0245-0447/09-22-2021 was notable for more than just the autumnal equinox. The first PAR/S reception came at 0258 when D-3 asked Q426 what time they arrived at Ayer, next asking if they'd said 0130 and then thanking them. 0310 was when D-3 answered POED, rogering whatever they said, and 0315 would be the start -- for me at least -- of Yard Channel garbles that would be an intermittent constant throughout the trip.
0317 would show the 333 WLs at Stop, a WB going through -- slurries among them -- so probably the POED of 0310. Over at 334, the ELs were at Stop and the 1 stagger at a double green, the WB not dropping it until 0320, probably a mix of curvature, train length, and wet rail.
The Clear on the 335 1 EL got dropped at 0325, KCIR 7609, NewBlue 7518, and KCIR 7517 now getting their train closer to MAS. The car count got interrupted at 0329 when D-3 reached out to POED, asking them to make sure when they got to 346 that the switch was lined 1 to Single, adding that they'd need a 241. The marker got west at 0331 with a mix of NS gons and flats, company gons and stone hoppers, Brand X gons, branded and plain-wrapper centerbeams, the slurries, a coupla covered hoppers and placarded tanks, and lotsa boxes that included a few Smurfs.
While we were both WB up Da Hill, POED reached out to D-3 at 0338, naught further to be heard by me.
Up Da Hill, the 345s were dark, and the yard had racks east on the 2 that turned into general by Royal Steam Heater, but didn't get much further than the ambulance company. There was also general on the easterly portion of 4. I got EB, and -- no surprise -- the 345 ELs were dark at 0346.
At 0350, somebody other than D-3 called out to the 5972, hash next happening. 3 later, the 333 WLs were at Stop, naught visible or audible E or W, the haze/mist being a good propagator of light. Further east and in back of Fitchburg Warehouse on State Road, it looked like there were stationary number boards, but not FI-2's, as will be seen.
The 330.8 WBs showed a Clear for 1 and a Stop for 2, the 330 ELs and WLs and the GL WLs all at Stop, despite no visible shunting sources.
The FG WLs were dark, and at 0412, dark, solo, and west-facing NewBlue 5958 sat on West Side. Keep reading for more about FI-2.
Among the ongoing Yard Channel hash was a clear "AY-4" at 0417. Dunno if to, from, or about. At 0418, the EB staggers for Derby were dark, a company hopper still on the RVJ stub.
The Yard Channel hash continued, 0426 presenting a clear "Q426." again dunno if to, from, or about. That would be my last 426 reception of the trip. 2 later, D-3 answered AY-3, confirming that the wanted a cab for 0515 at the Pine Tree and advising he'd take care of it.
0440 was the start of an extended D-3 convo with -- as promised -- FI-2. He said he was checking on how they were making out, asking after a pause how many they'd spotted, next asking if they'd finish up and be in the clear by 0700, rogering whatever they said. There was further discussion about a missing unit -- possibly their original leader the 6952 -- and whether it was at Wagon Wheel, all focusing on the need to be clear of the main by 0700 for ongoing track work. Just guessing that the FI-2 crew had been repurposed to ED-8. Dunno further development cuz I stopped listening at 0447.
0317 would show the 333 WLs at Stop, a WB going through -- slurries among them -- so probably the POED of 0310. Over at 334, the ELs were at Stop and the 1 stagger at a double green, the WB not dropping it until 0320, probably a mix of curvature, train length, and wet rail.
The Clear on the 335 1 EL got dropped at 0325, KCIR 7609, NewBlue 7518, and KCIR 7517 now getting their train closer to MAS. The car count got interrupted at 0329 when D-3 reached out to POED, asking them to make sure when they got to 346 that the switch was lined 1 to Single, adding that they'd need a 241. The marker got west at 0331 with a mix of NS gons and flats, company gons and stone hoppers, Brand X gons, branded and plain-wrapper centerbeams, the slurries, a coupla covered hoppers and placarded tanks, and lotsa boxes that included a few Smurfs.
While we were both WB up Da Hill, POED reached out to D-3 at 0338, naught further to be heard by me.
Up Da Hill, the 345s were dark, and the yard had racks east on the 2 that turned into general by Royal Steam Heater, but didn't get much further than the ambulance company. There was also general on the easterly portion of 4. I got EB, and -- no surprise -- the 345 ELs were dark at 0346.
At 0350, somebody other than D-3 called out to the 5972, hash next happening. 3 later, the 333 WLs were at Stop, naught visible or audible E or W, the haze/mist being a good propagator of light. Further east and in back of Fitchburg Warehouse on State Road, it looked like there were stationary number boards, but not FI-2's, as will be seen.
The 330.8 WBs showed a Clear for 1 and a Stop for 2, the 330 ELs and WLs and the GL WLs all at Stop, despite no visible shunting sources.
The FG WLs were dark, and at 0412, dark, solo, and west-facing NewBlue 5958 sat on West Side. Keep reading for more about FI-2.
Among the ongoing Yard Channel hash was a clear "AY-4" at 0417. Dunno if to, from, or about. At 0418, the EB staggers for Derby were dark, a company hopper still on the RVJ stub.
The Yard Channel hash continued, 0426 presenting a clear "Q426." again dunno if to, from, or about. That would be my last 426 reception of the trip. 2 later, D-3 answered AY-3, confirming that the wanted a cab for 0515 at the Pine Tree and advising he'd take care of it.
0440 was the start of an extended D-3 convo with -- as promised -- FI-2. He said he was checking on how they were making out, asking after a pause how many they'd spotted, next asking if they'd finish up and be in the clear by 0700, rogering whatever they said. There was further discussion about a missing unit -- possibly their original leader the 6952 -- and whether it was at Wagon Wheel, all focusing on the need to be clear of the main by 0700 for ongoing track work. Just guessing that the FI-2 crew had been repurposed to ED-8. Dunno further development cuz I stopped listening at 0447.
"A gray crossover is definitely not company transportation."