Gardner Gawking

More bandwidth will be consumed to cover 0410-0645/05-23-2018. There was occasional garble on the yard channel, clarity coming at 0434 when D-3 talked top AY-4 about an east end to west end move -- Hill Yard? -- and gave out a coupla 7???? power numbers. More clarity came at 0436 when D-3 advised POED they'd have "quite a wait" for 22K to get east. Locations went undisclosed, and you can bet there will be more about which later.
The 0441 arrival at Wachusett showed not a Medium Clear -- yet -- but a Medium Approach on the 333 Controlled Siding WL. Seconds later and even before 400 was near the platform, the Medium Clear appeared. Had 22K just gotten east? Probably not, cuz D-3 and EDPO engaged in a both-sides-audible exchange about stopping at Ayer to pick up 6 waters. Next and at 0447, D-3 answered AY-4, but the transmission dissolved into garble. 0450 was when 400 gave themselves the OK to go, a total of 3 flats and 1 bi plus 2033 doing the 0451 dropping. 0453 came and went and the 333 WLs didn't go dark, but it did sound like the 400 had made noise to the east. If POED was there, they were really dim. An offering was made, but with a return to 333 to see if there were any changes in the WLs. Nope. The 334 ELs were at Stop, and the 1 stagger and 335 ELs and WLs were dark. 0513 -- close to the 0512 Shirley advertised for 400 -- was when the 40.2 gave a no defects for 20 axles on 1, no surprise cuzza EDPO working waters at Ayer.
Up Da Hill there were racks on the Single from some foliage-obscured point east of the Dead Track barricade to west of the 345 2 WL, a gap, and then more racks on 2 from in back of the ambulance company to just east of West Switch. 287 with NSs 6941 and 6960 was in the process of pulling not just racks from Yard 2 but also DIT GMTX 9000 just after the trailer. Yard 1 had racks to the west then another blue/white GM unit -- couldn't really see if it was GMTX 9014 -- and then general. So it would seem that the discussed GMTX pickup of 05-21 hadn't happened. Yard 4 had general, the Extension had the shortie covered hopper and rack, and the House still had stone that needed to be tucked back in place.
2 things happened at 0534 -- 22K called an Approach for 346, and the 346.6 got on the air. At 0538, 22K acknowledged the Parkers no defects, the actual report preempted on the scanner by 287's E telling the C about the EB. And yes and for those who keep track of such things, noise did get made. 22K called the 345 Stop at 0541, doing just that at 0542 with NSs 9071, 9527, and 9887.
Let's see: 287 pulling Yard 1 + 287 shoving back to the racks just east of West Switch + 287 shoving back to the racks on the east end of 2 + all the incidental time consumed with each operation + 287 hauling west and clear + 22K getting down Da Hill and east of 333 = the promised "quite a wait."
Given the time and things to do east, I did what 22K couldn't yet and got EB. At 0548, D-3 would reach out to 28N, my entry to the Westminster Zombie Zone denying any knowledge of which side of the Gardner blockade the loaded racks were. Naught further was heard to, from, or about 28N.
Down Da Hill, the 335 ELs were dark, the 333 ELs still on and showing a Medium Clear for the Controlled Siding at 0556. Further east, POED's cars were visible through breaks in the foliage, but not as far east as Depot Street. The 330.8 WBs showed Stop for 1 and Approach for 2, POED being far enough west to clear the WB staggers just west of Depot Street. The 330, GL, and FG WLs were all at Stop, and at 0608, close on 402's Shirley advertised, the 40.2 gave a no defects on to to 2? axles, and KCIR 5930 was sitting solo in the FI-1/2 parking spot at 0610. A bit east, domelights were busy in the old layover and just a bit further east NewBlue 3403 and KCIR 7541 were dark on West Side. ED-9? Dunno.
There would be occasional yard-channel garble and then the D-3 side of a convo with EDPO, acknowledging a 26x22 update and giving at 0641 the OK at East Wye on signal indication.
287? 22K? POED? Never heard when things got freed up. Also and in a break with recent past practice, never heard anything about TC T11503.

