Ophelia should come ashore about the time of the Autumnal Equinox.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
May your rubber duck be doing OK after this latest adventure.
Denver is dry and fall is coming late to the high country.Leaves are two weeks late from turning color.
Last weekend for Thomas in Golden.
Fall has fell,
The leaves as well
Have fallen to the ground.
And everyone knows
When the cool wind blows
Jack Frost will soon be 'round.
Fall arrived at 2:50 AM.
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...
I hope I somewhat ruined what appeared to be a homecoming(?) photo shoot on my way home from working the railroad tonight.
As I crossed the tracks (CSX) at one point, I noticed a group of fancily dressed teens gravitating toward the tracks. By the time I got turned around and back there, they were on the tracks. I informed them that they were trespassing, never mind the danger aspect. One parent was heard to say "I didn't know that..."
When I left, they were moving away from the tracks, hopefully looking for a more suitable location for their pictures. Hopefully.
Not my railroad, obviously, but track speed through there is 40 MPH, with a curve involved on one approach to the location.
There was a similar issue with a professional photographer in the River West area a few years back. He was posing wedding group pictures on the MILW line out of Chicago Union Station, assuming that the nearby grade crossing signals would give him enough warning. A few near misses occurred and that was the end of that.
Hi
Almost lunchtime.Went for a walk this morning.Csx sent an eastbound.The NDW yard just had the "Gettysburg" and the 2026 Sante Fe in the yard.They had cars to shuffle.Checked on brother.Ns sent a few trains by as well.Maybe rain Tuesday? back to work tonight.
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").
Ophelia dropeed 1.6 inches yesterday and over 1.25 inches so far today.
Sun's out here. Everything from the past two storms has stayed well south/east of us.
Ventured northeast to a train show in Massena, NY today. Ended up with a package of people (always) and a couple of fire trucks. Go figure.
While I was chatting with members of one of the clubs, it was pointed out that the CSX First Responders unit (911) was in the CSX yard there. Sure enough, after I left the show I swung by the yard and there it was. There was talk of it having issues, but nothing firm. It does go to show, though, that CSX uses its specially marked units as needed, where needed. I saw it on a visit to Deshler this past summer.
morning
College boy gets to come back this way for work.He will be looking at a bridge near Hicksville.Going to make a list of supplies for Deshler this weekend.Time for bed.
afternoon
Got supplies for Deshler.California pen pal is in the area.The NDW has some cars for CSX at FC.Need to get stuff for work tonight.
Matt worked on the Deshler layout.I worked in the museum getting a sub-floor down.Of course we took train breaks.Csx did send a few surprises.Going back to paint tomorrow.
Called in to work our wine and beer train as the scheduled conductor was ill. Went pretty good. Passengers were no problem. Entertainment was a fellow and his guitar. He was pretty good, but still reminded me of "Guitar Bob" in the Andy Capp comics.
Put me behind on a project, but I've got a little slack on that. Saturday will be a zoo, then I'm back on the railroad for the "local" on Sunday.
At least the weather is good. We aren't getting the torrential downpours they are downstate.
evening
Pen Pal made it to Deshler.He was trying to get some specific shots in Marion but no luck.(insert train here please) We did get the projects done as well.Very foggy this morning.Calling for more tomorrow.Going to get cleaned up.Chores on tap for tomorrow.
While waiting for a brake test last night, had a CSX eastbound come through Utica. Only caught a glimpse, but the lead unit was the Chessie System loco. No chance for a picture, but Score!
Went for our walk yesterday.Saw 166 as we came home.Then csx sent M 369 west.Had quite the assortment of engines dead in tow.Got things put away around home.Indian summer next few days then back to reality.Time for bed.
Well those engines that went west on m 369? guess they cam back east on M 370.One more day of Indian summer.Had to get a new microwave.Work this weekend plus anniversary coming up too.Time for bed.
As an aside... Mr. Sensitive died. Dick Butkus. "The" Mauler of the Midway.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRT-toIEqag
Morning
More fall like weather after the rain came through.Have been busy with work and fighting off a cold.Chores here at home to do.Tomorrow is 29 and counting for me and my boss.
The boss picked a mom and pop place for brunch today for our anniversary.We stopped at St.Joe then went back into Ohio.Ns brought out a ballast cleaner out of the siding in Edgerton and worked it's way to Bryan.Had difco side dump ballast hopper with southern reporting marks.Going to rest up tonight.Back to work for us tomorrow.
Looked at Fc this morning.The NDW brought 6 hi cubes across the diamond from Ns.They shuffled some cars from Csx as well.There was a small white sperry truck looking at csx.Csx ran some trains as well.Back to work tonight.
Sunshine for now.Mother Nature going to send rain.Farmers are out in the fields in force.Local officials trying to determine the "Hotspot" to watch next years eclipse.Chores to do here.
