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Wind by Rail

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Posted by edblysard on Wednesday, September 10, 2003 11:41 AM
Marty,
I will see if I can find out where this one is going.
Frankly, it never really mattered to us where they were going, just so long as they get!
These things take about 2 hours to get out of here, the air brake test and final walk by are a pain, they have a com line for the sensors and rear end, (caboose) that has to be checked, and all work stops in the yard when we come up out of the docks and drag through North Yard up to Basin Yard, (they are side by side) where the UP crews gets on.
All the switches are lined and locked or spiked for it's route through the yard, so when it finally does leave, we have to wait for the MOW guys to un lock or pull the spikes before we can go back to work.
Really puts a kink in the works if your running for a quit!
I will take my camera to work and see if it has left, if not, I will try to get some photos.
It should have gone out yesterday, but with UP, you never know.
Stay Frosty,[:D]
Ed
QUOTE: Originally posted by drailed1999

Hey Ed , are you still sending them to Ca.

23 17 46 11

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Posted by edblysard on Wednesday, September 10, 2003 11:41 AM
Marty,
I will see if I can find out where this one is going.
Frankly, it never really mattered to us where they were going, just so long as they get!
These things take about 2 hours to get out of here, the air brake test and final walk by are a pain, they have a com line for the sensors and rear end, (caboose) that has to be checked, and all work stops in the yard when we come up out of the docks and drag through North Yard up to Basin Yard, (they are side by side) where the UP crews gets on.
All the switches are lined and locked or spiked for it's route through the yard, so when it finally does leave, we have to wait for the MOW guys to un lock or pull the spikes before we can go back to work.
Really puts a kink in the works if your running for a quit!
I will take my camera to work and see if it has left, if not, I will try to get some photos.
It should have gone out yesterday, but with UP, you never know.
Stay Frosty,[:D]
Ed
QUOTE: Originally posted by drailed1999

Hey Ed , are you still sending them to Ca.

23 17 46 11

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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 10, 2003 11:05 AM
Hey Ed , are you still sending them to Ca.
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 10, 2003 11:05 AM
Hey Ed , are you still sending them to Ca.
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  • From: Muncie, Indiana...Orig. from Pennsylvania
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Posted by Modelcar on Wednesday, September 10, 2003 10:54 AM
....Another bit of trivia of the windmills: One can stand close to several and watch them run and sometimes they are turned in slightly different directions from each other. The computer complex controls all of their actions. I noted they will operate in a wind ranging from 8 to 55Mph...The elevation of the land of the ones I'm referring to in Pennsylvania is approx. 2000 to 2200'. They really do seem to perform easily in a slight wind.

Quentin

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Posted by Modelcar on Wednesday, September 10, 2003 10:54 AM
....Another bit of trivia of the windmills: One can stand close to several and watch them run and sometimes they are turned in slightly different directions from each other. The computer complex controls all of their actions. I noted they will operate in a wind ranging from 8 to 55Mph...The elevation of the land of the ones I'm referring to in Pennsylvania is approx. 2000 to 2200'. They really do seem to perform easily in a slight wind.

Quentin

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Posted by Mookie on Wednesday, September 10, 2003 6:41 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Modelcar

....These windmills are awesome to stand next to and watch them turn and do their thing of generating power. We have about 20 units now in my home area of Somerset Co., Pennsylvania. Each of the three blades are 95' long and the supporting tower is 210' tall. Very impressive and useful. I don't know how they were transported to the area.
We even have 2 here in Lincoln and I wasn't paying attention when they came here! Darn.

Jen

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by Mookie on Wednesday, September 10, 2003 6:41 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Modelcar

....These windmills are awesome to stand next to and watch them turn and do their thing of generating power. We have about 20 units now in my home area of Somerset Co., Pennsylvania. Each of the three blades are 95' long and the supporting tower is 210' tall. Very impressive and useful. I don't know how they were transported to the area.
We even have 2 here in Lincoln and I wasn't paying attention when they came here! Darn.

Jen

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by edblysard on Tuesday, September 9, 2003 11:02 PM
Jenny,
Aimee says the door is always open for you and your driver.
Uprr-mdc,
Yup, the blades hang over the ends of a 85 foot TTX flat, about 10 feet each end.
Stay Frosty,
Ed

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Posted by edblysard on Tuesday, September 9, 2003 11:02 PM
Jenny,
Aimee says the door is always open for you and your driver.
Uprr-mdc,
Yup, the blades hang over the ends of a 85 foot TTX flat, about 10 feet each end.
Stay Frosty,
Ed

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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 9, 2003 10:12 PM
I have seen some of these on truck trailers on their way to Chicago at a rest stop on I-80. They are massive. Must be a pain to load and unload. My dad and I paced them. They were close to a hundred feet long. Amazing!
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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 9, 2003 10:12 PM
I have seen some of these on truck trailers on their way to Chicago at a rest stop on I-80. They are massive. Must be a pain to load and unload. My dad and I paced them. They were close to a hundred feet long. Amazing!
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Posted by JoeKoh on Tuesday, September 9, 2003 7:12 AM
Ed
I can send you pictures of a towmotor to give your yardmaster and other bosses!
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 JoeKoh on Tuesday, September 9, 2003 7:12 AM
Ed
I can send you pictures of a towmotor to give your yardmaster and other bosses!
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 Mookie on Tuesday, September 9, 2003 6:52 AM
Ed: Tell Aimee to get the guest rooms ready. We are all going to come down and watch you work. You have the most fun of anyone on the whole forum!

