The South Central Power Desk BNSF NOC, Ft. Worth, TX in Tales of the Jointed Track

I am in Ft Worth now. July 1997 thru November 1st 2001.

They (BNSF) did an reorientation of the Santa Fe and the BN, as they tried to streamline and make the power desks more efficient. Yes some territories intersected. Decisions were made, and the new territory boundaries were drawn.

Now on the BNSF, I worked the part of the old Eastern Power desk for the Santa Fe, I had Kansas City proper, including Argentine Yard(former ATSF) and Murray yard (former BN ). KC to Belen, NM, so Clovis and Amarillo was in my control. Sweetwater, TX to Clovis,NM. Newton west to La Junta, La Junta to Amarillo, The La Junta to and including Albuquerque route. This was the old 2nd, 3rd and 4th Subdivisions. La Junta to, but not including Pueblo yard was included there. I helped the North Central man there, they got confused. We sat caddy corner to each other so, we could make it work.

Out of KC, I went as far south, as Arkansas City now. I still did and monitored the Red Rock coal trains to the utility. I picked up, just a little southward and northward of Kansas City on the BN,along with the old Frisco territory. This was a pain in the butt. I only had 20 mile radius of KC on this, but just enough, to pose problems.

Murray Yard held this part. They didn’t help out. They were dysfunctional. I mean who is minding the store. I was to originate and power up the locals out of there. I also made cuts on the Coal trains and empties coming in there. We’d cut the KCS power off and return it back on another load coming into town. The diesel shop there, did inspections on the SD-60-MAC power, if Alliance, NE was overloaded.

There were a couple of Murray yard mechanical planners, that helped co-ordinate power available, etc . They were helpful, and tried to keep the peace. This terminal wasn’t really a “hotbed” like the transcon, but they were really dysfunctional. They had a severe case of the “cant’s“.

Murray Yard, KC, Missouri…the St. Joe Local:

The phone rings, it is the Trainmaster at Murray. “We need power for the St. Joe local” “It is predicted, it’s these two units”. “They are not here”. “Really??? Where did they disappear to?” “Ahhh , they went dead and they are still out of town”. “Okay, well bring them in and turn the power back”. “Ahhh they are 60 miles out”. “Really!!, did anyone call the Chief or the Dispatcher”? “No, but the yard is plugged and we need this to go”. “Okay use these two, and get this power moving back to town, call the DS, and / or the Chief”. “Yeah Okay thanks”. I think I was just dismissed.

Next day, same scenario, and what is going on? “Well the power is not here”. “Really, where is it ?” “Still out there, somewhere.” Okay. I said, ” I’ll talk to the North MLU, and the Chief, and we’ll get back to you”. “We need to run this train” “Yeah I bet you do, but I can’t shit power”.

I go to the North central MLU, and say what is going on here? ” I don’t have the time to piss away hours on the St. Joe local, because they can’t or won’t get the power into Murray. I also don’t have the assets, to rob KC Argentine, to power this. You need to get with the Chief and formulate a plan. I have 4 units hanging out, these need to be moved in, period”.

A lot of stammering, a lot of well, track work, crews, traffic. LJ Bybee was the North MLU working the rotation. “LJ, well I am not robbing KC Argentine, again for the St Joe local, I have other locals and switch jobs to power up as well”. I go and tell the Chief, “Sorry, I am out of assets, there are 4 units out there, you want to run the St. Joe, get this stuff into town. If they don’t want the cars, then get a dog catch crew to pick up the power, and get it serviced and run your local”.

Silence, the BN was always good at silence, especially when ya had ‘em by the balls. “We’ll try to get it into town”, was the reply. “Ya better, because I am done with this”. Fred Payne was my MLU, from Chicago on the Santa Fe. “You know what’s going on? “Yeah I overheard it, do what you can, but I agree we are not robbing Argentine again. I’ll also see what I can do to help out LJ”.

It did get better, but they still couldn’t pour piss out of a boot.

Last updated June 03, 2015