Happy Friday the 13th.Boo. Chores to do here.Tomorrow meeting in Deshler.Going with Matt to get some more stuff for the layout afterwards.Time to wish Matts Aunt and Uncle Happy Anniversary.They were married the same year Matt was born.Going to find some breakfast.
Gramp As an aside... Mr. Sensitive died. Dick Butkus. "The" Mauler of the Midway. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRT-toIEqag
I recall reading the "XX years ago today" column in the "Daily Calumet" in the late 1960's mentioning the exploits of Rich Butkus at the real CVS (Chicago Vocational High School).
JoeKohHappy Friday the 13th.
As Pogo Possum might say, "Friday the 13th is on a Friday this month...)
Fire prevention activities at the elementary school went off without a hitch. This is around the 26th year we've used the program (different presentation for each grade). For the presenters, it can get repetitive, but the kids don't get bored seeing the same thing year after year.
Not sure if I'm working on the railroad on Sunday - one of the locos needs its inspection - it's just a question of if they can get it done in time.
I know fall is finally here due to the frequent heavy roof landings of the incoming Canada geese. If they are carrying small grenade-like objects, it is a sign of new avian powered offensive development by our northern neighbors.
Coincidentally the early morning air is also pierced by amazingly loud owl sounds, also need to research why ....
Links to my Google Maps ---> Sunset Route overview, SoCal metro, Yuma sub, Gila sub, SR east of Tucson, BNSF Northern Transcon and Southern Transcon *** Why you should support Ukraine! ***
MikeF90 I know fall is finally here due to the frequent heavy roof landings of the incoming Canada geese. If they are carrying small grenade-like objects, it is a sign of new avian powered offensive development by our northern neighbors. Coincidentally the early morning air is also pierced by amazingly loud owl sounds, also need to research why ....
And s side note to MIKE 90.... Just north of the old Santa Fe station, that new high speed turn-out, is now getting checked regularly, mostly, by WB Stack traffic.
Have not been out to check happenings on the recent new bridges, and double tracking construction between Rose Hil,l and Augusta; but traffic volumn is definitely UP, in both directions by my place. And definitely, the speed has gotten much faster (!) ....
My guess is that any more really heavy track laying,etc. will possibly,not happen til after winter is done, and we're into spring ???
50's and rain all day
Cool, but dry all day Saturday - I think we'll see more of the same Sunday, which is good. I have an awning to finish. Partly done today, but had to make a trip into the home improvement store to pick up my new storm door, and the roof material for the awning.
Not running tomorrow, so I can stay home and work on the projects. Found out we're doing a Halloween train, so starting to get things lined up for that.
Apparently the entire Adirondack RR line between Thendara and Tupper Lake is passable again (there were several washouts from heavy rain events), as we've scheduled trips for the last two weekends in October. I'll have to see if I can tag along as brakeman on one of them. Both of the engineer slots are filled.
Happy Sunday
Have the supplies for the Deshler layout.The locals have painted the B&O caboose but still are working on the windows and such.Here in Defiance csx has a grain train west of town getting loaded.Also ran a few trains past Fc as well.The high cubes on the NDW have made their way to Naploeon.Time for lunch.Back to work tonight.
The fall weather continues.College boy is at an Odot semiar in Columbus again today.Odot is looking where to put the new overpasses on US 24 in Defiance County.L 318 had a broken pipe issue yesterday.They got it secured and dropped the bad car and others off at a recycling place in Leipsic.Asked the boss nicely for some chili for this weekend.Need to check on my brother too.Time to go get my flu shot.
Had a meeting this morning.Going to regular hours starting Monday.Matt worked on the layout.He needs a couple different turnouts to finish the main loops.Csx traffic was decent.Going to get to bed.
Gonna be a wet day in the "Punkin Patch." Fortunately I'll have shelter (other than my truck) and heat.
Some part of the patch "kit" turned up missing, so I spent part of yesterday cobbing things together. It'll do.
Talk of snow tomorrow, which may add to the issues we have to deal with for the trip to Tupper Lake.
Had some frost this morning.Csx has been hauling used locomotives and going east at Deshler.Better weather is this week along with the peak colors.Next week..Brr.
Time for eye doctors appointment.
The weather at the "Punkin Patch" was miserable - cold, rainy, windy. At least I had a shelter with heat...
Sunday I rode along on a trip to Tupper Lake as back-up crew in case the crew ran out of hours (they didn't, and I got to go home early). On our way up the hill to the highest point on the old New York Central (Big Moose, 2040 feet) on the return trip, we saw snow in the air, but it wasn't even close to sticking.
Today, after a slightly below freezing start, it's up into the fifties...
Got out on Sunday to exercise the camera. Sunny and in the 60's all day. It's supposed to get close to 80 today with mid-70's over the next few days.
Took camera out after work.The Ndw was shuffling at Fc with the 2 former sante fe engines.Csx sent I 191 west with UP power.Not as much color because plenty has fallen on the ground.Have more to take care of in our yard.Going to get some chores done inside.
