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I’m thinking I’m closing in on the point where I can begin operations even with the limited rolling stock and trackage I’ve gotten in place.  Both the Main Yard and Interchange are serviceable as welll as the Turntable lead and hopper staging track are in place.  Gives me an escape track for road engines and a place to shove hoppers enmasse.  Still need to do the switch for the ready and coach tracks.

Currently the roster stands at locomotives 2,6,7,8,and9 with No6 slated for a rebuild and No9 being held in reserve until I get a few more cars with knuckle couplers.  8 hoppers in the 20/30 series, 1 40 series hopper, with 4 more building, 7 flats, and 4 boxes.

Currently I’m planning a limited operating schedule using No7 and No8 as road engines and No2 or No6  for switching as appropriate.  The only scheduled trains will b the Mail trains under No8 with the Combine 02 and a boxcar of freight.  North will be the uphill to the Front Yard, and South back down again.  Train No1 will originate in front and run back down to Cassville.  It will just have to be fiddled onto the mainline for right now.  All trains not scheduled run as extras, labeled by the locomotive number and direction.  Thus the first coal drag of the day would be Extra 7 North.

The switch crew pulls the caboose off the cabin track, runs around and backs into the interchange yard to clear the wye switch.  No7 comes from the ready track and ties onto the waiting hopper, pulling them onto the main.  The shifter  tacks onto the cabin and then No7 backs the train clear of the yard throat and waits for Train No1.

No1 arrives and takes the station track, clearing Extra 7 North to proceed onto the mainline.  With No7  out of the way, No8 can cut loose and proceed into the engine terminal letting the switch crew get on  with the day’s work.  No8 gets serviced and turned and spotted  on the ready track, while the switcher clears the yard and builds Extra 8 North, officially a fright but using Combine 02 for a tail end car

Friday, April 30, 2004, 0700

Work for the weekend looks like getting the ready & coach tracks down, involving rebuilding a stub turnout.  Probably will rebuild the RH switch to the Coal Dock and ballast the Main up to Cedar Summit for staging use.