....Carl, I feel for you on the leaves situation....Our neighbors west of us have large trees and for years it was weeks of bagging them that blowed over on us....A bummer. Our lot is 5/8th of an acre.
But....In the past year or so two of the large trees have been taken down and he had a property fence of 6' in height installed and boy that sure has stopped much of the leaves from blowing from his yard to mine....and of course two less trees to produce them.
So this year....I bagged none....I have a mulching mower tractor and continued to work on them {in my yard, just last week I made the last pass over them}, and was able to take care of all of them in that manner. It grinds them so small you don't see them and they deteriorate quickly, and problem solved.
I have no trees that produce leaves.....{on purpose}, just evergreens.
Quentin
.....As for Presidential pardons, etc....That's not just the actions of one political party....Believe we all understand that.....
Back in after raking up the back yard. It was only two bags' worth, so it wasn't as bad as it looked out there.
Quentin, we have four large maples out back, but fortunately our lot acreage can be expressed in fractions with one, or maybe two, zeroes after the decimal point. But with thirty autumns now under our belt here, we're proud to say that we've never used a power anything on our yard. I'm looking forward to introducing our grandchildren to the pleasures of large piles of leaves to play in--maybe they'll take care of us in our old age!
Pat has already had the pleasure of being shown by her granddaughter how to use a digital camera. Katelyn isn't even four yet!
As for the other, this is truly a-partisan. It's a Democratic senator considering asking for the commutation of the jail term of a corrupt former governor, a Republican, one year into his 6.5-year sentence. Ex-gov still thinks he did nothing wrong.
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)
Carl....As for the pardons comment from me, I was referring to a former post.
Carl and Quentin..... Leaf vacuums work wonders. I have one because I hate raking. Just suck up the leaves, and then dump them at the curb (in accordance with local regulation of course) so they can be picked up. We have lots of trees in the neighborhood, and the leaves all seem to wind up in our yard. We also have a large maple in the back yard that shed the last of it's leaves about a week ago, and I vacuumed the yard for the last time. Now, all I need is a snow blower..........
TimChgo9Carl and Quentin..... Leaf vacuums work wonders. I have one because I hate raking. Just suck up the leaves, and then dump them at the curb
Oh yes, the vaccum would do the job, but in our case, the trash pickup for leaves accepts them only in the correct {paper}, bags. I've resorted to doing away with them without bagging.
The tractor mulcher works good and if it gets too deep at a certain spot, I double back over it and take care of it in that manner.
Years ago I bagged and bagged and I've had enough of that....Makes it even worse when they blow in from another location...But we're in pretty good shape now.
I was amused back a ways by pulling up our street on the satelitte photo and my yard was the darkest green along our street, so it's working. Course it's been sprayed {professonally}, for 30 plus years, and that certainly helps.
After years of doing without, we've finally had a lawn service work on our lawn this year. The results in vanished weeds alone are worth it, but I'm sure that our lawn greenness stands up well to others now, too (and a darned sight better than the house next door!).
Pat and I went out to lunch (Fontano's) in Elmhurst this afternoon, and met up with Colin ("Metra Kid 2" on the Forums), his brother, and a couple of his friends. They had been there for a couple of hours before we arrived, and said they saw about ten trains in that time. We stayed around for a couple of westbounds (empty coal gons and a long stack train, both with DP units).
ModelcarTimChgo9Carl and Quentin..... Leaf vacuums work wonders. I have one because I hate raking. Just suck up the leaves, and then dump them at the curb Oh yes, the vaccum would do the job, but in our case, the trash pickup for leaves accepts them only in the correct {paper}, bags. I've resorted to doing away with them without bagging. The tractor mulcher works good and if it gets too deep at a certain spot, I double back over it and take care of it in that manner. Years ago I bagged and bagged and I've had enough of that....Makes it even worse when they blow in from another location...But we're in pretty good shape now. I was amused back a ways by pulling up our street on the satelitte photo and my yard was the darkest green along our street, so it's working. Course it's been sprayed {professonally}, for 30 plus years, and that certainly helps.
I'm with ya on the bagging.... fortunately, our town picks the leaves up from the curb, without bags, so that is a big plus, vacuuming and dumping is the way to go. We had some days with high winds around here over the last month, and I got a dumping of leaves from the park about a 1/2 block away on the days that that happened. The trees are all bare now, so, no more leaves until next fall.
I love a nice green lawn, and I got ours looking pretty good this past year, next year, it will be even better.
I have seen the term "racetrack" use in this forum when talking about rail lines (Santa Fe's Racetrack, "...racetrack between Kansas and Chicago"). What are they talking about?
James
I stand for correction on that one but I believe it's a double tracked main where hot-shots go back and forth.