Winter has arrived in Denver and it seems to be in a bit of a hurry. Weather-liars have gone from predicting just a dusting of snow to now up-to-14-inches here in town. (first hard freeze was only Thursday).
Our wonderful spell of mild weather is coming to an end. The sun is out (which means the rain has at least temporarily ended) but that also heralds some cooler weather.
A look at temps across the country last night showed much colder in the upper Midwest, headed this way.
30 degrees this AM in Lawence, KS but at noon the KU-OK football game was halted for- lightning warnings.
Rain here in Nw Ohio.Matt has the mainlines operational on the layout in Deshler.Csx ran some trains by.They even sent an engine up the NW connection to Custar to help pick up a grain train.A friend in engineer trainning eventually came west on B 158.They had to fuel at Willard.They also had to wait for traffic at North Baltimore(north bottleneck).Plenty of leaves to clean up this week.
This Sunday is turning out to be a bit different from last Sunday (see my prior post). Right now, it's cloudy and colder (low 50's). Fall is slowly turning toward winter.
The next few days should see highs in the 70's along the coast and 80's inland. One downside is this is from a mild Santa Ana, with winds and low humidity raising the fire danger. Forecast wind speeds in San Diego county don't look that bad, but other parts of SoCal are going to see stronger winds.
Snow finally stopped here in the southern burbs of Denver. 7 inches officially where I'm at. Fortunately, the warm ground whittled some of that down.
[quote user="mudchicken"]
[/quote] Somehow we got the nasyness overnight here; late evening (Sat PM).ed were visiited by ;heavy thunder storms, later by a burst of light thunder snow, followed early AM by sleet and light freezing rain....Temps in the daytime were in the middle thirties. Was a good daqy tostay in and watch football....THe KC- Bronco's game was a bust for Chief's fans...... :-(
No snow here today - but it probably would have been better than the wet rail and leaves we slipped on all day.
Last trip to Tupper Lake for this season. Long day, but mostly enjoyable. There's something to be said for running a train through the Adirondack wilderness at speed.
The forecast for tomorrow is snow showers with highs in the mid-30's. Lynn will like this prognostication as she is not too fond of trick-or-treaters.
Are we all frozen up on this first cold snap?? There has been no activity on this Trains site for several hours.
Took care of leaves after work.Mother nature sent snow.Chores to do inside.
diningcar Are we all frozen up on this first cold snap?? There has been no activity on this Trains site for several hours.
Nothing real controversial on the agenda....
And, I know I've been busy.
Bag of candy by the door - we'll see if anyone shows. Last year I might have had a half dozen kids...
Interesting charter on the railroad yesterday. Apparently, the modus operandi of the bus tour is that it's all a mystery to the riders. They had no idea they were riding the train yesterday. Had lots of questions, one of which was "Where's Remsen?", which is where we went.
Had my giggles for the day.
BNSF 5271 had a crankcase/sump fire coming into Denver (Headed for Texas) with a unit grain train in tow on the Brush Sub. ... When reporting on the locomotive roast, did you know "train engines run on coal"?
mudchicken...did you know "train engines run on coal"?
I do get that question from time to time...
On that topic, I recall reading in one of my back issues of TRAINS from the mid-1950's that CB&Q tested a diesel being fueled with a distillate extracted from coal, or something like that.
tree68 mudchicken ...did you know "train engines run on coal"? I do get that question from time to time...
mudchicken ...did you know "train engines run on coal"?
Must be one of those engines equipped with a steering wheel.
mudchicken tree68 mudchicken ...did you know "train engines run on coal"? I do get that question from time to time...
Well, they are ALCO's - eg, "honorary steam locomotives..."
Nice weekend coming up here.College boy should be in Deshler working on the layout.He has the switches he ordered.Need to check on my brother sometime this weekend.Chores to do here.Going to check what the boss wants to do for supper.
Took care of things around the outside this weekend.Checked on brother as well.Did see some csx and ns trains.Had to re-order the switches for the Deshler layout.(need lefties not righties) Errands after work this week.Time to get ready to go.
joe
The big train show in Syracuse went well - some 2,500 in attendance on Saturday. I haven't heard the Sunday attendance.
Off to a Skywarn class tonight - winter version. We don't get severe thunderstorms in winter (usually), but we get lots of snow.
Seems like the hamsters were given partial rations over the weekend and could not keep the Forum Site running and responding before most browsers timed out. Tried accessing it multiple times over the weekend and would ultimately end up with a '504 Gateway Time Out'.
Feed the Hamsters so they can keep the power wheels churning and the bits and bytes flowing!
Tried accessing it multiple times over the weekend and would ultimately end up with a '504 Gateway Time Out' Balt
Weekend is the time when we wish to communicate so this is very perplexing. If Trains set up for forum for communication they should maintain it.
diningcarWeekend is the time when we wish to communicate so this is very perplexing. If Trains set up for forum for communication they should maintain it.
