Trackside Lounge: 2Q 2010

[CNW 6000]

PS the 3Q version is open...

[The Butler]

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! 

[CShaveRR]

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.

[CNW 6000]

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. 

[CShaveRR]

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!

[CNW 6000]

CShaveRR

Dan, did you have any luck with that CN unit? I think it would look good in the CN paint (Spartan-cab GE units in CN black aren't that common!).

Sadly, no.  I missed it by a little more than an hour.  One of the posters on another place I visit was luckier than I and did catch it.  The unit (and the rest) wear a sharp scheme. 

http://www.fuzzyworld3.com/3um/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=4809&p=35162#p35162 

Photos and details on the link.

[Modelcar]

CShaveRR

One of the Lincoln Highway's biggest claims to fame is that it crossed this part of the country without hitting Chicago!

.....Speaking of the Lincoln Highway:  In my small home town in Pennsylvania, the Lincoln Highway was main street until 1938.

A bypass was constructed then....{7 mi.}

But to this day, there is one of the famous concrete posts that were erected about 1929 {I believe}, and it identified the route as so.  A plack still of Pres. Lincoln and the capitol letter "L" is imprinted on it.  I believe they were erected by the Boy Scouts.  They stand about 3.5' tall.  It is amazing it is still there.  Town is Stoystown.  Pop. for years, roughly 450.

[CShaveRR]

That's OK, Brian--it's a good picture, and you can seldom (thankfully!) get more than two trains in a picture at once!

Folks might notice the new kiosk visible in the distance (between the pavilion and the parking lot): that's one of several erected along the route of the Lincoln Highway through Illinois. One of the Lincoln Highway's biggest claims to fame is that it crossed this part of the country without hitting Chicago!

[blhanel]

 Carl, unfortunately we were booked solid for our entire trip- had dinner Friday at Alexander's Restaurant in front of the Courtyard by Marriott with one of Joanie's cousins on her father's side.  So, I decided not to advertise our presence.  Since the action through Rochelle was very sparse, I only have the one shot to share, but I can certainly post it here as well!  As you can see, the railfans outnumbered the trains...

[CShaveRR]

Gee, Brian...We'd have invited you to dinner if we'd known you were in the area! Glad you got the chance to stop at Rochelle, though. I hope you took 38 out that way from Geneva. How about some pictures here, too, please?

Edit: I'm getting my morning rain-storms confused--you were long out of the area by Saturday evening, I guess. We had another one this morning (I was at work) that dropped an additional half-inch on us. Tomorrow we do some lawn work to clear the accumulation of twigs and larger branches from all of the storms this past week.

Dan, did you have any luck with that CN unit? I think it would look good in the CN paint (Spartan-cab GE units in CN black aren't that common!).

Pat and I took a spontaneous trip to Wheaton this afternoon, just to check out a few things (see the Geneva Sub thread). I had to explain to her what I was looking for on those new signal bridges, and she really appreciated that I took the time to do that. It's fun being able to just drop everything and go somewhere. Believe it or not, Pat says she's actually looking forward to having me around a little more. I think that's about a month away.

[blhanel]

CShaveRR

We had another storm pass through here early this morning, before work. It lasted less than an hour, but dumped 0.7 inches of rain.

 

We enjoyed that same storm from the comfort of a Courtyard by Marriott room on the north side of Elgin, IL- went on a whirlwind tour of there and Lindenwood, IL yesterday; main objective was the final disposition of Joanie's Mom's ashes (she's now buried under a new tree on the property she grew up on), but we also enjoyed participating in some of the events of Lindenwood's 175th anniversary celebration, including a parade past the same property.  On the way home, we spent an hour at Rochelle's RR park, which had lots of railfans in attendance, but only two trains to entertain them during that period.

[CNW 6000]

Just finished getting rocked by some of Ma Nature's fireworks.  Nothing severe (almost!) but the light show was pretty impressive.  Aedan is spending the night at his grandparents house so I'll hear how he did in the morning. 

Heard from "a little birdie" that one of CN's new/old C41-8s acquired from UP, CN 2105, may be on the move northward from IL.  May have to swing out if I get enough of a heads up and see if I can digitally steal it's soul.  Now...back to bed!

[CShaveRR]

We had another storm pass through here early this morning, before work. It lasted less than an hour, but dumped 0.7 inches of rain. Big thunderheads to our south before dusk tonight.

Pat and I had some good train-watching along the BNSF between Downers Grove and LaGrange, including several a couple of dinkies, an eastbound Amtrak (three units, if that helps anyone identify it), and several stackers, manifests, and hopper trains. One of our favorite sandwich shops in Downers Grove was replaced recently by an Italian eatery; the food was good, but somewhat pricey. The view is good, though, at the right tables. (Joe or anyone, you needn't worry--it wasn't 2Toots that was replaced; it was the beef place on the corner.)

[CShaveRR]

My relief confirmed that the phone went out during the storm (it was back this morning, finally!). It wouldn't have to be a direct hit--one time I was in Tower B when lightning hit the tall steel light pole outside. My ears were ringing after that one, and the phone wasn't right, either. I was on the phone when it hit (stupid me!), and could swear that some sparks passed between it and my ear. Next thing I knew, Pat was screaming at me from the floor, and the hump conductor was asking if I was okay.

