Details
- Crew: C&E
- Head end: Steam
- Throttle: NCE Intermediate Cab
- Rear end: Idler car M-I #1600
- Locale: Thomure Yard, incline and ferry boat
- Session: Opens with arrival of boat full of southbound cars; Thomure yard will contain northbound (Illinois) cars
Duties
- Board your engine/idler car in the locomotive service area.
- Evaluate northbound cars in Thomure Yard for proper loading of boat & sort if needed…
- Assess car length first…boat tracks are 49” long; cars vary from 10” to 16” long
- Next, assess for weight…Waybill Lading section denotes if a car is Loaded or is MTY
- Each track may hold up to 4 cars, but NO more than 3 Loaded cars per track
- Proceed to the incline & pull a cut of cars & move them to Thomure Yard. Avoid storing cars on A/D tracks (light tan colored ballast).
- Pull a cut of northbound cars & back them onto the boat’s open track.
- Captain “Gunnie” Grieshaber will re-position the boat after the idler car clears the incline apron.
- Rinse & repeat the above process for the remaining boat tracks.
- Once cars on all boat tracks have been exchanged…
- The boat departs for Illinois and will be re-staged
- Ask the Yardmaster for clearance to deliver the southbound cars to Middle Yard
- Engine must refill tender water before working the next boat (F9 for water; press again to stop)
Important Notes
- The incline grade is steep. When pulling cars from the boat, the engineer will need extra throttle to start the grade, then back off. Watch for wheelslip.
- Incline Crew has priority over the main at the diamond. However, must still proceed with caution.
- Typically takes 45-60 minutes to fully work the boat.
- The two A/D tracks (light tan colored ballast) are shared by Thomure Yard & Middle Yard. Do not block these tracks (eg, do NOT use for car storage while working the boat). Both yards may use them for run-around moves when needed (communicate with the Yardmaster when doing so).
- Incline C&E may occasionally be called by the Yardmaster for Extras.