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Chatterbox spring

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Tuesday, March 24, 2015 7:23 PM

     Holy cow Batman!  You should have seen the rainstorm that came through here.  After all the hype, we received a full .11" of rain!  You should have seen the puddles!  I bet one of them was nearly as big as a dinner plate! Surprise

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Posted by JoeKoh on Thursday, March 26, 2015 3:25 PM

afternoon

Ns had a stack train and a freight to follow it west after work.Uptown was all clear.Need to run errands.Matt is doing his homework.Tomorrow is Friday.

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").

 

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Posted by tree68 on Thursday, March 26, 2015 3:46 PM

Rained yesterday.  Not a lot, but it rained.  Kinda nice, actually.

Rained again this morning.  Then it changed to snow  Bang Head.

It's kinda sticking on the grass, and obviously on top of the snow that remains, but not to the driveway or the roads.  

Getting stuff ready for the local outdoor show this weekend.  We offer several "outdoorsy" trips, and hope to get folks to come and take them!

I'm kinda on my own for this show, though.  Not many volunteers up this way.

LarryWhistling
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Posted by BaltACD on Thursday, March 26, 2015 4:57 PM

Yuk yesterday!
Spring Today!
Yuk tomorrow!

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Thursday, March 26, 2015 9:20 PM

BaltACD

Yuk yesterday!
Spring Today!
Yuk tomorrow!

 
BaltACD:  Any truth to rumor that CSX is going to start dispatching its scheduled manifests ( & others ) on 28 hour intervals instead of each24 hours ?
 
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Posted by blue streak 1 on Thursday, March 26, 2015 10:55 PM

Balt:  Just read frailey's blog about the change.  It certainly looks like it going to drive some nuts.

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Posted by BaltACD on Friday, March 27, 2015 6:30 AM

blue streak 1

 

 
BaltACD

Yuk yesterday!
Spring Today!
Yuk tomorrow!

 

 

 
BaltACD:  Any truth to rumor that CSX is going to start dispatching its scheduled manifests ( & others ) on 28 hour intervals instead of each24 hours ? 

Yesterday's freight tomorrow - if lucky enough to get power!

Fraley's Blog and what is being proposed is news to rank and file.

No plan is going to work if power is continually being stolen from terminals that are not Selkirk for Selkirk's use.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Friday, March 27, 2015 7:33 AM

blue streak 1

It certainly looks like it going to drive some nuts.

Sounds like something that would be better accomplished with a socket wrench.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by JoeKoh on Friday, March 27, 2015 2:45 PM

afternoon

now on spring break.(maybe ma nature can warm it up a bit!!!) Ns had a westbound in the siding when I left work.That new system is going to take effect this weekend.F tower in Fostoria is closing March 31st.Going to watch everything slow down.

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").

 

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Posted by CShaveRR on Friday, March 27, 2015 7:03 PM

We woke up to a layer of snow on the ground, and got out with a layer of salt on the streets.  I don't think the temperature got out of the 20s, in spite of a warm-looking sun in the afternoon.  I had an exploratory surgical procedure this morning, and by the time we got out, the ground was mostly bare again.

I guess I'm far from alone in my skepticism about CSX's move.  They are catering too much to one group of stakeholders (the shareholders) at the expense of the other two (workers and customers).  The "fourth estate" (railfans and pundits) will have a field day.

Sad news here:  cancer has reared its ugly head in our family.  My baby girl is going through the tests and observations now, so we don't have all of the details, but it's going to be a rough road ahead for all, especially our grandson Linus.

Carl

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Posted by tree68 on Friday, March 27, 2015 9:46 PM

Carl - been there.  My thoughts are with you.  My daughter is cancer-free at this time.

Snow - go away.  Got about a half inch late this afternoon and early evening.

First day of local outdoor show wasn't bad - not a lot of customers, but did have some good conversations.

Got the new amateur radio for the truck today - just no time to do anything in terms of mounting it.  That won't happen until probably Monday.

Time for bed.  Long day tomorrow.

LarryWhistling
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Posted by Deggesty on Friday, March 27, 2015 10:19 PM

Carl, I am sorry to hear about your daughter. May she have the best of care and may it be whipped.

Mookie--get your stilts out next Thursday morning; I will be in room E in car 631. Coming home, I will be in room E in 531 the morning of Saturday, 18 April; I hope I will not be as late as I was last September--we left Chicago two hours late, and passed through Lincoln five hours late.

