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The Trackside Lounge, 2nd Quarter 2013

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Posted by CNW 6000 on Sunday, June 16, 2013 10:02 AM

Zug,

I dig that B&W shot of the puddle.  Cold, crisp, and fascinating. 

Nice to see a few other faces around here too.  Chad those are some nice shots.  Thanks for sharing them.  Yesterday I took my son to a local museum because of Thomas the Tank Engine.  I ended up finding some Alcos, and a couple of older EMDs that I haven't seen since I was a kid.  Have to post some shots later after uploading & processing.

Happy Fathers Day to all the dads out there.

 

Dan

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Posted by CShaveRR on Sunday, June 16, 2013 11:06 AM

Welcome back, Chad!  And a happy Father's Day to your dad, too. 

Happy Father's Day to the fans (and fathers of fans) on the Forum here!  May your offspring have many pleasant experiences lined up for you.

(Mine, sadly, are both out of state.  But that means I get to set up my own pleasant experiences--if I could find the time.)

Carl

Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)

CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

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Posted by John WR on Tuesday, June 18, 2013 2:56 PM

CNW 6000
Yesterday I took my son to a local museum because of Thomas the Tank Engine.

Thanks for your good wishes, Dan.  Neither of my grown sons are interested in trains.  But my almost 4 year old grandson is fascinated by them.  When he comes to visit he drags me to the book case to see a train book.  The week after next we will take a train ride on New Jersey Transit to Hoboken.  So this Fathers' day is complete for me.  

John

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Posted by Photog566 on Wednesday, June 19, 2013 11:01 AM

Finally was able to get out and get some photos.  Acquired a new camera this year, and decided it was time to take more photos. Didn't get out much last year at all, due to schedules and such. 

My son and I were at Turner Junction about 2 weeks ago, or so. 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/timmetzger/9084105601

http://www.flickr.com/photos/timmetzger/9086335946/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/timmetzger/9084112313/

And, on occasion, I get NS Heritage units running by the house.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/timmetzger/9086423562/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/timmetzger/9086419328/

And here is an Amtrak photo.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/timmetzger/9084240621/

That's all for now.  I have lost my archive of over 13,000 photos of which nearly 10,000 were trains, or train related. So, with this new camera, I am essentially starting over. 10 years worth of photos are gone, basically due to my negligence.  (Hard drive crashed before I could properly back the photos up....totally my fault, I had all of the time in the world to get it done....I just didn't)

Edited to add:  I turned them all into links.  I fooled around with this for 2 hours, trying to get the image links to work.... can't figure out how it's done.

The member formerly known as "TimChgo9"

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Posted by Modelcar on Wednesday, June 19, 2013 11:19 AM

Photog566

 

That's all for now.  I have lost my archive of over 13,000 photos of which nearly 10,000 were trains, or train related. So, with this new camera, I am essentially starting over. 10 years worth of photos are gone, basically due to my negligence.  (Hard drive crashed before I could properly back the photos up....totally my fault, I had all of the time in the world to get it done....I just didn't)

I have a "portable hard drive connected to this computer....Do I have to do anything spl. to be sure my photos on my computer are being "backed up"....?   I have hundreds, not thousands of photos on this computer in "my pictures" and some even in "my documents"...,,,Any advice, & thoughts, appreciated.

Quentin

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Posted by Photog566 on Wednesday, June 19, 2013 11:26 AM

A portable hard drive is good.  Burning them to DVD is better, but time consuming. I was in the process (i.e. materials were purchased) of burning my photos to DVD, when the hard drive crashed.


In my post above, my photos are not showing up...... why not?  I used the "insert image" and copied and pasted the code from Flickr..... Obviously, I didn't something right...

The member formerly known as "TimChgo9"

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Posted by Deggesty on Wednesday, June 19, 2013 11:38 AM

Quentin, I don't think that you need to do anything special except to make the effort to save them to the hard drive. I have one attached to my computer (I could use the larger one that needs to be plugged into the AC supply that Ricki had) and, from time to time, I do make the effort to back this or that up.

It is possible to have everything backed up automatically, but I have not taken the time to learn how. I regret that I did not back certain things up a few years ago before my computer crashed. As it was, some of my files were on the disks that I had used to transfer them from an older computer to the one Ricki bought for me nine years ago, and I was able to bring them up to date.

Johnny

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Posted by tree68 on Wednesday, June 19, 2013 11:54 AM

Some of the Internet security program folks offer automatic backups in their packages, and many external hard drives include some sort of backup program in their bundle.

If you are going to back up to DVD, make sure you are using archival quality disks.  If the information is really important, make two backups - one to keep at home, and one to store "off site," whether it be something as simple as a friend or relative's house, or maybe a safe deposit box.

