Gardner Gawking

EDPW brought 20 ballast loads east to Gardner this morning.

ED5 was to recrew to dump the stone.

Given B&E and P&W have recently performed several headlight meets to exchange consists at Gardner (rather than asynchronously setting out / picking up blocks in the yard), I wonder if the PAS plan for Gardner yard rehab is to just add a crossover between M2 & M1 just west of the P&W to M2 turnout as shown? That way EDPW & WOGR consists longer than can fit on a single yard track (ie, ~2,500 ft) can pass each other without requiring a back up move of one of the trains to clear a path?

It's definitely a possibility.
The question about headlight meets for EDPW and WOGR is how long they'll continue to meet at the same place and the same time. Mebbe now with the P&W being totally G&W and the B&E being 1/2 G&W, former PAS lapses will be in the past.

Once such a crossover is installed, perhaps the $3B owner of the B&E and P&W locomotive pool could dictate that the 2 operators share power for run-through?

The possibility of a prefab crossover could explain the 2 Speed Swings.

0620-0820/10-24-2024 was a quiet 1, mainly cuz the antenna connector had come adrift some time between the start and EB by the dark 330 WLs. That's what I get for paying more attention to what's outside the windshield than what's inside.
The 333 WLs were dark at 0650 and again at 0724. The 334s were dark, as would be the 335s, The new meter socket was still MT, and a good number of pickups and cars had assembled in the 335 lot.
Up Da Hill, the 345 ELs were at Stop and the 1 WL at Clear. The yard was MT except for w/f KCIR BERX 7541 on 1 by the W end of Chair City Oil. Guessing mebbe a set-out since the FI-1/2 power couple would later be visible at EFitch. The missing Speed Swings, the flashing dome lights on the tamper and regulator on the House, the B&E dump with a trailer that had mebbe just offloaded a tracked excavator, the pile of removed ties by the MART fence, and the dome-lit pickup SE of the compressor shack all pointed to past and future activity.
As well as the earlier-mentioned 330 WLs being dark, so were the 330 ELs. The GL WLs, however, were at Stop, as would be the FG WLs and ELs. There had been Yard-Channel garble that included car countdowns but naught on Channel 1 until the 0742 start of EA breakage to 427, the clear bits being about the lead engine and at least trying to get to an XNG. There would be more later.
EFitch showed the usual T coaches and semi-obscured NewBlues???? and 5967 on West Side and only the 2 isolated racks visible on East Side. The RVJ lot was busy, but 3 covered hoppers were still visible on the stub.
At 0756, the EA renewed broken contact with the 427, the clear bits being about getting a cab there, tying down, and the new crew. There was more EA garble at 0813, and unattributable Dispatcher-side hash at 0820.

(Note to self: Next time, double check to make sure the BNC is actually secured.)

0600-0750/10-29-2024 was a trip filled with hash and garble, the BNC connector being firmly connected. To get the sole meaningful clarity outta the way, at 0624, EDSA began a Channel 1 car countdown, ending in a couple with a farnuf. There would be some following garble that suggested they were getting their train back together. Naught further IDable would then be heard to from. or about EDSA.
At 0630 -- and again EB at 0700 -- the 333 WLs were dark, as would be the 334s and 335s.
Up Da Hill, the 345s were at Stop, the same time as the B&E was engaged in a badly broken convo with a Foreman at or about CPF 370, mebbe a Line 4. The yard was MT except for 1 GACX and 1 Lineage -- the recent Cryo-Trans acquirer --plug-door boxes, a shortie, and a total of 10 DS trash containers -- container count, not well count -- on the Extension. It was still kinda dark, but it also looked like all the recent equipment had gone elsewhere.
Further E, the EB staggers for 330 showed an Approach for 1 and a Slow Approach for 2. the 330.8 WBs and 330 WLs and ELs were dark, things being dark enough to see for sure, and the GL WLs showed a Medium Clear for the Controlled Siding. The FG 1 WL was at Limited Clear, the 2 WL and ELs at Stop.
EFitch looked unchanged, T coaches on West Side, partially obscuring New Blues ???? and 5967 and 2 isolated racks the only visibles on East Side. RVJ also looked unchanged, 3 covered hoppers on the stub.
Hash was the sound track for the rest of the trip.
neman2, if I could warp time. then I'd bring us all back to when Channel 1 was not warped.