Edited once to put in Bruce Macdonald's http://photos.nerail.org/s/?p=244057" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; of 05-23 showing POED going through the 330 WLS at 0720, 16 minutes less than 3 hours after D-3 told them they'd have quite a wait. There was also a later photo showing 2 KCIRs on ED-9, so the NewBlue and KCIR seen earlier on West Side were something other than ED-9.

0415-06645/05-25-2018 was not without notable events, 0415 being when D-3 advised somebodies he'd get them a cab over to OX for 28N -- more about which later -- with 28 to go to San-Vel. 0417 was when somebodies got advised that they'd be waiting for POED -- another more about which later -- which was coming through 309. 0434 was when a now semi-Zombied D-3 acknowledged that AY-3 was lined and locked normal somewhere, adding something about 312 -- mebbe in re POED. At 0442, the 40.2 would give a no defects on 1 to 164 axles, D-3 telling EDPO -- yet another more about which later -- with 7545 they'd probably be held at Ayer Tower and wouldn't be able to get out of there until the passenger train got by. 0446 was when POED with the 7595 got told they'd be backing their waters off on the Camp, and 0449 was when the 333 WLs came on with a Medium Clear for the Controlled Siding. 0450 was when the 40.2 allowed only "40.2" to be intelligible, and 0452 was when the 400 was on the move, a total of 3 flats and 1 bi plus the 2033 doing the 0453 dropping, nobody near enough to prevent the 0454 darkening. Further west, the 334 ELs were at Stop and the 1 stagger and 335 ELs and WLs dark. On the way up Da Hill and at 0511, there were the sounds of 400 and D-3 experiencing temporary Zombie-Zone difficulties, my continued travels west putting me a a Zombie Zone for both of them. The possible subject matter will be discussed later. No report from the 40.2 was heard for the 400, but I was probably outta range by then.
Up Da Hill was busy, but immobile. General sat on Yard 4, racks sat on Yard 2, and more racks with dead power -- this time GMTX 9059 -- at the east sat on Yard 1. Sameoldsameold Ledger entries included the shortie and rack on the Extension, the untucked stone on the Heywood, and old signaling for 345 and 346. At 0526, Parkers was MT and the 346 WL dark, signaling I was EB.
Back down Da Hill, the 335 ELs were at Stop, 402's equipment just east. At 0540, there was a D-3/402 convo about platform damage on 1 at North Leominster, probably the subject of the earlier 400/D-3 convo. Over at 333 was 287's marker, but on 2. The nonexecutive decision was made to not wait for 402 to get east just in case 287 got west once burndown had happened, so it was over to 334 where an LV-tagged vehicle with an open trunk was probably waiting for a tiedown to be completed. Just east were NSs 9574 and 8979 plus 4 more Ponies whose numbers couldn't be read. 6 6-packs on a train less than 4K feet? Not quite the 1:1 in Wayne Johnson's http://photos.nerail.org/s/?p=244073" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; of 05-24, but close enough. The 334 ELs were at Stop and the 1 stagger at Approach, so a trip was now made to 335 in case there was another EB, but the 335 ELs were dark, so there was naught in shunting range.
Further east, both 330.8 WBs were at Clear, and the 330 WLs and ELs, GL WLs and FG WLs were all at Stop. At 0602, D-3 did a 1-time reach-out to 28N, naught further being heard. At 0607, solo KCIR 5930 was sitting on West Side, and at 0609 the 40.2 gave a no defects on 1 to ?? axles. Time until 0620 would be invested just east of the North Leominster platform, but nothing WB showed up. At 0616, D-3 said something to SEPO with the 7535, and at 0624, D-3 told somebody there was an EB freight coming off East Wye. At 0630, a now-breaking D-3 would tell EDPO about pickups on 4 and mebbe 11, and at 0639 and 0640, there would be the breaking D-3 side of exchanges with EDPO -- the 7595 -- and mebbe someone else involving stretching west and the Derby.
Granted that I am a mere mortal civilian, but it does seem that mebbe readjusting WB freight times for Ayer and west might be helpful. Handoffs from the west may be problematic, but getting WBs well west of Ayer and Fitchburg and Westminster before the commuter window should be a boost both of productivity and transit time, and I am still puzzled why a POED/EDPO would do anything in Ayer other than run through it. SEPO/POSE and ED-8/ED-9 would seem to have that town covered. Herewith endeth the uninformed rant.

