SHIPPING

[jwb]

A big reason I'm participating in this thread is to challenge myself to keep my layout in better shape. I realized that if I accepted the SFRC reefer shipment from Mike Kieran, I'd have to clean off part of my layout that I haven't used as much -- so naturally, I thought this was a good idea. This may not be everyone's cup of tea, of course, but it's a good reason to enjoy the interactive side of the hobby.

So anyhow, since Mike's reefer was going to arrive via the car ferry at West Egg, it was going to need to CROSS AN AISLE to get to the Edison Spur in Bay City. (It's operating in dry service, hauling utility transformer casings to California on the backhaul). This meant I was going to have to make sure the Walthers bascule bridge that crosses this aisle was in working condition. At the same time, it was going to have to go through a part of West Egg that my crews don't enjoy, what with the rock throwers, Saturday night specials, and so forth. Here's the test train:             Oh, by the way, I also had to set up a route and a train in my operating software to run a transfer between Manhattan Transfer and Zenith, something I'd been putting off for years. This is an excellent argument for this kind of car exchange, and I'm grateful to Les for taking the lead here. I understand he's been working on other guys to come aboard, and I've got to say that it's effort, but I think it's well worthwhile.