A Photo Essay of Operations on the Kansas City Subdivision - Part 1

The day starts with the Coburg Yardmaster having 4 cars to be picked up by a Milwaukee Road train from Ottumwa Yard and a Burlington Northern (BN) transfer from Murray Yard. Car Cards and their waybills are shown for the 4 cars to be delivered. Note the red VIA line on the waybills as this tells the yardmaster which Railroad will take the cars. The Yardmaster notifies the Dispatcher, who calls two crews on duty, one crew will handle the Milwaukee Road Ottumwa-KC Manifest and the other crew will take the BN Transfer.

Milwaukee Road GP-38 #355 is ready with the Ottumwa-KC Manifest in Ottumwa Yard. The crew have clearance to depart and soon we see the Milwaukee Rib Side caboose bringing up the rear.

Ottumwa-KC Manifest arrives at Southwest Junction. CTC display showing routed trains. Milwaukee Manifest arriving from the East (Left hand side), cleared to Freight Line Junction.
BN Transfer waiting at Broadway Tower to enter Kansas City Subdivision CTC territory.

Ottumwa-KC Manifest heads over Big Blue River Bridge, soon rolling off Big Blue bridge, arriving at Sheffield Junction, where the signal shows clear, the Dispatcher has lined the train up through Rock Creek.

Train about to pass the signal protecting Sheffield Junction, caboose following up as the Ottumwa-KC Manifest heads towards Coburg Yard.

Milwaukee train passing Rock Creek Junction while the BN Transfer waits their turn.
CTC graphical display showing state of play as Ottumwa-KC train passes BN Transfer.

BN Transfer waits for the green at Rock Creek Junction while the Milwaukee Caboose clears. Soon afterwards, the dispatcher has cleared the route for the BN Transfer and the train starts moving.

CTC graphical display showing before and after BN Transfer takes the green signal at Rock Creek.
Milwaukee Road Ottumwa-Kansas City manifest train is nearing Freight Line to cross over onto the South Track.

BN Transfer gets moving as the caboose passes Rock Creek Junction on their way to Freight Line Junction.
Soon the BN transfer arrives to wait while Milwaukee Road Ottumwa-KC freight crosses over to the South Main.

Milwaukee Road Ottumwa-Kansas City freight moves through Freight Line Junction while BN Transfer waits their turn. As soon as the Milwaukee train clears, the dispatcher will route the BN transfer on to the next stop.

Milwaukee Road freight has cleared the junction, allowing the Dispatcher to line turnouts to normal and clear the BN Transfer to their next point. BN Transfer has the green and resumes moving.

A view of the CTC graphical display shows the BN Transfer lined through to Rock Creek Junction, while the Milwaukee Road freight is cleared to Coburg Yard entrance. BN Transfer moving past Freight Line Tower after being cleared.

Milwaukee Road freight makes its way through Sheffield Junction, moving towards Coburg Yard. Not long after taking the signal, the caboose brings up the rear of the train.

BN Transfer passes Milwaukee Road freight which is arriving at Coburg Yard entrance. The crew must obtain permission from the Yardmaster before entering Coburg Yard. The Yardmaster grants permission by setting the turnout switch towards the main track. This will line the yard crossover to allow the train to enter, as well as clearing the signal.

In these photos, the Yardmaster has operated the entrance switch, causing the signal to display clear. The Milwaukee train can now enter Coburg Yard to be switched out.

Milwaukee Road freight has cleared the Main Track and entered the Yard. Next they will back into the arrival track for car exchange by the yard crew. Meanwhile, the Dispatcher has cleared the BN Transfer back to Freight Line Junction as shown on the CTC display.