August 25th- George Simmons Visits and a Near Lightening Strike

Post date: Aug 27, 2016 2:59:22 PM

It was another crazy week on the Sue Line. Tuesday, we had a thunderstorm in the area. Wednesday night we discovered the the CVP Easy DCC system was not running. After some investigation on Thursday it was found that we had had a near lightening strike (the second such event fir the Sue Line) and the driver chips in the CVP Zone Masters had to be replaced as well as the driver chips in the quad line driver. After doing this the CVP Easy DCC system was once again performing flawlessly. A big Thank You the the CVP people for having taught us how to trouble shoot the system.

On a good note, George Simmons (above) from Alexandria, Louisiana came up to enjoy the session 

as a mainline engineer and is seen busy in Dutchman Falls.

Rob Robins (above) was also a mainline engineer and is seen with his train in Maryville.

Jim Willis (above) was also a mainline engineer and is seen with his train near Robert's Crossing.

Ken Ellison (above) is seen actively switching his mainline train in Robinson.

Rounding out the mainline engineers was Richard Kamm (above) 

who is seen with his train in Union Street Yard.

Mose Crews (above) was once again the Riverfront Yard Master.

Marvin Bennett, Jr. (above) was once again the Ginnings Yard Master.

Danny Garland (above) took on the duties of the Shreveport Yard Master.

The duties of the Maryville Operator (MoP) were performed by David Durham (above).

Once again Abby (above) joint her father David Durham for the session.

Over seeing the session was Dispatcher David Colvin (above).

Initially scheduled to be the highling of this week's report,

The new computer and dispatcher's board (above) was place.

The old system had been in place for over fifteen years and 

was showing its age. So---

a new computer,

new video adapters,

a new Java download,

a new JMRI download, and

a new and upgraded dispatcher panel

was placed into service.