I don't think this forum is too high of a priority.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
zugmann diningcar Weekend is the time when we wish to communicate so this is very perplexing. If Trains set up for forum for communication they should maintain it. I don't think this forum is too high of a priority.
diningcar Weekend is the time when we wish to communicate so this is very perplexing. If Trains set up for forum for communication they should maintain it.
Trains/Kalmbach would be wise to get rid of the current marketing and subscription sub-consultants. Both are worthless and contributing to their decline. The decision-making and the website management are shaky right now.
Finally happened. Yesterday a CSX IM led by CSX 476 & 477. Thanks power desk. 476 was a willing canadiate for Alco of the day. Smoke lingered for several wells.
blue streak 1476 was a willing candidate for Alcoa of the day.
You mean ALCO? As in honorary steam engine?
Several examples in this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmfdA48Nymk
That was the last trip to Tupper Lake of the year. I was at the throttle.
mudchicken Agreed ... The site is back up, but it is in really poor shape. Lots of things don't work. Renewing the subscription creates a whole new set of headaches.
Agreed ... The site is back up, but it is in really poor shape. Lots of things don't work. Renewing the subscription creates a whole new set of headaches.
Not a good thing to make renewing subscriptions painful as that has negative effects on the bottom line. OTOH, I did note that the paid website was still working, can't fault Kamelback for taking care of their paying customers.
Erik_MagNot a good thing to make renewing subscriptions painful as that has negative effects on the bottom line. OTOH, I did note that the paid website was still working, can't fault Kamelback for taking care of their paying customers.
The "house organ" of a national organization I belong to will no longer be available in print after this year. We're talking a monthly magazine on a par with Trains, etc - glossy paper, etc.
Given that the membership in the organization is generally older, I have to wonder if this will affect membership in said organization, as I suspect that many members are members chiefly because of the magazine.
tree68 Erik_Mag Not a good thing to make renewing subscriptions painful as that has negative effects on the bottom line. OTOH, I did note that the paid website was still working, can't fault Kamelback for taking care of their paying customers. The "house organ" of a national organization I belong to will no longer be available in print after this year. We're talking a monthly magazine on a par with Trains, etc - glossy paper, etc. Given that the membership in the organization is generally older, I have to wonder if this will affect membership in said organization, as I suspect that many members are members chiefly because of the magazine.
Erik_Mag Not a good thing to make renewing subscriptions painful as that has negative effects on the bottom line. OTOH, I did note that the paid website was still working, can't fault Kamelback for taking care of their paying customers.
Monthly newsletters of some organizations I belong to have taken their newsletters electronic. Out of sight, out of mind.
BaltACDMonthly newsletters of some organizations I belong to have taken their newsletters electronic. Out of sight, out of mind.
Same here. I belong to the NYC RR Historical Society and they mail out a hard copy magazine each quarter, which I usually read in full shortly after arrival. The same organization has a modeling newsletter of similar length which gets delivered by email, also quarterly, and most of them sit in my inbox, unread. I just forget they are there.
On another topic...
The ship "American Century" went aground in the St Clair River before dawn this morning, right in front of the Marine City (MI) cam.
She's still stuck, waiting for three more tugs to come out of Detroit to get her off the mud.
Almost 1,600 viewers are watching the action...
tree68Almost 1,600 viewers are watching the action...
How much action is there to watch when a ship is stuck in the mud?
adkrr64How much action is there to watch when a ship is stuck in the mud?
Help will be arriving shortly, although I don't think they'll be there by predicted 1630. Lots of speculation on the accompanying chat...
One tug came down from Port Huron and has been there for a couple of hours now. Three more are coming up from Detroit. Don't want to pay that tow bill...
Edit: Two of the tugs are arriving now (1643 EST).
Action here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzIj6RJLHUI
tree68 adkrr64 How much action is there to watch when a ship is stuck in the mud? Help will be arriving shortly, although I don't think they'll be there by predicted 1630. Lots of speculation on the accompanying chat... One tug came down from Port Huron and has been there for a couple of hours now. Three more are coming up from Detroit. Don't want to pay that tow bill...
adkrr64 How much action is there to watch when a ship is stuck in the mud?
If you can't pay the bills - don't get into the industry!
Have you watched any of the videos of the worldwide salvage operations of company's such as Smit and the efforts in manpower, equipment and materials that get invested into marine salvage operations.
BaltACDIf you can't pay the bills - don't get into the industry!
For sure! Stuff happens, as they say. That was kinda tongue-in-cheek.
Looks like they have her unstuck. Next stop will probably be her original destination, just below where she went aground, to unload and get inspected as well.