First and foremost, thanks to our fallen service members and their families.
0415-0645/05-28-2018 had -- except for the T being on 2XXX schedule -- little to show a holiday was in progress. The radio was generally quiet until 0430 when the 40.2 gave only its ID and naught else of clarity. Garble would follow and then a 0440 Zombi-Zoned D-3 241 to POED with the 7620, the sole additional item of clarity about going back to their train.
Even though it wouldn't be until 0630 that the 2400 would be due outta Wachusett, the 333 WLs were all ablaze and all at Stop at 0445. Over at 334, the 1 stagger was at Stop, a stopped 287 on either side of it. The 334 ELs showed Stop for the Controlled Siding and Approach Medium for 2, the 335 2 WL showing Medium Clear. Since no WB headlights had been visible at 333, it was up the easterly roadway by the 335 UGB to get power IDs -- dark NSs 9589 and -- later-easier-to-read -- 9147. While reversing direction, a WB pig -- never ID as either 23K or I3K -- decided it would make my decision-making process questionable by rolling past before and after 0457.
Up Da Hill, the pig crew would see in a bit that getting the pig job was good. Why? Yard 4 was almost FP-FP with general, Yard 2 and Yard 1 had racks, and that's not all. The #2 had racks on the east, morphing to general by West Switch, the general extending to somewhere west of the Wilkins Road dogleg. Whoever would be working Gardner would not be in a holiday mood, especially with the rain and fog. Yes, the shortie and rack were still on the Extension, and yes, the stone still need to be tucked back in place on the Heywood. 0521 was when the WB with BNSF Pumpkins 7628 and 8098, UP 8642, and NS 9490 got a total of 130 positions -- only 4 tables -- about 90% occupied, those being single-highs, west of 345. 0522 was when the 346.6 came on, and 0526 was when she gave a no defects and 43° to 8506'. 0540 was when Parkers was MT and the 346 WL dark, the pig far enough west to no longer shunt, but not far enough west for any possible EB to yet do its own shunting.
Back down Da Hill and cuzza 287 -- looking like its new C was on the OHB -- the 335 ELs were still at Stop, as were all the 333 WLs at 0557. At 0555, a Zombie-Zoned D-3 had reached out to AY-4 and at 0556 acknowledged -- details escaping me -- a POED update and power lineup. There was at about the same time what sounded from D-3 like "22K," more about which later.
Further east, the 330.8 WBs showed a Clear for 1 and Stop for 2. The view of the 330 WLs showed not just Stops, but also 22K stopped on 2. The GL WLs were at Stop, as were the FG WLs, as was 22K's power -- NSs 9936, 9790, and 7657 -- right by the ex-gym/ex-Webber Lumber. At 0609, a semi-Zombied 40.2 had given a no defects on ? to 122 axles, and at 0615, KCIR 5930 was sitting solo in the FI-1/2 parking spot. Anyone expecting no activity in the old layover has remembered that some do get the day off.
In case the 0609 40.2 had been for POED, time was invested at North Leominster until 0620, but given that both EB staggers for Derby were showing Approach, it had probably been for an EB. In a bit, there would be a D-3 transmission about SEPO and POSE both being in Hill Yard at the same time, and at 0627, there was a both-sides-Zombified D-3/287 convo. Dunno if they already knew what awaited them at Gardner or if they were about to be advised.