Jen

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by Mookie on Tuesday, September 9, 2003 6:52 AM
Ed: Tell Aimee to get the guest rooms ready. We are all going to come down and watch you work. You have the most fun of anyone on the whole forum!

Jen

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by edblysard on Tuesday, September 9, 2003 12:28 AM
Hey there mudchicken,
No I wouldnt want to see them go by truck either, bet the fuel cost would be out of this world.
The blades are shipped in modified containers, they look purpose built just for the blades, and are designed so they can stack them on top of each other.
When the ships get here, the baldes are on the deck, with the nacells and generators and assorted hardward below decks.
We have to set an idler car between each blade cars because of the overhang.
Its a real pain to put these together.
You have to pull up a car or two, they set a blade down, then ahead two more, another blade, so forth and so on till all the baldes are loaded.
Then you get to back up a car, so they can set the nacells on the idler cars, back another two, so forth.
Set all of this over, get a new empty train, and start with the generators and hardware.
Of course, the whole time your dodging the welders who are welding the clamps and chains to the blade containers, and all the normal traffic you see on a city dock.
Did get to have fun moving a toyota pickup last time.
The moron parked directly on top of a switch,(all the track in the docks is set in concrete at street level) and left his pick up there.
Not a big problem, we were still putting the blades on some flats.
But six hours later, we needed the head room to pull up, and the truck was still there. Got the Port Authority cops to look around, they ran the tags, but still couldnt find the guy.
Now we got the guys unloading the ship POed, the ships captain is not to happy either, he has to get out of there tomorrow, and every minute spent not unloading his ship is time he dosnt have.
The UP trainmaster who was running the show was going to find a forklift and move it, but leave it up to a trainmaster, twenty different warehouses, and he cant find a tow motor or forklift!
He ordered us to just shove it out of the way, but I told him only if he brought me a UP motor, not going to scratch up the pilot or bend up the handrails on one of my PTRA motors.
The he decided to break out a window, and take it out of gear, but the cops wouldnt let him, its illegal, vandalism and breaking and entering.
The light finally went on, and under orders from the UP trainmaster, we cut off from the train, ran around the truck on the landside track, came back on the other side of the pickup, and took one of the chains the loaders were welding to the flats, hooked it around the rear axel of the truck and the rear knuckle, the welders poped a tack weld to it, and we went north. Truck went north too, all the way to the other track.
Welders cut the chain, and we went back to work.
The whole time we were doing this, the Port cops had vanished, something about a coffee break...

Truck was gone the next day, never heard a word from anybody about it, and the funny part is, no one parks on the tracks around there anymore!

You should have a new train on the way to you today, it was all put together yesterday.
Stay Frosty,
Ed

23 17 46 11

  • Member since
    March 2002
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Posted by edblysard on Tuesday, September 9, 2003 12:28 AM
Hey there mudchicken,
No I wouldnt want to see them go by truck either, bet the fuel cost would be out of this world.
The blades are shipped in modified containers, they look purpose built just for the blades, and are designed so they can stack them on top of each other.
When the ships get here, the baldes are on the deck, with the nacells and generators and assorted hardward below decks.
We have to set an idler car between each blade cars because of the overhang.
Its a real pain to put these together.
You have to pull up a car or two, they set a blade down, then ahead two more, another blade, so forth and so on till all the baldes are loaded.
Then you get to back up a car, so they can set the nacells on the idler cars, back another two, so forth.
Set all of this over, get a new empty train, and start with the generators and hardware.
Of course, the whole time your dodging the welders who are welding the clamps and chains to the blade containers, and all the normal traffic you see on a city dock.
Did get to have fun moving a toyota pickup last time.
The moron parked directly on top of a switch,(all the track in the docks is set in concrete at street level) and left his pick up there.
Not a big problem, we were still putting the blades on some flats.
But six hours later, we needed the head room to pull up, and the truck was still there. Got the Port Authority cops to look around, they ran the tags, but still couldnt find the guy.
Now we got the guys unloading the ship POed, the ships captain is not to happy either, he has to get out of there tomorrow, and every minute spent not unloading his ship is time he dosnt have.
The UP trainmaster who was running the show was going to find a forklift and move it, but leave it up to a trainmaster, twenty different warehouses, and he cant find a tow motor or forklift!
He ordered us to just shove it out of the way, but I told him only if he brought me a UP motor, not going to scratch up the pilot or bend up the handrails on one of my PTRA motors.
The he decided to break out a window, and take it out of gear, but the cops wouldnt let him, its illegal, vandalism and breaking and entering.
The light finally went on, and under orders from the UP trainmaster, we cut off from the train, ran around the truck on the landside track, came back on the other side of the pickup, and took one of the chains the loaders were welding to the flats, hooked it around the rear axel of the truck and the rear knuckle, the welders poped a tack weld to it, and we went north. Truck went north too, all the way to the other track.
Welders cut the chain, and we went back to work.
The whole time we were doing this, the Port cops had vanished, something about a coffee break...

