Night Rotation at Big Lift May 2012. Union Pacific Train M-PUNY in Tales of the Jointed Track

My time on the railroad is nearing it’s end. September 5th 2012, will soon be here. I am working the night rotation. I am having a pretty easy night, and the mechanical guy I am working with, has gone into Denver to resupply knuckles and take in 3 ETD’s that are nearing inspection, or are bad order. I have gone up to Palmer Lake and to Castle Rock and looked over the stand-by emergency units. These are life savers, when we have locomotive problems, that can’t be reset or if the dreaded CCOP (Crankcase Over Pressure) occurs.

I return and a familiar “white” vehicle is in the parking space. The Division Trainmaster is here. He is either pulling tests or looking for a ride. “Dathan, what brings you to Big Lift at 2300 pm”. “Well, I have a meeting in Pueblo tomorrow, and I need some stuff printed off”. Like me, he lives in Highlands Ranch, and is about 10 minutes away. The radio crackles. “BNSF DETECTOR MP 22.5 NO DEFECTS, REPEAT NO DEFECTS TOTAL AXLES 486 TEMPERATURE 57 DEGREES DETECTOR OUT”. I don’t know, who this is, but I’ll roll it by. I tell Dathan, I’ll roll this by, and walk out to the northbound main. This train is about 4 minutes out, and I’ll see the glow of the headlight, south of the yard, as they come up the sag near the old MOLYCORP crossing.

I am near the M.O.W. garage, Savage Industries has their fork lifts parked close. As they near, it is a UP Freight, the M-PUNY ( thats the BNSF symbol … M Manifest PU Pueblo NY North Yard). This is a drag, but has six units on the head end. A Repo move (Reposition) but has the usual. Empties returning back to Denver, loaded rail flats and other assortment of loads.

Like the BNSF trains out of Pueblo, with loaded rail flats, air hose problems occur with them as well. This is not a welded or ribbon rail train, but individual cars with about 30 rails loaded on them.

rail flats heading back to Minnequa, on the “hill cut” at Pueblo Junction

The dynamics are coming in, as they pass track speed here is 45 MPH, per timetable rules. Also there is a 25 MPH slow order at MP 16, so the engineer is adjusting the speed versus the grade. Big Lift is at MP 19.3 on the northbound or Main two. Typical drag, and a mish-mash of rail cars. Flat spots, and a scattering of the rail flats, within the train. As the last car passes me, KA-Chow, the vent valves have opened, due to an emergency application. I have the pack set on, no comment from the train at the moment.

I walk back in and tell Dathan, sorry that UP went into the big hole. I think its due to the rail flats, I’ll ride along Highway 85 and see if he’s in two. In the truck I go and head toward the power. I can turn around around the former Acequia siding. The cab lights are on, and they are doing something. I roll a window down and listen for a rush of air where the train and/or air hose has parted. About MP 18 I hear air rushing out the pipe. I call them on the radio.

“BNSF Mentor to the UP train in emergency at Acequia”. “UP train go ahead.” “This is Bob at Big Lift, I found yer problem, looks like just an air hose. I’ll turn around and grab your Conductor. I’ll pull into the crossing and pick him up”. “Wow, thanks”.

I go back to the Titan parkway overpass, and back northbound on Highway 85 to Acequia. The Conductor is at the crossing, waiting. We drive back to the rushing air. He has a wrench, and an air hose. “Thanks, I am told we didn’t think you guys helped the UP”. “We help everyone, so pass it onto your pals. We will and have to be compliant to the mechanical rules for your railroad. So if engine problems, your Mechanical in Omaha, needs to be toned up, and we can proceed from there”.

He is dropped off as close as I can get him there. “Call me if it is worse than a suspected air hose”. “I will”. “I’ll wait for you here, I’ll call DS-16 and update with him and the Chief”. “Okay”.

“DS-16” “Gary, this is Bob, mentor at Big Lift” “Yes, what is going on?” The UP 4678 North, PUNY is in emergency at MP 17. I have the Conductor delivered, I think its an air hose separation, he’ll call me if it is worse than that. Stand by Gary, he’s calling the head end. Yeah it’s an air hose, he’s taking care of it now”. “Great, have him call me when they are moving again”. “I will”.

The Conductor shows up, and we head back to Acequia. “Thanks again for all yer help, it made this a quick repair”. “Not a problem, make sure you call DS-16, after your other notifications, with yer railroad”. “We will”.

I head back, and shoot off a quick wire, leave a message with the Chief. I am sure DS-16 has told him as well. The familiar call tone sounds off. “DS-16” “UP 4678 North, we are moving again, should be to CTC Littleton, in the next 10 minutes”. “I’ll get you lined up, and call your DS, signal indication, DS-16 out” The PUNY repeats the instructions and all is now quiet in Joint-Line land.