By B Smith
Today’s local serving this spur west of Odessa has left the in bound cars on a siding on the main and proceeded up the spur light engine. The short length of the run-around track at the end of the spur usually means the crew choses to make two trips up the spur, the first to pull the out bound cars and a second to bring the in bound cars up for spotting.
After two empties from Drill-Tex are pulled, two loaded tank cars are pulled from the loading dock.
Finally, an empty 40’ box is pulled from one of the oil field supply companies (Odessa Well Fluids). Sadly, Fat Cow, the animal supplement feeds company, could no longer continue operating as demand for their product had greatly diminished with the increase in oil field activity and the drought leading to a decrease in cattle ranching. The Fat Cow buildings were quickly purchased by oil field related companies, JP Jones and Odessa Well Fluids, and repurposed to suit their needs.
The out bound cars head for the mainline.
Soon the in bound cars are shoved up the spur. Two MKT covered hoppers are spotted on the Drill-Tex track.
A TP covered hopper is spotted for unloading over the pit at JP Jones Drilling Mud and a loaded L&N 50’ box is spotted by the Fat Cow loading dock, now a team track dock. The Fat Cow loading stand was left in place and as of now not used.
Last move on the spur is to spot four tank cars for loading. Only two can be loaded at a time. The old Fat Cow tractor will be used to move these cars around as they are loaded.
The engine and caboose head back to the mainline.
Rails West 