Eastern Railroad Discussion > Darlene got excited tonight

NS Northend dispatcher "Darlene" in Greenville, SC got a little excited tonight. Seems the defect detector south of Reid in the single track which is south of Salisbury, NC was malfunctioning. Train 154 heading north goes through the detector and tells the engine crew they have a defect.

Train crews talks to someone on the radio and they tell them to stop and inspect the train. NS 154 is (I thought he said)9000 ft. long. The train 154 is stopped in the single track and it is time for SB Amtrak 79.

Poor conductor is walking 9000 ft. of train and SB Amtrak is now at Reid with a stop board. Dispatcher Darlene tells Amtrak 70 that NS 154 is stopped and will be out of the way in a little while.

Darlene then calls 154 and tells them to GET the conductor back on the train and move to the double track to inspect the train and who told them to stop. Also Darlene the preceded to tell 154 the next time he stops for a defect to call the dispatcher immediately. Crew of 154 and dispatcher discussed the procedures quite extensively and then Darlene came back on and told 154 that the Trainmaster told him he had permission to move the train and get into the double track NOW.

Mean while the Salisbury Switcher is asking for time to work and Darlene told him to stay in the clear, she had to much going on right now.

An people wonder why we sit an listen to scanners, it is sometimes entertaining.

I'm glad YOU enjoyed it. I'm sure Darlene's nerves are fried. I understand it's fun to listen, though; I enjoy it too sometimes when it's not MY responsibility to worry about everything. NS is currently reevaluating its procedures on inspecting trains,etc.

Here comes a new book or movie. Scott in Mi.

You know what is really sad about this? If amtrak hadn't been in the picture, and the crew headed to double track, and wrung a journal off a car, the crew would have been on the street for some time, not to mention the embarassment and stress of having to go through a "fair and impartial Formal Infestigation". But, when Amtrak is in the way, to hell with the rules, get in the clear. I guess thats just more of Safety day is EVERY day.
A little frustrated in GA
TR
Savannah GA

TriangleRoute wrote:

> You know what is really sad about this? If amtrak hadn't
> been in the picture, and the crew headed to double track, and
> wrung a journal off a car,

Derailments are a hoot. Nice way to spend a few railfan hours.

"Wrung" a journal? Must be a local term??

Where I live they are "burned off."

I don't understand. What if the inspection had turned up a condition that would cause a journal
to be burned off, are they going to sit on the single track main? For how long and until what is done?

Al

Either move it walking speed to the nearest set-off spot, or wait hours for the block truck to come, jack it up, and stick a part under it.

Yes, that is the NS way - can't answer for CSXT and the others. But when a train goes into emergency, NORAC procedure is to walk BOTH sides of the train. I had a train part hoses some time ago, and upon my 127-car walk to the hindend, I was welcomed in the dark by a trainmaster who wanted to know if I "needed help with my marker" and that he would "drive me ahead when done". My engineer fondly replied, "That's right, break any rules to get things moving!" simply due to the fact we had 2 vital interlockings tied up in the particular area we were passing through.