Gardner Gawking

0235-0435/06-14-2021 had AY-3 as pretty much the transmission target, as will be seen. At 0252, D-3 answered AY-3, changed it to answering somebody calling, and next went back to answering AY-3 x2, next rogering whatever they said, asking how many cars they had, and then getting hashed -- except for telling FI-2 and or 3 to stand by -- as I dropped into the Boylston/West Boylston sag on Rte. 140, next reemerging into semiclarity with permission to proceed west on the 1 to CPF-AY. To conserve suspense, naught further would be heard to, from, or about FI-2 or FI-3.
There would be brief spurts of Yard Channel hash starting at 0304 with the 0306 brief clarity of somebody being told to drop the 3.
There would be brief Road-side Channel 1 hash at 0314, and 5 later the 333 WLs would be dark, no disruption of the usual sequence at the usual places to follow.
On the way WB up Da Hill, Boston West contributed some hash as would D-? at 0334. The 345s were dark, and the yard MT, so if was FI-3 that D-3 had told to stand by earlier, they musta been the WB side of the trip.
Spurts of Yard Channel garble would start at 0341, and at 0348, the 333 WLs were dark.
Further east and in the westerly end of the River Street Zombie Zone came D-3 garbles to AY-3. The 330.8 WBs were at Clear, the 330 WLs and ELs dark, and the GL WLs at Stop. The FG WLs were dark and the FI-1/2 parking spot MT at 0402, adding another data point to the to the theory that the GL WLs had been set to constant-on.
There was 0406 Yard Channel hash followed quickly by D-3's 241 to AY-3 with the 7595 for 1 to 1 from CPF-WL to the FML.
At 0408, the EB staggers for Derby were dark, and only rare spurts -- including some P&Ws and VRSs-- would be heard for the balance of the trip.
Even factoring in the surplus of electromagnetic blindspots, naught was heard to, from, or about any of the other usual airwaves occupants, including either EB or WB crossing noise for Q426/7 as of 0520.

0245-0440/06-16-2021 renewed contact with some not heard from recently, starting at 0254 when D-3 answered ED-8, confirmed that they were west and clear of Moores and then granted authority for ED-8 with NS 6959 to enter the Freight Main #2 and proceed east to CPF-AY, 0255 given as the post read-back time. There would be Yard Channel hashes at 0307 and 0313, mebbe from ED-8, but there were other possibilities, as will be seen.
The 0314 Yard Channel hash was clear enough to reveal it as D-3's yarding instructions to AYPO, and at 0317, it was 22K's turn. They could head down towards Ayer with the hedzup that AY-3 was starting their runaround, so they might be by AY when 22K got there.
At 0319, the 333 WLs were dark, the sequential usuals being the usual. hinting that 22K mighta been at FG or North Leominster, but probably not at Derby.
At 0323, there was some Dispatcher-side garble, followed by more of the same at 0326, "Foreman" escaping into clarity and hinting it mighta been Line 4-related.
Up Da Hill, the 345s were dark, and with ED-8 already east, the yard had occupants, 4 having gons, covered hoppers, boxes, and possible other types of general from the easterly FP and 2 having CRYO-TRANes, an unplacarded tank, boxes, covered hoppers, a tented centerbeam, and loaded stickrail carriers. To the west were loaded racks, mebbe on 2 or mebbe on 4, or mebbe even on both.
The EB trip started off quiet, and the 333 WLs were dark at 0349. At 0351 and in the Westminster Street Zombie Zone came some Dispatcher-side hash. Further east, the 330.8 WBs were at Clear, and at 0356, somebody told somebody else to take it ahead. The 330 WLs and ELs were dark and the GL WLs at Stop.
At 0400 and with some elevation by St. Bernard's High School, there was the start of receiving what would be frequent 22K car countdowns. The FG WLs were dark, and at 0402, the FI-1/2 parking spot was MT.
Post refueling stop, 22K again occupied the airwaves, and at 0413, the EB staggers for Derby were dark.
At 0428, D-3 would reach out to ED-8 again -- Mount Wachusett complicating things -- with something about pulling MTs and the power. 0433 was when 22K was again heard doing countdowns, dunno whether it woulda been for 2 or the more likely overflow to 3.
0437 was when "AE-01" and "another 3" got heard and D-3 reached out to yet another 3, uncertain whether AY- or LA-, advising that that 22K was yarding and still on East Wye and that after Keolis 400 got by, they could get in the yard. The twin givens of the earlier hedzup to 22K and the rarity of LA-3 getting to the Hill Yard made it seem like AY-3 was more likely the party in question.
AY-4 was among the unheard to, from, or about. When I was getting outta my car at 0440, there was crossing noise, but too far away to be for X7.8. Subsequent noises were weaker and at sufficient interval to suggest that the first noise mighta been from Q426 at Precott Street, mebbe having been given a late start cuzza ED-8, 22K, and AYPO.