Truck was gone the next day, never heard a word from anybody about it, and the funny part is, no one parks on the tracks around there anymore!

You should have a new train on the way to you today, it was all put together yesterday.
Stay Frosty,
Ed

23 17 46 11

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Posted by TH&B on Monday, September 8, 2003 3:11 PM
Speaking of windmills and lightrail, I heard somewhere that the lightrail system used in Calgery Alberta gets supposedly all its electricity from windmill farms! This may be hogwash or true I don't know, but the concept should be possible and is interesting. I wonder what they do when it's not windy out?
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Posted by TH&B on Monday, September 8, 2003 3:11 PM
Speaking of windmills and lightrail, I heard somewhere that the lightrail system used in Calgery Alberta gets supposedly all its electricity from windmill farms! This may be hogwash or true I don't know, but the concept should be possible and is interesting. I wonder what they do when it's not windy out?
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  • From: Muncie, Indiana...Orig. from Pennsylvania
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Posted by Modelcar on Monday, September 8, 2003 11:40 AM
....These windmills are awesome to stand next to and watch them turn and do their thing of generating power. We have about 20 units now in my home area of Somerset Co., Pennsylvania. Each of the three blades are 95' long and the supporting tower is 210' tall. Very impressive and useful. I don't know how they were transported to the area.

Quentin

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Muncie, Indiana...Orig. from Pennsylvania
  • 13,456 posts
Posted by Modelcar on Monday, September 8, 2003 11:40 AM
....These windmills are awesome to stand next to and watch them turn and do their thing of generating power. We have about 20 units now in my home area of Somerset Co., Pennsylvania. Each of the three blades are 95' long and the supporting tower is 210' tall. Very impressive and useful. I don't know how they were transported to the area.

Quentin

  • Member since
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  • From: Denver / La Junta
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Posted by mudchicken on Monday, September 8, 2003 9:51 AM
Ed:

Please keep shippin' those rascals. Working on the receiving end of the delivery pipeline at two sites. Would not want to see one of those industrial eggbeaters or industrial pinwheel assemblies try to go down the highway.

mchick'n
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 Monday, September 8, 2003 9:51 AM
Ed:

Please keep shippin' those rascals. Working on the receiving end of the delivery pipeline at two sites. Would not want to see one of those industrial eggbeaters or industrial pinwheel assemblies try to go down the highway.

mchick'n
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 edblysard on Monday, September 8, 2003 9:24 AM
I have a photo of the very first set of blade from the first set up being unloaded off the ship onto the flat cars.
These things are huge, one box of one blade is longer that a 85foot TTX flat.
Send me a e-mail address and I will send you a photo.
And it aint fair, UP gets the press, but we, the PTRA do the set up and first move, we have exclusive rights to all rail work in the city dock.
We marshel up all the flats, we store them, put it all together, do the inital air test, then drag it out of the docks, through our north yard to UP's basin yard, where we hand it off to a UP crew.
But we never get mentioned in the press.
If you have seen the GE comerical on TV that show the windmills, those ore the ones.
Stay Frosty,
Ed

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Posted by edblysard on Monday, September 8, 2003 9:24 AM
I have a photo of the very first set of blade from the first set up being unloaded off the ship onto the flat cars.
These things are huge, one box of one blade is longer that a 85foot TTX flat.
Send me a e-mail address and I will send you a photo.
And it aint fair, UP gets the press, but we, the PTRA do the set up and first move, we have exclusive rights to all rail work in the city dock.
We marshel up all the flats, we store them, put it all together, do the inital air test, then drag it out of the docks, through our north yard to UP's basin yard, where we hand it off to a UP crew.
But we never get mentioned in the press.
If you have seen the GE comerical on TV that show the windmills, those ore the ones.
Stay Frosty,
Ed

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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 8, 2003 9:10 AM
Ed-

There was a photo of the loads with the newsletter that won't come through, but they sure look interesting...

LC
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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 8, 2003 9:10 AM
Ed-

There was a photo of the loads with the newsletter that won't come through, but they sure look interesting...

LC
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Posted by edblysard on Monday, September 8, 2003 9:02 AM
LC,
So far, we are on the 6th windmill train out of the city docks.
We set one up yesterday, getting it ready for loading.
Pretty cool train to look at.
Stay Frosty,
Ed

23 17 46 11

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