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Chatterbox Spring 2017

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Posted by switch7frg on Wednesday, June 21, 2017 11:46 AM

Wink It sounds like you are talking about  the 6% grade up to Sunset Point on I 17 N. Sign at bottom of hill says " all trucks use right lane". That sign seems to be mearly a suggestion to some (truckers). If they don't, there is a trooper waiting  at the top of the hill just before the Sunset Point turn out. The trooper  gets his info from an  old "unmarked car" AZ. state police. Some of the "drivers" get a little hostile which don't help them. Our grandson works at ADOT.  

Y6bs evergreen in my mind

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Posted by Deggesty on Wednesday, June 21, 2017 8:00 AM

mudchicken

It was only 99 here today. You can keep the extra heat.

Willing to bet that the heat had something to do with BNSF's 7 car derailment in Boulder today near MP 27 on the Front Range Sub in front of the Valmont power plant... Looks like the POD was at the west switch. News media and fire dept./police was fixated on a car of plastic pellets as being hazmat (not) all the while a tank car with molten sulfur was upside down in the pileHuh? wedged between an empty gon and a railbox....

http://www.9news.com/news/local/hazmat-responding-to-train-derailment-in-boulder/450697467

 

MC, do those people not know what a placard is for? Or, were the placards on the sulfur car obscured?

Johnny

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Posted by mudchicken on Wednesday, June 21, 2017 12:27 AM

It was only 99 here today. You can keep the extra heat.

Willing to bet that the heat had something to do with BNSF's 7 car derailment in Boulder today near MP 27 on the Front Range Sub in front of the Valmont power plant... Looks like the POD was at the west switch. News media and fire dept./police was fixated on a car of plastic pellets as being hazmat (not) all the while a tank car with molten sulfur was upside down in the pileHuh? wedged between an empty gon and a railbox....

http://www.9news.com/news/local/hazmat-responding-to-train-derailment-in-boulder/450697467

Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
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Posted by Deggesty on Tuesday, June 20, 2017 8:08 PM

JoeKoh

Good morning

Mother nature has cooled us off.Have a meeting for the historical society in Deshler tonight.We'll see what csx can roll by afterwards.

stay safe

joe

 

Joe, if you want it, I will try to send a little heat your way tomorrow (MC might want some of). It was close to 100 today, and we expect it to rreach 100 tomorrow. St. George, in the SW corner of the state, is having temperatures over 100.

Johnny

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Posted by tree68 on Tuesday, June 20, 2017 8:01 PM

BaltACD
I hate the I-81 'Swift' driver at 60.0001 MPH trying to pass the Schnider driver at 60.00000 MPH - with neither willing to concede this wont work before the next state line 100 miles away.

Ya get the same thing with four-wheelers.  There's a line of cars for as far back as you can see, but they won't do a bit over 65.001 MPH to pass that other driver going 64.999.  For gosh sakes, punch it and get by!

Almost as much fun are those who are putting along at a not-to-terrible speed, but slower than you're running (traffic usually average about 72-73 around here).  So you pass them.  Suddenly, there they go past you - heaven knows they don't want anyone to pass them!  Then they settle in again at their previous speed, so you pass them again.

Note - I've usually got a pretty clear run for quite a few miles once I get on the Interstate, so I set the cruise control.  Then the previous thing goes back and forth, as I cruise along without touching the cruise control...

My uncle once related a story of driving through the mountains on an Interstate.  Two semis - clearly rivals - were battling up and down the hills, side-by-side, with a miles-long traffic back up behind them.  Neither was willing to concede, apparently, and there may have been contact between them...

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
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Posted by BaltACD on Tuesday, June 20, 2017 6:47 PM

rvos1979
mudchicken

He hasn't even gotten out of the Iowa-80 truck stop over there at East Jesus (*Walcott), IA yet. Mischief

Balt:  Most of the time, yes, until I have to go around a 58mph Prime driver.........

 

Mud:  At least I don't drive for Swift, they'd roll it over in the parking lot.........

I hate the I-81 'Swift' driver at 60.0001 MPH trying to pass the Schnider driver at 60.00000 MPH - with neither willing to concede this wont work before the next state line 100 miles away.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by rvos1979 on Tuesday, June 20, 2017 5:26 PM

mudchicken

He hasn't even gotten out of the Iowa-80 truck stop over there at East Jesus (*Walcott), IA yet. Mischief

 

Balt:  Most of the time, yes, until I have to go around a 58mph Prime driver.........

Mud:  At least I don't drive for Swift, they'd roll it over in the parking lot.........

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

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Tuesday, June 20, 2017 12:48 PM

Deggesty
 

They are simply in a hurry to get back to what they believe is the better state.

 

But half the time they are fleeing Alabama.

 

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Posted by JoeKoh on Tuesday, June 20, 2017 6:03 AM

Good morning

Mother nature has cooled us off.Have a meeting for the historical society in Deshler tonight.We'll see what csx can roll by afterwards.

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 Deggesty on Monday, June 19, 2017 9:36 PM

blue streak 1

 

 
BaltACD
 

In areas of 'crack downs' the locals are virtually never the 'Angels' they believe they are.

