Diminishing Expectations, NMED, 01-31-2011

Based on the radio, the original expectations for NMED -- first heard calling out a medium approach for CPF-335 before 0900 -- seemed to be that it would tie down at Athol. That got pulled to the east when Parkers on 2 got named the new tie-down. Finally -- at 0950 -- NMED and D-3 came to terms with CPF-345 being the new tie-down spot. On a drive-by, 617 and 502 were stopped on 2 with the rest of the train -- a half-mile or so -- still on the main. Dunno if later communications were via phone, but in the next hour-plus, there was no audible D-3 radio to/from/about NMED.
At least they got up the Hill. Maybe they even got out of the way of AYMO.

There was a train already tied down at Athol! NS 8721 +4 and around 60 were canned on track 1 all day. Departed westbound around 1730. Looked like another NMED as most of the cars were Paper mill traffic (boxes/slurry).

http://photos.nerail.org/s/?p=184082

http://photos.nerail.org/s/?p=184083

atholrail-
Thanks again for the updates.
A few questions/observations come out of this:
-The possibility of two trains with one symbol? Curioser and curioser!
-Have lots of either the new or old conductors gone elsewhere, assuming there was an equivalent increase in engineer staffing? Crewing seems to be suffering.
-Car department work seems on hold. The boxcar setout on Gardner Dead Track last week was still there 01-31, as were a slurry tank and loaded coal hopper at the east end of Gardner yard, complicating snow removal and access for however much we get over the next "events." Ditto any cannings that take place.
-8721 seems to be on at least short-term loan.
-There must be a certain amount of chuckling in Richmond that so far Norfolk's investment is going so far so unrewarded.

"NMED" isn't the whole symbol actually. They have a date associated with them which is the originating date of the train. For example a train originating today would be "NMED 01". Standard industry practice. In this case, it appears one day's NMED caught up with the previous day's one (for whatever reason). In this situation the dispatcher usually uses the lead locomotive number to contact the individual train - "NMED NS 8721 west".