Just had a visit from a UP Hi-rail truck. I believe he was a signal maintainer as opposed to the ususal MOW guys. First, he stopped at the base of the far signal bridge for a while. Then he came across the diamonds and stopped. The fellow then went over to the far signal building by the telegraph pole with the lean-to support pole, and looked around the building. He looked like he was looking for vandalism, or other such mayhem, as opposed to any actual signal issue. He never did open or look into the building. After about a minute or so he got back into his truck and headed east out of view.
Bruce
So shovel the coal, let this rattler roll.
"A Train is a Place Going Somewhere" CP Rail Public Timetable
"O. S. Irricana"
. . . __ . ______
AgentKidJust had a visit from a UP Hi-rail truck.
The problem couldn't have been to serious. An EB UP coal train just came through on the same track. By at 1115 CDT.
I have been watching and listening to the Rochelle double diamond webcan for 2 years on a daily/nightly basis- seems that on the first of this month all trains stopped using their horns in this residential/business area. Did Rochelle pass legislation prohibiting the thains use of horns at grade crossings? All crossings in the immediate vicinity of the diamond have bells, lights and gates. Just curious...♫
Caught a meet BNSF local coming out of the hole, with a UP EB. Had to leave the computer for a moment and it had timed out with this....
Pjangis No horns at Rochelle crossings? Thread created by Pjangis I have been watching and listening to the Rochelle double diamond webcan for 2 years on a daily/nightly basis- seems that on the first of this month all trains stopped using their horns in this residential/business area. Did Rochelle pass legislation prohibiting the thains use of horns at grade crossings? All crossings in the immediate vicinity of the diamond have bells, lights and gates. Just curious...♫
That's is correct. Work on the project started in early 2015, and it appears that on or about Oct. 1 the Rochelle quiet zone went into effect.
Brian Schmidt, Editor, Classic Trains magazine
Brian Schmidt Pjangis No horns at Rochelle crossings? Thread created by Pjangis I have been watching and listening to the Rochelle double diamond webcan for 2 years on a daily/nightly basis- seems that on the first of this month all trains stopped using their horns in this residential/business area. Did Rochelle pass legislation prohibiting the thains use of horns at grade crossings? All crossings in the immediate vicinity of the diamond have bells, lights and gates. Just curious...♫ That's is correct. Work on the project started in early 2015, and it appears that on or about Oct. 1 the Rochelle quiet zone went into effect.
Pjangis No horns at Rochelle crossings? Thread created by Pjangis I have been watching and listening to the Rochelle double diamond webcan for 2 years on a daily/nightly basis- seems that on the first of this month all trains stopped using their horns in this residential/business area. Did Rochelle pass legislation prohibiting the thains use of horns at grade crossings? All crossings in the immediate vicinity of the diamond have bells, lights and gates. Just curious...♫ That's is correct. Work on the project started in early 2015, and it appears that on or about Oct. 1 the Rochelle quiet zone went into effect.
Now we need a 'advance' microphone at the crossing protection - so we can hear the approach of traing before they begin clattering over the diamonds.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
BaltACD Brian Schmidt Pjangis No horns at Rochelle crossings? Thread created by Pjangis I have been watching and listening to the Rochelle double diamond webcan for 2 years on a daily/nightly basis- seems that on the first of this month all trains stopped using their horns in this residential/business area. Did Rochelle pass legislation prohibiting the thains use of horns at grade crossings? All crossings in the immediate vicinity of the diamond have bells, lights and gates. Just curious...♫ That's is correct. Work on the project started in early 2015, and it appears that on or about Oct. 1 the Rochelle quiet zone went into effect. Now we need a 'advance' microphone at the crossing protection - so we can hear the approach of traing before they begin clattering over the diamonds.
Weren't towers, many years ago, equipped with bells to alert the operator that a train was approaching? Something like that would solve the problem. We could have one bell indicating the approach of a UP EB, two quick bells for a UP WB, three for a BNSF EB, and four for a BNSF WB. I'm sure both roads would allow tapping into their track circuits.
ChuckAllen, TX
Temperature in Rochelle says it's 36, checked WGN9 out of Chicago says it's 66 with a high of 71. can someone joggle the weather input with 'Earthcam' to get it where it should be, or is it out of 'Trains.Com' hands?
people were walking around in short sleeve shirts yesterday, and it said it was '36'. thought it was funny. I have trouble walking around when it's forty in short sleeves.
