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D.O.D. Train at Eola

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Posted by CopCarSS on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 5:21 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by eolafan

[xx(] Chris, I have driven over the old rickety bridge many times back in the 1970's but they built a really upscale subdivision on the North side of the yard beginning in the 1980's and the bridge had to go (imagine $750,000 plus homes right next to a really busy rail yard and nobody compains!). Well, the area has really changed. Until about six or seven years ago Eola Road was two lanes of really sleepy road but it could get really backed up at either rush hour and especially when trains would block the old Eola Rd. crossing at the main (it has eight tracks to cross there) so they built the overpass and Eola is now four lanes in total and can still get very busy but the difference is now cars go 60 mph plus in a 40 mph zone (really scarey some times!). The McClure Road crossing near the yard offices is now THE spot to watch trains, only wi***he westbound signals were easier to see from the little parking lot (they are just about fifty yards to the east of the lot and impossible to see from that angle, the eastbound signals are about a half mile to the east and pretty easy to see espeically with binoculars).


Been there many times. Still will go hang out for a day sometimes when I'm back visiting around Thanksgiving and Christmas. Along with the signals, I wi***here was public access around the locomotives on the north side of the parking lot there. Last time I was there (last December) there was a GP9 still in BN garb that I would've loved to have had a roster of!

Chris
Denver, CO

-Chris
West Chicago, IL
Christopher May Fine Art Photography

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Posted by M636C on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 7:48 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

Those were painted white during the shackle modifications.


Dan,

I'd forgotten about those! So if the blue cars are similar, the spacer cars are to cut down the risk of the crews being distracted by any screams from the "passengers", right!

Peter
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Posted by dharmon on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 7:56 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by M636C

QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

Those were painted white during the shackle modifications.


Dan,

I'd forgotten about those! So if the blue cars are similar, the spacer cars are to cut down the risk of the crews being distracted by any screams from the "passengers", right!

Peter


That and apparently beyond 30' the aliens mind control is ineffective. So add another 20' for safety (50' flat should do) and you're good to go.
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Posted by M636C on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 7:58 PM
I just looked back at my earlier post (not the one just above) and found that my description of an ammunition factory, sharing the name of a well known English football team had been censored. This is back to the days of not being able to check out details of the USS Essex on the Internet, owing to the last three letters in the name! Still I guess most of the message got through. I certainly didn't do the censoring myself.

Peter
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Posted by jeaton on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 8:00 PM
Color to designate the the home state location of the car or the voting record of the occupants?

"We have met the enemy and he is us." Pogo Possum "We have met the anemone... and he is Russ." Bucky Katt "Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future." Niels Bohr, Nobel laureate in physics

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Posted by dharmon on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 8:13 PM
It has been rumored that the GOP shipped several hundred space alien detainees and hybrids to Ohio in time to vote. .......


.....Peter..so it would be safe to say that from the cockpit, the Essex appeared to be an arsanal at sea...
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Posted by dharmon on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 8:14 PM
Hey it didn't do it......drats....
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Posted by M636C on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 8:17 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

It has been rumored that the GOP shipped several hundred space alien detainees and hybrids to Ohio in time to vote. .......


.....Peter..so it would be safe to say that from the cockpit, the Essex appeared to be an arsanal at sea...


because you misspelled the critical word "arsenal"...

lets try again!

Peter
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Posted by M636C on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 8:19 PM
Oops, it got through that time!

What's going on - I can't even get it to work either...

Murphy's law, I guess!

Peter
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Posted by jeaton on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 8:29 PM
Peter, Dan- May have been a Supreme Court ruling just a few minutes before the last post.

That would only have been part of it. Ohio is the beachhead for the latest invasion of the body snatchers.

"We have met the enemy and he is us." Pogo Possum "We have met the anemone... and he is Russ." Bucky Katt "Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future." Niels Bohr, Nobel laureate in physics

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Posted by dharmon on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 9:22 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by M636C

QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

It has been rumored that the GOP shipped several hundred space alien detainees and hybrids to Ohio in time to vote. .......


.....Peter..so it would be safe to say that from the cockpit, the Essex appeared to be an arsanal at sea...


because you misspelled the critical word "arsenal"...

lets try again!

Peter


That was on purpose to try and trip the software.
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Posted by M636C on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 10:07 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

QUOTE: Originally posted by M636C

QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

It has been rumored that the GOP shipped several hundred space alien detainees and hybrids to Ohio in time to vote. .......


.....Peter..so it would be safe to say that from the cockpit, the Essex appeared to be an arsanal at sea...


because you misspelled the critical word "arsenal"...

lets try again!

Peter


That was on purpose to try and trip the software.