In the imortal words of Pogo, "We have met the enemy and he is us."

 

 

 
BALT:  That is usually the case here except on I-85 south of ATL airport it is the Alabama drivers.  Have had them go by so fast can only identify plate not the numbers.  Now don't report me to Sessions.
 
 

They are simply in a hurry to get back to what they believe is the better state.

 

Johnny

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Monday, June 19, 2017 9:29 PM

BaltACD
 

In areas of 'crack downs' the locals are virtually never the 'Angels' they believe they are.

In the imortal words of Pogo, "We have met the enemy and he is us."

 

 
BALT:  That is usually the case here except on I-85 south of ATL airport it is the Alabama drivers.  Have had them go by so fast can only identify plate not the numbers.  Now don't report me to Sessions.
 
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Posted by mudchicken on Monday, June 19, 2017 7:03 PM

He hasn't even gotten out of the Iowa-80 truck stop over there at East Jesus (*Walcott), IA yet. Mischief

Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
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Posted by BaltACD on Monday, June 19, 2017 6:48 PM

rvos1979
tree68
blue streak 1

Normally meek/rational driver, headed down the highway, "I'm [insert race driver here] and the race is on!"

Yeah - I can definitely see that happening.

Good income for the municipalities, though...

Indifferent

The semi tractor i have now has a collision avoidance radar mounted on the front bumper, and the readout on the dash will tell me how fast the car in front of me is going.  I've seen it hit 90 a few times on the interstate  (My truck is governed at 63)..........

Trust you are in the slow lane!

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by rvos1979 on Monday, June 19, 2017 6:26 PM

tree68

 

 
blue streak 1
State trooper told us that they are completely busy on the drivers going over 100 or reckless aggressive. 

 

Normally meek/rational driver, headed down the highway, "I'm [insert race driver here] and the race is on!"

Yeah - I can definitely see that happening.

Good income for the municipalities, though...

Indifferent

 

The semi tractor i have now has a collision avoidance radar mounted on the front bumper, and the readout on the dash will tell me how fast the car in front of me is going.  I've seen it hit 90 a few times on the interstate  (My truck is governed at 63)..........

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

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Posted by BaltACD on Monday, June 19, 2017 8:32 AM

tree68
ChuckCobleigh

We had an area of military housing ("801" - built and run by contractors, but managed by the military) near me for a while.  I'm sure there are those who figured it was the GIs who were doing the speeding on the state highway, but it was the locals who seemed to get caught...

In areas of 'crack downs' the locals are virtually never the 'Angels' they believe they are.

In the imortal words of Pogo, "We have met the enemy and he is us."

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by tree68 on Monday, June 19, 2017 7:49 AM

ChuckCobleigh
 (When the first stretch of the HOV lanes was opened, the Chips were out in force to write carpool violator tickets but ended up writing more speeding tickets.

We had an area of military housing ("801" - built and run by contractors, but managed by the military) near me for a while.  I'm sure there are those who figured it was the GIs who were doing the speeding on the state highway, but it was the locals who seemed to get caught...

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
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Posted by CShaveRR on Sunday, June 18, 2017 5:06 PM

How I spent my Father's Day afternoon...

...wishing I were in California with both of my daughters.

...driving to Joliet and trying to find a place to park near the stations (old and current).  

...seeing the Joliet Rocket being pulled into the station by a Metra Winnebago.

...saying hi to Trains correspondent Hayley Enoch before the train pulled away from the platform to cross over and clear the diamonds.  

...trying to shoot the train as it came over the diamonds again and pulled up to the platform.

...getting a chance to talk with Ms. Enoch again, complimenting her on her World War II-era costume (which she created!), and getting a shot of her in it.

...trying to get a good video of the train as it departed for Chicago for the last time this weekend--that's hard to do whilst driving by oneself, and probably not legal.  The videos were lousy, but the sound was worth it.

...Now, to get everything else done that needs doing...yard work, equipment documentation, talking to daughters (if they call!)...

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 ChuckCobleigh on Sunday, June 18, 2017 1:22 PM

tree68
Normally meek/rational driver, headed down the highway, "I'm [insert race driver here] and the race is on!"

Yeah - I can definitely see that happening.

Good income for the municipalities, though...

Not just highways but parking lots as well.  Last week I watched some F1 racing on the tube and then got to see many people emulating going around a hairpin turn in the same manner in a local Costco parking lot.  

What made it funny is they were heading to the gas station where they were going to wait a while to get to the pumps anyway.

Our HOV lane on the I-15 route south from Escondido sometimes attracts speeders (90+) who think they are safe from the Chips, except there are numerous on-ramps that the law likes to use to pick off the speeders who can't see them until it is way too late, i.e., they've already been painted by radar.  (When the first stretch of the HOV lanes was opened, the Chips were out in force to write carpool violator tickets but ended up writing more speeding tickets.

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Posted by tree68 on Sunday, June 18, 2017 8:00 AM

blue streak 1
State trooper told us that they are completely busy on the drivers going over 100 or reckless aggressive. 

