Saturday Early summer Caboose Hop NOT!!! in Tales of the Jointed Track

I was called on a Saturday. The crew caller said Bob Extra south 730 am. I am out on rest, I usually ask for who the crew members are, but didn’t. I report at 31st Street, because the “new” edict, is you will, unless on helpers. I am making an appearance, off the extra board. Joe Tortorice is the Conductor, two extra board brakeman. Bob Fox… save me Jesus is the fireman. I like Bob, I do, but he is 20 cards away from a full deck.

I report, and am told to the roundhouse get your power. Really ? , but this is BN, we are Santa Fe. Eight units…all Santa Fe, a mixture of 4 and 6 axle power, three cabooses.

We get the units, call the Yardmaster at 31st St and told Junction to the back lead, caboose track, grab the Santa Fe’s and make our own air test. That completed, a route through the depot, and on to the C&S main. At the west end pick up the train orders, and work pick up messages. Yep this is gonna be a broom.

First message C&E Extra 3687 South

Fill to tonnage at the following locations:

Acequia 17 lds 18 mtys 35 cars 2700 tons no dangerous
list left in knuckle, south car.
Louviers 20 cars 2500 tons
Orsa 35 lds ore 3900 tons
Castle Rock 10 lds 18 mtys 28 cars 1650 tons
Tomah 10 loads 1150 tons
Larkspur check status unknown
Greenland 18 lds 25 mtys 43 cars 2800 tons
Spruce 26 lds 3000 tons

Advise what picked up and what stations listed are clear.

Yeah we can pick most of this up. Poor reporting and they are unsure on
what is actually where.

Second message:

At Wolhurst stub track:
ACFX ####### car repaired and ready for movement
Cars is Liquefied Petroleum Gas Waybill left in Knuckle
please handle and see no failure to pick up. This is a shut down industry
car.

Well, due to car placement this is a problem… but we’ll handle only 4 miles where we can bury it.

Wolhurst:
It is an easy move. Two unoccupied cabooses, no stoves working or on. We’ll grab that tank car, with the power and one caboose. Acequia, this is buried easily. An air test, and we are on the way.

Acequia:
They all are there. We set the tank to the siding and kick the caboose to the remaining Hacks. Grab the tank, and 10 cars and set to the main. Re-grab the remainder and double into main. Air test and “our” tank is 11 cars buffered, from the rear end and we forge on.

Louviers siding is clear. We are still in radio range and that is reported to the Operator at Rice yard.

Orsa:
Yep these boat anchors are there. Picked up and gone.

Castle Rock:

We hold onto 10 ore, and double to the siding. We don’t want too many empties on the head end, especially going down hill. So we don’t derail or pinch em. Picked up and on to Tomah.

Tomah is clear nothing to be picked up. HIGHBALL!!

Larkspur is clear nothing to be picked up. HIGHBALL!!

Greenland:
Only 15 cars we hold onto 20 loads air test and gone.

Spruce: Is clear.. over the top at Palmer Lake.

We are told grab Colorado Springs, we get those. Holding onto 25 loads. Most are empty cars.

12 hours later arrive Pueblo, before hours of service, 123 cars total and cleaned
up the main line.

A Saturday of Railroading via the Joint-Line… :)

Thanks for reading