The real reason X6304 West couldn’t reach Harris Summit. Someone tacked that empty TOFC on the back! (Zeus H)

East Ore 452 positions in Martin Limits to pick up paper for its run (John DV)

‘ll admit relief when I checked the minutes of our last meeting and saw that Kyle would be dispatching. I think I needed a break from it. At the WAZU (blog link redacted), I’d had that “incident” at Bigg’s Jct, a combination of high expectations (mine) and low comedy (the krews). I had to orchestrate a simple saw-by with sign-language responses on one-of-nine monitors while Doc stood over me with the Holy Timetable, gesturing and yammering about where the meet was supposed to be.

But that was then and this was now and I was on the road.

When I run trains, I run locals (said with the smugness of a gin ad). But this time I decided to grab a heavy freight for myself – 202 out of Cincy, Mr. T’s legacy. I decided I’d do it behind two F-VL units (F/Very Loud). I did advise the dispatchers I’d put helpers on in Martin and try to take the hill, but I might pull the top-side units down if distressed. That cleared, at the opening second I was out of the yard limits, sweeping along the waterlevel route, blowing my VL horn at every crossing with papers to Mingo. Found that curious – seemed WestSide Kyle was not going by the Ohio Flyer 2 pass at Zanesville. I was a little nervous about that – Chris had his PanzerTranz on the line and, given our rocky relationship, he’d be shining his headlight into my caboose like some proctologist given the chance. Turns out I needn’t have worried – Coal 414 barged right out in front of him and put him behind this slow roller, letting me open distance and leave him in my dust (well, 414‘s coal dust).

My nemesis, the VolksWobble (Chris S)

Going into Martin, now it was my turn for emergency air when I was Klaucked in the yard lead by the Mingo Local scurrying across my bow unit like a roach. With my perfect approach ruined, I could only gather up and roll my freight into the yard, distracted enough that I left a turnout open behind me and got shit from OF2 anyway (Chris: +1 point). Got about halfway into Martin and was looking for East-YM instruction when the West-YM mid-trained me with the same unit, bump-throttling into my consist and putting it all over the place. Fumbles McBob even made me put an axle on the truck of my own car. And then both of them started to harangue me verbally (as low people do when angels fall amongst them). Everything I did got the “put that in the blog! And that!”). Had to tell them that their spoken words were transitory, drifting away on the winds. But my blog is permanent in digital stone. And one day, digital archeologists will unearth it, to sympathize with me and laugh at them. So there.

Two nameless yardmasters, their identities lost to history, work their yard (Luke L)

Steam on the LM&O. Saw a couple of puffers tonight! (Luke L)

I’ll crush a child here now and note that TV was standing by to run racks out and left his bell running. Jeff called him over and asked him to shut it down. But TV didn’t know where his phone (i.e. his controller) was. His dad came over and started to call his number, then looked at him – “Is your ringer off?” TV nodded. Kids, you gotta love them. Or so I’ve been told.

Anyway, rolled up and over the summit in a nice smooth roll. Best moment was meeting 223 (my sister train) in Red Rock (with the Mingo Local passing underneath). Of course, nobody got a picture of that but it was a sweet moment. Then up and over the hill. Had a little problem on the descent – I might have been running a little fast (and after I advised John DV to run his ore slow over the hill). Dropped a flat car inside Tunnel 1 but Matthew J and David C were nice enough to fish it out and help me rebuild.

Another moment of humor – pulled into Calypso where Zeus was a God (how appropriate). Told him I had two front end drops and had to get the helpers off too. I was on track 1 (an A/D track) and he told me to drop my lead units on track 2 (the other A/D track). “You know, this might not be such a good idea,” I said slowly. Zeus gave me his patented cocky smile. “Should be fine”.

“Train 247, looking to come in,” reported David C less than a minute later, just as I completed my move to Track 2.

“%&#(@,” Zeus responded. I had a good laugh at that.

Ore MT West 453 paces VL 202 over the high bridge, a nice moment of motion (John DV)

The second run of the night was simply an extra since most other things were run. I took a loitering cut out of Calypso and ran a lap west. Only problem was that I stalled on the loop (man, like a FOOT short of tunnel portal). Had Pete coming up the other side with his VL (not Very Loud here, but Very Long) extra. Went in and advised East-side dispatcher Steve what was going on and that we’d work it out. Pete brought his four modern units down (which frankly spooked my tiny Fs and made them skittish). But he lugged me up to Harris Glen siding, then coupled back onto his cut, slick as spit, and rolled down the hill. Swapped dispatchers again at Red Rock (I’d used my last one up) and got a nice Hail Mary warrant from West Side, all the way to Cincy.

It’s 19:24 on the wall clock and Zach is smiling the smile of insanity with a industrial area still packed with cars and the session winding down. But he made it! (John C)

Zach was just finishing up Shelfton as I came down the grade. I think he was cooked down there – lake start, a long cut in, long out, and someone’s bulky Tropicana cars hogging the grocers warehouse). I know what that can be like. I think anyone else trying to do it would have given up in frustration but he carried it through. I’m glad I was mainlining tonight – didn’t feel like a Rubik’s Cube deal.

So yes, it was a good night, the sort of night I needed. Nice to hear that my fix to Harris east-side made it work better. Good to see the furnaces aglow (two burned, so we’ll be busy getting mill cars out). John had fun (is that possible?) with both ore trains. I take special note of this since he was the guy who said they were cursed and now that he’s got the knack for it (I gave him a spare from my own collection) he’s found it enjoyable. Kudos to the yard crews (“Crash” Klauck and Jeff, as well as some little godlette over in Calyspo), our two dispatchers (Kyle and Steve) and to all the crews I met, passed, or simply railfanned in the course of my journeys. Everyone, that is, save Chris, who is still annoying.

But yeah, great night. Looking forward to the next after the barrage of shows coming up.

BTW, the furnaces will be short of limestone next time. I’ll pay two seniority points for that run in October.

>>>BUY A BOOK. JUST ONE. PLEASE?<<<

Um, wasn’t there a rule about road power in the mill? Well, next session, we need to park an MOW train there to repair all the damaged code 55 (John DV)

Four trains in the shot – Ore MT 453 on high, while 104 Stacks meets 95 in Zanesville. And I think the engine for 927 – Zanesville Turn – is just poking its nose into the lower right edge of the picture. (John DV)

Pete comes down to save me. Those engines so big I can’t see forward, just like being in my mini behind some of those crazy pickup trucks (Pete F)