B737 CREW HAD TRACK DEV.

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DURING BUSY PHASE OF FLT WITH HVY RADIO CONGESTION; CLRNC TO MAINTAIN A HDG AND QUESTION RESULTED IN ACFT BEING RETURNED TO ORIGINAL RTE OF FLT; CREATING A POTENTIAL ALT CONFLICT. AT XA30Z FEB/XA/00; 6 MI W OF PUTNAM VOR; ACR ABC WAS TOLD TO TURN R 15 DEGS HDG 315 DEGS AND CLB TO FL230. SHORTLY AFTER ACFT WAS CALLED 'ARE YOU PROCEEDING TO NELIE;' RESPONDED AFFIRMATIVE; PROCEEDING TO 'NELIE' AND TURNED. WAS TOLD TO LEVEL AT 16000 FT AND WAIT FOR BIZJET TFC TO PASS. ADDITIONALLY; CREW WAS INVOLVED IN A PRESSURIZATION CHANGE DUE TO A SPECIAL 'BLEEDS OFF' TKOF AND RADIO FREQ WAS HEAVILY CONGESTED. ACFT THEN CLRED DIRECT TO CARMEL VOR AND FLT PLAN RTE. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 462733: ON CLBOUT FROM PVD; ATC GAVE FLT ABC A HDG TO MAINTAIN 315 DEGS OR 15 DEGS R OF OUR ORIGINAL COURSE. FLT ABC WAS CLRED TO FL230. SEVERAL MINS LATER; FLT ABC WAS ASKED IF WE WERE PROCEEDING DIRECT TO NELIE. WE THEN TURNED TO PROCEED DIRECT TO NELIE AND THEN WERE TOLD TO MAINTAIN 16000 FT TO WAIT FOR ANOTHER ACFT TO PASS. ATC WAS BUSY AND CREW WAS WORKING WITH A 'BLEEDS OFF' TKOF; WHICH ADDED TO THE CONFUSION. AFTER TFC PASSED; FLT ABC WAS THEN CLRED DIRECT CMK TO PROCEED ON ORIGINAL FLT PLAN RTE.