That thought had occurred to me, but I wanted to try it again anyway!
Now let's see if a delayed reaction sets in and the perceived offensive subset of letters miraculously changes to asterisks overnight! Anyway, we've run that particular aspect into the ground, and had a good time!

Thinking back, the problem was in a post through MY Department of Defence firewall, (the last few weren't). The same people who worried about LHD names. Maybe there's a white boxcar with shackles with my name (or service number) on them......

Peter
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Posted by dharmon on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 11:31 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by M636C

QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

QUOTE: Originally posted by M636C

QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

It has been rumored that the GOP shipped several hundred space alien detainees and hybrids to Ohio in time to vote. .......


.....Peter..so it would be safe to say that from the cockpit, the Essex appeared to be an arsanal at sea...


because you misspelled the critical word "arsenal"...

lets try again!

Peter


That was on purpose to try and trip the software.


That thought had occurred to me, but I wanted to try it again anyway!
Now let's see if a delayed reaction sets in and the perceived offensive subset of letters miraculously changes to asterisks overnight! Anyway, we've run that particular aspect into the ground, and had a good time!

Thinking back, the problem was in a post through MY Department of Defence firewall, (the last few weren't). The same people who worried about LHD names. Maybe there's a white boxcar with shackles with my name (or service number) on them......

Peter


It's possible. Correct me if I'm wrong, but over there, they'd have to have a few different boxcars to considering the different gauges you'd encounter. So at least you'd get to change trains.
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 7:07 AM
I sure miss that old bridge too. At least the turntable was still there last fall when I was out there, but I wonder how long that will last? Is the blue&yellow Santa Fe GP30 still out there? I haven't seen it lately, but haven't been out much.

My guess on the DOD train would be a mobile Patriot missile defense system headed for a certain ranch in Texas. In the event of a problem the roof pops open, the launcher rises up, and the missiles fire - just llike the old Lionel boxcars!
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Posted by M636C on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 8:07 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

QUOTE: Originally posted by M636C

QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

QUOTE: Originally posted by M636C

QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

It has been rumored that the GOP shipped several hundred space alien detainees and hybrids to Ohio in time to vote. .......


.....Peter..so it would be safe to say that from the cockpit, the Essex appeared to be an arsanal at sea...


because you misspelled the critical word "arsenal"...

lets try again!

Peter


That was on purpose to try and trip the software.


That thought had occurred to me, but I wanted to try it again anyway!
Now let's see if a delayed reaction sets in and the perceived offensive subset of letters miraculously changes to asterisks overnight! Anyway, we've run that particular aspect into the ground, and had a good time!

Thinking back, the problem was in a post through MY Department of Defence firewall, (the last few weren't). The same people who worried about LHD names. Maybe there's a white boxcar with shackles with my name (or service number) on them......

Peter


It's possible. Correct me if I'm wrong, but over there, they'd have to have a few different boxcars to considering the different gauges you'd encounter. So at least you'd get to change trains.


The gauge situation isn't that bad in Australia these days and you can get to all mainland capital cities on standard gauge, which is the only gauge we've ever had around here, and I failed to consider the problem. Of course, white boxcars with shackles, spaced away from the locomotive with flat cars may well not be taking the occupant to a five star hotel in a major city. There aren't many areas similar to Roswell (Area 51(?)) in Victoria, so we may not need to change to 5'3" gauge. The two big states, Queensland and Western Australia have extensive 3'6" networks, with smaller clearances, so if my place of banishment is in the hotter and drier areas of these states, I may well have to change to smaller accommodation on my way there.

I'll keep a watch for men in black suits with matching helicopters over the next few days.

Peter
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Posted by eolafan on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 8:15 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by up829

I sure miss that old bridge too. At least the turntable was still there last fall when I was out there, but I wonder how long that will last? Is the blue&yellow Santa Fe GP30 still out there? I haven't seen it lately, but haven't been out much.

My guess on the DOD train would be a mobile Patriot missile defense system headed for a certain ranch in Texas. In the event of a problem the roof pops open, the launcher rises up, and the missiles fire - just llike the old Lionel boxcars!


[:I] Yes, the turntable is still there but I have not seen or heard of it being operated in years. The "local" power that can be found behind the Eola yard office at any given time is really diverse. Yes, you can find virtually any type and model of unit from old GP9 units to the latest in AC power. At times they will remove a unit from a consist if it is bad ordered and store it there for a while unti they figure out what to do with it.

A couple of years back we had a SD70MAC in the green and cream scheme there for about a week with flat wheels...go figure.

I drove by the yard the other day on my way out of town and there were no fewer than eight units there and sometimes you will find even more. I would say on an average day between the units parked behind the office and those working the yard you will find an average of ten to twelve units there, but you never can tell what you will find. The only thing I really never see any more are the old "classic" switchers (i.e. MP15, SW1, etc) which we used to see here all the time, but no longer.