Under the heading of "go big or go home," with the increasing size of image files these days, make sure you've got a big enough drive to hold all your files into the forseeable future.

Something I did was to add an extra internal hard drive in an empty bay.   I haven't really moved all my image files over to it, yet, but that's the general idea.  Since I pull the hard drive out of a computer when I get rid of it, I've got several sitting around the house.

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date
Come ride the rails with me!
There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

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Posted by Photog566 on Wednesday, June 19, 2013 1:14 PM

I moved my photos to one computer, because they were scattered about 4 or 5 different systems. I did that, figuring, that having them all in one place was a good idea, and it would make it easier to sort them,title them, and then, burn to DVD....

Unfortunately, I never got to it.... I figured I always had time....  Guess I figured wrong.

The member formerly known as "TimChgo9"

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Posted by CShaveRR on Saturday, June 22, 2013 11:13 AM

Just came over from my place to wish Joe Kohnen a happy birthday!  Joe shares this day with my younger daughter (at one time she was the family member that was most willing to spend time out on train-hunting trips with me).  Things are a bit different now...Linda's 30, and entering two new careers this coming year:  mother and job-hunter (after she completes her PhD studies in musicology, planned within the year).

"My place" is still going through the throes of renovation.  The new room is done, with shelving and cabinetry installed (and at the moment I'm sitting in the spot that will be "home" for this computer and possibly a second one), but today we're moving the furniture from the living and dining rooms into here temporarily so the floors in there can be refinished.  The kitchen is still waiting on countertops and sink/plumbing.  But the exterior is sided, and just needs gutters. 

Not much going on in the train-watching category, as one can imagine.  I have been keeping up with research projects, and have added a few files to the folder based on sightings and what I've dug out of books.  Currently there are 510 railroad file/folders in the computer (that won't increase too much), and 1,217 private companies (that could increase, as it has a potential for files of equipment that I haven't seen until it was relettered to something else...that just happened this week).  Some of these "files" are folders that contain other files (and more folders, and so on); there are around 3200 objects, all told.

Carl

Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)

CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

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Posted by CNW 6000 on Tuesday, June 25, 2013 6:33 AM

Not a good day for WI.  Two rail-related fatalities in my area. 

The first was around 1:30 AM in Appleton, WI.  A 64 y/o male committed suicide by train.  He laid on the tracks in front of a loaded coal train.

The second was around 1:45 PM in Oshkosh, WI.  A 52 y/o male attempted to cross the tracks via trespassing (no crossing) and didn't beat the southbound.  This was at one of my "usual" spots to photograph and one of the times I'd usually be out, but had to stay late at work. 

Very sad on both accounts. 

 

I hope your project wraps up nicely Carl.  We started siding our house a week ago and are about halfway done.  No contractor involved so if I mess up I only have me to blame.  Funny how that's both easier and harder.

I'll be ready with the new TSL: 3Q on Monday 7/1.  Wow...time is flying.

Dan

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Posted by CShaveRR on Tuesday, June 25, 2013 7:51 PM

I was looking at pictures of your project, Dan.  The new stuff looks good, the old stuff...well, I hope you tore something off there first!

The number one reason for me (not necessarily you, just me...) to hire contractors:  I have the MUDas Touch.   I removed a baseboard, the land-line phone went out.  Tried to find the code to get my cell phone back on wi-fi, the wi-fi went out (switched to cable).  Put cable up through new hole in floor.  Got new length of cable to temporarily extend it to desk, that didn't work.  Put extension cable on TV so we could watch things while it was moved, that gave me a screen the color of blue that clashes with the rest of the room (Pat:  What am I supposed to do with this?).

Current status:  cell phone, period.  No land line, no TV, computer using somebody's very slow wi-fi. 

Meanwhile, we've been booted out of our old living room and dining room for the most part.  Today the floor guys sanded the floor and put down the first coat of polyurethane; next two coats go on tomorrow.  Countertops finally arrived today, and have been mostly installed.  So the kitchen is almost complete...everything but the kitchen sink (that requires a plumber).  So we are getting closer to habitable living space on this floor--still need the dungeon repaired.  Cable guy comes Thursday. 

Sorry to hear about fatalities that hit so close to home, either locale or acquaintance.  We've been lucky here for several years now (knock on laminate). 

One coal train through here yielded a new reporting mark to me, belonging to a different company, so one more file added.  CAIX, on ex-CRIX coal gons. (Once I harvest some information from the Internet, such as owners, series limits, and numbers/quantities, I can build up the files on my own...that's what happened today.)

Carl

Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)

CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

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Posted by jeffhergert on Tuesday, June 25, 2013 8:16 PM

CShaveRR



Current status:  cell phone, period.  No land line, no TV, computer using somebody's very slow wi-fi.  

