Comment: I have just completed another 2-hour shift running Train 700. This was a continuation of the trip from Jasper to Coaldale. This morning's activities involved travelling along the outer mainline eventually arriving at Distillery Row, Prairie Dog and Pine Ridge. The activities at Distillery Row were a repeat of what I did during the last session, but I wanted to verify that all of the cars from the original consist were working properly. There were additional switching activities at the other two locations.

Session 1h: Train 700 travelled along the outer mainline from Jasper with a consist of PNR 1986 (empty boxcar), CN 242705 (empty boxcar), FGEX 36742 (empty reefer), SB 105 (empty reefer) plus a caboose - GTW 77942. The train left the outer mainline at SW5 (open) to take the route through the inner reversing loop, and then ending up at Distillery Row.

Train 700 on the inner reversing loop

The diesel dropped all cars just outside of Distillery Row and then backed in to the spur siding to pick up two tank cars (UTLX 48238 - loaded with fuel oil and ST&SF 100801 - loaded with gasoline).

CN 1706 backing into the Distillery Row siding (dropped cars in background)

CN 1706 bringing 2 loaded tank cars out from Distillery Row

CN 1706 pushing tank cars onto train consist

Train 700 leaving Distillery Row

Train 700 continued on across the trestle and entered the outer mainline. After travelling 3 loops around the outer mainline the train entered the inner mainline and stopped just outside of Prairie Dog where the diesel disconnected from the train and then entered Prairie Dog to carry out a series of switching movements.

Diesel 1706 disconnecting from train (Prairie Dog is to the right)

The diesel reversed into the sidings at Prairie Dog and picked up 2 boxcars (CN 445531 and CN 493528 - both loaded with grain, and CN 171605 - a stock car loaded with cattle. In order to carry out this order the locomotive first had to move 2 boxcars to an adjacent siding in order to gain access to the three desired cars. These cars were then added to the Train 700 consist.

Prairie Dog showing the 2 cars blocking access to the 3 cars on the right

Diesel 1706 pushing 2 cars onto adjacent siding

Diesel 1706 pulling 3 loaded cars out from Prairie Dog

Diesel 1706 adding 3 cars to consist of Train 700

The locomotive then returned to Prairie Dog and moved an empty boxcar from the siding at Prairie Dog Station and placed it at the Alberta Wheat Pool grain elevator.

CN 1706 picking up ONT 90075

CN 1706 setting out ONT 90075 in front of Alberta Wheat Pool elevator

Train 700 then moved onto the outer mainline and travelled 3 loops clockwise before heading back to the inner mainline and Pine Ridge. At Pine Ridge the locomotive setout the tank car (AT&SF - loaded with gasoline) and picked up a boxcar (CN 526254 - loaded with grain) that was sitting on a siding. The train then moved onto the outer mainline and began its journey to Queenston.

Comment:

This was a fantastic two hours: everything ran smoothly. My mind was really "there".

Oops! I spoke too soon. While making these notes I just noticed that I was also supposed to pick up an empty boxcar that was sitting on a siding at Hillside Lumber in Prairie Dog. I think I will receive some demerit points for not following the train orders.

This has now been corrected.