0600-0815/11-06-2024 was busy, once the radio got busy at 0620 when the Fitchburg garbled something to the 402. There would be a number of other calls to the 402, all broken. For shear quantity, the Fitchburg and Boston West would predominate, along with Boston East.
At 0627, the 333 WLs were dark, as would be the 334s. The 335 ELs were at Stop, the Single WL at Approach and the Controlled Siding at Medium Approach. At the 335 lot, the new meter socket was still MT. The W kept on getting louder, and at 0644, a probable EDSA with NSs 6971, 9885, and 8046 came into view. The Single EL musta gone to Clear cuz there was no call, but there was a long train, 32 racks led by a long string Republic and then Arrowhead trashes. Just behind the power was a mix of open hoppers, slurries, USG centerbeams, and boxes, all E of the 335s at 0648.
Up Da Hill, the 345s were at Stop. The Extension and 1 had mixed general and then trashes-- Arrowheads? -- from the computer company W to the Pratt yard. 2 had mixed general and then a large number of Cryo-Trans and Lineage plug-doors, also to the Pratt yard. A loader with a bucket in its jaws sat between the House and the MART fence, and tie bundles were on the old platform. Up against the MART fence by the Heywood were joint bars and old ties. There was an unIDable pickup SE of the compressor house, and a good amount of stone had been placed in the yard, the Yard Lead almost looking like a main.
EB at time-effective 0710 , there was a broken Form D G207 to TC ????, a Line 4 for No. Chelmsford to So. Nashua. 5 after that, the 333 Controlled Siding WL was at Medium Clear, and 1 later, 406 OKd themselves to depart Wachusett. Rte. 2 EB had been jammed -- solar glare and or/accident? -- so lotsa others had gotten off at the Princeton Road/Rte. 31 exit, complicating recording sights and sounds. Solar glare also complicated views of the EB staggers for 330, and later the 330.8 WBs and 330 ELs.
Post refueling stop, racks were visible just W of the Rollstone Street OHB on the 2, changing to Arrowhead trashes at the Water Street OHB and E past the platform. The GL WLs were dark, but the 330 ELs at Stop.
0731 was the start of an FI-1/B&E exchange. They wanted East Side, the B&E asking if they'd need a light at GL, FI-1 responding that they shouldn't. A bit after that, the stopped and presumed EDSA power was visible a bit W of the gym. the FG WLs were at Stop. FI-1 with NewBlues 5946 and 5967 creeping W on 1 with Arrowhead trashes. There would be further -- and broken -- FI-1/B&E exchanges and FI-1 car countdowns, the last being a broken B&E to FI-1 at 0758.
There had still been 3 covered hoppers on the RVJ stub.

The Deity of Randomness seemed to have been in the giving vein this trip, except for whatever the EB mess on Rte. 2 was.

0635-0845/11-11-2024 had some surprises. There was 0644 P&W Road garble with only "427" clear, suggesting that the 0359 XNG and power noise for Temple Street/Rte.140 had come from them and also suggesting a Burncoat or Shay recrew.
At 0652, there was B&E breakage to EDSA that included "change of plans, " "the Camp," "Train Master," and "bring them up to San-Vel."
At 0704, the 333 WLs showed a Medium Clear for the Controlled Siding, the 334 WLs and WB stagger were dark (more about which to follow), and the 335s were all at Stop, 0713 producing a both-sides broken 406/B&E convo about the PTS button and "issues" at the 334s. Yes, 406, Veterans Day not observed as a total holiday.
Up Da Hill, the 345s were at Stop and the House/Heywood environs were as earlier. What was unusual was the string of mixed general on 4 in the yard that included good numbers of Cryo-Trans, GACX, and LINX plug-doors that ended about the midpoint of the Pratt yard. Where they started was the puzzlement. -- on the Main just N of the Victoria Street XNG. 2 had a single covered hopper followed by trashes the rest of the way W to the Pratt building. Doing a favor for the folks at Four Season?
EB and at 0740, the 333 WLs were all at Stop. The EB staggers for 330 and the FG ELs were illegible cuzza the sun, 1 backlit, the other front-lit. The 330.8 WBs, 330 ELs and WLs, and the GL WLs were dark. The FG WLs were at Stop. The West Side still had the T coaches, and the East Side had picked up some mixed general as well as the 2 isolated racks.
3 covered hoppers sat on the RVJ stub.
Not observing the holiday either was Mount Wachusett, breaking up the 0823+ convo between TC 1867 and the B&E about foul time at or around MP 337.
More observant readers will note a longer than usual time for basically a sameolesameole trip. The reason was exploration of some side streets of West Fitchburg, particularly in the Cleghorn area. Why there? Too much online time spent on the Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps collection at the Library of Congress, particularly the 1902 edition. Navigation can be frustrating, but it's worth it.

