Railfan conversion under way!

[Kathi Kube]

Joe--coming to Defiance for a picnic sounds like a lot of fun. I don't know if I'll be able to swing it yet this year, but if not, I'll try to make it out there in spring.

Limitedclear--It seems perhaps your local HOOTERS is just the right place to bring non-railfans. You're an interesting one, LC. Enjoy.

Tim--Please tell your wife for me that of course you're nuts. That's the best part. Who wants to be dull? Life's too short not to enjoy every minute. (Ask my rock-drummer husband or teenage daughters who like to dye their hair purple and pink.)

Nora--Great to hear from another female railfan. Living so close to such railroading action it'd be hard not to fall in love with trains. Love your Web site (and your little guys are WAY TOO cute!)

Rich--Didn't intend to keep the restaurant's name secret. It's Chancery in Wauwatosa, a slightly western suburb of Milwaukee, within Milwaukee County. In case you plan to come up here for a visit, it's in the valley at 7615 W. State Street. Nice variety of yummy food, too. (See http://www.jsonline.com/food/youaskedforit/chancery.asp for some of their recipes.) The CPR main line that passes alongside the restaurant is double-tracked and is part of the network between Detroit and Minneapolis (lots of car carriers!).

Everyone--Sounds like there's a whole lotta convertin' goin' on. Yay! Let's keep it going!

Kathi

[Kathi Kube]

Joe--coming to Defiance for a picnic sounds like a lot of fun. I don't know if I'll be able to swing it yet this year, but if not, I'll try to make it out there in spring.

Limitedclear--It seems perhaps your local HOOTERS is just the right place to bring non-railfans. You're an interesting one, LC. Enjoy.

Tim--Please tell your wife for me that of course you're nuts. That's the best part. Who wants to be dull? Life's too short not to enjoy every minute. (Ask my rock-drummer husband or teenage daughters who like to dye their hair purple and pink.)

Nora--Great to hear from another female railfan. Living so close to such railroading action it'd be hard not to fall in love with trains. Love your Web site (and your little guys are WAY TOO cute!)

Rich--Didn't intend to keep the restaurant's name secret. It's Chancery in Wauwatosa, a slightly western suburb of Milwaukee, within Milwaukee County. In case you plan to come up here for a visit, it's in the valley at 7615 W. State Street. Nice variety of yummy food, too. (See http://www.jsonline.com/food/youaskedforit/chancery.asp for some of their recipes.) The CPR main line that passes alongside the restaurant is double-tracked and is part of the network between Detroit and Minneapolis (lots of car carriers!).

Everyone--Sounds like there's a whole lotta convertin' goin' on. Yay! Let's keep it going!

Kathi

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by edblysard

Hi Wabash,
You guys have butt weasels too?
Wow, I thought this was the only railroad where they punished the guys who worked hard, and rewarded the slackers who screw off.
Still havent fighred out why they do that?
Stay Frosty,
Ed

Mookie is busy adding weasels to her list of animals on the railroad!

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by edblysard

Hi Wabash,
You guys have butt weasels too?
Wow, I thought this was the only railroad where they punished the guys who worked hard, and rewarded the slackers who screw off.
Still havent fighred out why they do that?
Stay Frosty,
Ed

Mookie is busy adding weasels to her list of animals on the railroad!

[wabash1]

Im not worried about being bumped by conrail guys, and NO i am not on the old N&W side i wouldnt lower myself to that standard. so that should tell you what agreement i am under.

Ed yes we have the but weasels and i can tell you this, they do have compition to see how many guys they can get on the start program i wont take the start they can take me to investigation. and prove what they think they saw. then pay me for the jobs i missed. a paid unexspected vacation. and if it is snowing and cold its even more wecome.

[wabash1]

Im not worried about being bumped by conrail guys, and NO i am not on the old N&W side i wouldnt lower myself to that standard. so that should tell you what agreement i am under.