Glad it's Friday.Been working on things all week.Going to check our lights for any burned out bulbs and such.Found the adapter and charger cord for a video camera.Matt said I could use it.In the videos we have things from Matt's graduation.We also have one of trips to see Carl in Chicagoland.Action from Kirk yard in Gary and other places.Also need to get back out and take care of more leaves too.Going to find some trains sometime this weekend.
mudchicken zugmann diningcar Weekend is the time when we wish to communicate so this is very perplexing. If Trains set up for forum for communication they should maintain it. I don't think this forum is too high of a priority. Agreed ... The site is back up, but it is in really poor shape. Lots of things don't work. Renewing the subscription creates a whole new set of headaches. Trains/Kalmbach would be wise to get rid of the current marketing and subscription sub-consultants. Both are worthless and contributing to their decline. The decision-making and the website management are shaky right now.
Basically one of the reasons I haven't been on here in a while is poor site performance. don't even get me started on the mobile version, which freezes up every other page. When you have to pause and think if renewing the subscription is worth it..... In contrast, I have no problems with renewing the other two model railroad magazines, one of which has only been around for twenty years. Makes you wonder if Kalmbach is going the way of a certain locomotive builder from the 60s..........
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
Looked at Csx and NS this morning.The hunters were also looking for the many deer in the area.Garrett was down to 1 track with trains tied down on either side of the yard.I got a picture of I 010 coming east at Auburn Jct. between 2 dead eastbounds. Heard the dispatcher call an M 246 with CSXs operation lifesaver unit on the point.I saw them at St.Joe.Time for lunch.Back to work tomorrow.
Checked on Brother.Ns sent a couple trains by.On the way home saw Ns 120 hot auto parts train.Also saw some on CSX as well.L 376 was following I 010 east into Defiance.Must have got hung up in Garrett.Yesterday got word that RJ Corman won't be hauling as much on the old NKP through Celina.A factory west of town is closing.They are also storing cars north of Minister on the branch due to a trestle washout.Our potential snow has been knocked down to just some rain.Back to work tomorrow.
good evening
Was outside after work mulching leaves.College boy says he is cooking the turkey tomorrow.Going to see if we can catch the CP holiday train as it turns the corner in Butler Indiana.Hope everyone has a good Thanksgiving.
Turkey Day with the daughter's family tomorrow. Pumpkin pie is cooling - grandson thinks he'll eat some. Not sure of that, though, if he gets his hands on the Croghan Bologna first.
Polar Express for the weekend. Engineer for two nights, conductor for one.
Over an inch of rain from this latest system. Fortunately, other than a few reports of freezing rain and some slush in the driveway, it was just wet. Weather for Thursday looks good, although getting across the border around here could be iffy, if that was in my travel plans. It's not.
Over two inches of rain yesterday - sorely needed. Mostly cloudy today - however the cloud band ended about two miles West of my house - drove out there in running erands and the skies were bright and blue. Winds from the East and they blow whatever is over the ocean and bay inland. The winds were just enough to keep the yuk over my house.
My wife and I will host twenty-six family members for Thanksgiving Dinner at our favorite local restaurant as we have for the last several years. A special meal is prepared just as we request.
I hope you all have agreat Thanksgiving.
diningcar My wife and I will host twenty-six family members for Thanksgiving Dinner at our favorite local restaurant as we have for the last several years. A special meal is prepared just as we request. I hope you all have agreat Thanksgiving.
The weather here in Kansas could not be better for the holiday. The weather guessers have predicted that as the week progresses; it will be more winter-like....Seems like for the coming saturday, a small snow magedon :-(
Enjoy, ALL !!
Home from dinner with daughter and family and her in-laws (fine folks - always glad to see them. FIL just had a hip replaced and is doing quite well!)
Ate just enough to be full, but not enough to be uncomfortable. Finished it off with a gluten-free pumpkin pie I baked at daughter's request (she and grandson are both gluten-free). Came out pretty well - I'm starting to get the hang of pie crusts made with gluten-free flour.
Traffic wasn't bad either way. Busy, but not heavy. At least we didn't get the winter weather they were predicting for us at this time last week.
Off to the railroad tomorrow for three nights of Polar Express.
The NDW looked empty today but they have plenty to move elsewhere.Looked at the NS in New Haven. They were replacing track in the yard along with trains coming in and out.Followed the Wabash to Peru Indiana.Still a crew change point for Ns.Met a father and son from Layfayette.Helped answer some questions.Going to see about the CP holiday train tonight.Tomorrow it's rivalry day.Mother nature sending a mess come Sunday.
Spent the afternoon getting a new cell phone and then making all the transferred Apps working again.
The Bluetoot transmitter/receiver wouldn't do anything on the old phone - couldn't view the data from some health devices and couldn't get traffic information on my GPS unit in the truck. Amazing how much more a cell phone is other than to just to talk to people.
BaltACD Spent the afternoon getting a new cell phone and then making all the transferred Apps working again. The Bluetoot transmitter/receiver wouldn't do anything on the old phone - couldn't view the data from some health devices and couldn't get traffic information on my GPS unit in the truck. Amazing how much more a cell phone is other than to just to talk to people.
