evenig all.
I saw 5 NS train at Attica just a little while ago. I got the A, B honoroll on my report card. Yay for me!
The road to to success is always under construction. _____________________________________________________________________________ When the going gets tough, the tough use duct tape.
Justin - Congrats on the honor roll!
Well, I was going to get up early again and go chasing again this morning. After waking up and listening to the scanner, I decided that I'd be using a lot of gas to get a couple of shots. I decided it wasn't worth it, so I stayed at home and flipped through my Don Ball, Jr. books instead.
As odd as it is for a railfan to say, I'm kinda getting tired of the sunshine anyways. I've always thought my best work was in less than perfect weather. I LOVE shooting in snow and rain and such. We've had something like half an inch of snow in the past two months, so I'm starting to really crave a rainy/snowy day shoot.
-ChrisWest Chicago, ILChristopher May Fine Art Photography"In wisdom gathered over time I have found that every experience is a form of exploration." ~Ansel Adams
Hay folks were fading down into the archives. Can't let that happen. Thanks for all the thankses about the honor roll. Mom gave ne 25 dollars for my card. The dispatcher sure had the road railrs backed up at Attica last night. 5 trains in 30 minutes! About 50* right now.
Justin, for some reason my e-mails to you haven't been getting to you. I tried again tonight, but you're probably off the computer for the evening.
We celebrated the nice weather today by driving to LaGrange (and to visit daughter and grandchildren in another town that will remain nameless because it has no railroads), then walking across town. Not much in the way of trains in either location. Tomorrow is supposed to be an even nicer day here, but we'll be staying close to home. In fact, we hope to not use the car at all.
No discernible signs of the new main track around our yard yet--should be showing soon, as we'll be providing flagmen for something!
I have a question for somebody in the old "Land of the Burlingtons" (and you have to go back a while to know about that): What's with the elevated structure that looks like a crossing-watchman's tower we saw by the tracks in Western Springs? I couldn't see that there were any stairs to get up to it. Making a movie set?
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)
Thought I'd drop a pic in here. Not the absolute best thing we'll see but the best 'scenic' shot I've taken in a while. I found that I tend to be a 'roster' shooter. It happens!
Q118 at MP181.1 Defect Detector
YouTube video of the detector squawking after the train passes:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oc-DlSzmPUQ
I couldn't let todays great 60 degree weather go to waste! We'll see what the 65 degree stuff lets me find tomorrow!
Dan
Nice shot, Dan! Any idea what those green box cars behind the power were? Looks like they may have had their height increased.
We aren't planning to use the car today, and our bikes are in the shop for their annual tune-up, but we might get a couple of walking trips in--temperatures should top 70, and we've broken out some short-sleeved shirts for the occasion (mine even has some green in it--Pat doesn't wear green, because she doesn't look her best in that color).
It almost looks like Amtrak has an embarrassment of riches lately--it's actually having problems deciding how to spend it and stay within the guidelines: http://www.utu.org/worksite/detail_news.cfm?ArticleID=46328
......Yes, that's an unusual situation {for Amtrak}, to have such a problem. Sure hope the organization takes advantage of this oportunity to improve the passenger rail system and build for a better future. Certainly more passenger equipment {being renovated and repaired}, will be an advantage to be put to use as it is made available......and when the economy returns to expansion again.
Quentin
Morning All,
Dan - I really like the shot. Normally I don't like mile markers and such in the frame, but you've used it well to frame the shot. Nicely executed.
Carl - I need to get both of my bikes in the shop one of these days, too. The mountain bike just needs a tune up. The road bike needs a crank bearing replaced. I'm hoping to really get the mileage numbers up this year. I was up to doing around 50-60 miles a couple times a week with shorter rides in between at the end of last year.
Of course, I used to do the full length of the Fox River Trail from Aurora to Crystal Lake and back again when I was younger. I'd like to be able to pull off those kinds of rides again. They really open up possibilities for investigating the world by bicycle.
I have seen those green box cars but never thought to get shots of 'em. I will add that to my list of "shoot that" for the near future and then report back.