The fridge was fine, Jim, but I had to reset the microwave (I hope it's okay--come to think of it, the guy I relieved this morning had used it, so I guess it is).

_________________

Nobody wants to talk to me right now--I tried calling about my health insurance, and the hump conductor's voice on the intercom kept making the voice-activated prompts do strange things. Life insurance wants to wait before they talk to me. And the gal in the office...I never did get a call back from her. So the planning is on hold, even if the plans aren't.

[zardoz]

CShaveRR

My phone was out at work today (weather, perhaps, but why only me?)

Maybe your tower took a small zap during the storm.  Did everything else still work? (You know, the important stuff--microwave, fridge, etc)

[CNW 6000]

If anyone's missing their favorite GTW GP it's probably hiding in Neenah, WI.  There was a sea of blue and red this morning as I dropped my son off at the sitters.  Thought I saw some EJE orange too...but it could have been the sun.

Warmer and a bit more humid today, chance of storms tonight.  The new lawn (1500 square feet) is starting to sprout and should be sorta safe to walk on in a week.  My garden is going crazy with all the rain and sun we've been alternating with lately.  Soon I'll have tons of taters, corn, and beans.  Currently munching on some fresh raspberries...yea!

[CShaveRR]

Yeah--no reason to assume that the loss of focus or situational awareness happens only here. Is it stupidity that makes people lose focus, or loss of focus that tragically made these people stupid?

Update on last night's weather: there was one EF-1 tornado in the area, and lots of linear winds. Hail the size of apples fell in some places surprisingly close to us (Oak Brook). Not only the BNSF Metra trains, but those of UP West were halted during the tornado warnings. The wife of one of my coworkers was stranded at Ogilvie for a short time (reportedly lots of people used the delay to visit stores and purchase liquid refreshment, creating a Par-ty Train on the way home).

My phone was out at work today (weather, perhaps, but why only me?), so I couldn't make many of the contacts I needed to. Hope it's better tomorrow. We did well at work, cleaning out a trashed classification bowl, and reducing the receiving-yard count at the same time. Two of the departure tracks were still under water this morning, we heard. Hump conductor again admits to learning something valuable from me (glad something rubbed off before it's too late!).

[samfp1943]

Darn Shame!

                        Looks like the ability to act stupidly around railroad tracks is a universal problem, not only here. But other countries, as well. 

It is sad about theose who were killed immediately, but likely the toll will rise(?).

[spokyone]

 I picked this up on the AP wire: From Spain.

A train speeding through a seaside rail station plowed into a group of youths taking a shortcut across the tracks to get to a beach party, killing at least 12, injuring 14 and turning a festive night meant to welcome the start of summer into one of carnage and tragedy, officials and witnesses said Thursday.

The youths _ at least some of them described as Latin American immigrants _ got off a commuter train in the beach resort of Castelldefels outside Barcelona shortly before midnight Wednesday to head to the party. About 30 climbed down off the platform and tried to scurry across the tracks instead of using an underpass to leave the station, witnesses said.

Seconds later, a long-distance train that was not scheduled to stop at the station barreled into the youths at high speed, its whistle shrieking.

So sad

[CShaveRR]

Willy2

Carl - Looks like Chicago is getting hammered again. You'll have to fill me in on the details!

Details so far: in about two hours or less, we had an inch and a quarter of rain, very quickly--strong winds took fair-sized branches off some neighborhood trees (I think Aurora reported a gust of around 78 m.p.h.), and some of these branches were seen floating past our house in the street (rain volume from the schoolground across the street was enough to raise whitewater ripples by our driveway!). There was also some hail (I wasn't looking out, but heard it). The first tornado-warning trapezoid began just east of Lombard and widened out from there. The worst of this particular storm seemed to go east down the BNSF corridor, so all rush-hour trains on that line were brought to a stop, for about 15 minutes.

A second wave has announced itself with plenty of fireworks, but not much added rainfall so far. I may have to sweep off the driveway before I can go to work tomorrow.

_______________

You mean the "dito" smiley? I agree--sounds almost like Chicago politics! I noticed that a lot of the shots weren't broadsides, and some weren't even close. As far as I was concerned, that disqualified 'em for me.

[AgentKid]

CShaveRR

but "fluidity" is probably the last thing they want to hear about, considering how much of the roadbed was fluidized

 

I never even thought of it when I read the website or wrote my post, but the moment I saw the word fluidity in quotes I started laughing so hard I had to stop reading the rest of the sentence. I bet the guy who wrote those notices for the website got ribbing/abuse for the rest of the day. He will no doubt be known as "Sloshy" or something similar for the rest of his days on the CPR

Bruce

 

[Willy2]

tree68

I'm beginning to wonder about the bi-weekly photo contest.  I get the impression that Alex could submit a picture of a pot-bellied stove when the topic was big Diesels, and he'd still draw votes.  This edition is particularly off, since the topic was "broadsides" and he submitted a wedge shot, which a lot of people seem to like "because they like F units".  Maybe it's the readers that are having the problem.