MKT DaveTemperature in Rochelle says it's 36, checked WGN9 out of Chicago says it's 66 with a high of 71. can someone joggle the weather input with 'Earthcam' to get it where it should be, or is it out of 'Trains.Com' hands? people were walking around in short sleeve shirts yesterday, and it said it was '36'. thought it was funny. I have trouble walking around when it's forty in short sleeves.
Your not in the Chicago area - they are hearty! If you don't have to chip ice it is warm enough to go swimming.
jeffhergert cefinkjr phkmn2000 Tuesday AM - wow, just watched an EB UP over the diamond, MAJOR rocking action from all 3 locos. Which track was that? I just (1125) watched a single unit (GP38?) tow a flat and what looked like a detection car of some sort EB on #2. Looked very stable but they were moving at a walk ... and not a very fast walk at that. EDIT: BNSF stack train EB on #1 passing now (1129) at track speed. Not enough rock and roll to be noticeable. The EC-4 test car has been out and about. When I saw it the other day, well heard it on the radio, it was being pulled by a SD70m. It got out of Council Bluffs, on it's way east, ahead of me. We were next after it, and as we were approaching the single track to Missouri Valley, the dispatcher called and asked if we could comply with him taking back the signal. We could and he did. We reported we were stopped and he said we should be getting a signal in a few minutes. About 3 1/2 hours (+/- a few minutes) later we got a radio speed restriction and then a signal to go. We figured the test car found something. The test car is being pulled because it doesn't have ATC. This way it's operated as a train on signal indication as opposed to on-track equipment with track and time. One reason for the flat car, assigned to this service, is to provide extra wheels to insure proper shunting of the signal system. We have instructions that trains and engines with 12 axles or less must approach signalled crossings prepared to stop until it can be seen that the signals/gates have activated and are providing protection. Jeff
cefinkjr phkmn2000 Tuesday AM - wow, just watched an EB UP over the diamond, MAJOR rocking action from all 3 locos. Which track was that? I just (1125) watched a single unit (GP38?) tow a flat and what looked like a detection car of some sort EB on #2. Looked very stable but they were moving at a walk ... and not a very fast walk at that. EDIT: BNSF stack train EB on #1 passing now (1129) at track speed. Not enough rock and roll to be noticeable.
phkmn2000 Tuesday AM - wow, just watched an EB UP over the diamond, MAJOR rocking action from all 3 locos.
Which track was that? I just (1125) watched a single unit (GP38?) tow a flat and what looked like a detection car of some sort EB on #2. Looked very stable but they were moving at a walk ... and not a very fast walk at that.
EDIT: BNSF stack train EB on #1 passing now (1129) at track speed. Not enough rock and roll to be noticeable.
The EC-4 test car has been out and about. When I saw it the other day, well heard it on the radio, it was being pulled by a SD70m. It got out of Council Bluffs, on it's way east, ahead of me. We were next after it, and as we were approaching the single track to Missouri Valley, the dispatcher called and asked if we could comply with him taking back the signal. We could and he did. We reported we were stopped and he said we should be getting a signal in a few minutes. About 3 1/2 hours (+/- a few minutes) later we got a radio speed restriction and then a signal to go. We figured the test car found something.
The test car is being pulled because it doesn't have ATC. This way it's operated as a train on signal indication as opposed to on-track equipment with track and time. One reason for the flat car, assigned to this service, is to provide extra wheels to insure proper shunting of the signal system. We have instructions that trains and engines with 12 axles or less must approach signalled crossings prepared to stop until it can be seen that the signals/gates have activated and are providing protection.
Jeff
Just spotted crawling westbound on #1 track behind a Z train at 1:42
Just SAW (did not hear) a UP stack train go west on #1.
First thought: "I'll bet lots of residents of Rochelle miss hearing train horns now that they've been silenced."
Second thought: "Would we have so many 'No Train Horn' areas if horns on FTs had emulated steam whistles instead of sounding like constipated ducks?"
cefinkjrSecond thought: "Would we have so many 'No Train Horn' areas if horns on FTs had emulated steam whistles instead of sounding like constipated ducks?"
Several railroads did use the Hancock Airchime, including the New Haven on the FL9s.
Unfortunately, they were determined to be "not loud enough..."
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...
tree68 cefinkjr Second thought: "Would we have so many 'No Train Horn' areas if horns on FTs had emulated steam whistles instead of sounding like constipated ducks?" Several railroads did use the Hancock Airchime, including the New Haven on the FL9s. Unfortunately, they were determined to be "not loud enough..."
cefinkjr Second thought: "Would we have so many 'No Train Horn' areas if horns on FTs had emulated steam whistles instead of sounding like constipated ducks?"
