Power Desk 1998 Tim Bryant, Bakersfield, CA in Tales of the Jointed Track

I am in management with the BNSF. I did power ( locomotive utilization) with the former Santa Fe, in Schaumberg, IL and I am doing it here in the NOC at Ft Worth, TX.

Night rotation Ft Worth, TX

It is an okay night. The Winslow cut wire has been updated. I talked with the Trainmaster, the Q-WINPHX is predicted and verified..life is good.

Northern California Call 1100 PM:

It is a typical conference call. Needs and concerns are related and plans formulated. "Bakersfield, your turn what up with Bakersfield". A voice comes on, and about swallow my chew. It is Tim Bryant, with all the Tim BS that could be mustered. Okay what have i done to deserve this?? LOL

Tim relates what is going on at Bakersfield and everything is going according to plan. I have everything covered on the power end of the equation. The Wasco coal train is called, power is on hand and they will deliver to the UP at West Yermo , CA with a yard crew out of Barstow.
All is good in Bakersfield land.

NOC FT Worth 0200 am

My manager comes over to me and says, why is the M-RICBAR ( Richmond,CA to Barstow, CA) on paper for power at Bakersfield. Paper for power means there is no locomotives to operate the train. Okay, it came in with four units, there is the helper available for the shove over the Tehachapi's, and they are switching out the train, for add on tonnage and to be in compliance for timetable operation, and it will be switched out at Barstow, to filter out the southern California traffic, vs east traffic.

"I'll call Bakersfield and find out whats going on. I'll let you know". "Good, thanks".

I call Bakersfield. "Bakersfield, Tim". "Tim , Bob Terry on the power desk". "Hey Ole Buddy, long time, hows everything going". "Good Tim we'll deal with pleasantries later. Why is the RICBAR on paper for power?" A long pause, this is going to be a good one. "Well, Ole Buddy, we have a problem. We blocked our switch power in. We have to use the RICBAR power to switch out the train". "Really, Tim, how stupid is that, unblock those switchers and get the job done. I am taking the train off of Paper for Power, this is a terminal problem, not power problem". "Well Ole Buddy, the trainmaster here is putting it on for power". "All I need to know thanks Tim". F!! Dumb and Dumber.. I take the train off of power and place it on terminal delay. I report to the manager, and say this is what is going on. He makes a note, but this fiasco goes on through the night. I am busy, and I don't need to baby sit from 2000 miles away.

I call back to Bakersfield, "Tim, you and the terminal trainmaster better get yer stories together, because the Manager and the Corridor Superintendent, have left messages with Whitey Powell, the Superintendent of Operations on what is going on. I have taken it off for power once again, be prepared to defend your position". "Okay Ole Buddy"... Stick the Ole Buddy up yer ass, it aint working here.

Well the proverbial "SHIT" hit the fan.. and this problem was rectified. It was noted on the "WAR Room" call...It was not a pleasant exchange.

Trackside in the computer age ... Is what it is