I have heard no rumors of the turntable being removed but there are persistent rumors of the McClure Rd. crossing being closed permanently due to the impending (again, rumored) use of remote control units there...time will tell, but the guy who owns the junk yard accross the street from the yard office will be really pissed off if this happens as McClure is a busy street especially with folks coming and going from his junk yard...really busy on Saturdays.
Eolafan (a.k.a. Jim)
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Posted by Chris30 on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 12:36 PM
QUOTE: Orig posted by EOLAFAN
"...clean NS older SD40 (in black with the horse logo), than one empty flat followed by three dark blue box cars lettered DOD, followed by one more empty flat, followed by a very clean jet black way car (caboose).


Now I'm laughing at myself... I just moved to E Aurora/Naperville & had to run a few errands on Sunday. I figured I'd make a side trip to find Mclure Rd. /W Eola. It wasn't hard to find & I wasn't planning on staying - too much to do. When I got there at @1400 the gates came down & stayed down for yard job backing a cut of cars into the yard very slowly. There was a lot of other action going on, so I decided to pull into the parking lot & watch for @20-30 minutes. I was trying to figure out why a WB NS local (DOD train)was sitting in Eola yard & where it was going. I didn't even notice the "DOD" on the side of the cars/caboose.

If it's nice outside on Saturday (4/30) (and I'm not working) I'm going to be there at @1230-1300. This time I'm going to come a little bit more prepared... scanner/Portillo's dog & fries/Big Gulp. Ya, that should cover it. Now all I need is a little assistance with the radio frequencies. All I have are the UP (ex-CNW) Geneva sub frequencies.

CC

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Posted by eolafan on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 1:15 PM
Don't have my scanner with me at the moment but 161.100 is the main road channel. If you see a guy in a black Pontiac Grand Prix on Saturday that will be me and I would be happy to give you all the scanner freq's at that time.
Eolafan (a.k.a. Jim)
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Posted by eolafan on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 1:17 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by eolafan

QUOTE: Originally posted by up829

I sure miss that old bridge too. At least the turntable was still there last fall when I was out there, but I wonder how long that will last? Is the blue&yellow Santa Fe GP30 still out there? I haven't seen it lately, but haven't been out much.

My guess on the DOD train would be a mobile Patriot missile defense system headed for a certain ranch in Texas. In the event of a problem the roof pops open, the launcher rises up, and the missiles fire - just llike the old Lionel boxcars!


[:I] Yes, the turntable is still there but I have not seen or heard of it being operated in years. The "local" power that can be found behind the Eola yard office at any given time is really diverse. Yes, you can find virtually any type and model of unit from old GP9 units to the latest in AC power. At times they will remove a unit from a consist if it is bad ordered and store it there for a while unti they figure out what to do with it.

A couple of years back we had a SD70MAC in the green and cream scheme there for about a week with flat wheels...go figure.

I drove by the yard the other day on my way out of town and there were no fewer than eight units there and sometimes you will find even more. I would say on an average day between the units parked behind the office and those working the yard you will find an average of ten to twelve units there, but you never can tell what you will find. The only thing I really never see any more are the old "classic" switchers (i.e. MP15, SW1, etc) which we used to see here all the time, but no longer.

I have heard no rumors of the turntable being removed but there are persistent rumors of the McClure Rd. crossing being closed permanently due to the impending (again, rumored) use of remote control units there...time will tell, but the guy who owns the junk yard accross the street from the yard office will be really pissed off if this happens as McClure is a busy street especially with folks coming and going from his junk yard...really busy on Saturdays.


[V] Well, I just wrote the response above earlier this morning and a short while ago ran an errand and drove by the yard for quick look and for the first time in many years there was not a single unit behind the yard office! There were, however, several units doing yard switching that I saw.
Eolafan (a.k.a. Jim)
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Posted by Chris30 on Thursday, April 28, 2005 8:47 AM
Thanks for scanner freq Eolafan... I'll see if I can get out there on Saturday.

CC
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Posted by spbed on Thursday, April 28, 2005 9:31 AM
I think GWB was already in TX when this train was eyeballed. [:o)][:p][:)]


Originally posted by up829
[

Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR  Austin TX Sub

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Posted by eolafan on Thursday, April 28, 2005 5:22 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Chris30

QUOTE: Orig posted by EOLAFAN
"...clean NS older SD40 (in black with the horse logo), than one empty flat followed by three dark blue box cars lettered DOD, followed by one more empty flat, followed by a very clean jet black way car (caboose).