You're right. They sounded more like a hungry duckling.
I see that the porta-pottie is back again. This morning a FedEx truck pulled up next to it, the driver rushed out of his truck, went inside the privy, apparently did his business, came out and rushed back to his truck and drove away. Wonder how many other non-railroad employees make a "contribution" there.
cefinkjrYou're right. They sounded more like a hungry duckling.
In fairness, some Diesel horns sound pretty sorry if the engineer is playing with them. And we've had a single note in the past that didn't give it all it had, even with full air...
There was another video on YouTube of a fellow letting one go in his back yard. I doubt his neighbors were thrilled. With full air, they don't sound bad.
We used one on our north end for trail crossings and in the villages, at least until the FRA told us "it's not loud enough."
Shortly after we went to using the horn for everything, an angry mother wrote a local newspaper complaining that we'd scared the daylights out of her young daughter, who up 'till then enjoyed going out to watch the train go by...
tree68We used one on our north end for trail crossings and in the villages, at least until the FRA told us "it's not loud enough." Shortly after we went to using the horn for everything, an angry mother wrote a local newspaper complaining that we'd scared the daylights out of her young daughter, who up 'till then enjoyed going out to watch the train go by...
As my dad used to say "You can't win for losing!" Someone is always going to be unhappy no matter what you do!
Jim in Costa Rica
Modeling freelance Northern California late 1930s
It has been nice not having to quickly hit the mute button today.
Bring back steam whistles.
Norm
Norm48327 Bring back steam whistles.
She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw
I saw that too- thought those things should be locked up and only Maintenance Of Way workers should have the key!
Pjangis I saw that too- thought those things should be locked up and only Maintenance Of Way workers should have the key!
So where's the post you replied to? You must have replied to the email copy that I and probably others received last night. But when I came to the web site to reply, the post wasn't here. Somebody's sensitivities bruised by mention of a "p***a-p***y or was it U***** P***** S******?
cefinkjr Pjangis I saw that too- thought those things should be locked up and only Maintenance Of Way workers should have the key! So where's the post you replied to? You must have replied to the email copy that I and probably others received last night. But when I came to the web site to reply, the post wasn't here. Somebody's sensitivities bruised by mention of a "p***a-p***y or was it U***** P***** S******?
Oct 12, 11:35 AM
I know someone that would be very upset if they were locked up as she has had to make an emergency "pit stop" while on the road... nearly knocked the thing over when she went in it at a run and slammed the door behind her.
Semper Vaporo
Pkgs.
"Driving" around with google maps, I found these signals with an "Approach Clear" sign. What is the purpose of this?
rdamon "Driving" around with google maps, I found these signals with an "Approach Clear" sign. What is the purpose of this?
I'll take an uninformed whack at this. This sign is used in conjunction with our beloved automatic interlocking indicating that trains must approach the diamonds prepared to top regardless of a more favorable signal IF the are travelling less than a prescribed speed (25 mph as of a 2009 timetable either during or after passing the sign. My guess is that this is because the interlocking has a timeout feature (because there is no control operator to knock down a cleared signal if a delay occurs), so once a train passes the sign the timer starts and if the train doesn't pass the diamond's home signal in time it will drop. According to a BNSF maintainer I overheard on the scanner the new interlocking has a 15 minute timeout and I assume that applies to UP, too.
BaltACDSome cars may have their own mechanical problems - weak or broken springs in the truck(s), missing or broken side bearings and a host of other potential problems.
About 10 minutes ago I just saw about the best example of that I have seen on a EB UP train on the near track. Two centre beam flats that seem to have been loaded at the same time reacted very differently crossing the diamond. The first one did a slight wobble while the second one was bouncing like crazy. There was probably not more than a few hundred pounds difference in the cargo weight.
Earthcam stream seems clogged today. No luck with either Safari or Explorer in getting past the loading animation. Need some Drano, I guess.
EDIT: Sunday morning, 10:15 AM CDT, same thing going on.
EDIT: Monday morning, 8:50 AM CDT, stream still clogged. Beavers?
ChuckCobleigh Earthcam stream seems clogged today. No luck with either Safari or Explorer in getting past the loading animation. Need some Drano, I guess.
concur
Other Earthcams are working from their site .. This looks to be a local issue
Tried logging in yesterday afternoon and keep getting the same loading image every since. All you get is a sliver of the "weather info" down in the lower right corner.
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