Normally meek/rational driver, headed down the highway, "I'm [insert race driver here] and the race is on!"

Yeah - I can definitely see that happening.

Good income for the municipalities, though...

Indifferent

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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  • From: Georgia USA SW of Atlanta
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Posted by blue streak 1 on Sunday, June 18, 2017 6:44 AM

tree68
 
BaltACD
LeMans 24 hours of Endurance is underway

We have the same problem here.  When the Atlanta speedway has a race the drivers going to race and especially afterwards think they are part of the race.  State trooper told us that they are completely busy on the drivers going over 100 or reckless aggressive. 

 

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Posted by JoeKoh on Sunday, June 18, 2017 6:25 AM

good morning

Happy Fathers Day

Matt and I rolled our birthdays and Father's day together.We went to Marion for trains and slideshow at the end of the day.Looks like NS has a diamond problem on their side.The C&O was very busy and had about 10 trains come by while we were there.We also met our former pastor and his family.Today is catch up here at home.Going to be cooler this week.Which is fine because we are on vacation.

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, June 17, 2017 9:27 PM

My chores are similar to Joe's, with a little more lawn and a few more trees and shrubs.  No swamp area at the moment, but I have to endure the sound of trains passing about a half-mile away, and resist the urge to drop everything and go in that direction.  As it is, I could only get the lawn about half-done yesterday, plus a bit of pruning and prep work for the other half.  And it's raining now, tomorrow's Father's Day (see below), and I'll have to see about the weather next week.

Today Pat and I went in a sligtly different direction to attempt to catch NKP 765 on its Joliet Rocket trips.  There were two round trips, hence four times the 2-8-4 passed through our chosen spot, Blue Island (chosen because there would be plenty of other trains to take up the slack while waiting).

Well, we left too late to catch the first pass, then had to make a stop so we missed the second one, too.  We decided to go to lunch at that point, after which we returned to Blue Island about a half-hour ahead of the third pass.  It didn't occur to me before we got there that there were no longer turning facilities at either end, and, as it turns out, passes One and Three were done with a Metra unit leading, and the 765 bringing up the rear in reverse.   So that's what I got to see...couldn't stay for the return from Joliet because of a prior commitment closer to home.  

Naturally, while adjusting my phone, I screwed things up, and got a time-lapse video about a second long.  No great loss--the train was in shadow anyway.  I'm thinking of going out again tomorrow, and catching the second arrival/departure at Joliet (unless someone can suggest why that wouldn't be a good idea).  As a father, this is my Father's Day gift to myself (both daughters are in California at the moment).

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 tree68 on Saturday, June 17, 2017 1:38 PM

BaltACD
LeMans 24 hours of Endurance is underway

I think we had a driver who thought they were there today - except they weren't, and the other car had the right of way (the driver in question had stop signs and a flashing red light).

Fortunately, no one was hurt enough to go to the hospital.

Curiously, both cars were the same make and model...

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 BaltACD on Saturday, June 17, 2017 10:36 AM

LeMans 24 hours of Endurance is underway

http://www.radiolemans.co/

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by samfp1943 on Saturday, June 17, 2017 10:10 AM

Happy Saturday, EVERYONE !  Father's Day tomorrow !  Since the subject seems to be Joe's Chores and MC's grass...Everything down here is WET! Two inches in the rain gauge on Friday night, the garden looks good, but the hot dry southern winds are blowing the blossoms off the tomato plants... I keep reading that rail traffic is picking up, Friday, was pretty busy, Early Eastbound stackers, two Export/Import cans and a couple of JBH & Co, with their compliment of TOFC on the end. They all seemed to have 4 or 5 units on the herad end. Westbound grain moves seem to have two on head-end, and 1 in DPU ( Returning for reloading?). I do not think they have put PTC on this sub as yet, at least there is no change aty the bungaloes or added antennas(?).  Note to (greyhounds), Ken, been seeing some new tennants on the TOFC trailers going East ( Amazon, and Amazon Prime, are recent additions)

 

 


 

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Posted by mudchicken on Saturday, June 17, 2017 9:20 AM

Norm48327

MC,

You could revert to "Californian" and accept the brown lawn. I don't think Duncan would mind. Wink

 

He'd be digging it up looking for where the fresh grass went.

Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
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Posted by mudchicken on Saturday, June 17, 2017 9:18 AM

diningcar

I suggest that there is no shortage of fertilizer in CO. 

 

Careful there.....minefield swept regularly.

Jen: IF he gets loose out of the yard, he's off meeting everybody he can find.

Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
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Posted by zugmann on Friday, June 16, 2017 8:38 PM

BaltACD
Has NS implemented PTC on any subdivisions? When I retired CSX had it in effect on 28 subdivisions - both signalled, with CTC and without as well as Dark Track Warrant territory. Needless to say since I have been retired I have lost track of what, if any, additional territories have had PTC implemented.

I hear the one line near us is supposed to be getting it by year's end... but I guess it'll happen when it happens.

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

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Posted by Norm48327 on Friday, June 16, 2017 6:43 PM

MC,

You could revert to "Californian" and accept the brown lawn. I don't think Duncan would mind. Wink

Norm


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