530 cab at the Pine Tree.
With all the info about AYPO, you might well wonder about Q426/7 info. That would come at 0440 while I was at stopped at the downtown West Boylston lights and the X7.8 announced he was checking train. Arrival at said crossing was naturally too late to see any power, but there were at least 1-each Big G and Pan Am boxes in the mix. The no-defects and gates-up came at 0443, so mebbe 1/2 mile of cars. At 0445, the power -- 2 units -- was about to disappear behind the trees by the westerly end of the Temple Street solar farm.
AY-4 and/or 22K mighta been part of the garble, but no clear attribution.
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