Ed yes we have the but weasels and i can tell you this, they do have compition to see how many guys they can get on the start program i wont take the start they can take me to investigation. and prove what they think they saw. then pay me for the jobs i missed. a paid unexspected vacation. and if it is snowing and cold its even more wecome.

[Anonymous]

Kathi:

Why are you keeping the name of the restaurant and its location a secret?

Rich Witt

[Anonymous]

Kathi:

Why are you keeping the name of the restaurant and its location a secret?

Rich Witt

[bfsfabs]

Marty,

I'm envious, maybe even jealous (sp?). Do not let her get away !

Typin' at Ya,

[bfsfabs]

Marty,

I'm envious, maybe even jealous (sp?). Do not let her get away !

Typin' at Ya,

[Anonymous]

When my soon to be wife found out that I was into trains, she made me go to my storage and dig out all of my model train stuff. While I was unpacking the boxes she asked me how many locomotives I had. I took a quick count of 78. She proceeded to tell me that we're now shooting for 100 [:D][:D] This is a woman that totally has my heart. [8D] She really wants my to go back to the UP and try and get my job back, no matter what shift i'll get stuck with. [^] I want to take her to the Portola RR Museum and rent a loco for her so she can feel what it's like to operate a unit. [:)] There is no conversion needed here [:D][8D][:p]

[Anonymous]

When my soon to be wife found out that I was into trains, she made me go to my storage and dig out all of my model train stuff. While I was unpacking the boxes she asked me how many locomotives I had. I took a quick count of 78. She proceeded to tell me that we're now shooting for 100 [:D][:D] This is a woman that totally has my heart. [8D] She really wants my to go back to the UP and try and get my job back, no matter what shift i'll get stuck with. [^] I want to take her to the Portola RR Museum and rent a loco for her so she can feel what it's like to operate a unit. [:)] There is no conversion needed here [:D][8D][:p]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by wabash1

First off you couldnt come bump into my territory, but your wecome to come and visit. second i know of 1 weasel on the net but he dont know who i am. ( and i am keeping it that way) and last but not least, It is easy to get people on and off the train with out being detected.

limited clear are xb is turning also, as you see i am not on here that much, and the weasels was out again last night. i just cant understand why they want to fire the guys who work and leave the non productive guys alone. in any other industry they go after the slackers here they go after the productivity.

Wabash-

Hey, don't sweat it, I'm not planning on heading west anytime soon. I suspect from your choice of name that you are on part of the old NS (N&W) and my seniority doesn't extend to your district as an Ex-Con[rail]. I could head out as far west as Chicago and when I was furloughed for a bit in 2001 I had a chance to go south to AL or MS (even though that is Southern Agreement). Luckily for me, a bunch of guys older than me who were also furloughed went west and stayed. The resulting jump in seniority for me has made it so I can hold some really good jobs. I can now hold my chice of 2 pools and a couple of decent locals including our local/yard relief job. So staying was a good call.

The whole weed weasel thing is completely ridiculous. It is as bad as cops seeing who can write the most tickets. When the SAT teams come it is just an excuse for some weasel from another district to screw guys he has no responsibility for and no relationship with. I have heard the supervisors have competitions to see how many they can get into START at a throw. At any given time about 15-20% of our guys are on the beach awaiting investigation for some petty BS, and they wonder why trains are being held for crews...

LC

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by wabash1

First off you couldnt come bump into my territory, but your wecome to come and visit. second i know of 1 weasel on the net but he dont know who i am. ( and i am keeping it that way) and last but not least, It is easy to get people on and off the train with out being detected.

limited clear are xb is turning also, as you see i am not on here that much, and the weasels was out again last night. i just cant understand why they want to fire the guys who work and leave the non productive guys alone. in any other industry they go after the slackers here they go after the productivity.

Wabash-

Hey, don't sweat it, I'm not planning on heading west anytime soon. I suspect from your choice of name that you are on part of the old NS (N&W) and my seniority doesn't extend to your district as an Ex-Con[rail]. I could head out as far west as Chicago and when I was furloughed for a bit in 2001 I had a chance to go south to AL or MS (even though that is Southern Agreement). Luckily for me, a bunch of guys older than me who were also furloughed went west and stayed. The resulting jump in seniority for me has made it so I can hold some really good jobs. I can now hold my chice of 2 pools and a couple of decent locals including our local/yard relief job. So staying was a good call.