0555-0805/11-20-2024 was a trip of almosts, as will be seen.
Things were quiet until 0613 and Boston East hash. 12 later, the 333 WLs were dark, and 3 after that, the B&E told EDSA with NS 6954 that the Fitchburg freight would be going in on West Side, next asking or telling a Keolis Extra something about the Layover. Arrival at the 334s was just in time to see EDSA's general -- heavy on USG centerbeams -- rolling E. Next came 5 Arrowhead double positions followed by 10 Republics, those followed by 60 -- sixty -- racks that included 1 articulated and 2 old-school P&Ws. Is G&W gonna go yellow on the P&W racks? All got E of the 334 MP at 0634. The 334 ELs were dark.
The 335 ELs were also dark, but the 2 went to Restricting at 0640, so it was lot time. The new meter socket was still MT, and at 0645 the 1032, 5 flats, and the 1717 were off the 2. More about the train set will follow.
Up Da Hill, the 345s were at Stop. 2 in the yard had general that included a coil car, a tank, 2 shorties and full-size covered hoppers up to Royal Steam Heater, and then trashes to the Pratt yard. Looks like the practice of keeping the trashes away from the Four Season is holding. Things around the MART fence looked unchanged. There was 0659 hash on the San-Vel channel.
EB, there was solar glare and mixed hash, "Geo Extra" included, more about which to follow. There had also been talk about "Bulletin T."
0708 was when the 333 WLs showed a Medium Clear for the Controlled Siding. The glare interfered with the view of the EB staggers for 330.
Post refueling stop, it looked likes the heads for the 330.8 WBs had been twisted sideways. Mebbe it was just my head twisted sideways. Viewing of the 330 WLs was compromised, but the the GL WLs showed a Medium Clear for the Controlled Siding, getting more and more refewrred to as the Station Track. 406 came to a stop at 0724 and OKd their departure in another couple. The train set? The déjà vu 1717, 5 flats, and 1032.
Over at the FG WLs, all was red, including a barricade 100+ yards E, W of which was a rubber-tired ballast regulator, a 1st for me. Coulda been on Freight Main East or the 2. Could also have been the subject of Bulletin T. The FG ELs were also at Stop. West Side had the T coaches which partially obscured the FI-1/2 power, the W NewBlue -- BERX 3827 -- being IDable. West Side also had EDSA's racks visible, EDSA's crew being occasionally audible. East Side had the isolated racks.
Naught was visible on the NLeo UGB, but while I was stuck under it in traffic, the brief 0741 rumble overhead coulda been the Geo Extra, a Sperry car/truck. RVJ? 3 -- again -- covered hoppers.
At 0744, the EDSA C called for a 3-step release and there was something about the Geo Extra crossing over from 2 to 1. 7 later, the Fitchburg called out to 406, but then went into garble mode, the balance of the trip being quiet.

0555-0750/11-25-2024 featured a good amount of hash, some garble, and no clarity, except for the skies.
At 0627, the 333 WLs were dark, as would be the 334s and 335s.
Up Da Hill, the 345 ELs were at Stop and the 1 WL at Clear. From just about FP-FP, 2 in the yard had trashes. Was cold weather sposed to protect the customers and staff at Four Season? Dunno, but there was a tented centerbeam on the E end, so the containers were possibly MTs. There were a covered hopper, another centerbeam, a tank and hoonose what else on the E end of 4. The situation at the MART fence was as before. Given the Clear on the 1 WL and the occupied pickup in the lower lot, mebbe EDSA was on the way, but patience and me are mutually exclusive, so I got EB.
The 333 WLs were dark at 0657, and the EB staggers for 330 seemed to be, too.
The heads of the 330.8 WBs had been turned sideways, The 330 WLs showed a Stop for 1 and a Restricting for 2. The 330 ELs were at Stop and the GL Controlled Siding WL showed a Slow Approach.
The FG WLs were at Stop, but the 1 WL went to Limited Clear. There was still a barricade on FME and a regulator to the W, mebbe the same one as last week, mebbe not, the difference in sun position showing large steel wheels, not rubber tires. The FG ELs were at Stop. West Side still had the T coaches and mebbe covered hoppers to the E, but no visible or audible FI-1/2 power. East Side had the 2 isolated racks, and RVJ would still have 3 covered hoppers on the stub.
Hash would continue until the end, a duel between Yard Channel and a P&W Road convo closing out the trip.