Anyone know if it's possible to tune the antenna on a scanner? I know that atomspheric interference can get in the way of signal reception. There were times yesterday that I thought I should be able to hear the trains better but didn't.
Dan
Some types of antennas can be tuned...a "Rubber Ducky" type which comes on some scanners is pretty tough to do, however. If you have a metal antenna, however, it might be easier...a metal antenna with a single one piece vertical is the simplest to tune...
If you bought your antenna as a package deal with your scanner, chances are it is pretty close to optimum already.
If you have an Amateur Radio Club (HAM Club) near by, some members are often willing to help with projects such as that. If you want more details on how to do something like this, send me a priviate email...or, we can open a seperate forum discussion. I know I have participated in some scanner discussions on the Trains forum, but none that I remember dealing directly with tuning antennas,
You are correct about atmospherics changing reception on the AAR frequencies...the most common effect is caused by an "Inversion" layer...a layer of cold air on top of warmer air...that is sometimes called a "trapping layer" because it refracts the radio waves like a prism refracts light...if the signal source is above the layer, it could reflect the signal away from the earth, for instance. The most common effect is actually extended range, where you can hear things that would normally be out of range. I once heard an amateur radio repeater (very close in frequency to Railroad frequencies) that was based in New York City down in Norfolk, Va.
Dan, Get one of those magnetic base "whip" antennaes like radio shack sells. Then cut your "whip" to 18" from base to tip. Then place it on a large metal object like your refrigerator. That will more the double your signal. That will give you the best bang for the buck.
chad thomas Dan, Get one of those magnetic base "whip" antennaes like radio shack sells. Then cut your "whip" to 18" from base to tip. Then place it on a large metal object like your refrigerator. That will more the double your signal. That will give you the best bang for the buck.
I'll get right on that one..,
The antenna is a two piece, external, magnetic mount one from Radio Shack. I know some HAM guys and will ask them. Thanks for steering me in the right direction.
BTW- I think the $30+ that radio shack charges is way too much. If there is a electronics store, or ham radio supply available go there first.
Well they're about the only game around this area for that stuff...at least that I'm aware of. I already got the thing as a gift so I can't complain about that price!
If you're ambitious, don't mind sacrificing a length of coax, have a place to use it, and are able to use sharp objects (there are those who can't...)
Get a pre-terminated coaxial cable, with the appropriate terminal (usually BNC for pocket scanners and some home scanners).
Some shrink tubing a little larger than the coax would be nice, too, unless you really don't care how it looks.
Cut off one of the connectors. Remove the outer sheath for 18" from that end (this is where the skill with a sharp knife comes in). Try not to score the braid - you need it to be intact for the next step.
Carefully work the braid back over the remaining cable, leaving the center conductor (still with its insulation) exposed.
Once you finish pulling the braid back, you'll want to protect it - that's where the shrink tubing comes into play. You could probably also use black electrical tape - very carefully.
If you have any crimp lugs you might crimp one on the end of the center conductor to make it easier to secure it.
This is probably best used indoors, but if you have it reasonably well sealed up, it could be used outdoors as well.
Fast, easy. Not too obtrusive - you can hide it behind the curtain.
Larry 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...
TimChgo9I'm with ya on the bagging.... fortunately, our town picks the leaves up from the curb, without bags, so that is a big plus, vacuuming and dumping is the way to go.
Our town vacuums loose leaves from curbside thrice each fall. I have become an expert in cleverly mixing grass clippings and leaves picked up by the bagging attachment on my tractor. That way I don't have to fill 8-10 bags with clippings the last three or four cuts -- at $2.40 per bag (bag cost included). We have 40 trees on our lot and also pick up a lot of drift from neighbors. Now we're getting a light dusting of powder out there.
We're getting a moderately aggressive snowfall out there; I expect things to be white here come daylight tomorrow. Most roads should be okay--hopefully, as tomorrow is Daughter-and-Grandchildren Day for us.
No curbside leaf vacuum-pickup for us--the last free leaf pickup is this week, and we have the last of our bags out there.
James, I saw your question this morning, but didn't have time to write anything before work. Generally, a "racetrack" would be slang for any line where trains can move flat-out at timetable speeds--no slowdowns to meet trains, for curves or other natural barriers, and so on. On the other hand, if you hear references to the Racetrack (see Poppa Zit's location, above), it means the BNSF three-track main line from Aurora, Illinois, into Chicago, inherited from the Burlington Northern and, before that, the CB&Q. This line has long stretches of straight track with a few gentle curves, and frequent crossovers to allow faster trains to get around slower ones. Freight and passenger trains move right along on that line--unless, of course, they're supposed to stop (the "dinkies" at suburban stations, local freights switching the industries, etc.).
