wasn’t really at the top of my game that night. I’d gotten two boosters (Covid and Measles) and I feeling out of sorts. Also, there’s something going on my life that keeps me up at night. So I was tired. And foggy. I couldn’t even seem to work the dispatcher program, miss-clicking and fumbling my way through it. I wasn’t at my best. And it showed.

The overdue racks finally get out of Zanesville (Photo; Alex B)

I kicked out my usual signature warrant start, with orders to 202, SB2, 921, 927 and 223. I should just print up copies of these to cut out to issue, pre-written. Always the same. At first, when I’d checked out the room before slithering back in my den o’ dispatching, I didn’t see that many people but a lots more came in before the starting gun. That took me by surprise – everything would be running tonight. Next thing I know, 152, the autoracks, rang me up for a warrant in Pearl Harbor fashion (and I’ll admit having delayed him excessively). But everyone else was rolling and I got into the flow of things (somewhat). I could still feel myself misfiring. Why did I do boosters six hours before ops? I should have just drank heavily (you know, like Shannon or Zach).

Thankfully the crews knew what they were doing. I was gratified to see the old sweats take some of our new members (and guests) out on their runs. And John W was Mr. “Work it out on the ground” – twice he had big meets where her found the other trains on the wrong track (which he fixed without bugging me about it). Kyle and Alex ran everything in the Steel Mill and, while not blown away with the heavy metal job, they did give me the vaguest idea of how it could be improved. The noise was a little high but, well, not as bad as months prior. A couple of you did come back for F2F warrants, a practice I need to abolish.

922 pumps air to return to Martin. Meanwhile,a distant dispatcher ponders how this train did at least one runaround and a hop over to the interchange without a single warrant. Perhaps Shannon was with us in spirit? (Photo: Jim “write yer own” M)

I wish I could record the times trains hit their stations so I knew how tight we ran. While it wasn’t a WAZU, it was pretty good. 202 got in to staging at 11am or so (pretty good time for him), the Bullets met at Harris Glen, their timetabled meet point. Jim and Jude worked the Rivervalley locals (and while they didn’t get home until dark, I suspect that, unlike Shannon, they actually run under warrants (though I expect 921 might have Tootled around in the daisy fields, if you know what I mean)).

I’ll admit then when “Hang dog” Terry topped the summit above the spiral with the intermodal train, I could only see disaster looming. In fact, little joke between us – I gave him a “Checkbox 12: God be with you” Order. Rotzaruck, you know. But he drifted down the corkscrew grade right as rain.

Two trains. One track. Two smiles (Photo: John C)

We did have one cornfield and when I heard about it, I quickly took emergency steps by reviewing the warrants and determining it wasn’t me. Since I found $5 tucked under my wiper blade out in the parking lot, nothing is served by identifying the guilty party.

I really did have a good time and finally plowed through the end of this thing. Looking at the signups, we ran twenty-three trains and all the steel mill jobs. It ran fairly smooth (which reminds me of how the club should be, and not the zoo it became at one point). We need to keep it that way.

I will say this: When I got out of my car when I got home, I was getting chilled. Getting ready for bed, I was really fevered; dragged on my longjohns and socks and climbed into bed, shivering and sweating. All I can say is that I’m glad it didn’t happen during the session. The end of a perfect day.

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I’m sure that 903. hanging on the Shelfton Slide, is pleased to wait for a passing train. Starting on a grade is always tricky (Photo: Kaden S)

Paper rubbish litters the wayside as 927 thinks about becoming 928 (Photo: Jude “Litterbug” S)

Juicy X740  eases into Martin while a freight (I’m guessing 202) waits for Calypso cars to be added (Photo: John DV)

104 Cincy Racks East saws by a reefer block. Given that he’s fouling the west turnout, this almost didn’t work (Photo: John DV)

Pittsburgh is a busy place. We might consider adding working signal bridges. Hint-hint, you lazy sods. (Photo John DV)

The Silver Bullets meet per timetable in Harris. Okay, I’m proud. (Photo: Chris S)