n one sense, our Saturday Night Special club ops was a shambles. Stuff broke. Trains did all sorts of unapproved maneuvers. The clock ran hyper at 15:1 and reset with each reprogramming. I had to go dump a Guinness afterwards.

On the other hand, it was glorious.

See, this was a training session, a chance for everyone who has wallflowered or wanted to try newer, more difficult jobs to give them a chance. We went over the warrants so all the operators would be knowledgeable [sic]. And we told everyone that everyone around them was just as inexperienced, meaning goofs would be a dime a dozen. And in honor of what I said in the briefing, no names will be posted in this blog.

New Haven units gather in Weirton, no doubt plotting to force their way into the yard (Photo: Kyle S)

So, we started about 7:30 or so with one train engineered by REDACTED not just leaving a station but already four stations down the line (not only three hours ahead of schedule but facing trains with orders to clear his timetabled movements). Fully expecting to hear that “headlights” scream, I can only assume that the locals scattered like cockroaches and the crisis was averted. We had a long heavy train with REDACTED at the controls attempt to boost the hill on light engines, only to stall and hold up eastern subdivision operations fifteen real minutes (or seven hyper-fast-clock years). But then there were the great moments. REDACTED  and REDACTED  and REDACTED all met at Harris Glen all deadlocked (because REDACTED jumped past his warrant authority). They called me to solve it, I suggested a fix, then the crews put their heads together (sounding, no doubt, like conking coconuts) and came up with an even better solution! That was great to see – the crews working it out on the ground!

Three crews working Calypso, getting those mill jobs and the branch runs handled after other crews turned up their noses on them in the official session (Photo: John DV)

There are too many REDACTEDS to mention by redactions here, but I saw a number of first time crews running locals and freights. Even REDACTED ran a new yard job. And REDACTED ran a freight train, a tough one. So good to you guys.

I was especially delighted when one guy, whose name will be REDACTED, save 5000 steel mill jobs by getting a bunch of mill runs completed. We’ll have full service on mineral trains next session, thanks to him.

Overall, for what looked like a sleepy Saturday session, we had great crews and a lot of effort, so kudos for everyone. That is, except for President Shannon who skipped out on us. He wasn’t there, so he does not get REDACTED.

Ore tops the summit at Notman Station, finishing off the overdue runs and feeding hungry Bethlehem furnaces (Photo: John DV)

Yes, for every bonzo move, there were an equivalent moment of brilliance. You guys have what it takes. Now you only have to trust your abilities, build your operation expertise and see how much better a session runs when you help others and focus on your jobs.

And close your switches. Everyone was leaving turnouts open last night.

>>>BUY A BOOK. ANYTHING ON AMAZON WRITTEN BY REDACTED<<<

The golden moment of awesomeness – crews clear a Harris Glen logjam without the Dispatcher Signal being lit. (Photo: Jude S)

Freight 244 runs down the single operational line at Pittsburgh, with Track 2 out of service (Photo: John DV)

Long Lehigh Siding, the dispatcher’s favorite. Trains group, ready to parade the summit. (Photo: Zeus H)