By contrast, the Union Pacific main line to the north has a higher maximum timetable speed, but nobody would ever think to call it a racetrack--there are still three CTC tracks, but there are slowdowns at some fairly sharp curves. There are fewer crossovers, so fast trains sometimes get caught behind slower ones. And finally, there are just too many trains to keep the velocity what it should be. Metra has plans to upgrade the line (presumably with more crossovers and an additional track where three tracks do not currently exist), but time will tell if that ever happens, or how well UP freight traffic and the CREATE program cooperate with these plans.
Thanks, Carl, does the Racetrack and US 30 run together for a while?
The ButlerThanks, Carl, does the Racetrack and US 30 run together for a while?
No. But the C&I does, from west of Sugar Grove (Aurora Airport) pretty much all the way to Shabbona. It then runs through farm fields gently NW to Rochelle.
Many videos have been made pacing trains on this stretch of track, the most famous being those of the CB&Q's railfan trips behind steam. Many steam fantrips in the 1960s and '70s also ran to Galesburg.
I wish I had taken more than just two. I guess in those days the attitude was the CB&Q would run them forever.
I meant US 34. Either way, it's not where I thought it was.
Sorry, James; no pacing trains along that particular stretch. However, from Downers Grove (Belmont) east to LaGrange, it's possible to stay fairly close to the tracks. I used to make a habit of bicycling this stretch about once a week. West of I-355, I'm not familiar with roads that stay close enough to the tracks.
Out west, U.S. 34 parallels the old BN line pretty well through towns like Sandwich and Plano. It's the best route to take entirely across Illinois if you wish to follow this line from Aurora to Burlington and have most of the day to do it.
I have a video I shot of Milwaukee 261 running at track speed somewhere between Plano and Mendota. I thought, due to speed and flatness and long straight-a-ways, etc., this track was The Racetrack. Well, live and learn.
I do enjoy learning!
You will have a hard time nowadays trying to pace a train along Route 34 from Plano to west of Sandwich because of that area being built out and the accompanying (not to mention irritating) traffic signals.
If you feel like driving, Route 34 tightly parallels the BNSF from Neponset to Kewanee, Ill. -- and then again from just west of Altona, Ill. all the way to Galesburg.
Time of day/time of year will seriously affect shadows as the route is primarily WSW and the highway is on the north side of the tracks.
CShaveRRWest of I-355, I'm not familiar with roads that stay close enough to the tracks.
I be, and it's nada from I-355 west all the way to Aurora, save for a one or two block stretch in downtown Naperville.
Does anyone know the year/date of a big freight train derailment on the Racetrack at Belmont Ave. in Downers Grove? Early 1970s, is what I recall.
Can't help you on that one, PZ--do you remember it as being prior to or after the one in LaGrange that took out the IHB bridge and happened right in front of the Amtrak?
CShaveRR Can't help you on that one, PZ--do you remember it as being prior to or after the one in LaGrange that took out the IHB bridge and happened right in front of the Amtrak?
Carl, do you remember the big one the C&NW had (back in the 70's?) on triple-track somewhere west of Proviso (Glen Ellen?)? The one where one train derailed, and another one going in the same direction ran into the derailment and the locomotive ended up in a street adjacent to the main line.
How about the IM train that derailed right in front of the M19A shop? I saw that one happen.
I also saw the derailment happen at Waxdale back in '69.
Of course, now that I always have a camera with me, nothing exciting ever happens.
Just one UFO, that's all I ask.....
Oh, I remember the Glen Ellyn wreck very well--at the time, Pat and I lived in Glen Ellyn!
In fact, if you go up Pennsylvania Avenue now, you can see the entryway to an apartment complex, and note where the bricks had to be replaced after the locomotive knocked 'em down.
That wreck was also one of a few that happened around then, that were responsible for better pressurized tank cars--a load of anhydrous ammonia ruptured and forced the evacuation of portions of the village. Then the fire department hosed the vapor clouds down, basically dumping liquid ammonia into the storm sewer system, which flowed into Lake Ellyn and killed all the fish.
I was impressed on the day of the wreck by the fact that the first train I humped that morning had ballast cars printed out on the hump sheet for Glen Ellyn, only a matter of hours after it happened. (In fact, that was the first I knew of it--I missed the news report in the time it took me to get from the apartment to the car).
Cause of the wreck was track not maintained for the speeds expected of it. The train that first derailed was the very first of the eastbound 70-mph intermodals (and probably the last one ever to do 70 on that particular curve!).
CShaveRR Cause of the wreck was track not maintained for the speeds expected of it. The train that first derailed was the very first of the eastbound 70-mph intermodals (and probably the last one ever to do 70 on that particular curve!).
Carl,
I didn't realize that the train that deriled was the first to do 70 thru there! I also did not know track maintenance was to blame! Was the IM one of the Falcons?
And to refresh my memory--you said it was the IM that derailed and the manifest ran into the wreck? Was the IM on track 3 and the manifest was on 2?
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