Now I'm laughing at myself... I just moved to E Aurora/Naperville & had to run a few errands on Sunday. I figured I'd make a side trip to find Mclure Rd. /W Eola. It wasn't hard to find & I wasn't planning on staying - too much to do. When I got there at @1400 the gates came down & stayed down for yard job backing a cut of cars into the yard very slowly. There was a lot of other action going on, so I decided to pull into the parking lot & watch for @20-30 minutes. I was trying to figure out why a WB NS local (DOD train)was sitting in Eola yard & where it was going. I didn't even notice the "DOD" on the side of the cars/caboose.

If it's nice outside on Saturday (4/30) (and I'm not working) I'm going to be there at @1230-1300. This time I'm going to come a little bit more prepared... scanner/Portillo's dog & fries/Big Gulp. Ya, that should cover it. Now all I need is a little assistance with the radio frequencies. All I have are the UP (ex-CNW) Geneva sub frequencies.

CC




[:)] Chris, here is the full list of frequencies I use while at Eola:

161.100 BNSF Chicago-Aurora main line
161.160 BNSF C&I line
161.475 EJ&E main line
160.350 EJ& E secondary frequency
160.875 BNSF Eola yard channel

Hope this helps
Jim
Eolafan (a.k.a. Jim)
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Posted by Chris30 on Friday, April 29, 2005 3:06 AM
Thanks for the info... now all I have to do is rember how to program my scanner. It's been awhile. First, I'vegotta find the scanner - still unpacking.

CC
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Posted by DPD1 on Saturday, April 30, 2005 12:10 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by eolafan

QUOTE: Originally posted by Chris30

QUOTE: Orig posted by EOLAFAN
"...clean NS older SD40 (in black with the horse logo), than one empty flat followed by three dark blue box cars lettered DOD, followed by one more empty flat, followed by a very clean jet black way car (caboose).


Now I'm laughing at myself... I just moved to E Aurora/Naperville & had to run a few errands on Sunday. I figured I'd make a side trip to find Mclure Rd. /W Eola. It wasn't hard to find & I wasn't planning on staying - too much to do. When I got there at @1400 the gates came down & stayed down for yard job backing a cut of cars into the yard very slowly. There was a lot of other action going on, so I decided to pull into the parking lot & watch for @20-30 minutes. I was trying to figure out why a WB NS local (DOD train)was sitting in Eola yard & where it was going. I didn't even notice the "DOD" on the side of the cars/caboose.

If it's nice outside on Saturday (4/30) (and I'm not working) I'm going to be there at @1230-1300. This time I'm going to come a little bit more prepared... scanner/Portillo's dog & fries/Big Gulp. Ya, that should cover it. Now all I need is a little assistance with the radio frequencies. All I have are the UP (ex-CNW) Geneva sub frequencies.

CC




[:)] Chris, here is the full list of frequencies I use while at Eola:

161.100 BNSF Chicago-Aurora main line
161.160 BNSF C&I line
161.475 EJ&E main line
160.350 EJ& E secondary frequency
160.875 BNSF Eola yard channel

Hope this helps
Jim



The .350 is the eastern sub, which you can probably hear from there sometimes. The split is at Joliet between East & West.

Is the tiny little post office that use to be just to the North of the crossing on Eola Rd. still there? In fact, that seemed like it WAS the whole town back then. That and the ice rink.

Dave
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Posted by eolafan on Saturday, April 30, 2005 10:25 AM
Both the post office and ice rink are still there. The post office is mostely used by the Stonebridge sub-division right behind it. Imagine, $1,000,000 homes right next to a major rail yard! Lots of other sub-divisions popping up all around there so the post office will be busy for some time to come.
Eolafan (a.k.a. Jim)
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Posted by eolafan on Sunday, May 1, 2005 10:30 AM
Chris30, it was good seeing you at Eola yesterday and I am sorry your first visit with the rest of us was so very unpleasant with the cold temperatures and wind, as well as with you not feeling very well with your own cold. Hope you come back with us all sometime soon when it is warmer! Jim
Eolafan (a.k.a. Jim)
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Posted by DPD1 on Sunday, May 1, 2005 1:59 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by eolafan

Both the post office and ice rink are still there. The post office is mostely used by the Stonebridge sub-division right behind it. Imagine, $1,000,000 homes right next to a major rail yard! Lots of other sub-divisions popping up all around there so the post office will be busy for some time to come.


OK... I haven't been there since 92... But haven't lived in the area since 84. So things have changed just a bit.

Dave
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Posted by Chris30 on Sunday, May 1, 2005 7:08 PM
Eolafan(Jim)... Should have a stayed a little longer. The WB Chief(?) went through @1555, EB Chief & Cal Zeph came next @ 20 min later back-to-back @5 min apart. BNSF East End DS had to squeeze the Amtraks through Eola with two freights stopped on the main.

I'll try to get bak out there in a couple of weeks... hopefully with nicer weather.

CC

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