0245-0435/06-18-2021 had some surprises. There had been crossing noise heard inside Château-jaymaque ~0145, and at 0246, D-3 -- brokenly-to-me -- gave POAY their yarding instructions, Track 11 being involved. At 0256 -- Rarity Alert! -- both sides of a D-3/Q426 convo got heard, D-3 inquiring about location and 426 responding "Mile Post 13 even as we speak." Hearing 426 at X13 would be expectable since I had just gotten north of the Rte. 12/MP X8.7 OHB. Things would quiet down save for some 0309 and 0310 Dispatcher-side hash on Channel 1.
At 0314, the 333 WLs were dark, the sequential expectables delivering. 0322 presented "Come ahead 20." Dunno whether POAY or somebody else.
Up Da Hill, the 345s were dark, and a short string of general sat on the westerly end of 4 in the yard. 0330 was when the the 346.6 announced she was on the job and the the 345 1 WL went to Clear, the west getting noisy, 22K with NSs 6957, 7710, and 4490 getting the 346.6-announced defect-free 365 axles onto the Single at 0339. Oh yeah -- 50°. All positions of the mostly wells were occupied. The position count had gotten broken at 0335 by (1) D-3 answering AY-3 with the 7595 to give them permission to reverse direction from where they stood and proceed west to CPF-AY and (2) by 22K advising D-3 about the cars on Track 4.
Given POAY and possibly AY-3 in and around the Hill Yard, the Yard Channel was remarkably quiet on the EB leg of the trip. At 0349, the 333 WLs were dark, 22K still well west. There would follow a coupla spurts of Dispatcher-side hash, and further east, the 330.8 WBs were at Stop, hinting that routes mebbe were in for 22K and 400. The 330 WLs and ELs were dark, and the Stops on the GL WLs showed no route yet for the 400 east of the platform. To save suspense, naught further would be heard to, from, or about 22K, but guessing they'd get their yarding instructions sometime after 400 got east and the yard freed up. Where they might be held, dunno.
The FG WLs were dark, and at 0401, dark and west-facing NewBlue 5968 was sitting in the FI-1/2 parking spot west --Foreshadowing Alert and Unusual Sight for Fitchburg Alert! -- of a CSX box.
Even in spots where hash would be served, there was no Yard Channel business, but at 0406, there was some D-3 hash, -- a background telephone ring-tone audible -- that was followed by more D-3 hash at 0408, this to 426. That was the same time the EB staggers for Derby were dark.
At 0413 came an unattributable "3 to go," followed in a bit by alternating Dispatcher-side and Road-side hash. Yard Channel hash would become more frequent starting at 0423, there being a clear "4 to go" at 0432, intermittent hash returning until the 0435 end of listening.
You know the other possibles, and you also know they haven't been mentioned.

0245-0435/06-21-2021 was sparse in its offerings, Yard Channel hash not getting to me until 0300. The hash would eventually clear up and 22K would be heard doing car countdowns, attributable 22K receptions intermittently continuing until 0407, hinting that it was a 3-track day.
At 0318, the 333 WLs were dark, the usuals being the sequential usuals, 22K continuing to provide proof of scanner viability.
Up Da Hill, the 345s were dark and the yard MT.
Things were quiet EB until 0341 when D-3 reached out to Q427, fulfilling 426's Form D G304 at 0341, also, and asking if they were ready to copy. Form D G301 for X25 to Burncoat went to CSXT 346, but the time effective and other bits of business got lost, thanks to Mount Wachusett's now-intervening bulk.
At 0346, the 333 WLs were dark, and further east, the 330.8 WBs were at Clear, the 330 WLs and ELs dark, the GL WLs at Stop, and the FG WLs dark.
At 0359, NewBlue 5968 was in the FI-1/2 parking spot, dark and west-facing on the westerly end of at least 1 covered hopper, at at 0405, the EB staggers for Derby were dark.
At 0425, D-3 would AY-3, roger whatever they said, and OK them on signal indication.
As stated, things were on the sparse side.

Edited for update: X7.8 crossing noise 0528.

