Feb 24 2009
The East local
The East local is the larger of the 2 locals because it carries the BNSF interchange traffic. It starts switching trailing point spurs in Sauk Centre, then Albany, and Avon before coming to St.Joe. Once in St. Joe they make the interchange with BNSF. When this is done the crew will take a few minutes to reorganize the train for the trip back to Alexandria. Most of the switching will be done on the way back as this is the way the switches were laid out. When the crew arrives in Alexandria they have to sort out the cars for the CP interchange. The rest of the cars will be delivered to the industries the next day so they can be put on a siding. After they bring the engine to the engine house it is time to call it a day. This run will take a operator about 1 hour to complete which I think is long enough.
