Here in Akron we have a local stone train operated by the Akron Barberton Cluster Rwy, it use three W&LE SD40-2's for power in this blog post we will follow a typical day in the life of the crew that operates this train.
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| The stone train moving the empty's back |
For the most part if you are not a morning crooner, chances are you will miss this train. For me the morning starts out with my alarm going off at 3:00 am I get up get my coffee going, Pray, turn on the scanner feeds and see what is going on. Between 3:30 and 5:30 usually is when the train is brought in on the Akron sub by the wheeling crew and tied down in the siding.
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| 5:30am Wheeling crew putting the train away |
For the most part I have seen every oddball combo of power on the point so this can be a daily crap shoot for railfans. After the Wheeling crew ties down the train it is a little while then our ABC crew arrives. Then the fun begins the crew usually does their inspection of the train and doing the morning tasks of prepping the train for the move. Once all this is done they tone up the Wheeling dispatcher and get permission via track warrant to take the train out of the siding once given permission it is show time as the conductor gets ready and lines the switch for the train to exit the siding.
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| Coming to life |
With a cloud of smoke and a roar the SD40-2's come to life and bring the 50+ cars of stone out of the siding and across the Street. Once across the street the conductor puts the switches and derails back in place, and walks across the street and sets the EOT. Once the road and driveway are clear he climbs aboard the last car and then they shove up the 1.8% grade to the connection on the CSX. Once the train is off the Akron sub main the switch is lined back to the main track move and the train continues to shove up to the CSX stopping short of the derail and connection switch. For the most part this is a inaccessible area and is quite a bad place to try and be for non train crews. Once again the crew has to get permission from the CSX dispatcher on duty to make the shove out to the main, once permission is granted ( sometimes they have to wait on other westbound trains) they make the shove out once the train is fully on CSX the Derail and turnout is restored so the can continue west toward south Akron.
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| Z642 on the move after shoving out |
Once on the move it is advisable to be in the position you want to shoot from as they do not mess around moving on the CSX once they reach Lambert ( the place where main 1&2 meet and go into single main) the dispatcher depending on traffic let's them out and once the train is fully on single main they are lined back for track two, once lined up the conductor climbs aboard the rear car and the shove is made down to the stone company. Once at the yard they open up the switch and shove the hoppers of stone in on the track designated after a few back and forth moves they have coupled back onto the empties then the whole process is reversed.
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| Shoving the loads under the un-loader ( taken with permission of the stone company manager) |
Once ready the crew calls the CSX dispatcher and gains permission out to make the move back once back on track one the train is shoved back 9.5 miles approx. with the conductor riding the car ad making sure the two crossings on the CSX are clear and the gates are fully activated once they make it back to the connection the crew rinse and repeats the morning moves and the train is then tied down for the Wheeling to take it back west off the Akron sub and loaded again. For the most part this is a daily move between March and November although I have seen it as late as December or January depending on the weather.
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| 6314 Tied down awaiting her new crew to go back west |
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If you like old school railroading and older power this is a sight to be seen however be advised the area where they start is home to a paper recycler and poses many hazards to both train fans as well as crews who may not be familiar with railfans so respect and caution must be exercised at all times. But don't worry there are plenty of areas the train can be spotted from publicly and without risk or harm to anyone.
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| One of the Truck/Train hazards |
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This is basically it in a nutshell I thank my friends that work on this train for putting up with me while I photograph them and you know I can not leave without giving you some food for thought.
Many times we are presented a new opportunity every day but fail to take it, Look for the God given chance and take it remember he (God) is still in control and until next time take care.
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