 Cable guy comes Thursday.  

 

For some reason I feel like singing the theme to Gilligan's Island.Laugh

 

Carl!  Do you mean Larry is coming over on Thursday?

Jeff 

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Posted by CNW 6000 on Wednesday, June 26, 2013 8:36 AM

jeffhergert

CShaveRR



Current status:  cell phone, period.  No land line, no TV, computer using somebody's very slow wi-fi.  

 Cable guy comes Thursday.  

 

For some reason I feel like singing the theme to Gilligan's Island.Laugh

 

Carl!  Do you mean Larry is coming over on Thursday?

Jeff 

LOL Jeff!

 

Carl,

I have been fortunate to help with many repairs and can "just about handle" doing most things around the house (framing, roofing, drywall, window install, concrete, landscaping, vinyl siding, and some wiring) but some things (plumbing and door installation) I leave to folks who know more than I.  Funny you mention Wi-Fi...

My neighbor bought his daughter an iPad for her birthday (I helped him pick it out) a while back.  A couple days ago he and I were talking and the conversation floated towards technology so I asked how she liked her new iPad.  He rolled his eyes and said she never gets off the thing as she's always downloading things and playing web games on it.  I asked if he had (finally) gotten a high speed internet connection as I knew he was on dial-up with Juno.  He said no, it must've come with the thing...which obviously I knew it could pick up signal but wasn't like a cell phone.  She was there that night (parents are divorced) so I said I'd do some research.  Went home and shut down my wi-fi antenna (Misty and Aedan use it but I don't) and went about my business.  An hour later I was outside and he stopped me saying that something was wrong with the iPad cuz the internet stopped working!  Guess I know where the signal came from!

Today is my Friday as I have the next 11 days off.  I have a couple smaller trips planned out to Door County, Waupaca, Watertown/Columbus, and maybe La Crosse, WI. 

Dan

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Posted by Deggesty on Wednesday, June 26, 2013 10:22 AM

CNW 6000

jeffhergert

CShaveRR



Current status:  cell phone, period.  No land line, no TV, computer using somebody's very slow wi-fi.  

 Cable guy comes Thursday.  

 

For some reason I feel like singing the theme to Gilligan's Island.Laugh

 

Carl!  Do you mean Larry is coming over on Thursday?

Jeff 

LOL Jeff!

 

Carl,

I have been fortunate to help with many repairs and can "just about handle" doing most things around the house (framing, roofing, drywall, window install, concrete, landscaping, vinyl siding, and some wiring) but some things (plumbing and door installation) I leave to folks who know more than I.  Funny you mention Wi-Fi...

My neighbor bought his daughter an iPad for her birthday (I helped him pick it out) a while back.  A couple days ago he and I were talking and the conversation floated towards technology so I asked how she liked her new iPad.  He rolled his eyes and said she never gets off the thing as she's always downloading things and playing web games on it.  I asked if he had (finally) gotten a high speed internet connection as I knew he was on dial-up with Juno.  He said no, it must've come with the thing...which obviously I knew it could pick up signal but wasn't like a cell phone.  She was there that night (parents are divorced) so I said I'd do some research.  Went home and shut down my wi-fi antenna (Misty and Aedan use it but I don't) and went about my business.  An hour later I was outside and he stopped me saying that something was wrong with the iPad cuz the internet stopped working!  Guess I know where the signal came from!

Today is my Friday as I have the next 11 days off.  I have a couple smaller trips planned out to Door County, Waupaca, Watertown/Columbus, and maybe La Crosse, WI. 

Dan, The wireless internet connection that Ricki and I had (by telephone landline) and the one that Katie and I have (by Direct TV) requires a password to use the wireless signal--even if you are in the same house with the modem!

When Ricki and I set ours up, we must have used the password to get her computer and the laptop connected (the modem was connected to my computer, which was connected directly to the landline) for we had no problems. When I bought a new laptop last year, I could not use it on line at home--for I had forgotten the password!

After I moved into the house that Katie and I bought, I was able to connect my desktop directly to the modem (why it is on the lower level in my living room and not on the upper level in Katie's office, I do not know), but I had to enter a long password before I could use my laptop on line. No bootlegging from this modem is possible!Smile

Johnny

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Posted by CNW 6000 on Wednesday, June 26, 2013 5:31 PM

I did put a pretty robust password on the Wi-Fi and that resolved the bootlegging.  I suggested that they chip in $5/month to use a connection (she was only here on weekends) but they told me that I should do it for free...so yeah.

CN had three contractors in the area spraying for weeds today and some other MoW stuff going on too...so hopefully they're running well tomorrow.  Also...UP's (1988...or 89?) KATY heritage unit was on the MCHVP and should be in MN now.  I'm hoping it comes back tomorrow on the MVPPR and during the day so I can snag it east of Adams, WI. 

