Like a ritual, BNSF’s Everett, WA to UP Albina yard manifest train stops at the Vancouver depot on every trip. This stop is primarily to pick up UP orders but usually turns into a conference of sorts as the yard master and conductor review the paper work and delve into other issues of the day. For unqualified crews, the UP will supply a pilot to help them through the maze of radio contacts and unfamiliar tracks but since this has been a regular train for a few years now fewer BNSF crews need guidance.
After this day’s conference the conductor climbed back aboard the train to go down through the contact list. Albina run through yard master, Albina tower, Vancouver Terminal dispatcher, and finally the Columbia Draw. Ten minutes after the conference is over the M-EVEABN is finally on their way again.