0245-0435/06-23-2021 started off with a Yard Channel/Boston West hash duel, no semi-clarity until 0252 and ""??AY, 4 to go," possibly POAY. At 0254 D-3 would advised AY-3 that a hashed somebody was coming through the Camp, and at 0258, D-2 gave a deets-lost 241 to 241 for the FM #1.
Things were quiet -- at least to me -- until 0316 when a breaking D-3 said something to FI-3. If it's starting to seem like the eastern stretch of PAS was busy, it was.
2 things happened at 0317 -- the 333 WLs were at Stop and then went dark. The 334 ELs were at Stop and the 334 1 stagger dark, and at 0320, somebody let the listening world know they were stopped at Fitchburg station. My conclusion leap that it mighta been FI-3 was -- as will be seen -- wrong. At 0321, D-3 let somebody -- identity to come -- know that he had just talked to AY-4 and they were getting in a cab now. And yes, the 335s were also dark.
In another few, there would be another D-2 241, also broken, but with the added deet that POED's leader was the 7594.
Up Da Hill and as might be expected, the yard was pretty well occupied. 1 had loaded racks from the westerly end of Chair City Oil up to close to the westerly FP, 2 had gons and other general from the easterly FP plus whatever else the racks obscured, and 4 had covered hoppers, coil cars, and MT centerbeams up to the point of obscurity.
The EB trip started off quiet, but at 0341, D-3 informed somebody they were breaking up, D-3 in turn breaking up cuzza Mount Wachusett's intrusion.
At 0345, the 333 WLs were dark, and further east, the 330.8 WBs showed a Clear for 1 and Stop for 2. There were wells and containers visible just E of the Rollstone Street OHB, and the the 330 WLs and ELs and GL WLs were all at Stop.
NSs 6968, 4344, and 3644 were holding by the platform, and 22K's crew was holding on the platform, AY-4's cab coming into view. That was also the time -- 0356 -- when D-3 cancelled TC 617's Form D G336, a Line 4 for *deets lost, but a bit to the east.*
Shunted by 22K, the FG WLs were at Stop, and at 0401, NewBlue 5968 was sitting dark, solo, and west-facing in the FI-1/2 parking spot.
At 0403, D-3 would reach out to ED-8; at 0407, the EB staggers for Derby were dark; and at 0409, D-3 would give ED-8 with NS 6964 permission to reverse direction and proceed east on the #2 within the limits of CPF-AY, next giving some breakage about being clear for a passenger train.
At 0420, D-3 would answer somebody calling, further understanding disrupted by entry into yet another Mount Wachusett electromagnetic penumbra.
0430 would be the start of an extended and sometimes disrupted D-3/AY-3 convo about the Camp, waiting for 400 before shoving onto West Main Street, and the Pine Tree.
With all the other movements in play, mebbe Q426 was being held west of MP X25. Dunno -- didn't hear, including X7.8 crossing noise as of 0525.

0245-0435/06-25-2021 showed that The Deity Of Randomness was pretty much in Loki Mode, garbles among the manifestations. 0254 and 0257 presented Dispatcher-side Channel 1 garbles, and 0302 allowed only "3-step" to be clear in that probably-Yard-Channel garble eruption. 0307, 0311, and 0314 offered more Dispatcher-side hash, the latter 2 being D-2 to probably-PO-2.
0316 was when -- during a prolonged reception-free spell -- the 333 WLs were dark.
The 334 ELs were at Stop, as was the 334 1 stagger cuzza 22K going through on said 1, 22K getting east of the 1 stagger at 0320, indicating the randomness of my timing 0316 at the dark 333 WLs and also the relative shortness of the 06-25 22K. To save suspense, there would be no further input -- audio or visual -- in re 22K. Also at 0320, there was more D-? hash, only "That is correct" escaping into intelligibility.
On the way WB up Da Hill, there was brief Road-side hash at 0328, and at 0331 and from the Timpany Boulevard exit ramp came the sounds of D-3 reaching out to ED-8. Loki Mode being the order of the day, hash then followed. The 345s had been and would remain dark. The yard was pretty well full, 1 having apparently MT racks and 2 general that included LPG and unplacarded tanks as well as at least 1 tented centerbeam and some CRYO-TRANSes. The 4 seemed pretty much FP-FP with racks, guessing loads since ED-8 -- as will be seen -- was mebbe east. In a Loki Mode surprise, there was an Extension occupant -- dead, dark, solo, and west-facing KCIR 7655. At 0338, D-3 would answer AY-3, roger what they said, and OK them on signal indication.
Except for a coupla 0345 Boston West static eruptions, the EB trip was quiet, and at 0348, the 333 WLs were dark. Further east, the 330.8 WBs were at Clear and the 330 WLs and ELs dark. The GL Controlled Siding WL was at Medium Approach, and the FG WLs would be dark.
At 0401, the FI-1/2 parking spot was MT, and at 0403, AY-4 called out to AYPO. This day being 1 of Loki Mode, naught further to, from, or about these guys would be heard, and at 0406, the EB staggers for Derby were dark.
As a hedzup for infrequent travelers in the area, a message board north of the Main Street/Rte. 13 UGB is advising alternate routes effective 06-28 for 8:00 PM to 5:00 AM road work.
~0410, there was a broken 241 to AY-3 with the 7541, followed at 0416 by extended Dispatcher-side hash only "Line 12," "1 line, a Line12," and yet another "1 line, a Line 12" getting into clarity. Loki Mode, indeed.
0423 would be when D-3 entered into a dialog with AY-3, his side being "13, over," "leave the regular freight," and -- twice -- "Are you ready to reverse?" The response got AY-3 permission to reverse direction from where they stood and proceed west on the 1 to CPF-AY.
The last 3 receptions were 0429, 0430, and 0431 D-3 shoutouts to ED-8. Heard naught else for the remaining few.