What a friggin' day...

Dan

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Posted by tree68 on Wednesday, June 26, 2013 5:46 PM

I went out and bought a new wifi router/modem after I discovered numerous users on the router and couldn't seem to get the security to take hold.

Things have been somewhat faster since.

I donated the old router to the fire department.  Don't mind if some folks get on it as it helps keep the link alive and we don't use it that much anyhow.

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date
Come ride the rails with me!
There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

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Posted by zardoz on Wednesday, June 26, 2013 9:09 PM

CNW 6000

I did put a pretty robust password on the Wi-Fi and that resolved the bootlegging.  I suggested that they chip in $5/month to use a connection (she was only here on weekends) but they told me that I should do it for free...so yeah.

CN had three contractors in the area spraying for weeds today and some other MoW stuff going on too...so hopefully they're running well tomorrow.  Also...UP's (1988...or 89?) KATY heritage unit was on the MCHVP and should be in MN now.  I'm hoping it comes back tomorrow on the MVPPR and during the day so I can snag it east of Adams, WI. 

What a friggin' day...

Dan,

What's your best guess as to when  MVPPR might be hitting Milwaukee?

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Posted by CShaveRR on Wednesday, June 26, 2013 10:17 PM

I feel almost as primitive as can be (were it not for some nice Rachmaninoff in the background I'd feel worse!). 

I had a good password on my wi-fi that my son-in-law randomly generated for me.  I'd have everything fixed if he didn't live so @#$%^&*! far away. 

The floor coating has been slowed down by humidity.  It will be finished (double-meaning there!) tomorrow.  But the cable guy can't work around sticky floors, so he's been postponed until next month.  If he can cure my problems--all of them--I'd quote my distant cousin Del and say "Hats Off to Larry!"  (didn't see the movie or whatever inspired Larry The Cable Guy).

Kitchen still needs a sink...plumber was supposed to come today but didn't. 

Finally got a dry enough afternoon that I could finish the lawn in the evening.

No inspiring trains today, but an inspiring Trains arrived in the mail!

Carl

Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)

CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

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Posted by CShaveRR on Thursday, June 27, 2013 3:11 PM

Floor coating (re)finished.  A little paint now (contractors to handle...haven't seen contractors or plumbers today yet), and we'll be ready to move the furniture again.

Anyone interested in going to downtown Chicago/Grant Park for tomorrow morning's parade and celebration for the 2013 Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks, Metra is offering a pass, good tomorrow only, for five bucks.  Word to the wise, though:  no alcohol or glass bottles on the trains, or at the event...that will be enforced!

Jeff H., you might be able to help here:  there's a solid unit train of frac sand headed your way (unless it hangs a left at Nelson).  It had three of UP's newest GE units on the point (I think 8067 was leading), and nothing but AOKX 490000-series covered hoppers.  An origin and destination and number of cars would be nice, if you get 'em.  I've never seen a solid train like this before.

Carl

Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)

CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

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Posted by CNW 6000 on Friday, June 28, 2013 4:57 PM

Jim, That thing hung a right and went from MN to Norma, WI to IA...so no joy.

Did see a patched CNW (UP 6737) on CN C701 today though...that was kinda nice.

Dan

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Posted by zugmann on Sunday, June 30, 2013 2:19 PM

There was a daylight oil train running today with the Lehigh Valley engine 2nd out.  Normally wouldn't bother, but with storms to the south of us, thought I may have a chance to get it with a nasty sky.  Sky wasn't too terribly ugly, and I had to shoot it going away for the best clouds of the bunch (confusing another railfan there), but here it is:

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any

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Posted by tree68 on Sunday, June 30, 2013 7:45 PM

Zug - Still documents a memory.  Nothing wrong with that.

Carl - Might have to ask you to dig into your records on a boxcar we've got on the property.  It's pretty scuzzy right now (and full of assorted materiel from our recently vacated shop), but it might have some history that would play into at least a cosmetic refinishing.

Right now it's stencilled for Conrail, but I'm not sure exactly how old it actually is.  I'll get the info next time I head for the railroad.

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date
Come ride the rails with me!
There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

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Posted by zugmann on Sunday, June 30, 2013 8:32 PM

tree68

Zug - Still documents a memory.  Nothing wrong with that.

Don't get me wrong - I'm happy with the photo.  Wish we could have had a downpour right then, though.

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any

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Posted by CNW 6000 on Monday, July 1, 2013 6:24 AM

End of 2Q, time for 3Q.

http://cs.trains.com/trn/f/111/t/218844.aspx

Dan

Dan

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