The pot of coffee is always on [even after 2 years have passed]. Come on in. Sweet ice tea too.

[jefelectric]

Good afternoon,

Laz, I was going to ask about the incline but Doug beat me to it.  I forgot when I did my first post about your pictures.

Beautiful day here, guess I am getting used to the hot weather.

Stopped at the LHS & picked up my power brick, now to do a little rewiring.

As a followup on the computer problem I previously mentioned, I found a free virus protection program that works with Win XP Pro x64. Avast is the one, had heard of it but never thought that a freebee would be the first.  Have it installed and working.  Thought I would log into the forum with the new box, but then another problem popped up.  When I log in the action buttons at the top and bottom of posts are not visable.  Anyone else had that problem.  I am using IE6 on both computers. Wierd?

Keep em running.

[csxt30]

Good Evening Everyone !! Wow, was it ever hot today & nothing would go right ! Only had 1 car to change a wheel on, too ! No nap at work today or anything, of course we had our Safety breakfeast at Bob Evans, though !! Ate too much !!

Well, in the midst of my trying to get The Chief going, I posted that picture of  a Shortline RR  eng, but it was really Buckeyes picture !!   Hope he didn't mind me stealin' it !! I always end up on the bottom when trying to get back at The Chief !! Ha !! I have too much fun on here !!

 

Hey, how about this one ? !!

Thanks, John,  "Worlds greatest Hobby Ambassador" !!   

 

[Buckeye Riveter]

John,

I just had to take a railroad security clearence test today.   Did you take that test?  It wasn't easy with the blue flags and red flags.  The HAZMAT section was a real treat, too.

[dougdagrump]

Howdy All, Our company, my niece and her family, left early, up at 3 am, this morning and my other half and I are completely pooped. I'm not used to trying to keep up with 7 and 4 yr old boys. They came in last friday so I didn't fool with going to see Mike W's presentation at the museum. They weren't supposed to leave til this saturday but her hubby's grandmother died so they had to cut it short. Did get to take the boys in yesterday morning to see the museum for a little bit, next visit I hope to let them do a little train running before we open in the morning.

John, Like that "Shortline", that one is almost as short as the N&S isn't it ?

   

[csxt30]

Buckeye: I don't know if my tests & classes were the same as yours, but Blue flags by day & blue flags & blue lights at night is a big rule for us. If we get caught working a track without it, it's 30 days off & if you get a 2nd. time, they say it's 10,000 dollar fine. Our Dept. is not allowed to get in gauge without locking & flagging  a track. It really is a good idea, as years ago, guys would be working on a car on a track, & a crew would throw cars in on top of them & so many guys lost legs or died even. When they switched over to roller brg. wheels, they were very quiet compared to the journal box wheels.  Now we are suppoosed to have hazmat training too, but haven't for a while, but that class is no fun either, usually I just get by, by the skin of my teeth. Run into the wind if there's a chlorine release, & fast !  Did you learn those International numbers ? Each RR gives classes & tests their employees. We have more Federal rules than Carters has Liver pills !! Watch out out there if you are by the Main. In fact , be carefull every minute you're out there.  

Thanks, John  

   

[csxt30]

John, Like that "Shortline", that one is almost as short as the N&S isn't it ?

   

Yes Doug !! I agree !! Why didn't I think of that ? !!

Thanks, John

[1688torpedo]

Hello All!   CsxJohn- Will you have to pay Buckeye a fee for the use of his shortline photo?  Mike C.- Thanks for the update on your son & you seem to be more upbeat about his situation.Hope that is the case & all goes well for him. Chief- You sure are a popular fellow for meetings in your Town. You must be the Stand-up Comedian for these meetings? Stay Cool & take care all.

[mitchelr]

Bob M., Included you will find one of the most valued decision making tools available at any price. No matter what the issue, personnel, systems implementations, or curriculum planning it can help you along your way to your needed answers.

 

 

dougdagrump - good one....  wish I had one on my desk... then some of the decisions I make might make sense.

Mitch

[mitchelr]

Mitch - I would like to see the research paper when you're finished.  I know that I spend a lot of time keeping the website updated so that the public gets a the latest information form the district.  Programs like PowerSchool are becoming more and more popular as they have a lot of ways to keep various records.  Good luck.

TomS - The research is for a State Dept of Ed project , They are trying to develop resources for administrators who are trying to become proficient in relation to the state and national technology standards for administrators.  The two aspects I mentioned have proven difficult to find examples.

