Its a sunny morning when we arrive at the yard office to get on our train. Our engine is an old but trustworthy GP7 number 15. It is on the fuel track and is fully serviced. Sam, the conductor calls the yardmaster and advises him we are ready to leave the fuel rack and get on our train in MY1. Sam thinks we should be departing within 30 minutes as we have a small train. We pull out of the fuel tracks and past 2 big UP engines which are being serviced. The yardmaster is lining up our switches for us electronically. All I have to do is follow the green lights on the switch targets. The yardmaster runs us through F3 to MY1 at the east end of the yard and then we back onto our train.

            Sam is checking hose bags and hand brakes on the cars on our train. He calls to tell me to put some wind in the pipes and set the brake. Within 5 minutes he calls back to say to release the brake and he will check the release. Sam called to say he has checked the train and we are ready to go. I call the yardmaster and tell him we want to pull down to the mainline switch at Quinte East and wait for the dispatcher to give us a light to proceed. I call the dispatcher again to advise him of our location and that we are ready to go. He says we will have to wait for 10 minutes for a passenger train to pass.

            We have the light and are now departing Quinte East. On the right at Marysville Jct. is the switch for the Kingston Branch. I advise the dispatcher that we are clear of the switch at Quinte East and he says thanks and confirms the information on his panel. Another mile further at Deseronto Jct. is the switch and track that goes towards Chesterville. Its about 15 miles to Napanee West and the refinery after we leave Deseronto Jct.

            At Napanee West we go in the siding and can see the refinery and then the Hydro sub station at Napanee and the generating station at Napanee East. We have had many loads of coal for that siding but not today. We have travelled about 30 miles and have been on the road for 1 hour and 30 minutes. The dispatcher is holding us at Napanee East in the siding for an opposing freight. The delay will be about 15 minutes.

            We are now leaving Napanee East on our way to Smith Falls. We pass over the river and can see the gravel pit in the distance. It is serviced from the Kingston Branch. Over the second river and into the tunnel. When we come out of the tunnel at Perth, the dispatcher has us lined up into the Black Donald branch. This line services the mine and several industries up on the mountain. We have a set off and lift to do here. We will have to get our own switches, as these are not powered. Pull ahead, cut off the van and then the cars. Pull ahead again and then turn the switch and back onto the lift of 5 cars. Back down to the van and couple gently. When the air pressure is set, back down to the mainline switch and call the dispatcher to tell him we are ready to back onto the mainline and proceed to Smith Falls West. The dispatcher advises that he can take us and we back out onto the mainline. The dispatcher normalizes the switch and we are on our way to Smith Falls West with the switches ahead of us lined for track # 4  (SF4). After passing Smith Falls West we come to Smith Falls and to the right in the distance, we can see the cannery and the slaughter house as well as the interchange track. The dispatcher calls back and says he will have to hold us at Smith Falls East for another freight train to pass. We have travelled about 70 miles in 3 hours.

            After 15 minutes, the dispatcher gives us the light and we proceed on our way to Merrickville. There is the Widdifield Cement Company on our right. Nothing for them today. Three miles further is Beddell West where we hold the main line while climbing a 1.5 % grade. Into another tunnel and over the river to Beddell West where we have a green light and proceed. Past Mountain West, another bridge and tunnel and then Winchester. No work there today. We get a long run to Chesterville and once again hold the main. Past the little station and on to Avonmore West, where we get held for 5 minutes before the dispatcher lines the crossover switch to allow us to proceed to Monkland West. Another hour and we should be off duty.

            Call the yardmaster when we are at Monkland West and tell him we have 5 cars, a van and one engine. He advises us to proceed and pull into track MY2 and then take the power to the shop.  Pull slowly around the old roundhouse and the turntable. There is track MY5, MY4 and MY3. Finally our track MY2. Pull up and make sure the tail end is clear of the switches, cut off the power and then to the fuel track. Sam is going to the yard office to hand in his paper work and I head to the diesel shop office to report on the performance of our GP7.  Then to the yard office and sign out and find out what we are doing tomorrow.

            We travelled over 150 miles today and it took about seven and one half hours. The weather was good and we worked safely.