Killing a bit of time before readying myself to leave to go meet up with a group of long time model RR friends for lunch. SO... thought I'd post some pics and create some drivel.
Morning On The KC&G, Autumn, 1964...
It's a cool, crisp autumn morning as "Early Bird" Bryant stands next to The Shanty at the Branson, Mo Sub Division Yard's engine tracks patiently awaiting the arrival of the rest of the Day Job switcher crew. Early Bird and his crew won't have a huge day, but make no mistake, they'll earn their day's pay today.
And here's a look at the Branson Yard Early Bird is gonna' be switchin'. By shift's end he'll have built the South Local, switched up the blocks for trains #31 and #45, and likely an extra south.
And down south at the sub division yard in Clarksville, Ark, the Day Job's Engineer "Bulldog" Benson and Conductor "Mouse" Callahan are talkin' over the latest Razorback's football game. The Hog's are having a good season! Oh, and word is that with all the gravel off the Ozark and Ouachita Sub's now having to be weighed at Clarksville (the scales at Branson are OOS until further notice), that little D10 switch engine ain't gonna' be long for this world at Clarksville. No way it will be able to handle the weight of a full track of loaded gravel cars. Bulldog says it ain't no "Hog"... but more like a "Piglet"! (Ha!) SO... it's probably going back to KC to be used at Riverfront Yard as well as being sent out to the one of the KC&G's switching districts, with the Riverfront District being most likely. So, it might not be long and we'll probably be seeing a road switcher being used as the switch engine at Clarksville.
And here's a look at the Clarksville yard. Ol' Mouse is gonna' have his hands full sortin' out that mess and building the Gravel Turn, the North Local, blocks for #30 and #44, and likely building a north extra! Looks like the Night Job has already got a Coal Extra North ready to go.
Meanwhile, right smack dab in the middle of the Ozark Sub at the sleepy little town of Ozarka, Engineer "Coondog" Bivens is dutifully at his post in the 412 as Conductor "Red" Baughman folds up his switch list and shoves it into his vest pocket. The crew of the Ozarka Switcher is ready for a long day at Ozarka. Before it's all over, they'll work the industries at Ozarka, switch out the in-bounds the North and South Locals set out, and build the Piney and Jack Fork turns. as well as block the out-bounds for pick up. Oh, and they just may be called upon to shove a train or two up The Mountain! The Ozarka Switcher is a good job in that you're home every night... but it can be a long one. However, even at that, it's a preferred job and only those with the whiskers can hold it.
Maybe "one of these days" we can take our day and watch an entire day on the KC&G's Ozark Sub? That could be fun!
All fer now!
Andre
