I could never have dreamed a day like this. :huh:
Got to work at 7:00am and knocked for a loop!!!! :blink:
Yard power still b/o, using locos for ground power and air on the LDT's. 29 cars are stacked up, waiting for the PM line.
Trains will depart late as usual, but this incident takes the cake and creates a major problem later!!!
1) Noticed CSX switch engine #1468, coupled to cars on wheelpit and shut down. Engine and coupled car are at awkward angles. At 10:00pm, switch crew went into pit to pull out cars and all hell broke loose!! The wheel lift table was not properly locked in the up position and when the loco came in, the table shifted!!!!When the front axle dropped on the low side of the table, the other side slammed up into the fuel tank and leaked 3000 gallons of fuel into the wheelpit. The crew was pulled for testing, had to wait for new crew. A spill team was called in to pump out the pit, the manager returned to the property at 10:45 and a P-42 was selected as a switch engine. The CSX crew(freight) did the switching.
P-42's are poor switchers!!! The computers are slow and the controllers are slow to respond. This contributed to the late departures. Manpower at an all-time low!!!
#98 was 2-3 hrs late as usual. Spill team has pumped 2000 gallons out by 8:00am and have to dump tank. Come back at noon and continue pumping. Manager has been on property 17 hrs, punch drunk, send him home at 2:20pm. Spill team is pressure-cleaning wheelpit, the motors and controls are OK! First good thing today!!!!
#92 was 30-90 minutes late!!! Could this become a trend? :unsure: Looking up?
Pull CSX engine out of pit, Coachyard in a frenzy, trying to get the 42 that was used for switching on #90. Everybody is overwhelmed and here comes the FRA guy to inspect the yard!!!!
#90 is put together, the airman does the brake test and #90 shoves to the station. Hot journal bearing detector has a bad cable and goes off when the truck moves in the curves. FRA guy catches it and electrician changes sensor at station. #90 is now running late. #90 departs late and everything seems OK. Everyone thinks that the sensor is a minor defect and the FRA will make a small notation on inspection report.
Overtime has been authorized 24/7, playing catch-up on PM line. Everyone is stressed and distracted by meyhem. :blink:
FRA guy comes to office and s@*t hits the fan!!!! CSX was training a new conductor. Freight cars have 1 airhose, AMTK has two. The loco has 4 cut-off cocks at the rear of loco. Conductor turned all cocks, trying to cut off air during switching. Never turned them back!!!! When loco was coupled to #90, airman didn't notice brakes on loco during brake test in yard.
Well, the FRA guy caught the infraction!!!! The rear truck of the loco was cut out, no brakes on truck!!! The foreman, loco maintenance,electrician and airman signed the MAP form, releasing the consist for revenue.
All defects were dealt with before departure and #90 was late as usual.
The loco brakes are a major violation!! If the loco was used for braking in a curve, the front truck would not be enough to slow the consist. Every engineer brakes differently. Some use air on loco, some use dynamic and some bail off the loco and use the cars to reduce slack in the couplers.
:blink: The foreman, loco machinist, electrician and airman have been drug tested and removed from service for a minmum of 3 days. <_< It's going to be tough filling the spots!!!
If the distractions weren't enough, rumors are running rampant that the manager will be fired on Thursday. Nothing's getting done and getting worse.
I'm starting to hate work!!!
Will try to update tomorrow. 18 hr days are starting to take wear on me. Time to hit the sack. 5:45am is right around the corner!!!
MJ B)
Got to work at 7:00am and knocked for a loop!!!! :blink:
Yard power still b/o, using locos for ground power and air on the LDT's. 29 cars are stacked up, waiting for the PM line.
Trains will depart late as usual, but this incident takes the cake and creates a major problem later!!!
1) Noticed CSX switch engine #1468, coupled to cars on wheelpit and shut down. Engine and coupled car are at awkward angles. At 10:00pm, switch crew went into pit to pull out cars and all hell broke loose!! The wheel lift table was not properly locked in the up position and when the loco came in, the table shifted!!!!When the front axle dropped on the low side of the table, the other side slammed up into the fuel tank and leaked 3000 gallons of fuel into the wheelpit. The crew was pulled for testing, had to wait for new crew. A spill team was called in to pump out the pit, the manager returned to the property at 10:45 and a P-42 was selected as a switch engine. The CSX crew(freight) did the switching.
P-42's are poor switchers!!! The computers are slow and the controllers are slow to respond. This contributed to the late departures. Manpower at an all-time low!!!
#98 was 2-3 hrs late as usual. Spill team has pumped 2000 gallons out by 8:00am and have to dump tank. Come back at noon and continue pumping. Manager has been on property 17 hrs, punch drunk, send him home at 2:20pm. Spill team is pressure-cleaning wheelpit, the motors and controls are OK!
First good thing today!!!! #92 was 30-90 minutes late!!!
Could this become a trend? :unsure: Looking up?Pull CSX engine out of pit, Coachyard in a frenzy, trying to get the 42 that was used for switching on #90. Everybody is overwhelmed and here comes the FRA guy to inspect the yard!!!!
#90 is put together, the airman does the brake test and #90 shoves to the station. Hot journal bearing detector has a bad cable and goes off when the truck moves in the curves. FRA guy catches it and electrician changes sensor at station. #90 is now running late. #90 departs late and everything seems OK. Everyone thinks that the sensor is a minor defect and the FRA will make a small notation on inspection report.
Overtime has been authorized 24/7, playing catch-up on PM line. Everyone is stressed and distracted by meyhem. :blink:
FRA guy comes to office and s@*t hits the fan!!!!
CSX was training a new conductor. Freight cars have 1 airhose, AMTK has two. The loco has 4 cut-off cocks at the rear of loco. Conductor turned all cocks, trying to cut off air during switching. Never turned them back!!!! When loco was coupled to #90, airman didn't notice brakes on loco during brake test in yard.Well, the FRA guy caught the infraction!!!! The rear truck of the loco was cut out, no brakes on truck!!!
The foreman, loco maintenance,electrician and airman signed the MAP form, releasing the consist for revenue. All defects were dealt with before departure and #90 was late as usual.
The loco brakes are a major violation!!
If the loco was used for braking in a curve, the front truck would not be enough to slow the consist. Every engineer brakes differently. Some use air on loco, some use dynamic and some bail off the loco and use the cars to reduce slack in the couplers.:blink: The foreman, loco machinist, electrician and airman have been drug tested and removed from service for a minmum of 3 days. <_< It's going to be tough filling the spots!!!
If the distractions weren't enough, rumors are running rampant that the manager will be fired on Thursday. Nothing's getting done and getting worse.
I'm starting to hate work!!!
Will try to update tomorrow. 18 hr days are starting to take wear on me. Time to hit the sack. 5:45am is right around the corner!!!
MJ B)