I've had to do that several times. The warranty is nice, but the back-up isn't complete. Then I've got to figure out what didn't get restored.
There's more computing power in your pocket than Apollo 11 had going to the moon.
And you don't realize how much you've come to depend on those things until you're without it for a while. Ever leave your house, then turn around because you forgot your phone?
tree68 There's more computing power in your pocket than Apollo 11 had going to the moon.
Heck there's at least an order of magnitude more computing power in a modern smartphone than in the most powerful computers in existence when Apollo 11 flew to the moon.
Erik_Mag tree68 There's more computing power in your pocket than Apollo 11 had going to the moon. Heck there's at least an order of magnitude more computing power in a modern smartphone than in the most powerful computers in existence when Apollo 11 flew to the moon.
I'd like to see someone try to operate a late 1960's corporate business network off of a single 21st Century cell phone.
There are numerous activities that corporated mainframes do that are not simple 'flop counting' calculations.
Yes we have more computing power than the 'olde time' machines; but it is amazing how the programmers of the day got more done with less machine. Today's programmers, if given the Apollo 11's computer would likely throw up their hands in defeat when given the tasks of getting man to the moon and back SAFELY.
BaltACDThere are numerous activities that corporated mainframes do that are not simple 'flop counting' calculations.
Many of those activities involve memory and storage, and multiple processors. A cell phone is somewhat limited in those areas.
I visited an Army data center in the 1980's (Army had gone to "Megacenters" vs local computing). They showed me a one gigabyte RAID drive (redundant drives) that filled an entire 7 foot tall 19" rack.
At the time, we used a lot of tapes, as well. As time progressed, technology rendered them useless.
These days, you can get 128 Gb on a thumb drive.
Given the interfaces, a cell phone could handle a lot of computing.
I was ahead of the game when I put an aftermarket 40 Mb hard drive in my Tandy 1000SX. And my TI-99 had a whole 16 Kb of Ram. We've come a long way.
tree68 BaltACD There are numerous activities that corporated mainframes do that are not simple 'flop counting' calculations. Many of those activities involve memory and storage, and multiple processors. A cell phone is somewhat limited in those areas. I visited an Army data center in the 1980's (Army had gone to "Megacenters" vs local computing). They showed me a one gigabyte RAID drive (redundant drives) that filled an entire 7 foot tall 19" rack. At the time, we used a lot of tapes, as well. As time progressed, technology rendered them useless. These days, you can get 128 Gb on a thumb drive. Given the interfaces, a cell phone could handle a lot of computing. I was ahead of the game when I put an aftermarket 40 Mb hard drive in my Tandy 1000SX. And my TI-99 had a whole 16 Kb of Ram. We've come a long way.
BaltACD There are numerous activities that corporated mainframes do that are not simple 'flop counting' calculations.
Got involved with computers when Chessie started installing Terminal Service Centers. First computer was Computer Automation 'mini' computer that was the size of a refrigerator and it had two 10 MEGAbyte disk drives with 11 inch disk platters and they crashed monthly. The drives were the sized of a two drawer filing cabinet. The computer had 32K Words of Core memory for processing. The operating system was loaded into the computer on punched paper tape. This was in the 1978-79 era.
I have a mini-SD card that has a Terrabyte of storage.
Times they are a changing.
BaltACD I'd like to see someone try to operate a late 1960's corporate business network off of a single 21st Century cell phone. There are numerous activities that corporated mainframes do that are not simple 'flop counting' calculations. Yes we have more computing power than the 'olde time' machines; but it is amazing how the programmers of the day got more done with less machine.
Yes we have more computing power than the 'olde time' machines; but it is amazing how the programmers of the day got more done with less machine.
One key is the different goals driving the software used on the mainframes versus a modern cell phone. Another issue is different I/O (which you alluded to) between between a mainframe and a cell phone as the mainframe only had to deal with straight BCD/EBCDIC/ASCII/Hollerith data, whereas a cell phone often has to convert speech into text and convert data into images.
An example with PC's, paging through text with a DOS text editor on a late 80's PC will be as fast if not faster than paging through than an editor on a modern PC. The difference is that on the old PC, paging meant writing ~2K of data to the frame buffer, where a modern PC would involve generating 1 - 2MB of image data, then transferring that to the frame buffer.
BaltACD I have a mini-SD card that has a Terrabyte of storage. Times they are a changing.
rdamon BaltACD I have a mini-SD card that has a Terrabyte of storage. Times they are a changing. The problem now is that applications are bloating to use this storage and they are expanding with sloppy code, unused libraries, and unneeded add-ons. I wonder how many 3.5” disks Microsoft Office would take to install today.
As I mentioned in an earlier post - the first computer I was ever involved with had 32K words of processing core memory. At its base level it was programmed in Assembly that facilitated tools for the end user (me) to manipluate. At 32K words the programming had to be 'tight' just to get simple actions accomplished.
