St. Joe Swing Bridge Work

[GP30M4216]

Does anyone know the scope of work underway this summer at the St Joe CSX swing bridge over the river? The work requires daily work windows and the local job L301 has shifted to night operation at this time to keep this window wider. I was just curious to know if anyone knew what all the work entails. Thanks!

[TSS]

No idea. I haven’t been listening to the scanner lately, and since maintenance crews submit track time requests electronically, you often don’t hear.

I walked past the bridge the other night and couldn’t see anything obvious. There were three trucks parked over by the boat shed, but nothing else obvious.

I’ll keep my eyes open and let you know if I figure anything out.

[SD80MAC]

Must not have been much because L301 is back on days this week. That or they're just not planning on going beyond Benton Harbor at all this week.

[Saturnalia]

I haven’t been listening to the scanner lately, and since maintenance crews submit track time requests electronically, you often don’t hear.

Are they submitting and receiving them via computer, or are they calling for them via cell phone? Both are common, just curious if you know for certain which is in play these days on CSX.

[NSSD70ACe]

I haven’t been listening to the scanner lately, and since maintenance crews submit track time requests electronically, you often don’t hear.

Are they submitting and receiving them via computer, or are they calling for them via cell phone? Both are common, just curious if you know for certain which is in play these days on CSX.

some class 1s use an app now which connects directly to the dispatcher for T&T.

[TSS]

I haven’t been listening to the scanner lately, and since maintenance crews submit track time requests electronically, you often don’t hear.

Are they submitting and receiving them via computer, or are they calling for them via cell phone? Both are common, just curious if you know for certain which is in play these days on CSX.

Computer. I’ve hear track inspectors and other MOW types call the dispatcher and say things like “I don’t have my tablet today, can we do this on the radio.” Or they will radio the dispatcher to check on train locations and agree that it is possible to get track time, ending the conversation with “OK, I’ll submit that on the computer now.”

[Saturnalia]

I haven’t been listening to the scanner lately, and since maintenance crews submit track time requests electronically, you often don’t hear.

Are they submitting and receiving them via computer, or are they calling for them via cell phone? Both are common, just curious if you know for certain which is in play these days on CSX.

some class 1s use an app now which connects directly to the dispatcher for T&T.

Yup I saw that when I was on the UP. Some inspectors even have their own printer in their truck so they don’t even have to copy it. Was just looking for confirmation if this was yet the case at CSX. Thanks TSS for confirming!

[Doktor No]

Same happens with the Holland yard job. I asked the engineer this past weekend about how they communicate with Rouge and get their paperwork. He said they don't. The cars that arrive are entered and then the cars requested by customers comes and on to printer it goes and VIOLA! Our work for the day. Interesting stuff. I also asked if they are using a hand held reader for the AEI tag. When the car gets delivered the conductor tags the tag with the tablet and it is entered as delivered into the system as such....he said...wait a minute, we just got into the 21st century...don't push it.

[Saturnalia]

I also asked if they are using a hand held reader for the AEI tag. When the car gets delivered the conductor tags the tag with the tablet and it is entered as delivered into the system as such....he said...wait a minute, we just got into the 21st century...don't push it.

Lol I too have been scratching my head about this for years. The industry built out this great, highly reliable AEI tag system, but has stubbornly stuck to only lineside readers in strategic areas. There's a reason why UPS, FedEx, etc scan their boxes like every 30 seconds: inventory management and routing. Why the hell yards don't have scanners in place for quality assurance of switching and to keep fully up-to-date inventory in the yard is mind-boggling to me.

Obviously you used to document very well how cars would get lost. UPS and FedEx can ship tens of thousands of packages overnight through multiple sorting centers each and lose almost nothing. Yet even in yards with only a few hundred cars per day like Wyoming, they manage to lose "boxes" the size of houses.

But hey, I was all in that freight stuff, but now I'm glad I'm over in passenger land. If we lose a "shipment", it's the "shippers" own fault

[Doktor No]

Thats what 36 track was for. Not that the cars were lost, they were in 36 track after all...it was...where does this one go and when did it get here. It usually just took the effort of someone to do its past history and find the LAST LOGICAL input and then one could usually find out what you needed to know. Now just get the MAINFRAME to enter it into the progression of 'things' and the problem car could get switched out and place3d where it belonged.
We almost ALWAYS had problems with Standard Lumber and STANDALE lumber. I would call CLUTCH and find out if it was theirs. Yes or no meant either Grandville or up to GRE.
And the bentonite cars for the driller in St. Louis has been explained here too...the ELMDALE SUB is no more BNSF!.
So it goes.
I wonder who does it now? Prolly no one.