0245-0445/06-28-2021 started off quiet -- really quiet -- with only the automated Morse ID on the PVRR frequency to offer proof of scanner function and not even garble on company channels up to and past the 0316 viewing of the dark 333 WLs.
The Stops on the 334 ELs and darkness on the 334 1 stagger and 335s were also accompanied by radio silence, as were the Stops on the 345 ELs. There were both single-high and double-stack trash wells visible on the #1 from the Timpany Boulevard UGB east, a Clear on the 345 1 WL. At 0332, ED-8 with NS 6958 would reach out to D-3, give an over-modulating-to-me update of ??x?? for 51 cars, 43?? tons, and 6330' and get on the move at 0433, trailing NSs 4239 and N&W h/u 8103 plus NewBlue 5968 getting the marker onto the Single at 0338. Besides the containers up front -- guessing they were for the Devens recycling facility cuzza being on the headpin -- there were a few mixed general, the tail being a lengthy string of racks. The view of the yard now opened up, and KCIR 7655 was still dead, dark, and west-facing on the Extension. The 1 yard track had some general including boxes and a stickrail carrier between Royal Steam Heater and the easterly end of the Pratt yard, no racks being visible. Dunno if a later FI-3 mebbe might have those plus mebbe more general. At 0334 and while ED-8 was passing in review, there had been "AYPO" among some hash, and at 0341, D-3 had reached out to AY-3, naught further IDable to, from, or about either of those guys.
Amid more silence, the 333 WLs were dark at 0355. At 0359 "Form D" emerged from some garble, followed in a couple by a "roger that," my guess being it might be Q426/7 business, some support to follow. Further east, the 330.8 WBs showed a Stop for 1 and a Clear for 2, the 330 WLs and ELs dark. The GL 1 WL showed a Clear, hinting that things might be favorable at the dark FG WLs.
At 0402, D-3 answered Q427, rogering with thanks whatever got said, the usual practice for 427 announcing they were onto DCS.
At 0409, the FI-1/2 parking spot was MT, and since FI-1/2 regular NewBlue 5968 was part of ED-8's consist, there was minor musing about whether there mighta been a Deerfield inspection over the weekend.
Post refueling stop and at 0416, there was a both-sides garbled ED-8/D-3 brief exchange, and at 0420, the EB staggers for Derby were dark.
At 0422, there was more ED-8 garble to D-3, D-3 saying "over" x2. and at 0426, D-3 would answer ED-8 and roger whatever they said. For the next 23 minutes, tinnitus gave the only proof that my ears were functioning somewhat.

Edited for update -- X7.8 crossing noise 0602.

0245-0440/06-30-2021 had some activity, not the least of which was thermal -- mid-70s predawn??
The early radioactivity came from the P&W Dispatcher and the automated Morse ID on the PVRR frequency, company activity not coming until 0259 with alternating Dispatcher-side and Road-side Channel 1 hashes. Dunno the sources.
At 0303, D-3 answered AY-3 and then told them to stand by. As I would soon be entering the electromagnetic eclipse of Mount Wachusett, I pulled over to the side of the road for a few, a decision that would -- as will be seen -- pay off. D-3 then asked for AY-3's leader and asked them to stand by, then giving AY-3 with the 7541 permission to enter the #1 at the Milling and proceed west to WL. D-3 next asked about a runaround and rogered whatever the response was. Dunno about anybody else, but it seemed to me that if AY-3 had a leader, then a grainer might be in town.
I got back on the move, so D-3's 0311 callout to EDPO got hashed. There was next and at 0315 hashed car countdowns, 0316 producing a clear "POAY, far enough" and " 3-step."
The 333 WLs were all at Stop, 22K with NSs 6971, 6950, and 1072 doing just that on 1 at 0321. At 0323, there was more POAY hash, and the all the 334s and 335s would be at Stop, but no marker visible from the 335 lot. Other receptions included a broken and mebbe D-2 241 at 0327, "AY-5" amidst hash at 0328, more possible D-2 hash at 0334, followed by POAY hash to D-3.
Up Da Hill, the 345s were dark, and the 4 was FP-FP with general that included covered hoppers (at least 1 shortie among them), coil cars, tented centerbeams, unplacarded tanks, stickrail carriers, and CRYO-TRANSes, but no visible racks. Track 2 had a few overflow on the easterly end, and the Extension still hosted dead, dark, and west-facing KCIR 7655.
Just after the start of the EB leg of the trip and 0346 started a bunch of hashed and unattributable car countdowns. At 0354, the 333 WLs were all Stop, 22K continuing in compliance.
Further east, the 330.8 WBs were both at Clear, clearly indicating no route yet for 22K. The 330 WLs and ELs were dark and the GL WLs at Stop. The FG WLs were dark, and at 0406, the FI-1/2 parking spot was MT, the same time that just "EDPO" got heard. 2 later, there would be a "5 to go, EDPO." At 0411, D-3 would twice advise AY-3 he was answering them, and 0413, the EB staggers for Derby were dark. 0415 and 0416 would be when POAY would reach out to D-3, and 0418 would be when D-2 told somebody something about DOBO.
0422 was when D-3 answered AY-3, asked if they said they'd be going to drop cars on West Main, next giving them permission to reverse direction from where they stood and proceed west on the #1 to CPF-AY.
Things were quiet for me until 0429 and Boston West, but at 0436, AY-4 asked POAY something about the Barbers, response unheard. Guessing that AY-4 was at the westerly end of the Hill Yard and AYPO wasn't.
Then came figurative and literal crickets until the 0440 end of listening. Q426/7? Dunno -- heard naught, not even X7.8 crossing noise as of 0550.