If we still had the ditto smiley, I'd use it. I've also noticed that Alex seems to win the majority of the contests, just by submitting photos of steam engines in the snow. Those shots look nice, but we're supposed to vote based on the shot's relevance to the theme, not necessarily based on how pretty it is, or what kind of locomotive is pulling the train. I'm trying to figure out how he's winning this week with a wedge shot, when the theme was "broadsides." It ain't fittin'.

Carl - Looks like Chicago is getting hammered again. You'll have to fill me in on the details!

[CShaveRR]

They may want to bring the business back eventually, but "fluidity" is probably the last thing they want to hear about, considering how much of the roadbed was fluidized.

________________

The nicest thing about our trip yesterday was that my wife spent a good 40 minutes with me on a bench outside the depot at Joliet, doing nothing but watching trains (no book to read, no knitting to do). That time was good for three BNSF trains, a UP hopper train, and a Metra scoot (I think they're called scoots on the RI line, too). Missed another freight which went through as we were walking back to our appointment.

On the way home, we caught a UP coal train backing into the Commonwealth Edison plant at Romeoville from the connection with the CN around Crest Hill. There was a DP unit on the leading end, so I assume that the move was controlled, or at least guided, from that unit. It's a pretty long move, since we caught both ends of the train on the spur, and it was moving the whole while.

_________________

We had a severe thunderstorm watch this morning, which was pretty much of a fizzle for us (only 0.3 inch of rain at our house over several hours). So Ma Nature is going to try again--we're under a tornado watch for this evening.

[AgentKid]

CShaveRR

Well, that one was a gully-washer!

 

It seems as though most of the excitement is over down at Medicine Hat and area. They have gone into what is being called the recovery and restoration phase.

The mayor of Medicine Hat has said this flood is the first of this type in the city's history. All previous floods have been caused by heavy rain upstream and then a big head of water roars through town and leaves a big mess behind. This time the rain dropped straight down on them (42% of their annual rainfall in 3 days) and turned all of the creeks that flow into the South Saskatchewan River into rivers' as well. The area has 17 bridges damaged or destroyed in a city of 60,000. I believe this would include RR bridges as well.

But there was two kinds of flooding. The first was what I described above, down in the valley. The second type is all the water standing around on the flatland's for 60 or so miles east of the city over to Maple Creek, SK. That is where the first washout occurred on the CPR mainline at Irvine, AB. The first 30 or so miles through Irvine over to Walsh, AB is farmed. They can do it by depending on winter snow melt to get them through the summer. The next 30 miles or so over to Maple Creek is normally so dry you can't do anything with it. That is the area where the Trans-Canada Highway has collapsed into a sink hole. All this moisture is bound to have weird effects on all the area soils including the CPR ROW. The highway is closed indefinitely.

The CP website is now saying that the route from Medicine Hat through Lethbridge to Calgary should open by the weekend. The mainline from Swift Current through Maple Creek and Medicine Hat to Calgary should reopen next week. Also movements of perishable domestic and international containers has been suspended across Canada except from eastern shipping points to Winnipeg, Saskatoon and Edmonton. They want to restore system fluidity before they resume these operations.

All in all it has been a very interesting week.

Bruce

 

[spokyone]

 Barbara & I drove around Mercer & Warren counties today looking for very tall corn. Very few fields are tall. The places that normally have good crops have had too much rain. Fields with even slightly low spots are flooded. We saw many creeks out of their banks. I saw a meet between Monmouth & Burlington today. It's been a while.

[tree68]

Getting rocked here on the western shore of Chesapeake Bay.  Methinks the Eastern Shore is in for it worse, though.  Mostly a lot of lights and noise here, with a little rain.  A couple of reports of trees and wires down in the area.

I'm beginning to wonder about the bi-weekly photo contest.  I get the impression that Alex could submit a picture of a pot-bellied stove when the topic was big Diesels, and he'd still draw votes.  This edition is particularly off, since the topic was "broadsides" and he submitted a wedge shot, which a lot of people seem to like "because they like F units".  Maybe it's the readers that are having the problem.

[CShaveRR]

Well, that one was a gully-washer!

_______________

Our credentials have been presented, and the paperwork has been submitted. Thus begins the countdown.

[AgentKid]

CShaveRR

These are not your typical "gully-washers"!

There is a great story in the local paper there, about a man who actually witnessed about 200 metres of roadbed being washed away.

http://www.medicinehatnews.com/story/disaster-unfolded-mans-eyes

Also there is a picture, with what I always thought was a great expression coined by either Mudchicken or Railwayman, of four "expensive big yellow machines". They don't seem to hardly be making a dent in the problem. I swear I am going to have to go to "News Junkie Rehab" after this is all over.

Bruce

 

[CShaveRR]

I almost forgot...today is Joe Kohnen's birthday. Nice round number, which I won't mention, but he's ten years over the age that we were once admonished to "never trust anyone over"! Have a great day, Joe...weather permitting!

(Joe shares a birthday with my younger daughter Linda. She lives in California with her husband these days, but I still fondly remember when she was my favorite travel and railfanning companion.)