Incline Job

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

  1. Board your engine/idler car in the locomotive service area.
  2. 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
  3. 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).
  4. Pull a cut of northbound cars & back them onto the boat’s open track.
  5. Captain “Gunnie” Grieshaber will re-position the boat after the idler car clears the incline apron.
  6. Rinse & repeat the above process for the remaining boat tracks.
  7. 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
  8. 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.