The whole weed weasel thing is completely ridiculous. It is as bad as cops seeing who can write the most tickets. When the SAT teams come it is just an excuse for some weasel from another district to screw guys he has no responsibility for and no relationship with. I have heard the supervisors have competitions to see how many they can get into START at a throw. At any given time about 15-20% of our guys are on the beach awaiting investigation for some petty BS, and they wonder why trains are being held for crews...

LC

[edblysard]

Hi Wabash,
You guys have butt weasels too?
Wow, I thought this was the only railroad where they punished the guys who worked hard, and rewarded the slackers who screw off.
Still havent fighred out why they do that?
Stay Frosty,
Ed

[edblysard]

Hi Wabash,
You guys have butt weasels too?
Wow, I thought this was the only railroad where they punished the guys who worked hard, and rewarded the slackers who screw off.
Still havent fighred out why they do that?
Stay Frosty,
Ed

[wabash1]

First off you couldnt come bump into my territory, but your wecome to come and visit. second i know of 1 weasel on the net but he dont know who i am. ( and i am keeping it that way) and last but not least, It is easy to get people on and off the train with out being detected.

limited clear are xb is turning also, as you see i am not on here that much, and the weasels was out again last night. i just cant understand why they want to fire the guys who work and leave the non productive guys alone. in any other industry they go after the slackers here they go after the productivity.

[wabash1]

First off you couldnt come bump into my territory, but your wecome to come and visit. second i know of 1 weasel on the net but he dont know who i am. ( and i am keeping it that way) and last but not least, It is easy to get people on and off the train with out being detected.

limited clear are xb is turning also, as you see i am not on here that much, and the weasels was out again last night. i just cant understand why they want to fire the guys who work and leave the non productive guys alone. in any other industry they go after the slackers here they go after the productivity.

[Anonymous]

ValleyX-

Thanks for the vote of confidence, but don't worry, I'm able to hold some decent stuff at last and if I really want to make money the XL is turning pretty well now. We have enough trains so some are even being held for crews. Of course it frazzles the nerves a bit with the callers after yhou on your off days, but at least we're all working...

I also keep my ID secret, you never know with the NS. I'll bet they do have "Web Weasels" just like the other kind...

LC

[Anonymous]

ValleyX-

Thanks for the vote of confidence, but don't worry, I'm able to hold some decent stuff at last and if I really want to make money the XL is turning pretty well now. We have enough trains so some are even being held for crews. Of course it frazzles the nerves a bit with the callers after yhou on your off days, but at least we're all working...

I also keep my ID secret, you never know with the NS. I'll bet they do have "Web Weasels" just like the other kind...

LC

[Anonymous]

As a 53 year old frustrated, long haul locomotive engineer (WANNA BE) I have recently found it necessary to buy a digital camera and take pictures of any trains I come across. I show them to my friends and co-workers....some think I'm a little soft and the others think I should be paying more attention to photographic detail. They actually liked the pics.

My point is that I find myself asking people if they like 'trains.' And to my surprise most people I have asked say that they would stop, if convienent, and watch a train pass by, or maybe even go a bit out of there way and watch a train. Hmmm.... I was rather surprised by my tiny survey.

A quick story:

As an outside sales person that travels quite a bit to various locations in the USA, I have a luxuary of being able to veiw a lot of differant rail companies and equipment. Trouble is I don't know of a lot of GOOD viewing sites. I recently was in Jacksonville Florida on business and was finished with my long drive for the day. I got the bright idea that I wanted to go somewhere close by and get my fill of diesel fumes, box cars,wheel screech etc...etc.SO, I sheepishly asked the hotel fornt desk person if there were any railroads in the area? Thinking I'd get an afferative response, I was told that they had no idea where the nearest train station was.....except there was an Amtrak station somewhat nearby. OK , I thought , I will drive in that direction and go from there. I found the Amtrak Terminal and walked through the station to the platform to look at a parked, live locomotive. I was stopped by the station master and was asked to leave the premises if I did not have a ticket or was there to see off a passenger. I was told it was 'Rules.' When I asked if there was a freight line in the area the response was 'I am not at liberty to tell you anything about the railroad at this location or any other locations!!' SO much for my excitement for that enening. (Note: as I was leaving the station there was a fast frieght headed North.)

