Nasty weather in Phoenix, AZ, in the form of a lot of rain (for them). Apparently it's mostly on the north side of town. That's where the Maricopa Live Steamers have their "layout" (around 9 miles of track) - hopefully they haven't suffered any of the damage that's hit the area..
Nice day here, if cool (+48F early this AM). Welcome to August in the north country.
We'll probably see the weather Detroit got this afternoon. Gonna be wet right up to the weekend.
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...
(1) Keeping an eye out for Diningcar on Friday in Phoenix.
(2) Just witnessed CDOT cover itself in glory by crashing a permitted high-wide truck into a railroad O/P in Loveland, effectively cutting a shortline railroad in half. If something being said is true, CDOT may have gotten itself in deep doo-doo with FRA.
(3) Just got handed a job in a former Wabash yard (Luther) not far from a certain rough neighborhood that's been in the news every night. Hope it calms down there in about a week.
(4) What is it with fuel trucks and bridges this week? (and then the bozoes trying to steal gasoline with a clandestine fuel truck and a big straw ?)
Greetings again from a third of the way up the Wasatch.
Rain yesterday morning and again this morning, with the morning temperature about 50 degrees. It was clear in the afternoon, and only a few clouds are visible to the west.
I got around to putting some bread crumbs out this morning, and have had at least two visitors--a Steller's Jay (more than one may have come; I cannot tell them apart), and a bird I had never seen before--gray body, white tail feathers, and black wings with an irregular white marking.
There is a private dwelling across the highway from my end of the Iron Blosam. the garage is connected directly to the road--and there is an elevator to take the people about thirty feet up to the first floor of the two-story house. There is also a roadway with a much gentler grade leading east to the highway, complete with a gate which should keep the hikers out.
A jay just flew in for a crumb or two.
MC, may you have a safe stay at Luther.
Johnny
evening
swamp is mowed.triple h's coming for the weekend.have only had 3 90+ degree days so far this year.Tomorrow is Matt's open house for 7th grade.School starts Monday.
stay safe
Joe
Deshler Ohio-crossroads of the B&O Matt eats your fries.YUM! Clinton st viaduct undefeated against too tall trucks!!!(voted to be called the "Clinton St. can opener").
Decent morning - sunny, if muggy.
The rain arrived about 4 or 5, well after I finished mowing the lawn and running a couple of errands.
And arrive it did - a tad over an inch in about an hour.
When that happened in Arizona, there were roads closed and rescues made.
I just made sure it wasn't raining into the house...
A couple of areas had some basement flooding issues, but all is quiet now.
My daughter and her husband live in the "Paradise Valley" area of northern Phoenix, and said they got about 4" of rain in one day. Most of their lot is "impervious surfaces" (house roof, driveway, swimming pool, concrete deck or patio around pool, small shed, etc.) - only about 15 - 20 % is grass or other plantings - so they were sweeping ponded water off the patio that's just outside the sliding doors to the kitchen to keep it out . . . Fortunately, they were successful.
About a week ago an overheight truck severely damaged the remaining 6 beams an overpass bridge on I-78 between MP 13 and 16 in Berks Co., eastern Pennsylvania (after 2 were removed from a similar incident a few years back). Unlike JohKoh's "Clinton St. viaduct", the bridge lost, and had to removed on an emergency basis last Friday - Saturday night.
Several weeks ago, a fully loaded fuel tractor-trailer tank truck (76,000 lbs.) crossed a local wooden covered bridge that was posted for 10 tons ! Despite the gross overloading, apparently the bridge wasn't damaged. The trucker's wallet will be, though - the citation is for a fine of $16,000 !!!
Almost daily I see or hear about oversize loads violating restrictions on being in urbanized areas during rush hours, continuing into restricted width construction zones (because of the concrete 'cattle chutes'), running as a convoy, running in adverse weather or visibility conditions, violating a height restriction with the usual result, being off the specified route, etc. Enforcement seems to be more by the laws of physics, Murphy, and Darwin, than by the authorized LEOs.
- Paul North.
Paul_D_North_JrMy daughter and her husband live in the "Paradise Valley" area of northern Phoenix,...
My sister lives in the same area. Brother-in-law "imported" Michigan to their yard, though, so it's all green, except for the house and pool. That's still a lot of water. Haven't heard that they suffered any damage.
I'm a little worried about the Maricopa County Live Steamers, though. I'll have to check their website. They are basically on a flood plain, so damage is a real possibility.
local was uptown today.ns said it will have more crews to help with switching.off to matts school.