Mitch

[Buckeye Riveter]

Buckeye: I don't know if my tests & classes were the same as yours, but Blue flags by day & blue flags & blue lights at night is a big rule for us. If we get caught working a track without it, it's 30 days off & if you get a 2nd. time, they say it's 10,000 dollar fine. Our Dept. is not allowed to get in gauge without locking & flagging  a track. It really is a good idea, as years ago, guys would be working on a car on a track, & a crew would throw cars in on top of them & so many guys lost legs or died even. When they switched over to roller brg. wheels, they were very quiet compared to the journal box wheels.  Now we are suppoosed to have hazmat training too, but haven't for a while, but that class is no fun either, usually I just get by, by the skin of my teeth. Run into the wind if there's a chlorine release, & fast !  Did you learn those International numbers ? Each RR gives classes & tests their employees. We have more Federal rules than Carters has Liver pills !! Watch out out there if you are by the Main. In fact , be carefull every minute you're out there.  

Thanks, John  

   

John, I hadn't thought about the change in the bearings reducing the noise, but twenty years ago I had to do bridge inspections around the South Shore Railroad in NW Indiana.  We had to be very careful because the electified trains made very little noise even at high speeeds.   There was one bridge on the Indiana Toll Road that we refused to inspect because it was too dangerous with the electrical overhead cantanary.  

Working in NW Indiana also had its other dangers.  First it is the only place I have done surveying and had to step over dead rats in the street.   One day we were out  by a place named Wolf Lake on the Indiana-Illinois border to look at a toll road bridge.  My inspector told me to look him in the eyes and don't look around.  He told me to head to the car, but again don't look around.  We got in the car and he told me where to look and there was this guy watching us from a distance and he wasn't the law.   My inspector, a very worldly type of individual thought we had interrupted a drug buy. 

In Gary, Indiana the toll road crosses over top the sewage plant.  When we would inspect the bridge above the plant, the treatment plant provided us an armed guard while we worked.   On the eastern end of the toll road you would think things would be tame in the country, but there we always ran into rattlesnakes. 

When we do measurements on railroad bridges we are required to be tied off if we are outside the rails.   Of course we have a flagman from the railroad.  I need to convince the project managers on this type of project that we need to use survey firms that can do 3D laser surverys.  Much quicker and safer.

LAZ, eat your heart out.  Tomorrow I play golf and get paid for it.  A great gig if you can get it.

[ChiefEagles]

Buckeye, the reason you had a guard was, most states have a guard with their chain gangs.  CSX is the shortest short line.  Remember the Buckeye gave me an Ohizo RR map.  Lots more NS trackage than CSX.   In fact, that engine probably has to go backwards for the full run as there are no Y's long enough on teh CSX to turn it around.

Keith and I had a conversation.  A great one and very long.  You know [knowing me] he did most of the talking.

Dougsnotagrump, since you are now siding with the short line CSX Nawthern crowd, we are going to make the left bank wiggle a little.

Hazmat training in the Nawth is in case we send an exploding GRITS box car. 

Later.

[ChiefEagles]

OH Buckeye, met a guy here in Roseyville wearing a OSU shirt.  I asked him if he was from Ohizo.  His answer was yes.  His wife now has a NC license plate #1 BUKEYE as plate #1 BUCKEYE is already taken.  Both are due to be arrested tomorrow AM and deported from NC tomorrow PM.

[Brutus]

Just getting caught up - it's been 2 days and lots of posts.  St. Louis got hit bad with a huge storm cell.  Lights went out in Arnold about 7:50.  Some parts still don't have power, and that's just in Arnold.  There are about 0.5 Million who lost power and temps near 100 today.  They hope to have that down to about 200,000 within 72 hours.  We were without power for about 6 hours, but most were not so lucky!  Turns out there were 2 tornadoes, one at Jefferson Barracks which is very close to my house.  Part of the roof of the airport ended up on 70.  The Switzer building partially collapsed.  The list goes on and on.  Anyway, please pray for all those here in the St. Louis area who are in a bad way right now.

Mike - I pray that God will grant the doctors and nurses the wisdom and skill to cure your son and that this time will bring you all closer to each other and to Him.

Gil - God bless you in this time of loss.

I'll post some pics of the storm from local tv stations later - didn't want to forget to get those last two prayers in before I go to bed tonight!

Congrats on the article David - I hope they publish it.  If they do, post and let us know what issue to buy.

Cool layout Laz - but I don't understand what that steep graded track with the cars with string are all about???  (added) Never mind, found your later post about the coal breaker.  I think I saw that movie once.

[Brutus]

Picks from KSDK.COM

 

 

 

These were ones with trains/tracks in them...  I think the engineer on that freight needs to take a safety course!  Or at least work on parallel parking skills!