Johnny

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Friday, March 27, 2015 10:26 PM

     Carl-  Sorry to here about your news.  I wish the best of luck for your daughter.  My wife's sister is doing chemo right now-not fun.  

     Tell me about the name Linus.  Wife's nephew and niece picked uncommon names for their boys, because their last name is too common-Johnson.  So they have a Palmer and a Linus.    I have an incredibly uncommon Norweigan last name, so I often grumble about having such an uncommon first name.  
-Norris

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Posted by Mookie on Friday, March 27, 2015 10:30 PM

Johnny - seems like everything in Lincoln is late.  Spring, rain, Amtrak, etc....

I rebuilt my stilts with handlebars and a basket.  A tall walker, if you will?  Pretty nifty, eh?  Shy

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by JoeKoh on Saturday, March 28, 2015 6:17 AM

good morning

well csx had a mess yesterday.A car off of q 324 went off the track near west standley.RJ corman came to set the car back up.Thing is CSX had 3 big "cats" to do a switch replacement at west standley.(one track Sunday/the other Monday).Also q 368 came by with a high wide load(generator).Dispatcher said to set the car off at Hamler.Said the great lakes division couldn't handle the car.Why did it leave Chicago then? going to visit brother and see what else we can find today.Plus going to listen to see if our dogs can bring home a division 2 basketball trophy from Columbus.

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").

 

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Posted by CShaveRR on Saturday, March 28, 2015 8:46 AM

Linus was named after all three famous Linuses:  philosopher, Pauling, and Van Pelt.  We have a picture of him in which he looks very much like the Peanuts character.

Carl

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Posted by BaltACD on Saturday, March 28, 2015 9:17 AM

JoeKoh

good morning ...

Also q 368 came by with a high wide load(generator).Dispatcher said to set the car off at Hamler.Said the great lakes division couldn't handle the car.Why did it leave Chicago then? ...

stay safe

Joe

 

High/Wides are cleared a minimum of 14 hours before the scheduled departure of the trains carrying them - and in reality more like 30 to 48 hours before the actual departure of the train.

In the time between authorizing a wide car for movement, the conditions of the railroad change and actual movements must deal with 'what is' not 'what should have been'.

The present system of clearing High/wide shipments is as follows.

1. Origin YARD requests movement in a particular train that is intended to move the car from the yard origin to either the termination of the train or the destination of the car if it's destination is short of the trains destination.

2.  Computer record of the Yards request is systematically sent to the CTD of the originating Division.

3.  If the destination of the car is beyond the limits of the originating division, the CTD must forward the approval request to the next adjoining Division and so on until the terminating Division is presented with the High/Wide computer record to approve or deny.

4.  Once the terminating Division approves or denies the request, that record works it's way back through the system to the CTD on the originating Division.

Each Division has its own criteria and operational situations that enter into approving or rejecting the movement of a High/Wide on a particular train.  In the case of Q368 which operates from Chicago to Cumberland, approval of the Chicago, Great Lakes and Baltimore Divisions is required.

High/Wide have many kinds of restrictions, especially locations where the cars cannot meet or pass equipment of any kind on adjacent tracks.  Trying to handle a 9000 foot 16000 ton train with High/Wides that cannot meet of pass trains at a number of locations is railroad congestion moving in plain sight.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Saturday, March 28, 2015 9:58 AM

CShaveRR

Linus was named after all three famous Linuses:  philosopher, Pauling, and Van Pelt.  We have a picture of him in which he looks very much like the Peanuts character.

 

   I never knew there was more than one famous Linus.  The Johnsons also have a psycho dog named Lucy, but they swear that was unintentional.

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Posted by Deggesty on Saturday, March 28, 2015 12:41 PM

I had an interesting show outside my door as I ate supper last night--a small covey (about ten birds) of quail ran around in the yard, getting their supper. I couldn't tell if there were five pair or just a general mixture. I enjoy watching them run; they do not waddle but stay level.

Johnny

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Posted by Norm48327 on Saturday, March 28, 2015 5:32 PM

Carl,

My thought are with you and the family too. I have a good woman friend who has been cancer free for over seven years. I'm hoping for the same outcome for your daughter.