Nice shot Dan! Is that one of my favorite engines there? You know the SD70M? I love those things. Very very nice here in Indiana today 73*! Have a good evenig everyone. Ps I think I found a host site for my pics. tangle.com. Formaly god tube.
Dan maby somehting's wrong with my e-mail, I'll check. I don't really understand what you mean about any new main tracks and flagman... sorry. Thanks for responding though!
This is Carl, Justin--I was the one with e-mail problems, and I mentioned the eventual construction of a third main track from Elmhurst around Proviso and into River Forest. According to UP's press release, this work is slated for this year. They will put on a flagman's job (to be filled by a qualified yard employee--which could be me, if I wanted it to) to keep the contractors out of harm's way. From the sound of your latest e-mail to me, the e-mail situation is under control.
We tied the record high for this date--74 degrees. Pat and I took a couple of walks today, neither of which were in the direction of the tracks. The car's sitting where we left it last night--that means another butterfly on our calendar!
"When [you were] younger", Chris? I was about your age when I took up biking again! Anyway, I have made it the length of the Fox River Trail, in increments--a trip from Lombard to Elgin, Aurora (via Eola, of course!), and back home, and a one-way trip from Crystal Lake to Lombard.
A couple of shots today:
This one was more of a fun shot but worked:A Fuzzy Bandit
This one was yesterday. Manifest train A452 is just north of Shops Yard (NFDL)A452 at Fisk Rd.
Dan - as much as I like trains, your fuzzy bandit really did intrigue me.
Not a good place to be for obvious reasons and also during the daylight hours.
Mook
She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw
Carl - My dad did a lot of biking, so I was biking since I was 7 or 8 and was doing long trips by the time I was 13 or so. I had slowed up a bit in the past few years, but last year I really started biking a lot again. In the great "someday" scheme of things, Colorado is supposed to build a trail all the way from Wyoming to New Mexico. While I don't hold my breath on that being complete anytime soon, it is fun to explore the fairly extensive trail system around the Denver metro area.
In your travels, have you managed to bike the Virgil Gilman Trail? I think it's an old EJ&E line. That was one of the closest to home, so I found myself on it a lot. Not especially spectacular, but there were some nice views of the Aurora Sub along the way, so I could mix biking and railfanning on those occasions.
Dan - Nice shots! I like the Fuzzy Bandit one, too!
Speaking of trails, my trips to MD take me over the "NCR Trail". Being just north of Baltimore I assumed that meant "National Capital Region." Curious, I looked it up and discovered it's the "Northern Central Railroad" trail.
The trails life as a rail line dates to the mid-1800's. Lincolns funeral train passed over it. The line's death knell as a railroad was sounded by hurricane Agnes in 1972. In 1984 it was turned into a hiking/biking/horse trail.
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...
Oh so this was all Carl's fault!!! ( just kiddn' buddy!) Anyway, I see a third main track I get it now! It's about 61 here a bit cooler today. Mom is hurting worse and worse every day now keep her in youre thoughts and prayers.
Justin, do they know yet what's causing your mother's pain? I think that would be key to solving the problem.
I've heard of that trail, Chris, but haven't ridden it. In Illinois, the only trails I've ridden outside the local area are the Great Western Trail (Sycamore to St. Charles; ex-CGW), and the I&M Canal Trail from Ottawa to Channahon (thence home via roads, with a nice little train-watching stop at Joliet).
Rumors of more job cuts (different from furloughs, for those not familiar with railroads), including one that will cut the hump by eight more hours per week. Nobody likes the schedule changes that result from that, but the regular day shift jobs are unaffected.
Dan, you should get together with Kent, who seems to like pictures of bears by the tracks (that's a "Wooly-bear" caterpillar--often used to predict the severity of winter by comparing the length of the red band).
One of my co-workers, reacting to something that was said, exclaimed "Well, paint me gray and call me Willy!" This was a comment on two separate news items that appeared about a week ago. First, the idea of repainting the Sears Tower to a brighter color (for environmental and aesthetic reasons--it's now black) appeared in a news report. Then, within days, came the announcement that the tower would be renamed the Willis Tower, in deference to a new tenant who will occupy a whopping three floors of the 110-story building.