0245-0450/07-02-2021 started off a minute later with D-3 answering FI-2, garbling, telling them the Train Master wanted them to spot *even more garbling* and then he'd get them a cab and get them down to Ayer. The strangeness hinted at there is only a hint of what would follow.
The next 13 minutes -- for me at least -- were radio inactive, D-3 at that time advising FI-2 that the cab was tied up for a while, garbling again and adding something about a work stripper for the yard. More inactivity would follow until brief Dispatcher-side Channel 1 hash at 0314, followed by more silence. Yes, it was raining, but there wasn't even Yard Channel hash.
At 0320, the 333 WLs were dark, followed by Stops for the 334 ELs and darkness for the 334 1 stagger. At 0326 while on the way over to the also-dark 335s, there was Road-side Channel 1 hash, followed by extended silence.
Up Da Hill, the 345s were dark, and from the Extension west, the 1 had an MT stickrail carrier, a pair of NS gons, unplacarded tanks, and lotsa covered hoppers to just about the westerly FP. There was other but unIDable general on the #2 from Chair City Oil however far west, and yes, KCIR 7655 was elsewhere. The EB trip's quiet was broken at 0347, but by Boston West. 4 later, there would be some Road-side garble, and at 0351, there was more Road-side garble. Given the lack of radio traffic and the MTs still in Gardner, it did seem like "normal" operational patterns had been disrupted perhaps by the recent storms.
Further east, the 330.8 WBs showed a Stop for 1 and a Clear for 2. The 330 WLs and ELs were dark, but the Medium Clear on the GL Controlled Siding WL strongly hinted that 400 would have the #1 to at least Derby.
At 0402, AE-01 called out to D-3, the same voice next changing the ID to the LGT doing the calling. So much my 07-30 uneducated guess about AY-3 doing LGT duty. The LGT advised D-3 they were backing into the FME and asked permission to cut out the PTC. D-3 asked if it was the 1st half, then rogered their scanner-skipped response and OKd the PTC cut-out, also at 0403.
The FG WLs were dark and -- at 0408 -- the FI-1/2 parking spot MT. At 0409, the LGT -- now back into AE-01 crew ID -- OKd themselves for 15.
At 0410, D-3 reached out to POAY, repeating it at 0411 and asking them if they were on the move, followed by a roger, followed by asking if they could make it to Clinton, followed by asking if they could make it back up, followed by saying that the *garbled* crew was on at 0500. Disruption of "normal" operational patterns, indeed!
There may have been more to POAY, but Mount Wachusett was a factor since I was now making a side trip WB on Crawford Street, but there was naught visible or audible for AE-01/LGT.
At 0423, the EB staggers for Derby were dark, and at 0426, D-3 would yet again answer FI-2 and advise he was ready to copy. He mighta been, but I was SB on I-190 in the rain, so all got written down was something about 1 cripple among whatever else got said. He next asked if they were ready to head west, adding a question about headpinning with the NS engines.
It would seem that AE-01 got reassigned to the LGT and that FI-2 got reassigned to AE-01 and that POAY got reassigned to the 1st <1/2 of Q427's PAR trip. If only Crew Checkers had been recognized as an event at the Tokyo Olympics, PAR/S would get the gold!
At 0432, D-2 would reach out x2 to TC T46, but whatever mighta be happening there got overridden at 0433 by D-3 telling FI-2 there'd been a change of plans and that they's be cabbing back to Fitchburg, even further evidence of checkerage.
The next 17 were quiet.

