Oh toils of intermodal :)

So I am at NS 47th looking for my box and I check the usual locations, go up and down the tracks; I can't find it. I go to the Driver Services building and ask for a location. Oh, btw, I did call the automated 800 # and all it said was the trailer was in Chicago; no help there. So, the girl in the office said, "It's still in Ayr." As in Ayr, Massachusetts. Well that explains why I couldn't find it.

I send a message to dispatch at 7:45 "per rail employee, container is not at NS 47th. Train, according to them, is still in Massachusetts" and I wait.

At 7:57, dispatch replies, "it is in Chicago and according to our reports has deramped [taken off train]. I will reach out to them to get a location." Who am I going to believe on this one? The railroad or some kid in a office with no windows, literally, and is180 miles away.

I am patient, so I wait. Play some games on my tablet, clean up a bit, text the wife. At 8:19 I send another message out, "did you get that location yet?" I know he hasn't but I had to ask, right?

At 8:33, he replies, "we are pulling your delivery. Grab an empty, and head to Marinette [Wisconsin]. Would you be able to pickup a driver at the terminal and bring him up to Marinette with you? I'd pay any out of route miles and additional $25..." and the message goes on. Mind you, I am in Chicago, already routed to go to Marinette, so where is the out of route miles come in? Btw, the $25 is standard "give a driver a ride" rate we get paid.

Some days you just gotta shake your head. Well, time to put on my taxi driver hat and roll.

 

Yea, nothing like it when you are looking at the situation and having someone on the other end of the phone/computer telling you that you're wrong.

 

Lol Patience!

If the railroad is BNSF, that train can be anywhere. BNSF only gives the origin yard and when it is at the destination yard. At least with NS, you can get a last reported location with a time stamp.