0415-0635/05-30-2018 was relatively inactive. The first intelligible transmission was from the U or C at 0444 doing a 22K car-countdown for mebbe the shove back to the yard. 0450 was when the 400 gave themselves the OK to depart, a total of 3 flats and 1 bi plus the 1072 doing the dropping a minute later and nobody within shunting range at 0453. The 334 ELs were at Stop and the 1 stagger and 335 ELs and WLs dark, and the 40.2 gave a 0512 no defects to 20 axles on 1, no surprise given 22K.
Up Da Hill, there was pretty much FP-FP general on both Yards 4 and 2, including a tented lumber centerbeam on 2. The Heywood stone still needed tucking in, and the wear surfaces could have used some polishing. Yes, the shortie and rack were still on the Extension, but with company: A few yards to the east was dead PW 2009. Dunno if the PW Switcher had set the unit out for "issues" or if it's going somewhere. Over by the air plant was a Pan-Am-branded loader along with a little Big-G-branded piece of track equipment. At 0528, Parkers was MT and the 346 WL dark, so I was EB.
Down Da Hill, the 335 ELs were dark, and the 333 WLs showed a Medium Clear for the Controlled Siding, remedied at 0646 by the 402 with a less-than-normal-for-402 total of 3 flats and 1 bi plus the 1066. The expectable 3 minutes later, the WLs went dark.
Further east, the 330.8 WBs were both at Clear and the 330 and GL WLs all at Stop. The FG 1 WL was at Clear, meaning the 1 was the EB route at least as far east as Derby, but nothing had been heard further from 22K, EDPO, POED, and ED-9 being airwaves absentees, leading to the not-total surprise at 0608 when the 40.2 gave a no defects to 402's 20 axles on 2. At 0605, KCIR 5930 had been sitting solo in the FI-1/2 parking spot, and there was lots of equipment but no activity yet at the old layover.
Dunno what might be happening east of Derby, but both of its EB staggers were at Approach at about the time 402 should be clearing Ayer. At 0610, somebody called for a 3-step, but never hear a call for release.
More retentive readers will have noted that there has been no mention of any transmissions from D-3. The first and only attributable transmission heard from that individual -- with the usual cautions -- came at 0623 when Q427 got wished a good day, presumably just having cleared the territory.

On Memorial day (Monday), PW 2009 was among the herd of locomotives, but not lead,
parked over the usual two track resting/fueling spot at the East Deerfield yard.

pwebdoc-
Thanks. Did what I shoulda done before and checked NERAIL which showed PW 2009 as leader for EDPL/PLED. The Extension is where cars rejected for interchange by the PW inspector have been going, so mebbe that means the inspector refused the unit?

