An interesting observation. You be the judge. This afternoon heard a hard working train coming north on the A&WP sub. It had 2 CSX units as it passed. Saw it was one of the empty coal trains ( from Mobile ? ) that passes a couple times a week. First thought working that hard and that slow how was it going to make it up the ruling grade just past my home ?
Finally heard what I though was a DPU pusher on the end reving up to run 8. Then surprize it was a UP unit followed by a NS unit. Well behold it was an all mixed manifest train . It consisted of the regular mix including plackarded tank cars of quite a number that comes from interchange of UP to CSX at New Orleans.
The total length of train I would estimate was around 15 - 16,000 feet long. Suspect that maybe the manifest coupled onto the empty coal train at Mobile.
Now if this is going to be a regular operation it might be CSX's reluctance for Amtrak service to Mobile ? Find it interesting that CSX has facilities in their locos to DPU to other RRs locos. Are the DPU protocols the same for all RRs ?
blue streak 1An interesting observation. You be the judge. This afternoon heard a hard working train coming north on the A&WP sub. It had 2 CSX units as it passed. Saw it was one of the empty coal trains ( from Mobile ? ) that passes a couple times a week. First thought working that hard and that slow how was it going to make it up the ruling grade just past my home ? Finally heard what I though was a DPU pusher on the end reving up to run 8. Then surprize it was a UP unit followed by a NS unit. Well behold it was an all mixed manifest train . It consisted of the regular mix including plackarded tank cars of quite a number that comes from interchange of UP to CSX at New Orleans. The total length of train I would estimate was around 15 - 16,000 feet long. Suspect that maybe the manifest coupled onto the empty coal train at Mobile. Now if this is going to be a regular operation it might be CSX's reluctance for Amtrak service to Mobile ? Find it interesting that CSX has facilities in their locos to DPU to other RRs locos. Are the DPU protocols the same for all RRs ?
To my knowledge all current DPU protocols are the same for all carriers. The last serveral series of New locomotives that CSX acquired prior to my retiremen all came from the factory equipped for DPU operation - even though CSX had not yet started to use DPU on the property to any great extent much beyond experimentation.
The equipment locomotives are equipped with is a part of their UMLER records so carriers know when specific engines can do.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
good morning
Ns was clear after work yesterday.Even the boxcar was gone as well.Worked outside and it turned out great because had extra help.Mother nature is going to send us some rain.Still going to go see my brother probably tomorrow.As far as Csx trains go the double trains are ran sometimes because they have no crews.Have seen them pull into Garrett and then separate the 2 trains.Makes the crews really happy.
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").
afternoon
Checked in on my brother.Couldn't take him out because the nursing home was on lockdown.Two staff members tested positive for Covid.Went over to Butler Indiana and saw some trains on Ns.They sent a large shipment of culverts west.Was waiting for other trains but they got backed up.Seems a large westbound Carl special had problems in Edgerton Ohio.Mother nature decided to rain so I came home.Back to work tomorrow.
stay safe
Ns has an eastbound Detroit edison coal train in the siding at work.Also saw a eastbound stack train after work.The swamp is starting to dry out.Chores to do.
Ns sent a westbound stack train after work.Ran errands in town.Swamp still a bit wet to mow.
evening
Ns had an eastbound lined up but didn't see it after work.Came home and took care of the yardwork.Some of the swamp was still a bit wet.Trying to keep some wrens from nesting on the back porch.Trying an option right now.We'll see how it works.
JoeKoh Trying to keep some wrens from nesting on the back porch.Trying an option right now.We'll see how it works. stay safe Joe
Trying to keep some wrens from nesting on the back porch.Trying an option right now.We'll see how it works.
We've been having a battle royale with nesting robins here- they keep trying to build nests above lights or security cameras on our house, or even IN the garage when I leave the garage door open. I've tried the life-like plastic owl to scare them away, it worked for a while last year, but this year they pretty much ignored it- even tried to build a nest ON TOP OF IT. Recently purchased plastic pointy-cone strips and put them on top of said lights and cameras, which has sorta worked, although they still tried to pile materials on top of that in one location. I just keep tearing it down. Sometimes I think they're getting back at me for cutting out our overgrown landscaping shrubs (their former nesting sites)...
Brian (IA) http://blhanel.rrpicturearchives.net.
Had a robin build a nest at an inside corner of the rain gutters. She got thoroughly soaked every time it rained...
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...
tree68Had a robin build a nest at an inside corner of the rain gutters. She got thoroughly soaked every time it rained...
All of which leads to the questions of where wildlife actually call 'home' in our suburban areas.
On my 'wildlife cam' I have captured deer, possum, raccoons in addition to the 'normal' rabbits and squirrels - most all of the visitors outside of the squirrels show up during the night.
I've got two rabbits that frequent my yard, Bertie (the larger) and Bunyip. They'll wait for hours until I produce a couple of carrots and sometimes come right up to my feet with plaintive expressions if I don't. If I'm laid out in the sun, Bertie will sprawl out on his/her side a few feet away while we both relax. When a third rabbit shows up the fun begins: stare-downs, vertical jumps, and wild chases until the interloper goes away. I don't participate in that, for now anyway! They've also been careful around my garden railroad.