The history of computers is that the faster and more storage is available, the sloppier the coding becomes. Sloppy because the programmer can get his code to do what he wants it to do, and once that happens they normally stop any efforts to tighten up their code and storage requirements.
rdamonThe problem now is that applications are bloating to use this storage and they are expanding with sloppy code, unused libraries, and unneeded add-ons. I wonder how many 3.5” disks Microsoft Office would take to install today.
Take a look at the Task Manager on your PC - the amount of disk and memory that's committed is scary. My tablet is similar, except I can't upgrade the memory like I did with the PC. And it's all background stuff - not programs that I'm running.
I think it would take the same number of CD/DVDs to load Windows now as it did 3.5" floppies back in the day...
Back in my college days, I took several programming courses. I wrote a Fortran program that used almost a whole box of cards (2000 in a box). It ran just fine, but that was a lot of cards to punch... In another course, I wrote a Pascal program that printed out to four pages (Apple 2e). It either wouldn't compile, or if it compiled, it wouldn't run. Neither the instructor nor I could figure out why. Still passed the course.
Nice!! .. I had to pause a moment when I saw that the 6502 is 48 years old ..
Of course now with the cloud, who cares!! Put it on someone elses computer.
The 8080 is now 50 years old and the first issue of BYTE came out 48 years ago. What's amusing is the number of articles on computers and model railroading that showed up in the early issues of BYTE.
Winter is showing up.Lake affect snow around Cleveland.The NDW had a cut of cars to work on in the yard yesterday.The CSX Defiance yard had a few cars as well.Time to get ready for work.
Foggy here in Nw Ohio this morning.Little town of Maria Stien in Mercer county brought home another state football trophy.Liberty Center near hear fell short.The boss baked some cookies after we decorated the church.Going to check on my brother and see if we can find something on NS.Been a rough week for Amtrak with them hitting non patient drivers.Chili will be warming in the crockpot for lunch.
Another successful night of the Polar Express. Hopefully tonight goes as well. Rainy right now. Maybe it'll knock off before we run tonight.
tree68 Another successful night of the Polar Express. Hopefully tonight goes as well. Rainy right now. Maybe it'll knock off before we run tonight.
CSSHEGEWISCHI find it somewhat surreal to be running the Polar Express on a rainy day.
True, but what can we do? The rain is actually worse for traction than dry snow (as opposed to slush)...
OTOH, it's dark by the time we get to the North Pole, so aside from Santa standing on green grass, no one notices. Except Santa, who gets a bit wet.
NDW has cars to shuffle around.People are excited about Amtrack expanding in Ohio.Going to take awhile to get the tracks up to par.Leaving out a piece of chocolate cake and milk to remeber Mrs.Mookie on her birthday.Time to get ready for work.
Took picture up to Brother in Edgerton.Ns ran a few stack trains.Went with Matt to Deshler.He worked on the layout.The village has the B&O caboose repainted and it looks great.Csx sent M 367 west with the B&O unit(1827) leading.Tomorrow going to catch up on chores here.
I forgot to mention Deshler has recieved some grant funding.They are in the process of building a pedestrian bridge across the creek.It will connect the walking trails around the resivouirs.Locals won't have to use the CSX bridge to cross.Time for breakfast.
Woke up to the ground being covered with a dusting of snow - no snow on paved areas, just on non-paved areas. Temperature overnight never got below freezing and the snow will be gone as the day progresses.
What little snow we had here is gone. Saw some snow on the way home from the railroad last night, but the ground is still fairly warm, as it was in the 50's on Saturday, and started out in the 40's on Sunday.
I did hear reports of up to 3" of the white stuff to the north of us.
Got potentially dicey on the drive home as I watched the thermometer in the truck dip down to +30F for a bit, but then I drove out of that and the roads were pretty good the rest of the way home.
Six more nights of Polar Express - a marathon run of six nights in a row (12 trips total). I'm working the first three, and may head back down for the last night. We added a night as a result of numerous inquiries. With Christmas on Monday, we didn't get into the weekend prior.
4th night of Polar here (4 more to go, we go in circles to arrive at the North Pole / fun to watch how the script changes every year) ... wondering how long before the news of the butchering of the yellowperil's mechanical forces out here makes the newsreel feed. Lean and Mean has gone well beyond starving and stupid in these parts.
Wild looking hydrogen units for passenger and freight uses have wandered through the big LJ recently that were headed for the two test tracks at Pueblo. (snuck-in?) SECO NEWS - First Hydrogen Powered Train in The U.S. Passes Through La Junta
Ice fog tonite (another first)
mudchicken4th night of Polar here (4 more to go, we go in circles to arrive at the North Pole / fun to watch how the script changes every year)
I've seen us go from six cars with general seating to ten, with assigned seating and six first class (extra cost) cars. We generally put over 500 people on each train. First Class is the first to sell out, usually by late August.