And now and after an approximately 3/4-hour delay cuzza access issues, the notes for 0415-0640/06-01-2018:
At 0428 came the first of 3 D-3 shoutouts in short order to ED-8 with the 7535. ED-eight? Yep, the repetitions ruling down -- if not out -- the possibilities of misspeaking and/or mishearing. Naught else was heard to, from, or about this temporal anomaly and no location was divulged. A Zombie Zone having been entered, the D-3 shout-out to AY-3 was equally uninformative, but at 0436, there was an exchange -- AY-3? -- about tying down on FMW, a cab back, and no cripples. More will follow.
At 0445, the 333 WLs were on with a Medium Clear for the Controlled Siding. 400 was on the move at 0450, 2 bis sandwiching 2 flats plus the 1055 doing the 0451 dropping, 0453 being the return to unshunted circuitry. As might be expected, the 334 ELs were at Stop, and the 1 stagger and 335 ELs and WLs were dark. No report was heard from the 40.2 for the 400 by 0515, by which time I was outta range.
Up Da Hill showed FP-FP racks on Yard 4, almost the same extent of general on Yard 2, more racks on Yard 1, and probably-PW-bound general on the #2, but unlike 05-28, this cut was between and not beyond the switches. The Sameoldsameold Ledger entries? The signaling at 345 and 346, the untucked stone and unpolished wear surfaces of the Heywood, and the shortie and rack on the Extension. The PW 2009 was gone, 2 gons with scrap -- high-sides -- there instead. At 0530, Parkers was MT and the 346 WL dark, so I was EB.
OT, those -- like me -- of a certain age and who have also seen Smokey and the Bandit too many times will appreciate the cognitive dissonance I experienced EB on State Road/Rte. 2A as I trailed a black Pontiac Firebird doing under the legal limit. The 335 ELs dark, I took the back roads in time to first hear a Zombied 40.2 -- no details -- and then to see the 402 -- a total of 4 flats and 1 bi plus the 1034 -- do the 0546 dropping, non shunting reappearing at 0549.
In addition to the 402 getting east, there were also a series of convos involving D-3, AY-3, and AY-5. D-3 and AY-5 had apparently been discussing yarding 28N and mebbe getting 287 ready. The power was to be split, 1 for more switching and 1 to take the MTs. AY-5 was to take a unit to Hill Yard for both spinning and a recrew. D-3 was on the yard channel for these convos and -- curiously -- was weaker at the 333 lot than AY-5's power.
Further east, the 330.8 WBs were both at Clear, and the 330, GL, and FG WLs were all at Stop. At 0604, not only was KCIR 5930 solo in the FI-1/2 parking spot, but KCIRs 7797 and 7727 -- per the 0436 exchange -- were tied down on FMW and on the westerly end of a string of UP covered hoppers. Given AY-3 mebbe having done the tie-down, the question about this being part or all of an EGT did come to mind. The old layover? No sign of activity yet, but the usual display of equipment plus a TT with new ties. 0608 was when the 40.2 gave a no defects for 24 axles on 1, for ignored omen #1, and a few later, the EB staggers for Derby showed Approach for 1 and Stop for 2, for ignored omen #2. The impact of ignoring omens came at 0618 while on 190 SB -- the 40.2 gave a no defects on 2 to 256 axles and ED-9 acknowledged.
Never heard any instructions about Fitchburg or Gardner, but if they were gonna pull Gardner, the dancing would be less involved than on 05-28. Also dunno if ED-8 of the 0428+ transmissions had been short-turned into ED-9 or was still out there somewhere.

The only things seen in motion for 0405-0615/06-04-2018 were traffic and rain, all else being stationary. Among the things heard, however, was a 0407 convo between between D-3 and AY-3 with the 7627 who would be taking 17 loads off East Wye, dropping 3 at Flanagans, and then continuing east, D-3 advising AY-3 to move on signal indication when it came, and AY-3 advising SEPO they were on their way up. At 0414, D-3 241d POED with the 7534 from Single to 1 at 312, saying that their Ayers would go to West Main Street. Another 241 -- this at 0429 -- went to AY-5 with NS 9788 for 2 to Single at 312. Although other POED transmissions would be heard, there was naught else -- usual cautions in effect -- to, from, or about AY-5 or 287.
The earlier-than-usual start produced dark 333 WLs. The 334 ELs were at Stop and the the 1 stagger, dark at 0441, and 400 sometimes having a complicated start, a trip to 335 was undertaken, the ELs already at Stop, but dark at 0445, so no report on 400's equipment today. To not prolong disappointment for 40.2 fans, naught would be heard from that device during the listening period. At 0449, D-3 advised AY-? that SEPO knew they were coming. Dunno whether this was confirmation of AY-3's 0407+ transmission to SEPO or for another AY local.
Up Da Hill, there were loaded racks on Yard 1 and general on Yards 2 and 4, with mebbe some racks as well, the view complicated by the racks on Yard 1. The Extension? The rack, the shortie, and the 2 scrap gons hadn't gotten any closer to their consignees. The Heywood also hadn't gotten any closer to having the stone tucked back in place. At 0513, Parkers was MT and the 346 WL dark, so I was EB.
Down Da Hill, the 335 ELs were dark, as were the 333 WLs at 0530, 402 still doing its air to the west. 0530 was also when D-3 gave POED permission from where they stood west on 1 to Derby. As stated earlier, never heard anything from the 40.2. Further east the 330.8 WBs showed Stop for 1 and Clear for 2, the 330 1 WL a Slow Clear, the GL Controlled Siding WL a Medium Approach Medium, and the FG 1 WL a Limited Clear, indications (heh, heh) that 402 would be on 2 at least to Derby. At 0546, KCIR 5930 was sitting dark on East Side at the westerly end of a number of cement shorties, and the T track equipment was still in the old layover, but activity wasn't yet apparent. Wasn't PAS supposed to have gotten the old layover by now? A few later, the EB staggers for Derby showed Approach for 1 and Clear for 2, so 402 would probably be getting the 2 to Ayer, and POED was still well east.
There were a few other D-3 transmissions -- even during transfer -- but recording of details got sacrificed in the interest of highway safety, the Milling getting mentioned, and SEPO's Form D to MP X25 getting fulfilled.