In Chicago, the John Hancock Center was quickly named "Big John", and the Standard Oil Building (later the Amoco Building, now the Aon Center) became "Big Stan". So it's natural to expect "Big Willy" to be affixed to this building--but probably not as affectionately as the other two names.
CShaveRRDan, you should get together with Kent, who seems to like pictures of bears by the tracks (that's a "Wooly-bear" caterpillar--often used to predict the severity of winter by comparing the length of the red band).
CNW 6000 A couple of shots today: This one was more of a fun shot but worked:A Fuzzy Bandit This one was yesterday. Manifest train A452 is just north of Shops Yard (NFDL)A452 at Fisk Rd.
I hope your bandit did not try to hold a train up.
Johnny
DeggestyI hope your bandit did not try to hold a train up. Johnny
It was gently moved before the SB came past that I was waiting for. Besides, it's guns probably wouldn't make the crew flinch.
CNW 6000CShaveRRDan, you should get together with Kent, who seems to like pictures of bears by the tracks (that's a "Wooly-bear" caterpillar--often used to predict the severity of winter by comparing the length of the red band).Kent who?
I was referring to Mr. Kent Johnson, senior editor of Classic Toy Trains Magazine. Specifically, look at his contribution for the 109th installment of "Trackside with Trains.com" Those bears are pretty wooly, too!
CNW 6000 DeggestyI hope your bandit did not try to hold a train up. Johnny It was gently moved before the SB came past that I was waiting for. Besides, it's guns probably wouldn't make the crew flinch.
If only Jessi James would have been like that, a lot of railcars would have been saved! Mom is doing mutch better. wow so quick ot get better but I guss that stranger things happen. Answerd prayers at least. Nice -8 Dan, or maby a AC4400CW. Can't tell. Cooler today 53 was the high.
bubbajustin Answerd prayers at least. Nice -8 Dan, or maby a AC4400CW. Can't tell. Cooler today 53 was the high.
Thanks Justin. What's the word on your mom and that trip you were working on? FYI the first two units are C44-9Ws (or EF-644b if you're CN!) and the third one is a Wisconsin Central GP40.
Youre welcome! I was going to say-9 but theay look so simalar I thought I would just try another designation. Glad to see some 40's stillin theeir WS scheem. Got taken over bu CN right?. Got an e-mail from scoutmaster today. Sounds promising!!! Going to see if we can get some grants. Mom is doing mutch mutch better isn't hurting as mutch.
Spring is coming--I finally saw some robins today, in the field across the street. And the bike shop called: our bikes are ready to go! We'll pick them up after work tomorrow, and I'll probably check out the Prairie Path (see how solid it is) while Pat drives hers home with the car.
Of course, spring really is coming--early tomorrow morning. I'll have to make note of where the sun rises against the Chicago skyline tomorrow morning, so I know what's due east of my perch (the yard's on a bit of a SE-NW orientation). Sunrise is within an hour of the equinox here, IIRC.
Carl - You'll never see the sun due east of where you are, unless the earth does a serious wobble.
The sun is actually crossing the equator Friday morning (at 7:22, IIRC). You're between latitude 41 degrees and 42 degrees north. Somebody else can do the trig to figure out at what angle south of due east the sun will rise for you.
The closest you'll get is on the first day of summer, when the sun touches the Tropic of Cancer at 23° 26′ 22″ N. The sun will still be south of due east.
You'd be better off with a compass or shooting Polaris and finding 90 degrees east with a protractor.
Have to disagree with you on that one, Larry--distances are so great that where it rises pretty much matches its position at the equator. True, the sun will never be anywhere closer to directly overhead than 18.5 degrees to the south of the zenith at noon. But it describes an arc at the angle of my latitude no matter what its position in the sky, and that arc begins at due east on the days of the equinox.
Too much light clutter around the yard to see many stars
I have to jump in on Carl's side on this one- what you're describing, Larry, is true at Noon (Standard Time). I know from experience that, in the middle of summer, the sun appears to rise from a compass position of somewhere around 45 degrees, and it appears to set around 315 degrees- both well north of due east and west.
Brian (IA) http://blhanel.rrpicturearchives.net.
We'll see what the astronomers at Cornell U. have to say. I just sent them the question... Might be a week or so, though.
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