Trackside Lounge: 2Q 2010

I was treated to a couple of "three-way"s today, on a couple of different railroads. The first was on the BNSF in Naperville, while we were coming home from brunch with the daughter and our three grandkids (who definitely have their own tracks and go in different directions!): An eastbound Consumers Energy coal train was sitting on the center track, when a manifest, also eastbound, passed through on the south track. I already couldn't see enough of the manifest when a train of empty Detroit Edison coal cars shot past westbound on the nearest track.

Then this afternoon I took a bike ride to check out the configuration of the "hidden" UP signal bridge between Lombard and Glen Ellyn. While I was out there, an eastbound stack train pulled up on the center track and stopped at the Finley Road staging area (this was not a long train, but extended beyond the aforementioned signal bridge while its head end was stopped just shy of the Finley Road signal bridge). A westbound manifest (I'm guessing MPRDM) came by on the near track, and was also slowing down, keeping the platform at Glen Ellyn clear for the eastbound scoot, running a little late. Before he could get back up to speed, the scoot came through on the far track.

I guess if you only have a couple of opportunities to go trackside in a given day, it's nice when you can make the most of them!

That's good timing Carl!

Saw an empty GB coal train yesterday.  70MAC and GEVO in the lead, GEVO DPU at rear.  As the DPU GEVO neared me (I was just more than a mile from the swing bridge) I heard the engine switch from power to dynamic pretty quickly (at least it seemed) and then much slack running in creating banging like crazy.  Either somone wasn't paying attention at the head end or a signal dropped on 'em...I didn't hear anything on the scanner so I'm assuming it wasn't too big an issue.

Aedan first birthday is today, we're having a party on Saturday when people can share with us.  Hopefully it doesn't turn into too big of a production. 

Happy birthday, Aedan! (When I saw him he was only a few weeks old--how time flies!) I'm sure the clowns and ponies I ordered for the party Saturday will fit right in!

Phone calls made--now it's just waiting for stuff to come in the mail, or for more time to elapse.

I was doing a little house cleaning today and thought I'd dust out the Lounge, too.

 

While working outside in Pevely, Mo. this week, I could hear the whistles of the local traffic.  Unfortunately, I wasn't able to catch any of the BNSF, UP, or Amtrak activity.

It's been so long since I've seen anything track side, I'm starting to forget what it's like! 

PS the 3Q version is open...