0245-0440/07-05-2021 was relatively quiet, as might be expected of the observance date of 07-04. POAY, however, was on the job and getting the words at 0248 to drop the 3 and back onto the pin. Yard Channel activity continued, sometimes clear and sometimes not, the variables of elevation and topography changes confounding the clarity of reception. From 0313 and on, 22K would join the alternations of clarity and hash with car countdowns when they told themselves they were good for 25.
At 0317, the 333 WLs were dark and the 334 ELs would be at Stop and the 334 1 stagger dark, 22K telling themselves at 0321 that they were good for 15, 1 -- 5 and that the derail was up. The 335s were dark and a spell of radio silence went into effect.
Up Da Hill, the 345s were dark and the yard was pretty much FP-FP on 4 with general, that included however many tanks, boxes, covered hoppers, at least 1 coil car, a tented Interfor dimensional lumber centerbeam, and x number of racks behind the ambulance company and then to the easterly end of the Pratt yard, followed by more boxes. There was also overflow on the easterly end of the #2, 3 each more of loaded racks and stickrail carriers. Dunno if the Gardner Switcher had been in town on 07-04. If not the cars would probably be leftovers.
At 0340, D-3 reached out to 22K with NS 6942, giving them permission to reverse direction within the interlocking limits of CPF-AY from where they stood and proceed east on the #2, suggesting another shove would be starting. Per Wiki, Interfor is a Canadian-based lumber company with U.S. mills in Georgia, S. Carolina, and Arkansas, so it'd seem a joint sales pitch had been made to a lumber distributor on the P&W. In another timber-related observation, no saplings were yet visible within the gauge of the southerly Heywood.
EB, there was a clear reception at 0348 of 22K's E being told to drop the 3 and test the brakes, no follow-up getting to me. At 0351, the 333 WLs were dark, the 1400 -- yes, Saturday schedule Keolis-wide -- still 1/2+ hour away.
Things not on semi-holiday schedule were the ZombieZones, hash aplenty being served. The 330.8 WBs were at Clear, the 330 WLs and ELs dark, and the GL WLs at Stop. The FG WLs were dark, and dark, solo, and east-facing KCIR 5976 was in the FI-1/2 parking spot at 0406. At 0411, just "22K" escaped a pile of hash, and at 0413, the EB staggers for Derby were dark.
Radio silence was now the mode until the end of the trip, including naught audible concerning Q426/7, including X7.8 crossing noise as of 0535.

0245-0441/07-07-2021 had some surprises on the reception front. The 1st surprise was dead air until 0258 when D-3 reached out to AY-3 and said he was checking to see if they were in the clear. Further receptions would reveal that the 7609 was clear in the Milling and that the switch to the #1 was lined and locked normal and checked. Even further developments would happen when D-3 answered AY-3 at 0301, saying "29" to whatever they had just said and confirming that they didn't want the cab to go to the Pine Tree, but to the mailbox, rogering their response.
Quiet again followed until 0311 with a spell of Road-side hash followed by a spell of Dispatcher-side hash. E to C or E or C to D-3? Dunno. At 0317, the 333 WLs were dark, the usual Stops for the 334 ELs and darkness for the 334 1 stagger and 335s in effect, followed by 0326 Road-side hash when almost all of the way up Da Hill.
Up Da Hill, the 345s were dark, and at 0330, D-3 reached out again to AY-3, naught further to be heard to, from, or about those guys. D-3 would, however, issue a Line 4 to TC 1412 for the Single between East Northfield and MP S39, time effective 0335. 4 later, there would be more D-3 business on the same West End antenna, but I'd moved the magic coupla hundred feet, and it was hash. From between the easterly end of Chair City Oil and the easterly end of the Pratt yard, there was general on 2 in the yard, a cut of BNSF and ATSF boxes and an MT centerbeam among the occupants.
On the EB leg of the trip and with the benefit of some remains of elevation came the 0347 "POAY, 30." At 0349, the 333 WLs were again dark, and POAY's car countdowns -- now garbled -- continued.
At 0353 and in a default ZombieZone came the both-sides intelligible D-3/22K exchange. When 22K got down to Ayer, they were to yard to IM 2 and then IM 3. Dunno if the "IM" distinction had been formally added, but I now knew that 22K was short enough for only 2 tracks and why AY-3 had tied down at the Milling.
Further east, the 330.8 WBs were both at Clear, the 330 WLs and ELs dark, and the GL WLs at Stop. 0359 would be the start of a TC T619/D-3 convo that lead to the 0400 cancellation of Form D G301, a Line 4 for the #1 between CPF-FG and Derby.
The FG WLs were dark, and at 0405, a dark, solo, and east-facing KCIR sat in the FI-1/2 parking spot, the reflections off the cab #s not permitting a clear ID. East Side had a number of racks.
At 0411, the EB staggers for Derby were dark, the hashed car countdowns continuing, eventually resolving into alternating POAY and 22K activity.
The earlier 22K hashed countdowns musta been to start their shove cuz at 0438 came the words that 22K was all lined for Track 2, there was no derail, and they were good for another 50. 3 later and at the end of listening, the count was down to 30.
Q426/7? Naught -- again -- heard, including MP X7.8 crossing noise as of 0535.