[Buckeye Riveter]

OH Buckeye, met a guy here in Roseyville wearing a OSU shirt.  I asked him if he was from Ohizo.  His answer was yes.  His wife now has a NC license plate #1 BUKEYE as plate #1 BUCKEYE is already taken.  Both are due to be arrested tomorrow AM and deported from NC tomorrow PM.

The great land grab has commenced.  Bill Sherman would be so proud.

[dougdagrump]

Chief, Have a little mercy on us left bankers, it's been to dang hot to wiggle. You work up a sweat just sittin' still. Plus I gotta support my "Shortline", afterall they did absorb one of my former employers. The Baltimore and Ohio ! 

[mitchelr]

Good morning from Gettysburg.  I was browsing another site and found this little article about today's date in history.  Since the Battle of Northern Aggression is often re-fought on these pages,  I thought Chief and some of his Southern Sympathizers might enjoy this quote.

Today in 1861 the First Battle of Bull Run begins:
The first major land battle in the American Civil War began today at Manassas Junction, Virginia. Despite early victories in the First Battle of Bull Run, the Union Army was forced to retreat back to Washington, D.C. "For the South, Bull Run was confirmation of the long held theory that one Southern fighting man was the equivalent of seven cowardly Northern clerks," wrote The Gettysburg Times on July 17, 1961. "For the North, the first reaction was shock; then grim determination. Abraham Lincoln had just returned from an evening carriage ride when word of the disaster reached official Washington. He sat up all night, reclining on a couch and listened to the takes of eye witnesses."

Hope everyone has a great day.

Mitch

[Blueberryhill RR]

Good Morning from Blueberryhill............

It's gonna be cloudy today. High about 84. Maybe rain. Humid.

The back yard grass still needs to be cut. Maybe tomorrow. Depends on the weather. About an hour's worth of work.  Nothing much going on here.  Looks like the next week will be a little cooler.

I have been doing some work on the layout, in the afternoons, when it is too hot to be outside. Getting things done slowly.

Time for breakfast. Be back later.

Y'all have a great day.

Chuck

[ChiefEagles]

Morning all.  Just had to type the short version of a charger class on one of the fishing forums.  Trimming to grind.   Better get going before it gets hot.

Yes, run them Yanks back to DC.

Good to talk to Keith last night.  Jim A is on the way back to the lake in NH.  Time for coffee and grits.  Have a good one.

[laz 57]

Hi GIZ,

  Its FRIDAY!!!!! Yeah. 

BUCKEYE hope you hit em far and straight today, remember keep your head down and slow on the back swing.

Yesterday played GOLF against my brother was up by one going into the last hole and had 120 yards to the green for my second shot on the par 4 and took a pitching wedge and hit it about 145 yrds into the parking lot. I lost by one shot.  Better lay off the weights?

Getting hot today and muggy.

All have a good one going to work on layout later.

laz57

[cnw1995]

G'morning from a cool and hazy Chicago. Rain gone. Didn't lose power - unlike so many. Even got to work on time today with downed trees, broken traffic lights, etc. Spent a lot of time yesterday taking the son to pick up his contact lenses - and trying to get a new cell phone for the bride whose phone died somehow - only way I could afford one was to re-up for another 2 years - and even then it was more than a new trolley would cost... (these days I'm measuring things in how many O gauge trolleys I could buy instead). Now having banned the entire family from iTunes, I'm going to try to figure out who's charging my credit card for music downloads...(I noticed ones that occured while we were on vacation). Of course, there's no phone number to reach anyone anywhere... Ah well, did manage to set up some forumite meet-and-greets using layout figures I hope to photo for you on Sunday...

Praying for Lucas to be healed...

[cnw1995]

Almost forgot to mention - got the new CTT (and it was dry) and unlike my usual savoring that lasts a month, I devoured it in one reading on the train this morning - a nice issue - wait'll you see some of the layouts. Only downside - I ran out of pages to pore over.

[Anonymous]

John wrote:  I don't know if my tests & classes were the same as yours, but Blue flags by day & blue flags & blue lights at night is a big rule for us. If we get caught working a track without it, it's 30 days off & if you get a 2nd. time, they say it's 10,000 dollar fine. Our Dept. is not allowed to get in gauge without locking & flagging  a track. It really is a good idea, as years ago, guys would be working on a car on a track, & a crew would throw cars in on top of them & so many guys lost legs or died even. When they switched over to roller brg. wheels, they were very quiet compared to the journal box wheels.  Now we are suppoosed to have hazmat training too, but haven't for a while, but that class is no fun either, usually I just get by, by the skin of my teeth. Run into the wind if there's a chlorine release, & fast !  Did you learn those International numbers ? Each RR gives classes & tests their employees. We have more Federal rules than Carters has Liver pills !! Watch out out there if you are by the Main. In fact , be carefull every minute you're out there.  