When I first started running on PEX, we used volunteers as "elves." Oftimes, they were high schoolers from honor societies, JROTC, etc. These days, we audition the cast members and pay them something. The discipline is much better, thank you.
We get an annual visit from the licensing people. This year's fellow seemed happy with how things were going - which was encouraging, as he came on the night of our first revenue runs.
The cast runs through a set script with the key points of the story, and everyone gets cocoa and a cookie, along with a visit from that jolly old elf himself. We use four for the ten cars, including one we pick up at the "North Pole." Making sure he is able to visit with all the riders on the way home from the NP is a challenge sometimes for the conductor, although we don't make as many "caribou stops" as we used to...
(the Elf Herders created as many problems as the elves )
We've had a rather mild winter so far with only two or three light dustings. Temps have generally remained in the 40's with an occasional warmup.
CSSHEGEWISCH We've had a rather mild winter so far with only two or three light dustings. Temps have generally remained in the 40's with an occasional warmup.
We've had temps in the teens, and the 50's, and snow (in fact, it's falling right now to the south of me). Here, the snow is currently gone, although the temperature is below freezing. And the sun is shining brightly.
The current forecast is for a green Christmas.
CSSHEGEWISCHWe've had a rather mild winter so far with only two or three light dustings. Temps have generally remained in the 40's with an occasional warmup.
It is still Fall for another 8 days.
CSSHEGEWISCH We've had a rather mild winter so far with only two or three light dustings.
We've had a rather mild winter so far with only two or three light dustings.
What is this stuff called snow???
The lows for the next week are forecast to run between the high 40's nd low 50's. Should be seeing high's in the 70's the next couple of days.
BaltACDIt is still Fall for another 8 days.
Meteorological winter began December 1...
good morning
Mild tempratures continue here in Nw Ohio.Guessers say the chance of a white Christmas is pretty much 0.Was able to catch a friends first trip as an engineer(solo) for CSX.He took I 191 to Chicago.College boy did find the switches he needs for the layout in Deshler.The Boss and Matt are out doing shopping.Matt and I are planning on going down to Marion for a slide show.I am going through the archives to find some goodies.
Well, three more days of Polar Express under our belts, with three to go. I worked those past three days, and will go back to wrap up the season on Tuesday.
Tonight we had an odd coincidence - exactly the same number of passengers on both trains (544).
Most of our trains have had 500+ passengers. With 44 trips, you can do the math. And we get people from all over the country. I had someone from Houston a couple of weeks ago.
Time for bed. My FitBit tells me I took 11,075 steps today.
Only two more nights of Polar for me. Even with the script changes, it's starting to get old for this year. We run more people through our program, but we also have additional performances/ trains every night (and somehow had to work-in an additional two dozen folks onto overbooked trains - quite the juggling act)...Wonder how Tree's tribe disguises the lack of a steam engine...
WEIRDNESS DEPARTMENT: This summer, the local fireworks display was cancelled due to adverse range fire conditions. On Saturday night, without much warning, they shot -off all the fireworks for 40 minutes. BossHen described it as "World War 3" ...With all the leaves off the trees and all the vegitation dead and gone in the still, cold night air, it was really LOUD. The dog and the cat were in full panic mode and went into hiding.
Weatherliars are predicting snow on Christmas Eve. (in the 60's this week)...
Today and tomorrow are predicted for mid-30's with mid-40's for the rest of the week. Possible 50 degrees for Sunday (Christmas Eve). It's been a poor excuse for winter so far.
Note to tree: you sound like you've watched Tom Skilling on WGN. He mentions the change of meteorological seasons at the appropriate times.
2.83 inches of rain from yesterday through this morning - now the wind is blowing. Locally reported in the 40 MPH range.
CSSHEGEWISCHNote to tree: you sound like you've watched Tom Skilling on WGN. He mentions the change of meteorological seasons at the appropriate times.
That came out of our local NWS office (Buffalo).
MC - Engineer for us involves the same thing every trip - speed limit north to the "North Pole," then returning at reduced speed dependent on how long the Big Guys take to visit all the passengers. Some are quick, some are slow, but they're getting better. Haven't made a "caribou stop" in the Utica Marsh in quite a while.
For on-board crew (conductors, brakemen) the big thing is tracking the Big Guy's progress so the conductor can advise the southbound engineer as to speed. It's also a chance to schmooze with the passengers - my standard question is "where's home." It's amazing how far some people travel to ride the train (I had some visiting family from Houston a week or two back). Otherwise, the crew isn't really involved with the "show." That's up to the mostly teens we hire for the purpose. And we have staff on-board as well.
We added an extra night late in the game this year, so I'll be headed there Tuesday night. Saturday I was conductor - we had 544 riders on both trips - an odd coincidence. That brings us to 44 trips this year.
Well, the last night of Polar is in the books. Apparently these two added trips sold out within a day or two of being available.
First trip had something like 504 passengers, the second 540.
Didn't see many of them, as I was in the northbound locomotive.
Many sighs of relief...
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