Comment: I have just completed a 2-hour shift running Train 700. This is the 4th train that I have ran since creating the Ship It! switch list. All of these activities are part of a shake-down to identify problems that appear during a complete sequence of session 1 activities.

Session 1g: Train 700 left the Jasper Yard travelling East (counter-clockwise) around the outer mainline. After 2 complete loops I set SW5 closed thus directing the train onto the inner mainline. SW23 was open which put the train onto the reversing loop. I then reset SW27 to open, allowing the train to re-enter the inner mainline trackage. SW6 was set open and this directed the train onto the track leading to the Distillery Row spur tracks.

Train 700 (2 boxcars, 2 reefers) leaving Jasper Yard

The train dropped all the cars before passing through SW50 (closed). Then SW50 was opened and diesel locomotive CN 1706 (a GP-7) reversed into the Distillery Row spur tracks. The locomotive performed a series of switching moves to eventually pickup 2 tank cars (UTLX 48238 - loaded with fuel oil for Coop Fuel in Wild Rose, and AT&SF 100801 - loaded with gasoline for Big Pine Lumber in Pine Ridge).

CN 1706 pulling UTLX tank car out of siding

CN 1706 pushing UTLX tank car onto Train 700 consist

CN 1706 pulling AT&SF tank car out of siding

CN 1706 pulling AT&SF tank car past setout tank cars

Train 700 continued on across the trestle and entered the outer mainline. While travelling over this outer mainline loop it became clear that the UTLX tank car was derailing or uncoupling at two or three different locations. The car has been removed for maintenance the run halted until this has been performed.

Train 700 leaving Distillery Row with 2 tank cars + original consist

Comment:

The switching list for Train 700 seems to be fine, and the switching at Distillery Row worked perfectly. The overall routing for mainline travel on both the outer and inner mainlines is working fine, giving the overall operation a very satisfying feel.

This is the first time many of my cars have been part of an operational consist and so I am not too surprised with some of the difficulties.

The next step is to spend some time at the workbench as I try to resolve the problems with a few of the cars.