0410-0710/06-06-2018 had periods of puzzlement, at least for this mere mortal civilian.
At 0417, D-3 rogered whatever AY-3 had just said. AY-3 would be in further communication with D-3, not herein noted. 0439 was the start and end of a mutually Zombie-Zoned D-3/22K convo, permission on the #2 being clear. The leader wasn't, however, clear -- either NS or BNSF. At 0440, the D-3 side of an unheard exchange with POED -- more about which later -- was heard, clear items concerning having to hold them (for 400?), a signal at Medium Approach, I(ndia)3K being in the yard, and backing POED's stuff off on the Camp.
At 0444, the 333 WLs came on with a Medium Clear for the Controlled Siding, and 3 later, D-3 asked SEPO -- more about them later, too -- about the knuckle and which car it was, and then rogering whatever SEPO said. 0450 was when 400's C gave the E the OK to depart, immediately canceled it cuzza someone coming down the stairs, and within the same minute gave another OK. 0451 was when a total of 4 flats and 1 bi plus the 1051 did the dropping. Hopes of something to the east had been raised by the early shunting of the 333 WLs, but non-shunting occurred the expectable interval later.
The 334 ELs were at Stop, and the 1 stagger and 335 ELs and WLs were dark, so it was WB. At 0511 came a 1-time-only "10 to a stop" followed at 0512 by an equally-1-time-only "23K" in a different voice. Dunno if both I3K and 23K were in the picture at the same time or if there was a misID. There was no report heard from the 40.2 on the 400, but not a surprise given the 2 previous entries.
Up Da Hill, there was FP-FP general -- including MT centerbeams -- on Yard 4, Yard 2 having a somewhat shorter string of racks west and general -- again including MT centerbeams -- east. The Extension? The Fabulous Four maintained their residence. Untucked stone and unpolished wear-surfaces -- at least since the last rain -- characterized the Heywood. At 0525, Parkers was MT and the 346 WL dark, signaling the EB part of the trip.
Down Da Hill, the 335 ELs were dark, and the at 0539, the 333 WLs were showing a Medium Clear for 402, which with an OK to go and a total 4 flats and 2 bis plus the 1138 did the 0546 dropping, 0548 being when the lights went out. A minute earlier, D-3 had told POED that they might as well tie it on, POED being outta range for me to hear the prelude that woulda had more info about the "it."
On the way EB and in a Zombie Zone, D-3 brokenly told SEPO that at least they were out of the way. Unresolved knuckle issues? West of the westerly River Street UGB what should be seen but WB pigs. A reversal of course? Of course! They were ahead of me at Depot Street, but seemed to be slowing. The headlight it made to just east of the 333 ELs, stopping at 0557, a Medium Clear for the Controlled Siding on the 333 WLs. Switching focus, there was Dispatcher Channel garble at 0607 -- mebbe D-2 and possibly a Line 12, and at 0608 and on 402's time, the 40.2 gave a no defects on 1 to 27 axles.
At 0617, the formerly bright WB pig went dim, and at 0620, 404 gave themselves the OK to go, and a total of 5 flats and 1 bi plus the 2039 -- with the cleanest nose I have ever seen on a 2000 -- did the 0621 dropping. Further east noise got made, and the persistence of the Stop for the Controlled Siding plus pig brightiewhities produced the expectation of imminent movement. Not so. After a garbling D-3 gave POED permission to go at 0622, the Controlled Siding WL went back to Medium Clear and the pig re-dimmed. Since 406 wasn't due east until 0645, and since the C&E on the pig were being paid to wait and I wasn't, I continued EB, but bypassing West Fitchburg, Fitchburg, East Fitchburg, and North Leominster.
At 0636, the 40.2 gave a no defects on 2 to 88 axles -- a very short POED? -- and at 0644 and 2 off 404's Shirley time another no defects on 1 to 28 axles, a plausible count unlike the 402's. In between and at 0640, D-3 fulfilled SEPO's Form D G-301, D-3 at 0709 confirming that SEPO was going down to the wye, indicating thereby knuckle-issue resolution.

