Received an early morning call stating one of the operators wouldn't be able to make it. I hate he wasn't able to attend, but I surely understand the circumstances. He was missed, but we were able to work it out.
#13 & #14 Peoria Rocket Second Section trains were annulled. The CNW Clinton-Davenport Local was annulled.
Marcus started off the session engineering the XtrFE out of Davenport Yard with two N&W RS11s and one RI GP7. Larry was out next on the XtrFW out of Chicago with two GP40s and one U25B. The dispatcher was running Larry like a scolded dog shuffling him down the road as fast as he could. Larry pulled into the siding at Bureau clearing just in time (and I mean just in time ~ headlight in sight) of the #12 Peoria Rocket engineered by Steven. Great running by Larry keeping 'em safe and no delays to the passenger train.
Steven pulled into Bureau for his station stop and then backed out on the wye before heading east to Chicago. He had the road for the remainder of his journey into Chicago. Larry continued on with priority over most trains due to his size. He was well over tonnage hanging out on every siding he passed. Marcus expertly handled his train obeying the 10m rule of not blocking crossings in Rock Island. He pulled up short of the first crossing in town and then slowly pulled ahead as the headlight was visible from Larry's XtrFW arriving in town. The scenario provided a great rolling meet through Rock Island. Residents of the town praise the quality engineers hired by the Rock.
#6 Quad Cities Rocket was delayed 2 hours to an unruly passenger in Davenport. The passenger Timmy Johnson was taken into custody by the Davenport police department. Steven engineered the train into Chicago without further incident.
Larry was called out on the Extra Grain East with 13 cars out of Davenport. Unfortunately due to budget cuts, crews are required to sort their own cars before leaving town. Larry was in town 2hrs 15m for sorting plus switching out the one local elevator. The Extra Grain train is acquiring a reputation. Crews have mentioned that they will start marking off when that train is called in the future. Marcus is still disputing his denied labor claims from his last trip where he went on the law operating the train for the legal max of 12 hours.
Thirty minutes later, Marcus was called out on the Stockdale Local. Steven was called out shortly after arriving into Chicago on the Quad Cities Rocket for the Peoria Local. All three were quite busy for hours switching industries. The Extra Grain East met up with the Stockdale Local in Stockdale. The CEO was cocky thinking he had the Peoria Local whipped. Reality quickly whipped the CEO into shape as his own design quickly brought him to his knees. One thing crews have found operating the Rock, never assume that the desired move will be simple. 9 out of 10 times it is not as it may seem.
Crews broke for a BBQ lunch.
After lunch, Steven was able to make quick work completing his run to Rock Island and tying up the Peoria Local in Davenport.
To the crew's dismay, it was heard over the radio that a Extra West Empty Coal train was called out of Chicago. Steven took the SD35 set light out of Chicago to the AT&SF North Yard. The train was backed onto the Rock and pulled into the siding at Joliet. Traffic was up ahead in Stockdale with both the Stockdale Local and Extra Grain West (return trip) were in town. The Extra Grain West cleared up and received some track time west into Bureau. The dispatcher granted permission to the Extra Coal West to follow the grain train down the ovalix overtaking it in Bureau. The Extra Grain West performed it's final work in Bureau as the Extra Coal West eased into the siding at Rock Island. The train tied up here for quite some time breaking the train to prevent blocking the crossings.
Steven was called out to engineer the #5 Quad Cities Rocket. The Quad Cities Rocket eased by Marcus at Stockdale as he finished up his work. He had a quick trip back to Chicago.
Not minutes after wrapping up his classification work at Davenport on the Extra Grain West, Larry was called out for the #11 Peoria Rocket. The train left the station 30 minutes late.
Marcus was called out on high priority Extra Pig East with two N&W high-nose SD35s. We're happy to report the train was delivered without incident this time. Last time, a few trailers had their roofs ripped off plus a few came off the flat car. Rock Management tried to cover up the incident by returning the damaged trailers to the flat cars acting like nothing ever happened.
Steven was called out on XtrFE2 with two GP40s and one GP7. Steven dropped one car at Davenport, but picked up six running heavy at 14 cars east. Before he was able to depart the yard, his locomotive set shut down. The power set was set off and new power was placed on the train consisting of two GP40s and one U25B. XtrFE2 encountered some issues with a broken knuckle on the ovalix sending a runaway of 12 cars down the ovalix at a high rate of speed. In turn, a spectacular derailment occurred. Hulcher was called out to rerail the cars. Crews will surely not forget soon the train mishandlings of the CEO. Once rerailed, XtrFE2 was able to safely engineer the train into Chicago without further incident.
Larry was called out for the inaugural run of the N&W Peoria to Davenport local. The train was lead by a single GP20 and 7 cars including the caboose. The train was brought to its knees climbing the grade out of Peoria. After two attempts of tackling the hill Larry decided to double the hill utilizing the wye at Bureau. After doubling the hill, his journey into Davenport to swap blocks of cars was pretty uneventful.
Marcus was called out on XtrFW2 with GP38-2 and U25B. He had clear sailing to the east bank of the Mississippi River where he was held for the N&W Peoria Local to clear up the A/D track. Once clear, XtrFW2 was able to pull into Davenport Yard to perform his setoff/pickup. The N&W Peoria Local slipped out the back door heading back to Peoria unmet by any other train.
Steven was called out on the last train a very late Blue Island Local. The train performed his switching duties without incident or having to clear for passing traffic.
Larry was called out to complete the Extra Coal West train's journey into West Davenport off the railroad.
It was a great session. Thanks to Larry and Marcus for their expert prototypical train handling.
Train Recap (engineer ~ on duty/off duty ~ total time):
XtrFE ~ Marcus ~ 04:30a / 08:18a ~ 3hrs 48m
XtrFW ~ Larry ~ 05:15a / 07:48a ~ 2hrs 33m
#12 Peoria Rocket ~ Steven ~ 06:00a / 07:44a ~ 1hr 44m
#6 Quad Cities Rocket ~ Steven ~ 08:15a / 10:19a ~ 2hr 4m
Grain Extra ~ Larry ~ 08:15a / 18:45p ~ 10hrs 30m
Stockdale Local ~ Marcus ~ 08:45a / 07:03p ~ 10hrs 18m
Peoria Local ~ Steven ~ 10:45a / 03:38p ~ 4hrs 53m
Extra Coal West ~ Steven ~ 03:45p / 5:15p ~ 1hr 30m
#5 Quad Cities Rocket ~ Steven ~ 05:15p / 07:18p ~ 2hrs 3m
#11 Peoria Rocket ~ Larry ~ 07:00p / 08:28p ~ 1hr 28m
Extra Pig East ~ Marcus ~ 07:15p / 08:48p ~ 1hr 33m
XtrFE2 ~ Steven ~ 07:25p / 9:55p ~ 2hrs 30m
N&W Davenport Local ~ Larry ~ 08:53p / 11:30p ~ 2hrs 37m
XtrFW2 ~ Marcus ~ 08:55p / 12:10a ~ 3hrs 15m
Blue Island Local ~ Steven ~ 10:11p / 12:10a ~ 1hr 59m
Xtra Coal West ~ Larry ~ 11:35p / 12:00a ~ 0hr 25m
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