0243-0445/07-09-2021 was an "interesting " trip and not just because of the occasional rain and more frequent fog as preludes to TS Elsa. 0243? That's when 22K told themselves to drop the 3 and test the brakes. Given the clarity and strength, the transmission probably came from the west end of the yard. I got on the move, so immediate follow-ups would get hashed, but the Boylston/West Boylston Rte. 140 sag permitted more 22K car countdowns at 0250 before reverting to hash.
At 0254, POAY would occupy the airwaves with some garble and then a clear "back it up for 40." Changes in distance and topography would produce changes in clarity, but there would be ongoing and alternating 22K and POAY car countdowns.
At 0318, the 333 WLs would be dark, he usual sequences to follow, but now accompanied by radio silence, at least for me.
Up Da Hill, the 345s were dark and the yard crammed, The Extension and 1 had mostly covered hoppers and tanks -- some unplacarded and some LPGs. 2 had a long string of rack loads, and 4 more racks, but apparently MTs.
The EB leg of the trip featured a continuation of radio silence, the 333 WLs dark at 0351, followed by Clears on the 330.8 WBs, darkness on the 330 WLs and ELs and Stops on the GL WLs.
The FG WLs were dark and the FI-1/2 parking spot MT at 0404, a musing about which to follow.
At 0405 there was a spurt of garble, and following a fruitless attempt at refueling, the EB staggers for Derby were dark at 0416, with only sporadic hash before and after getting onto I-190 SB.
At 0427, D-3 would answer AY-3, garble a confirming ? about something, and then give a roger. Many are the places and 1 was the time I could have missed other ones, but this was the first attributable D-3 reception in 1.7333 hours, a record I hope goes unmatched and unbroken.
At 0440, there was some garble that would lead to a semi-clear D-3/AE-01 exchange involving coming out a Moores and dropping 4 *lost* on West Main, D-3 advising they'd wait until the inbound got by. Given the MTness of the FI-1/2 parking spot, ?s about the possibility of FI-2's power and mebbe crew getting repurposed did arise.
Naught -- including X7.8 crossing noise as of 0525-- for Q426/7, so guessing another shift in operational patterns has happened.
Let's all weather the storm safely.

0245-0445/07-12-2021 had some surprises, starting at 0248 with a spurt of Road-side hash, clarity coming at 0248 when D-3 answered Q426, rogered whatever they said, and requested 426 to give a shout to POAY so they'd be ready for 426. To conserve suspense, naught further would attributable to, from, or about Q426/7 or POAY/AYPO for the balance of scanner time, a time generally sparing of hash.
At 0317, the 333 WLs were dark, the usual sequences following. At 0325 and again at 0326, D-3 called out to AY-3 while I was still north/east of the Rte. 2 WB onramp with neither response nor short-term follow-up audible. More, however, will follow in re AY-3.
Up Da Hill, the 345s were dark, and 4 was pretty much FP-FP with general and a few scatted rack loads. The general included boxes, NS and Brand X gons, CRYO-TRANSes, covered hoppers, coil cars, and a tented centerbeam. There may have been some D-3 activity, but it was pretty well overridden by PD Gardner exchanges concerning a no-longer stuck truck either side of 0337.
At the start of the EB leg of the trip and at 0342, D-3 answered FI-2, rogered what they'd said, topography garbling the rest of the reception.
0350 was when the 333 WLs were dark, the 330.8 WBs showing a Stop for 1 and Clear for 2, darkness on the 330 WLs and ELs and Stops on the GL WLs.
The FG WLs were dark and the FI-1/2 parking spot MT at 0405, explanation coming the very same minute when D-3 241d FI-2 with the 5976 -- still presumably a KCIR -- 1 east to 2 at CPF-Derby, additional info being lost.
Post refueling stop -- successful, unlike that of 04-09 -- the EB staggers for Derby were dark at 0417, the same time that a both-sides-audible D-3/AY-3 convo started. AY-3 with leader 7561 got permission to reverse direction from where they stood and proceed east to CPF-Derby. A wait of a coupla minutes produced no shunting for the EB staggers, so my guess was that AY-3 had been to Fitchburg -- dunno West Side or East -- on Grainer business -- dunno L or E -- and hadn't yet gotten onto either the #1 or #2. I continued EB, hearing only rare static for the balance of the trip.
You know who hasn't been mentioned, and as of the 0530 posting there hadn't been an audible crossing noise from 427.sometimes audible from Campground.