0415-0550/06-08-2018 was an unproductive but -- as will be seen shortly -- eventful period.
At 0419, D-3 answered TC T669, told him to stand by and then -- at 0427 -- made effective the just-transmitted Form D G-304 for the # 2 west from CPF-AY to CPF-FG. 0436 was when D-3 acknowledged the 669 west and clear of CPF-AY, and 0440 was when I struck a deer near the end of the I-190 ramp to Rte. 2 WB. The car is drivable, but a body shop will be busy.
Let us all remember the words of kindly Sgt. Phil at the end of his job briefings on Hill Street Blues.* On the subject of the police, thanks to the MSP, the Leominster Barracks, and the responding Trooper for their effectiveness.
As paperwork was being completed, what was probably 400 on time went by a coupla hundred yards to the north, and further south a trio of WB brightiewhities -- SEPO? AY local? work train? -- was seen east of the Oakdale OHB at 0443, and at 0558, noise was made for the Temple Street/Rte. 140 crossing. Dag: still 15 minutes for approximately 2.5 miles!

*For those not privileged to have seen Sgt. Phil, his words were, "Be real careful out there."

Oh deer! Glad you're okay.

Not Gardner-related specifically, but last week I was setting off empties and picking up loads at a beverage purveyor near the WB town center when I heard horns at Temple Street. Finished my business and drove up to the Rail Trail parking lot to watch it come across the causeway, thinking it was one of the T's equipment moves, which I'd heard was eastbound that day. Waited 20 minutes until I gave up. With the speeds on that line I'm certain it couldn't have gotten by me, so I guess it must have been a westbound and not the T move. I'm not good enough to tell which direction they're heading from the sound of the horns, and I don't carry a scanner around in the car.

jwhite07-
Thanks, and I hope your liquid-container exchanges are quicker than those of the crews who go between Rigby and Hill Yard.
Horn-sounds can play tricks, the wind direction and vegetation being among the variables. What you heard but didn't get to see coulda been both a WB and a T.

jaymac,
9th June 16:00
Just after taking exit off Rte 2 EB, your mid-size red deer trophy, passenger side edge I-190 near milepost 19,
might have been the one.
In less than 30 minutes before above, in reverse order:
3 NS ponies halted at west end of No. Leominster station - lights on and waiting to head east:
3 NS ponies with a smaller freight group, stationary, looking to head westward;
locomotive group too far in and hidden by Ayer yard - at turtle speed - freight being egged into it from the west track of wye;
at Barbers, locomotives MEC 7500 (idle) and PAR 75xx (engine off), parked on siding
at P&W/G&W Worcester shop: P&W 2008 in original paint plus one other
multiple G&Ws including freshly painted 45xx.

railroad.net administrators have felt the need to scrutinize my innocuous posts.
The times shown are when submitted. They do not reflect the delay they imposed (6 -30 hours).
pwebdoc

Until my car gets put back in better condition, the 3-x-weekly patrols are on hold.
Anyone seeing/hearing anything of note, please share, and tnx in advance!

Jaymac,
How about I take you this Wednesday for Gardner Gawking? You once noted when the stars align.
I can live with DD. Administrators, place this e-mail on priority.
E-mail me: [email protected]