Sunday, July 25, 2010

Grand Tour

After two months of trying to find a date which worked for all parties, the chosen date of July 24th finally arrived and three members of the Codiac Operators Group , Jim, John and Milne were on their way for the Grand Tour.

The first stop was Dave's Fall River & Eastern. Joining the tour were the three CEOs of the railroads plus one of regulars of the WRS crew, Glen. This will be only the second formal operating session on the railroad, so we not sure how things were going to happen. The session started with Milne running the morning Passenger Train, Jim took the controls of the North Thru Freight, John and Glen started working the River Yard (the main yard on the FR&E) and Wayne when to the North Yard to work the South Peddler. After completing the passenger run, Milne headed to the Brewery to do a little local switching. Jim and Dave headed out with the Meat Plant Local. Wayne was still working the South Peddler. I was still doing the paper work for the rest of the session.

After Jim and Dave finished the Meat Plant Local, Jim headed out with the South Thru Freight. Milne had arrived at the North Yard with his local, so he took a break and ran the RDC service. Wayne was just finishing up the South Peddler and had arrived at River Yard, which was keeping John and Glen busy.

Wayne departed River Yard with the North Peddler, Milne headed back to North Yard to pick up his local to return to the Brewery and complete its run, and Jim and Dave departed with the Local Peddler.

On the right is Dave and Jim working the Local Peddler


Wayne heading out with North Peddler



Glen and John checking out their handy work in River Yard.


Jim and Wayne talking between runs.

Milne was moving so quickly his pictures did not turn out.

After everyone had completed their work, it was time to head out for lunch.

After lunch, we all headed to Wayne's Maine Central Nottingham Sub. After reviewing the lastest additions to the railroad, it was time to operate a few trains on the Sub. A formal operating plan is still in development. (The link to Wayne's Railroad is on the sidebar) Sorry no pictures, forgot the camera in the car.

Now for the last stop, the White River Southern. We lost one operator when Dave had to leave for another appointment.

John chose to operate the Roseton Switcher, Milne took the Dogwood Switcher and Jim got brave and headed for the Paper Mill. After get things setup in the new MEC Yard, Glen joined Jim at the Mill. Wayne fired up his MEC GP40s to run the Mainline Service.


Milne busy at Dogwood


John at Roseton working with Wayne as he makes his pickups and set outs.


Jim and Glen working at the revised Paper Mill
Six hours after they arrived, it was time for Jim, John and Milne to head back North. Hopefully they enjoyed their visit and will make a return trip in the near future.
later
Doug

4 comments:

Wayne Woodland said...

It sure was a great day. I was ready for a few more hours of op's, bu alas it was time to call it a day.I'm surprised the Fall River and Eastern "tower incident" wasnt mentioned - I know there are pictures out there somewhere that document it....

Wayne

Doug Whitman said...

But alais, my picture of it did not turn out. Got to learn how to use my camera....

It was a great day and looking forward to the next one.

Doug

Scott Jay said...

There was a pretty nice shot of it in Milne's on-line album. I'm sure he'd let you use it for a "good" purpose!

Looks like you guys had a great day. Plan on sometime later in the fall for the Island Invasion!

Scott

Doug Whitman said...

This may not be the only blog reporting on the Grand Tour :-)

Doug