I guess we have Osama to blame for my failed attempt to see a train that evening. Up close I mean.

However, I will keep on trying to look at trains wherever I am and promote RAILFANS. I'm also will keep on asking people if they like trains.....and if they don't care.....I'm gunna educate 'um!!

Thanks, Hycappy.

[Anonymous]

As a 53 year old frustrated, long haul locomotive engineer (WANNA BE) I have recently found it necessary to buy a digital camera and take pictures of any trains I come across. I show them to my friends and co-workers....some think I'm a little soft and the others think I should be paying more attention to photographic detail. They actually liked the pics.

My point is that I find myself asking people if they like 'trains.' And to my surprise most people I have asked say that they would stop, if convienent, and watch a train pass by, or maybe even go a bit out of there way and watch a train. Hmmm.... I was rather surprised by my tiny survey.

A quick story:

As an outside sales person that travels quite a bit to various locations in the USA, I have a luxuary of being able to veiw a lot of differant rail companies and equipment. Trouble is I don't know of a lot of GOOD viewing sites. I recently was in Jacksonville Florida on business and was finished with my long drive for the day. I got the bright idea that I wanted to go somewhere close by and get my fill of diesel fumes, box cars,wheel screech etc...etc.SO, I sheepishly asked the hotel fornt desk person if there were any railroads in the area? Thinking I'd get an afferative response, I was told that they had no idea where the nearest train station was.....except there was an Amtrak station somewhat nearby. OK , I thought , I will drive in that direction and go from there. I found the Amtrak Terminal and walked through the station to the platform to look at a parked, live locomotive. I was stopped by the station master and was asked to leave the premises if I did not have a ticket or was there to see off a passenger. I was told it was 'Rules.' When I asked if there was a freight line in the area the response was 'I am not at liberty to tell you anything about the railroad at this location or any other locations!!' SO much for my excitement for that enening. (Note: as I was leaving the station there was a fast frieght headed North.)

I guess we have Osama to blame for my failed attempt to see a train that evening. Up close I mean.

However, I will keep on trying to look at trains wherever I am and promote RAILFANS. I'm also will keep on asking people if they like trains.....and if they don't care.....I'm gunna educate 'um!!

Thanks, Hycappy.

[ValleyX]

Hey, I'm on the NKP (BT) Roster, come on out, I don't know who Wabash is but since this is a public forum, that's probably a good thing. I always wanted to take my kids along but fear of getting caught or that being the trip that SOMETHING would go wrong has kept me from it. I've seen it done, though, but that was many years ago, more than 20, I'd say.

[ValleyX]

Hey, I'm on the NKP (BT) Roster, come on out, I don't know who Wabash is but since this is a public forum, that's probably a good thing. I always wanted to take my kids along but fear of getting caught or that being the trip that SOMETHING would go wrong has kept me from it. I've seen it done, though, but that was many years ago, more than 20, I'd say.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by wabash1

The biggest problem in railfanning is that most closet railfans have the impression its a kid thing they are to be grown up adults. so they dont go out of the way to see trains but will not go out of the way to beat one or will go out of the way to get stopped by one. And I have let little boys with there kids in tow on the engine let them play with the horn and rev the engine release the brakes and just have fun at the controlls. Someday ( when I know i wont get caught) I will give some lucky person a ride on the lead unit looking at what i see feeling what i feel it be about a 60 mile ride down the main at track speed. ( I hope i can get them off the engine at that point) .

Wabash-

I agree about the closet railfans. It is amazing how many you see at museums or excursion trains.

