lol good one rooster. The guys have to be carfull when sticking the back ends out. You never know when a camera is pointing at it.
Great pictures Ken.
What a grand time! We arrived late Friday afternoon and headed over to check out the changes in person. It’s one thing to see pictures of the changes, but they always look better in person. I really like the freight house and the car ferry. Saturday morning we got up early and we were able to catch a sight of this in the hotel parking lot!
(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Events/TrainOps/2011/IMG_9875.JPG)
Jean and I headed over to Bob’s and we were soon operating. Here our train is leaving Burke Yard as Todd and Jon are busy building their train.
(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Events/TrainOps/2011/IMG_9877.JPG)
Jean likes being the engineer and we usually team up for the runs. This is down at Majestic Mine.
(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Events/TrainOps/2011/IMG_9882.JPG)
After putting the gondolas on the back of the train, we add the caboose and run around the train.
(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Events/TrainOps/2011/IMG_9883.JPG)
I took this shot from the deck. It’s a good view of the changes from last year. Pearce is over on the right with the hoppers near the coal dump. Goodson’s Batteries is the spur next to the hoppers. Majestic is just to the left of center. The track that goes off to the left goes into Williamsport.
(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Events/TrainOps/2011/IMG_9890.JPG)
Jon and Stan take a break between runs.
(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Events/TrainOps/2011/IMG_9892.JPG)
It seems like the only time I remember to take pictures is between runs - we’re just too busy enjoying the process!
(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Events/TrainOps/2011/IMG_9893.JPG)
Jean and I ran 3 trains together; and I ran a train with Stan. It pretty much filled up the day. Of course we broke for meals and had a great opportunity to talk about projects. The weather was just perfect - cool in the morning and warming up in the afternoon. Thanks to Bob and Martha for opening their home. We really enjoyed it.
Boy did I miss out!
I’ll have to bother Bob some other time.
Bob I’ll be working in Clinton in the near future…Maybe we could hook up after work some day?
Sean
Hey Bob and Guys,
Great Pictures! How is Majestic worked? Are loads and empties just exchanged or is there switching work assigned at the mine?
Ric: Currently, all towns are switched by the train crews, there are no local switchers. This may change to include yardmasters when I get the yard at the other end of the RR done (probably next spring’s project). Not sure about Majestic, though, since its one of the places that can either be fun, or maddening, to switch.
Ric Golding said:
Hey Bob and Guys, Great Pictures! How is Majestic worked? Are loads and empties just exchanged or is there switching work assigned at the mine?
Majestic is more than just the colliery. There’s a company store, as well as mine #2. The company store is on a spur out of Majestic. This spur leads to a switchback that goes down to mine #2.
(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Events/TrainOps/2011/IMG_9878.JPG)
The spur at the company store is not very big. Here you can see that there’s just enough room for the 2 gondolas that we picked up at the mine and the locomotive.
(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Events/TrainOps/2011/IMG_9879.JPG)
Of course the other part of the problem is that there is usually some cars at the company store. We moved two of them to a short siding in Majestic before we started the pickup. We found out that this siding should really only hold one car - not the two we put there. It was OK, until another train came through Majestic. 
The tracks are not yet complete at the colliery. Bob is awaiting a 3-way switch.
(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Events/TrainOps/2011/IMG_9880.JPG)
Another one of the challenges at Majestic is the low bridge in the upper right of Bruce’s picture…
(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Events/TrainOps/2011/IMG_9878.JPG)
You can’t fit a caboose, or a tall engine (like a K) under the bridge. Bob plans on correcting this, but for now there is a restriction on this track. Ken and I had a bit of fun here with his K.
The bridge is getting raised 3" as we speak. Right now the track has been lifted, the spline cut out, and the appropriate height measured. Looks like the rain is going to hold off for the next couple of days, Ill probably pour at least one of the new bridge footings today.
Of course, this is going to require raising the track on each side a bit. We’ll see how complicated that becomes.
I kinda figgered that was once place one of those new bridges was gonna go…engine fit fine without the spark arrestor, the problem was the pop-off valves on the steam dome. They needed just about a 32 of inch more clearance, but we cheated a bit…
(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Events/TrainOps/2011/IMG_9875.JPG)
Huuummmm…wonder what that was all about??? Good pic Bruce!! 
Ken Brunt said:Let a bit of air out of the tires, eh?
They needed just about a 32 of inch more clearance, but we cheated a bit.................;)
I was thinking there were two or even three tracks at the colliery and I was wondering if tracks needed to be switched to get the empties under the shoots. I always have great plans, but then it comes down to just getting the cars there and getting them out. I’m always wanting to have a switcher work the yards as some locals did around here twice a day. Never seem to get that much detail, but always want to.
There will eventually be three tracks under it,just need to get it done. Should give me a 9car capacity there.
So pull, park, and haul or will you do some switching of the equipment while it is there?