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The Trackside Lounge, 3Q 2013

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  • Member since
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  • From: Kenosha, WI
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Posted by zardoz on Sunday, September 29, 2013 3:11 PM

zugmann

Rant.

I swear, I missed my calling.  I should be designing rail yards.  I sure can't do worse than some people.

End rant.

Bad day at work?

  • Member since
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  • From: Canterlot
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Posted by zugmann on Sunday, September 29, 2013 4:20 PM

zardoz

Bad day at work?

Nah. Just feeling nostalgic, or something.  Looking at what was given up for what was gained and wondering how it will all work. End result is to snap back in reality and know that isn't my job.

Maybe it should  be some day.

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any

  • Member since
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  • From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois
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Posted by CShaveRR on Sunday, September 29, 2013 6:51 PM

It isn't that these kids will be loud (in fact, I doubt that they'll make as much noise as my other grandchildren, whom I don't expect to be there).  But I can tell you from experience that just watching little kids tends to wear a grandparent out.  This past week we watched our seven-year-old granddaughter tie herself in and tackle a rock-climbing wall.  I don't know how she stuck with it as long as she did.

I found a few MQT box cars in Ludington this afternoon, but they weren't close enough for me to look at them for old numbers.  I was also smiled at by my 2 1/2-month-old grand-niece.  Sigh



Carl

Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)

CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

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  • From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois
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Posted by CShaveRR on Sunday, September 29, 2013 7:01 PM

As for that shortline idea, SJ, I'd settle for more frequent Amtrak service from Chicago to Holland or Grand Rapids.  Grand Haven had passenger service until Amtrak day, with daily trains that ran the 30 or so miles between Muskegon and Holland on the C&O, connecting at Holland with the Grand Rapids-Chicago trains.


The line to Grand Haven and Muskegon is still there, but it's now operated by the Michigan Shore Railroad north of Cannonball Juncton (yes, really, at least for a while).  South of there, CSX still operates the line to run coal trains to West Olive.

Carl

Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)

CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

  • Member since
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  • From: Burlington, WI
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Posted by rvos1979 on Sunday, September 29, 2013 8:52 PM

Carl:  Menards sells packs of ear plugs at a reasonable price.....

Burlington is counting down the days until the train horns are quiet again, they put in enough concrete medians to get the quiet zone back.  Taking bets on how long the medians will last, the one on Milwaukee Ave. already has tire marks and gouges from people hitting it, we may be buying plow blades this winter......

Back to work tomorrow, after a week of vacation.  Lots happened around the house, including my sister getting her daycare licensed, and me getting some projects finished around the house.  My sister is very pleased about her license.....

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

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Posted by tree68 on Sunday, September 29, 2013 9:38 PM

CShaveRR
But I can tell you from experience that just watching little kids tends to wear a grandparent out. 

Today on one of our trains, we had grandma and grandpa, their kids (two sets of moms and dads, don't know who was who) and a passle of grandchildren.  As I was moving through the train picking up tickets, I met G&G, with the passle of kids, headed for the baggage car (I like everyone to stay in their seats until I've lifted the tickets, but it was a big train, passenger-wise). 

G&G said I'd know who the parents were (they still had the kids' tickets) by the serene look on their faces...

LarryWhistling
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...

  • Member since
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  • From: Kenosha, WI
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Posted by zardoz on Monday, September 30, 2013 9:19 AM

rvos1979

Burlington is counting down the days until the train horns are quiet again, they put in enough concrete medians to get the quiet zone back.  Taking bets on how long the medians will last, the one on Milwaukee Ave. already has tire marks and gouges from people hitting it, we may be buying plow blades this winter......

Did CN recently raise the allowable speed through there recently?  I also see that CN closed the crossing on Hoosier Creek Road south of town; I bet that inconvenienced the residents.

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Posted by CShaveRR on Monday, September 30, 2013 2:52 PM

Thanks for the tip, Randy...I still have a goodly supply of company-issued plugs.  Unlike what SJ intimates, I wore those things every day to work!

(we just won't discuss how I wore them...)

Back home at the southwestern end of the commute.  Today we took a drive down Railroad Street in East Chicago, Indiana, which was at one time the Tank Car Capital of the World.  Much of the old General American plant is now an "industrial enterprise development center" or some such, with many fewer tracks than at one time (I think the last cars were built there in 1984...tank cars may have moved away before that).  And the Union Tank Car Company plant and one-time headquarters, closed a lot more recently, has been completely leveled.

Carl

Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)

CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

  • Member since
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  • From: Burlington, WI
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Posted by rvos1979 on Monday, September 30, 2013 4:31 PM
Zardoz: as far as I know, it's still 35 through town, and 50-60 on either side. Township raised a big stink over Hoosier Creek, the railroad commissioner closed it anyway.

The start of the whole mess in Burlington was when the city forgot to file their extension on time. They only have had seven years to make the upgrades......

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

  • Member since
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Posted by CNW 6000 on Monday, September 30, 2013 9:57 PM

Randy & Jim - I'll do a bit o' digging to see what I can find out on the score of speed.

Had an Alco visit today...VLIX 7222 came south on A416 today and is bound for the Mineral Range RR in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.  Looked nice paired with an ex-Oakway SD60 in sharp CN colors.

Enjoy the last night of the TSL: 3Q.  4Q will start tomorrow!  Wow...

Dan

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Posted by CNW 6000 on Tuesday, October 1, 2013 5:16 AM

Here's a link to the 4Q Edition:
http://cs.trains.com/trn/f/111/t/221053.aspx

Time to move over there!

Dan

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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 21, 2014 1:49 PM

Coolsunny luv at 75 degrees in cocoa florida. much luv on the old FECCool

Tags: FEC
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  • From: Denver / La Junta
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Posted by mudchicken on Tuesday, January 21, 2014 2:19 PM

rvos1979


The start of the whole mess in Burlington was when the city forgot to file their extension on time. They only have had seven years to make the upgrades......

I love it - consequences for the "untouchables"!

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 Anonymous on Friday, January 24, 2014 2:06 PM

Coolsomeone needs 2 be touched in these small town fiefdoms!!Cool

Tags: FEC

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