60 mph!! I wish our district was that fast. Best we can do is 50 mph except for when we get on NJT (haven't done thaqt in quite a while as I would have to swap terminals...). So, maybe I'll come out there and bump somebody...lol...are you on the Nickel Plate Agreement?

LC
3...2...ON the STOP! BANG![:D]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by wabash1

The biggest problem in railfanning is that most closet railfans have the impression its a kid thing they are to be grown up adults. so they dont go out of the way to see trains but will not go out of the way to beat one or will go out of the way to get stopped by one. And I have let little boys with there kids in tow on the engine let them play with the horn and rev the engine release the brakes and just have fun at the controlls. Someday ( when I know i wont get caught) I will give some lucky person a ride on the lead unit looking at what i see feeling what i feel it be about a 60 mile ride down the main at track speed. ( I hope i can get them off the engine at that point) .

Wabash-

I agree about the closet railfans. It is amazing how many you see at museums or excursion trains.

60 mph!! I wish our district was that fast. Best we can do is 50 mph except for when we get on NJT (haven't done thaqt in quite a while as I would have to swap terminals...). So, maybe I'll come out there and bump somebody...lol...are you on the Nickel Plate Agreement?

LC
3...2...ON the STOP! BANG![:D]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TARGUBRIGHT

I showed these postings to my wife. I explained how it is a inexpensive, safe, clean hobby for me and my boy's. She still thinks I'm nuts.
TIM A

Tim-

Try this. Take your kids fishing. Make certain at least one of them falls in the lake and the other is muddy from head to foot. Bring them home and let the kids track the mud in. Clean whatever fish you caught in the kitchen sink, getting guts all over. Then, explain to your wife she needs to cook the catch for the young fishermen and clean them up.

After dinner, tell your wife what a trying day you had trying to keep the kids from putting each other's eyes out with the fishing pole or hook and fishing them out of the lake (or stream or ocean).

OK, you with me so far.

Explain about how expensive it was to buy fishing equipment and licenses, etc and how much of it was lost in the rocks or broken .

NOW, ask her if she wouldn't mind if next time perhaps you took the kids to watch a few trains...

Works like a charm. BTW, I still love to fish and so does my dad and my brother.

LC

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TARGUBRIGHT

I showed these postings to my wife. I explained how it is a inexpensive, safe, clean hobby for me and my boy's. She still thinks I'm nuts.
TIM A

Tim-

Try this. Take your kids fishing. Make certain at least one of them falls in the lake and the other is muddy from head to foot. Bring them home and let the kids track the mud in. Clean whatever fish you caught in the kitchen sink, getting guts all over. Then, explain to your wife she needs to cook the catch for the young fishermen and clean them up.

After dinner, tell your wife what a trying day you had trying to keep the kids from putting each other's eyes out with the fishing pole or hook and fishing them out of the lake (or stream or ocean).

OK, you with me so far.

Explain about how expensive it was to buy fishing equipment and licenses, etc and how much of it was lost in the rocks or broken .

NOW, ask her if she wouldn't mind if next time perhaps you took the kids to watch a few trains...

Works like a charm. BTW, I still love to fish and so does my dad and my brother.

LC

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Kathi Kube
And, more importantly, where in your area can you take people who don't yet understand the entertainment value in watching trains to gently pu***hem toward railfandom?

Kathi

OK Kathi, but just remember, you asked...

One of my favorite spot for luxury train watching with those new and old to the hobby, when I'm in town is HOOTERS at the Carousel Mall in Syracuse, NY overlooking the former Conrail, now CSX Water Level Route. Also visible from the massive windows are the RDC cars of Ontrack the local "excursion" service connecting the Mall to downtown Syracuse and Syracuse University and the "yellowjackets of the NYS&W making their way to and from Dewitt Yard with the daily interchange and the Amtrak Empire Corridor trains and Late Shore Limited too. There is also "other" scenery[:D], but it isn't threatening. And yes, the wings are pretty darn good.

LC [8D]