Rick
rixflix aka Captain Video. Blessed be Jean Shepherd and all His works!!! Hooray for 1939, the all time movie year!!! I took that ride on the Reading but my Baby caught the Katy and left me a mule to ride.
If you think car going around gates here is a link to a car probably going around both gates. Note 15 second ad at first then just 12 seconds of the auto..
Driver in Florida jumps opening drawbridge in intense video (msn.com)
At lunch saw a 5 engine Ns coal train loaded go west.Then there was an empty powder river coal train as well.Ns was clear after work.Ran an errand and saw the ND&W coming back into Defiance from Napoleon.Mother send us rain showers in spurts.Going to cool down a bit.Today older brother has a birthday.Unfortuneately his residence is still on lockdown due to Covid.Chores to do.Glad tomorrow is Friday.
Had a fox show up several years ago - at the bird feeder - daytime, and it was feeding on sunflower that had fallen to the ground... Used to get rabbits, but then I closed up their hole in the fence. Hard to get rid of the squirrels.
Home from our Michigan trip today, in time for Pat to get some necessary medical tests. If the test is negative, she gets her hip replacement on Monday. If not, she goes in for treatment soon and gets her new hip next month. Meanwhile, more appointments and more tests for her tomorrow (including her second COVID-19 vaccine). I have to stay home, because tomorrow's the new date for starting on our house's new siding. Saturday it's my turn for the COVID vaccine (second dose).Our trip home today yielded three or four NS trains in Chesterton, a CSX train in Porter, and a CN train on their new track around the airport in Gary. I've found a good place to turn off the road and get reasonably close to the tracks, and this wwas a very good train.The neat thing was that the CSX train I saw this morning had about a dozen cars next to the power whose numbers I recognized as cars I saw yesterday in industrial tracks in Zeeland and Grandville, Michigan! Evidently the through trains tackle some of the local work when necessary.All of this was much better than the trip up to Michigan on Monday, when we were all but skunked.
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)
Ns was clear after work.Stopped uptown after work.Got something to try on the back porch.Sis needs us to come help.
Shovelled-off 6" this morning and its snowing again tonight....remote backyard thermometer trying to say its 69 degrees as it snows
Ah yes, Springtime in the Rockies.
No snow for us in the past day or two, although the Adirondacks may have seen some - I haven't heard reports one way or the other. We did get some much needed rain, though.
Headed out to help another fire department with their chicken BBQ today. It's only +39.7F right now, so it'll be a little chilly working the drive-thru event.
Went and checked on brother today.Didn't see any trains.Going to go back tomorrow with Sis.Matt and our friend Greg from Deshler helped our neighbor with his lighting project.Mother nature wants to send us frost and snow Tuesday into Wed. Welcome to Nw Ohio.
Ns was clear after work.Csx looked like it had a few cars in the yard in town.Guessers are saying 3 to 6 inches of snow coming.Chores to do.
Canada left the freezer door open again! (Oh those crazy Canucks!)
6" of snow here (with ice fog to start) and the thermometer dropping into the low teens. Record snowfall this winter and the drought will not die
We're trying to aim it at Joe's swamp when it leaves here.
Cowabunga!
mudchickenCanada left the freezer door open again! (Oh those crazy Canucks!)
We have the possibility of snow here in northern New York. The snow shovels haven't been hidden away yet, although an inch or two will likely melt away in no time. It's still spring in the north country.
I broke the mower out yesterday - the grass wasn't really all that tall, but now it's all even...
I think the word for what's falling now is "snizzle".I sit corrected...it's 37º, and sleet.
The gutter people are here, to finish our exterior renovation project. And when they leave (with our payment for the whole project), I'll have to leave, too, to spend some time with Pat in the hospital. She got her new hip yesterday, and we'll bring her home today. According to the surgeon and the nurses, she's doing well in recovery. We have a walker and a cane for her, and she'll have assistance here for a couple of days. I will have to learn my part in this recovery process.
We've been getting a snow-rain mix for a few hours now. So far there hasn't been any real accumulation although we'll what happens later in the afternoon.
That's tonight and tomorrow for us. We shall see.
Mid 70's today - think I'll take the Triumph out for a ride with the top down!
2 inces of snow in Lawrence, KS this AM.
Mc the snow is starting to stick here.Ns sent an eastbound stack train after work.Ran some errands.Chores to do.Brother is healing up.
Ns sent a westbound stack train after work.Went into town and got my 2nd shot.Standridge here in Defiance is said to be getting a center cab switcher.Saw it go on q 201 probably to be dropped off at Garrett yesterday.Have not seen it arrive to the plant yet.MC the snow you sent to the swamp is mostly gone now.Chores to do.
JoeKohStandridge here in Defiance is said to be getting a center cab switcher.
It's a pretty blue, too. That also explains the S logo on the side of the cab.
We got maybe two inches of snow - the roads were never a problem. Most of the snow on the grassy areas is gone, although I do still have some on the arbor vitae where it was in the shade all day.
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