Norm


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Posted by JoeKoh on Saturday, March 28, 2015 5:44 PM

Balt thanks for the information.Our dogs are coming home state champions.Brother and I watched in Edgerton.NS palyed pass the sperry guy.They were ready to go home.Chores to do.

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").

 

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Posted by tree68 on Saturday, March 28, 2015 7:24 PM

Somebody left the north-side door open again.  The maple syrup folks would like to see a week or so of above-freezing during the day and below-freezing at night.  They're definitely getting the below freezing stuff...

Day two of the outdoor show is done.  One more short day.  Getting a fair amount of exposure for the Thomas event in June, which is a good thing.

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 JoeKoh on Sunday, March 29, 2015 6:30 AM

morning

Time for Sunday school and church.Going to check how CSX is doing on a crossover at west standley(harris road).Mother nature is going to give us rain tonight.Deshler tomorrow.

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").

 

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Monday, March 30, 2015 7:18 AM

Picked up a pizza last night near Midway Airport.  Saw the usual operations at Clearing with a slug set as a hump pusher and some GP38-2's working pulldown jobs.  Also some CSX power laying over near the Walmart.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by CShaveRR on Monday, March 30, 2015 8:54 AM

Paul, you'll have to tell me about this pizza place...do they have dine-in?

And how, pray tell, do you get to a trespassing-free spot to view action at Clearing?  Close enough for a steady stream of freight cars to check out?

Of course, everything is on hold at the moment.  Daughter visits the oncologist today, after which we'll know a lot more about what's going on with her.  We expect to be going to California to be with her and her family in the not-too-distant-but-still-uncertain future.  They will be treating this aggressively, whatever it is.  When we go, it will be by train, and I've already gotten permission from Pat to return home via a different, more leisurely, route...to be determined.

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 Deggesty on Monday, March 30, 2015 9:53 AM

Carl, may your daughter's condition be such that she will not require heavy radiation. Chemotherapy by itself can be bad enough, what with the loss of strength and possible nausea during the treatment, but radiation can cause damage later (I speak from personal experience with this; thankfully, I had no nausea). May God's blessings be upon her and the rest of your family.

Johnny

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Posted by BaltACD on Monday, March 30, 2015 10:06 AM

Deggesty

Carl, may your daughter's condition be such that she will not require heavy radiation. Chemotherapy by itself can be bad enough, what with the loss of strength and possible nausea during the treatment, but radiation can cause damage later (I speak from personal experience with this; thankfully, I had no nausea). May God's blessings be upon her and the rest of your family.

 

While all cancers are different, I was diagnosed with colon cancer in June 1996.  Operated on in July with 18 inches of colon being removed.  Started Chemo in September for 6 months and Radiation in late October for 6 week.  Returned to work after Labor Day and worked through the Chemo & Radiation. 

Lost some hair with the Chemo and the final 3 weeks of the Radiation I 'felt' - the first 3 weeks I felt nothing - the feeling of Radiation is cumulative.

The treatments for Cancer today are much better than they were in 1996.

19 years C free and counting!

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Monday, March 30, 2015 10:06 AM

The pizza place in question is Giordano's at 63rd & Cicero, it has a pretty nice dining room.  You can view action at Clearing pretty well from the Cicero Avenue overpass, also at ground level from near the Walmart, Aldi, etc. along the south edge of the yard.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by tree68 on Monday, March 30, 2015 10:43 PM

OK - off-the-wall question.  Didn't want to start a specific thread on it.

On the FB page for my old hometown (Milford, MI), someone asked what color the station was in the 1950's.  The line is former Pere Marquette, but that was taken over by C&O in the late 1940's.  

Pretty safe bet that somewhere in there the station was repainted.  A postcard of another PM station showed it to be red and gray, with yellow trim.  We're pretty sure that the Milford station was all gray by the mid-50's.

Any C&O or PM experts out there?  What color were C&O stations in the 1950's?

Passenger service had long since ended on the line - possibly even in PM days, so while it was still RR property, it wasn't being used as a station.

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
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Posted by Mookie on Monday, March 30, 2015 10:51 PM

This is for Der Chicken:  

Didn't see engine, but pretty sure it is BNSF - hit road grader - real t-bone - @ Gretna today.  Stop sign only xing.  Memories of walking irrigation, etc.

Nothing on injuries.

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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