Some kind of problem today on CSX A&WP sub. Had at least 5 northbound trains tied down Hogansville to LaGrange, Ga. all day. When finally they started up at 1800 each proceeded north at restricted speed of ~ 10 MPH ?
Trying to find out how bad the rain was back home, from sunny Mudville (when I say "Mud", think MC).We are spending the night in the Bluegrass Courtyard, with a window overlooking CSX coming across the river. I am in the rare position of getting new data faster than I can check it out...I'm not sure how to feel about that. Our window is very nicely overlooking the tracks--it has to be the best place in the building for that. I could stay here for weeks...except I couldn't, for other reasons.
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)
blue streak 1Some kind of problem today on CSX A&WP sub. Had at least 5 northbound trains tied down Hogansville to LaGrange, Ga. all day. When finally they started up at 1800 each proceeded north at restricted speed of ~ 10 MPH ?
Problem was a 63 car mixed freight with four locomotives hit an 18 wheeler loaded with demolished cars at an non-gated crossing just north of Hogansville around midnight last nigt. At least one locomotive derailed. No injuries. Police say the truck lost traction on the gravel road and could not move. I suspect there were southbound trains also stacked up waiting for tracks to be cleared and repaired.
ramrod blue streak 1Some kind of problem today on CSX A&WP sub. Had at least 5 northbound trains tied down Hogansville to LaGrange, Ga. all day. When finally they started up at 1800 each proceeded north at restricted speed of ~ 10 MPH ? Problem was a 63 car mixed freight with four locomotives hit an 18 wheeler loaded with demolished cars at an non-gated crossing just north of Hogansville around midnight last nigt. At least one locomotive derailed. No injuries. Police say the truck lost traction on the gravel road and could not move. I suspect there were southbound trains also stacked up waiting for tracks to be cleared and repaired.
A check of the area showed some interesting items.
1. The crossing does not appear to be one that a TT would catch on the track. It is a one lane asphalt crossing.
2. what the TT was doing on that road is beyond my comprehension as it dead ends shortly beyond the tracks except for one gated homestead. Maybe some illegal dumping ?
3. Approximately 3000 - 4000 feet of ties may have damaged or replaced as new ballast covered all of the affected track limiting visual inspection ?
4. This track had a tie and surfacing gang work on it in March.
5. The slow order may be until a surfacing machine and ballast regulator can come in ? Slow order is such that a brisk walk can keep up with a train.
afternoon
sticky here in Nw ohio.matt is getting his bookbag organized.ns had an eastbound waiting and empty cars uptown to pick up.Glad it's friday.
Randy Vos
"Ever have one of those days where you couldn't hit the ground with your hat??" - Waylon Jennings
"May the Lord take a liking to you and blow you up, real good" - SCTV
Randy, I agree with you. I do not know how any GPS will do when directing someone to where I now live, but one or two maps show that where I actually live is west of the street that is just east of the house.
I am sure that I will always remember, with some joy, the two times that someone depending upon a GPS to find where I did live then was directed to turn west when the instruction should have been to turn east--and if the user had exercised a little sense, the user would have known from the number of the street he/she was on and from my house number that a turn to the east was correct.
Last weekend got to see coal trains with dpus, foreign power leaders, and woodchip cars hauling actual woodchips. Now only if they could fix the air conditioning in this part of the country.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
Where are you, Z-man? Or where will you be tomorrow, after we're back?I think I'm in Conrail territory this morning. Seriously.The a/c dropped (quite) a little condensation on us yesterday. Still not doing a very good job, though. Pat is complaining about how heavy the air is; the THI is nearly ten degrees above the actual temperature.
Atlanta. Long way from home, for sure.
With the Leadbelt finally getting the heat and humidity of summer, Monday, after work, I broke down and put the window a/c in my house. The one unit in the bedroom cool the whole house.
Why is it that sleeping in a 72 degree house during the winter is chilly, however, using the same bedding in a 72 degree house during the summer is sweat inducing?
James
^~
She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw
The ButlerWhy is it that sleeping in a 72 degree house during the winter is chilly, however, using the same bedding in a 72 degree house during the summer is sweat inducing?
It's all about the humidity...
This time of year we tend to see humidities in the 80's and 90's.
During the winter a lot of folks have to run a humidifier just to get it up to 25%.
A few years ago I was visiting my sister in Phoenix during the summer. Got out of their pool and felt cold, so I checked the thermometer. One hundred degrees even... I'm sure the humidity was in the single digits.