Thanks, John  

 

That is facinating reading John.

 

You ought write a weekey colum here.

 

You write well by the way.

 

Good morning all, I want to thank you for the kinf words and thoughts on the lose of our Mother that you expressed on the Guage forun.

 

Thank you again.

 

Today is an other 90* plus day it looks like and I think I will take my white less and ample girth to the city pool and get some sun before summer is over.

[Blueberryhill RR]

So, anyway, LAZ, Doug, Chief, GilFinn, etc, what is happening?

Today is Friday and we are happy.

Chuck

[tschmidt]

Chuck, you are right...it's Friday!!!  I am out of this office in about 45 minutes and looking forward to getting home.  I am also looking forward to 4 of the kids being in town for the weekend.  It's always great when they are home. 

Hopefully I can get a few chores done tomorrow morning and then enjoy the rest of the weekend. 

Have a good one all!
TomS

[dbaker48]

At the risk of boring you guys, I've getting so excited about our future plans, just need to tell someone.

We cancelled out of our 400 sqft train room addition due to a $25k increase in price.  So plan B was revisited, and then I believe we are going to implement Plan C.  (Plan B is using a 10x12 guest room, plan C is installing a 20x14 patio room.  Plan C has won

Visited a showroom and they had our exact room on display, looks great!  And only takes 6-8 weeks from concept to complition.  City even likes it, permit process ends up being over the counter.  Only down side is need to relocate the compressor for the air conditioner.

So..  Getting quotes on A/C , and pushing ahead.  Back to RR software for redoing another layout.

Later 

[cnw1995]

Great news, Don. Quiet day here - getting lots done - going home in an hour.

[ChiefEagles]

Soaked the garden and watered Pam's flowers [major operation].  Ground all the trimmings so that job is done.  Picked a lot of tomatoes, okra, and cucumbers.  Now to shower and take Pam to Lowes.  Glad she goes back to work Momday.   Later. 

[csxt30]

Good Afternoon Everyone !!

Don : glad to hear you have Plan C going into operation now !! Im guessing that by Thanksgiving time, we will see you running trains on the new layout !!    

Gill : thanks ! Hope you got some sun tan today ! It was cloudy & sunny here off & on today. Also glad it's Friday !! Though, I have to work again Sunday, nice on payday !!

Well, now to do a little bit more research for The Chief !! He must have picked up some missconceptions along the way !! The real truth is that N & S is much SMALLER than us !! We are huge in Intermodal !! Our containers end up all over the world !! N&S just does a little coal business !! Why up here, they don't even have a Dble. mainline track ! They rely on passing sidings & are always tying up the cities, plus they go so slow, too !! CSX is always ZOOMING by on their adjacent Dble. mainline tracks !!  Yes, people like to wait for a CSX train to go by !!  That's why CSX'S logo says,

" TRUSTED TO MOVE AMERICA " !! Well, I hope The Chief doesn't take this too hard !!

Hope everyone has a nice weekend !!

Thanks, John

[ChiefEagles]

Good Afternoon Everyone !!

Don : glad to hear you have Plan C going into operation now !! Im guessing that by Thanksgiving time, we will see you running trains on the new layout !!    

Gill : thanks ! Hope you got some sun tan today ! It was cloudy & sunny here off & on today. Also glad it's Friday !! Though, I have to work again Sunday, nice on payday !!

Well, now to do a little bit more research for The Chief !! He must have picked up some missconceptions along the way !! The real truth is that N & S is much SMALLER than us !! We are huge in Intermodal !! Our containers end up all over the world !! N&S just does a little coal business !! Why up here, they don't even have a Dble. mainline track ! They rely on passing sidings & are always tying up the cities, plus they go so slow, too !! CSX is always ZOOMING by on their adjacent Dble. mainline tracks !!  Yes, people like to wait for a CSX train to go by !!  That's why CSX'S logo says,

" TRUSTED TO MOVE AMERICA " !! Well, I hope The Chief doesn't take this too hard !!

Hope everyone has a nice weekend !!

Thanks, John

John, you need to read the August Trains Magazine.  The one with The China factor on the front.  the graph shows BNSF carries 34% of the Intermodal traffic, CP 27%, NS 21%, UP 19%, CN 18% & CSX 16%.   So, drag your little CSX railroad around with its tiny motive power.   Just like a Yankee to get his facts screwed up.  [pictures show up on the post but did not when I went back?????]