Spring kept us waiting this year. The rain was relentless, and a lot of our usual cleanup and upkeep got pushed back further than we would have liked. Things are finally drying out and we are getting caught back up.
Leaf cleanup is still very much underway. Being surrounded by woods means there is never a shortage, and we work hard to keep them clear of the cabooses and trails. A few more good days out there and we should be in good shape until fall.
Down in the ravine, the high water did some unexpected excavating. Erosion along the stream uncovered an old doll head, weathered and a little creepy looking, but genuinely exciting to find. The ravine has a way of giving things up like this. There always seems to be something of historic interest buried just below the surface, and we always find ourselves wishing we knew more of the story. That doll was once loved by a little girl. It would be something to know how it ended up here and what became of her.
We also got a nice surprise on the New Castle Sub Division. A westbound manifest stopped at the nearby signal, which does not happen very often. When it finally got moving again, that slack action sound rippled through the entire train. If you have never heard it, there is really nothing quite like it.
With a spring like this one, it feels good to be moving again. There is plenty still to do, but the place is waking back up and so are we.