Not sure about the one-ear-up symbol on Mookie's previous post, or whether I'm out of line for posting this, but she is recovering from lifesaving pacemaker installation. It sounds like she's gonna give me a whuppin' if she didn't like me blabbing. But well wishes are definitely in order, I'd say...before I duck...
CShaveRR Not sure about the one-ear-up symbol on Mookie's previous post, or whether I'm out of line for posting this, but she is recovering from lifesaving pacemaker installation. It sounds like she's gonna give me a whuppin' if she didn't like me blabbing. But well wishes are definitely in order, I'd say...before I duck...
But before you get any more smug, you might want to consider that telling other people's business also can have a reverse effect. And, Dear Carl - we do go back a day or two, don't we?
But Mookie,
I'm sure Carl was well intentioned.
Norm
tree68 The ButlerWhy is it that sleeping in a 72 degree house during the winter is chilly, however, using the same bedding in a 72 degree house during the summer is sweat inducing? It's all about the humidity... This time of year we tend to see humidities in the 80's and 90's. During the winter a lot of folks have to run a humidifier just to get it up to 25%. A few years ago I was visiting my sister in Phoenix during the summer. Got out of their pool and felt cold, so I checked the thermometer. One hundred degrees even... I'm sure the humidity was in the single digits.
humidity is here.ns had an eastbound in the siding,a welding crew on the main and the local was uptown dropping off cars.need to fill out matt's paperwork for school.
Go easy on Carl, Mookie.
We all wish you well.
_____________
"A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner
Had noticed that Madam LaMook had been a bit quiet lately.
Now that the cat's out of the bag, as they say, I'm sure all of us wish our favorite kitty well.
tree68 Had noticed that Madam LaMook had been a bit quiet lately. Now that the cat's out of the bag, as they say, I'm sure all of us wish our favorite kitty well.
I just want to say two things. If this had been some other forum poster's health issue, would anything have actually been said besides "so and so is under the weather"?
And - I got a public "outing" and a private apology. Why isn't the apology out there with the original statement. Then we would all be equally informed!
I am not hiding the fact that I had pacemaker surgery. About 10 years ago I had heart cath and came on here to explain that it is no big deal. Today's medicine can keep you in the hospital 5 days, make you look like a pincushion and send you home a lot healthier and poorer.
I could and have written about 4 pages on my 5 day vacation. In 5 days, I rearranged the furniture in my room. I had 3 blankets that I folded and re-folded. I squared off the tissue box. Picked up garbage off the floor. It took them until Friday to make sure this was the right surgery, which amounted to opening a slot just under my collar bone. If you have ever stuffed a lamb or pork chop - this is what they do. Little device under the skin far enough that I can't really feel it under the one bandage. And - the best part of all is - I am now battery operated! How many people can say that? I was awake during the whole procedure, and didn't feel any different than lying in a hospital bed, except I didn't feel anything. However, the doctors were bantering back and forth and I kept shaking the bed laughing. It was actually a walk in the park! And other than a little tenderness in the area - no pain.
Without boring anyone - I had shortness of breath and my pulse was down to around 30. This had been a long term "if I ignore it, it will go away". I can now walk up 15 stairs here at the house, to our only bathroom (what a relief) almost as fast as a normal old person. And since you asked - I am sure you did - heart is fine. Little older, little more wear, but it was the 20 pounds of water that they had to get off me fast that was the major problem. So my drs addressed some plumbing and electrical problems and every 4-7 years, they replace your batteries and wind your watch. (snicker)
Now isn't this just a lot of nonsense over really "nothing to see here, folks".
But I appreciate the many behind-the-scenes notes I have received and the well-wishes. Thank you. And for the people I irritate - ah - life is sweet and I think I will stay around a little longer. This is way too much fun!
SJ, I publicly apologize for "outing" you on this Forum, in "your" chatterbox. It just hit me kind of hard when I found out about it...from the Roadrunner to your Wyle E. Blame him for the outing, blame me for being such a wimp. There's no shame in an operation like that. Nobody blames you for needing it.
I've been pretty open about my own trips to the hospitals and/or surgical centers in my life...in two days I visit my cardiologist, and I expect that the train trips to and from there will hold more excitement. Why, I even mentioned the time they went up my...never mind. With enemas like that, I need good friends!Also remember that, as your brother, I share some of the same ailments. I have the electrical problems, too, and if I need to have that repaired again, I'll probably be wearing a pacemaker. Fortunately, that plumbing system is all right.Hey, guys, remember the good old days when we sent some Forum members money for an electrical breaker-box? Maybe we can give our favorite kitty a cat-apult to get her up the stairs faster. Not that she needs it now...
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