zugmann"Hey boss, I just cut through the orange thing. It wasn't important, right?"
During Ice Storm '98, the phone folks here sent out word that it was more desirable to let traffic run over many of their cables than to cut them.
Having worked with fiber optics a little, I totally understand. The line tester "machines" can see every splice and connection.
In many places, splice containers look like stainless steel kitchen utensils, complete with a handle on top.
Larry 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...
"Hey boss, I just cut through the orange thing. It wasn't important, right?"
dubch87 Below is a fiber optic cable sharing an inactive NS ROW and exposed by an old washout.
Below is a fiber optic cable sharing an inactive NS ROW and exposed by an old washout.
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
Dough Thank you for the replies everyone. The yellow posts are not just dummy indicators of buried utilities. The white post is a warning about some buried fiber optics that they ran about a decade or more ago. The yellow boxes are something electronic so I was not sure if they are related to signals or if there is actually a gas line. There are absolutely no markings on the yellow boxes. I guess that I should add that the boxes attached to the pole have a door on the front. I remember opening one probably twenty something years ago when I was very young, but I can't for the life of me remember what was in it. I'm sure that there was some wiring, but I don't think that I remember there being a phone (could be wrong as that was a long time ago). Also a drunk driver derailed a train sometime back and the cars destroyed one of these boxes. It was replaced with a shorter plastic box that was not on a pole so I would think that they are still used whatever they are.
Thank you for the replies everyone. The yellow posts are not just dummy indicators of buried utilities. The white post is a warning about some buried fiber optics that they ran about a decade or more ago. The yellow boxes are something electronic so I was not sure if they are related to signals or if there is actually a gas line. There are absolutely no markings on the yellow boxes.
I guess that I should add that the boxes attached to the pole have a door on the front. I remember opening one probably twenty something years ago when I was very young, but I can't for the life of me remember what was in it. I'm sure that there was some wiring, but I don't think that I remember there being a phone (could be wrong as that was a long time ago).
Also a drunk driver derailed a train sometime back and the cars destroyed one of these boxes. It was replaced with a shorter plastic box that was not on a pole so I would think that they are still used whatever they are.
Dough:
Couple of things spring to mind: They might be terminals for "tracer wires" (wires laid to locate piplines, for various products(?). Around here they seem to be used on gas transmission lines, and major potable water distribution lines. As MC and Ed stated in their posts. Even when the Services of " Dig Safe" are available, some are invariably cut by equipment that forged ahead without checking for those utilities. Within the last year [a contractor cut a major fiber optic cable in our area, causing a lot of hostility and stomach acid to be produced.]
The BNSF has been digging in a Major Fiber optic system around here South of Wichita to the Jct of the 'Subs' at Mulvane,Ks About a 4" Dia cable. It follows their ROW. They are also installing Radio Installations, as well. I guess their last step will be tocome in and place markers on the locations.
Several years ago we had a pretty good Thread here that, in Part, covered the laying of Fiber Optics around Atlanta. Originally, it was being done from Railroad Equipment by Quest, and later by others. It was about five or six pages in length.
Link to that Thread @ http://cs.trains.com/trn/f/111/t/175779.aspx?sort=ASC
Since it has conduits coming up to it, it is also a junction or splice box for two communication lines, Optic lines frequently require repeaters every few miles to boost the signal. These are frequently painted yellow so that vehicles and or snow plows will not run them over.
Typically markers have colors to indicate what the line is that they are marking, but LION is quite confused over these, our front yard is filled with markers of many different colors. There is Water, Sewer, Gas, Electric (both 7000 volts as well as 110 volts), Telephone (copper), Communication (optic), and Cable TV lines buried out there, and we are in the middle of nowhere. Down the road, there are also crude oil and diesel pipelines. If we were in New York City, you would also find high pressure steam lines under the streets, not of course to mention subway trains, and deep (300' deep 30' dia) water mains.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
And a mighty fine job he did, too.
Didn’t know that made the national news…
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Yellow usually indicates a gas line.
May also be for a locate wire to use for marking the line.
Best guess would be a shunt (signal system test location), could also be a connection to the cathodic protection tracer wires for an u/g pipeline ... Ed does have a nice small forest of witness posts down there in da swamp (and some dummy on a backhoe still manages to strike the pipelines anyhow)
Buried utility markers, the white post most likely marks either a power line, or telephone/data line, possible fiber optic.
The yellow box and pole may mark a natural gas line, although those normally have a round sign attached that states it is a gas line, or a power line of some type.
Utilities and private companies find it is often advantageous to lease the use of the right of way as a utility corridor, ease of access being a main selling point.
These are photos from inside Shell refinery in Deer Park Texas, note all the markers along our right of way, everything from natural gas, crude oil, a waste water line and fiber optic cable system is there.
Enlarge your photo some and I bet you could read the warning stickers on both the white pole and the yellow box.
I'm guessing either phone boxes, or they contain controls for nearby devices like crossing gates.
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