0245-0500/07-14-2021 was a longer than usual trip, but not cuuza any high amount of activity, but a high amount of fog. How foggy was the fog? Heavy enough for me to reduce my speed and still overshoot Rte. 2 exits -- 1 WB and 1 EB -- cuz landmarks were obscured and my desire to make no more Bambiburger kept my eyes forward instead of on the navi.
Occasional Yard Channel hash would start at 0310, and as a hedzup to infrequent Rte. 2 travelers, there were message boards advising of a shutdown of 2 between Exits 100 -- Rte. 13 -- and 99B -- Rte. 12 N -- between 2100 and 0500 starting 07-23.
The 333 WLs were dark at 0325 and D-3 started his side of a convo with Q427, fulfilling Form D G332 to CSXT ???(?) at 0326. next asking for the update and then confirming that CSXT 955 would be the new leader. I hadn't changed my position in the 333 lot, but D-3 would next serve up hash, something evidently having gotten between the Paxton antenna and mine. The 334 ELs were at Stop, the 334 1 stagger and 335s dark.
Things were generally quiet WB up Da Hill to the dark 345s and MT yard. Possibly as recompense, The Deity Of Randomness turned on the 346.6 at 0350, the 345 1 WL going to Clear. 0350 was also when D-3 had a his-side-broken convo with FI-2, their side unheard.
2 later, the 346.6 gave out 182 total axles, 60°, 3996', and detector malfunction, the entire report being repeated. The west got brighter and noisier, 22K with NSs 6942, ????, and 8115 getting a mix of tables and wells -- all occupied with Hunts, Hubs, and EMPs onto the Single at 0357.
The EB trip featured 0359 garble that included "POED," this to be followed by unattributable car countdowns. Account the visibility probs cited earlier, The Rte. 140 exit got missed, so it was down to South Street. The normally good view from the Water Street. OHB made it look like the GL WLs were dark, but from the platform, they were at Stop and the 330 ELs were dark, presumably ditto for the WLs. At 0418, D-3 and TC T1374 got into a convo, Foul Time between FG and Derby being given up.
3 later ? called out to POED, and just after that the FG WLs were dark. Dark and solo KCIR 5976 was in the FI-1/2 parking spot at 0425, and a number of racks were on East Side.
At 0426, D-3 reached out to 22K, only the IDs and "Ayer" and "Fitchburg" being clear. At 0429, there was more D-3 garble asking about the cab meeting *them* at the trailer. There had been earlier POED/D-3 breakage about whether D-3 wanted *them* or the pig first, followed by question about when the recrew was on, 0500 being the answer, so mebbe related.
At 0431, the EB staggers for Derby were dark an a company -- hand-sprayed "BM" -- hopper sat on the easterly end of the RVJ stub.
At 0439, there was a partial involving AYPO, and at 0444 a clear "40 more, AYPO." Occasional car countdowns would fill out the remainder of the trip.
No Bambiburger was made, although a coupla bunnies did unsuccessfully try to become pâte de chemin.

0245-0440/07-16-2021 was -- as will be seen -- an atypical trip. 0247 was when D-3 answered Q426 and then went into hash mode, only "permission" escaping into semiclarity. Soon would come "OK on the roll-by, Q426," strongly suggesting that a live handover was wrapping up near Burncoat.
Even garbles would be rare for the next bit, the 333 WLs dark at 0317. 3 later, there would be a few Yard Channel garbles, but I now entered The Cone Of Silence (Radio, at least) past the 334 ELs -- Stops -- and the 334 1 stagger and 335s -- darkness.
Up Da Hill, the 345s were dark, and PD Gardner was kind enough to emit evidence that my scanner was still scanning. From the easterly FP to the ambulance company, 2 in the yard had 4 MT centerbeams, 3 MT racks, and a mix of tanks -- at least some placarded -- and boxes. Mebbe a few others coulda been on 4, but don't think so.
The early EB garbles were at least partially attributable to -- again -- PD Gardner, and at 0346, the 333 WLs continued to conserve energy.
Further east, the 330.8 WBs were at Clear, but the 330 WLs and ELs joined the GL WLs in uniform redness, as would the FG WLs. Couldn't see the FG ELs cuzza foliage but the lack of FI-2 audibility and visibility suggested that mebbe the 330 and FG WLs had been reset to constant-on.
At 0401, the FI-1/2 parking spot was MT, and at 0411, the EB staggers for Derby were dark, the company hopper still on the RVJ stub.
There was only rare -- and mebbe spurious -- static until 0419 when the only-temporary convergence of favorable elevation and topography permitted reception of POAY's E repeating the request to drop the 3 and back it for 20.
0435 would present minor D-3 garble, mebbe even on Yard Channel, the next 5 being quiet.
You know those who normally get mentioned, and you also know they haven't been, naught to from, or about them getting to me.