Our granddaughter, age 4, received a Darth Vader costume that she calls "Star Wars."
For the last two weeks, I have been in Sweetwater and Big Spring, Texas. It has been a situation of too many trains, too few engines and too few rested crews.
In eight days of formal requests for power and crew, I received one crew in time to work two hours. This was with MOP Ray Savage placing call after call, and most of the time, receiving the same answer: "No crews rested," "No power available."
The Special Projects Director for this area placed some calls and was able to get us a window (work time) on Friday and Saturday. We were able to keep the same for two days to furnish our current work.
I would like to thank both men for their help. Thanks also to Conductor C.R. Carroll and Locomotiive Engineer J.W. Thomas for the quality of their work.
The Chico project is nearing completion. This week, we will build the approaches to track crossings for driveways on the two new storage tracks there.
I expect all those in the business of moving rock in the area will be glad that is finished.
Derek Townley informs me the mesquite project is moving right along, but will not meet its original completion date.
We have a lot of material on hand for the south end of Ney Yard. Construction has not started yet.
The holiday season is upon us now. In another month, it will be Thanksgiving.
We want to be careful next week, for it is Halloween. Watch out for the ghost and gobblins.
May you enjoy the coming season.
Eddie is an Engineering Department employee in Fort Worth.
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