Trackside Lounge - Spring '09 Edition

[CShaveRR]

Little guy looks ready to eat in the second shot!

Dan, your wishes must have helped a little--we caught coal action before we even got out of Burlington (one in each direction), and chased the loads east a bit (OK, we caught up to them after paying a visit to the Burlington Junction Railway and seeing their maroon-and-blue C415 at work). Other trains were seen along the route, including a UP stack train on the former ATSF at Galesburg, and Amtrak trains at both Galesburg and Mendota.

Caught a BNSF intermodal and a westbound reefer train at Rochelle (the house still sells souvenirs there, but "the hobby shop is gone", according to the girl (evidently a city employee) who was "running" it (she attempted to interpret the location board for me, and assured me that the reefer train on Track 1 was going to go into the yard [snicker]). East of Rochelle the UP also seemed lighter than usual, but we still caught four or five trains before breaking off the hunt at West Chicago.

Joe, the car is being checked over shortly; we should be good to go for Saturday. From Deshler (or wherever we wind up Saturday night) we'll be visiting our mothers on their day (or the day after).

[zardoz]

CNW 6000

We had a 3d ultrasound on Tuesday.  Our little guy is getting big!  July 8th sure is closing in fast.

He looks just like you.....

Congrats, Dan.

[CNW 6000]

We had a 3d ultrasound on Tuesday.  Our little guy is getting big!  July 8th sure is closing in fast.

[CNW 6000]

CShaveRR

 [snip] Other places advertised free wireless Internet service, but we're not configured for wireless, so we couldn't do anything.

Belkin makes a USB plugin (similar in size to a large memory stick) that is a wireless network device.  I found ours for around $25.  It's pretty much plug 'n play.  It prefers a USB 2.0 slot but is backwards compatible with 1.1.

I hope you have some luck in spotting some more trains!

[Deggesty]

CShaveRR

Some motels that don't have usable in-room Internet service may have a "business room" with a computer in the lobby--that's how I got online in Boone. I couldn't handle e-mails with that set-up, but I can do that, too, here

We go to www.hotmail.com for our email when traveling. It does not work the same as our access at home (for that matter, Ricki's email at home does not work quite the same way as mine), but we are able to keep up with various matters.

Because Enterprise "...will pick you up" it is our preferred drive-yourself carrier. However Hertz has an office right in the station in Jasper, so we used Hertz there. We have also made use of an agency in the station inWashington, but you have to walk quite a distance to get between the desk and the garage. The first time we used one of those (2003), we both walked to the garage, and I let Ricki off at the front of the station before returning the car (a redcap took charge of her there). Two years ago we arrived in Washington late, and could not get Enterprise to come pick us up after we went out front, so Ricki stayed out front while I went in and rented a car. Again, when we returned the car, I let her and the baggage out front, and a redcap took charge of her, and took our large suitcase to be checked. 

Johnny

[CShaveRR]

Some motels that don't have usable in-room Internet service may have a "business room" with a computer in the lobby--that's how I got online in Boone. I couldn't handle e-mails with that set-up, but I can do that, too, here.

Pat enjoyed your Enterprise allusions--especially since we had to use them soon before we met you folks in Chicago.

I was going to do a bit of exploration around Burlington in the morning before we headed east, but, upon obtaining Mr. DeLorme's assistance, I find that all of those really neat freight cars I was seeing as we were headed into town are in an Army ammunition plant, and I have gotten as close to them as I can expect to.

[Deggesty]

CShaveRR

Johnny, the only success we've had with free Internet service has been at the Holiday Inn Express. That's why we returned to the same hotel in Fremont, and are sitting in this one in Burlington, Iowa

Carl, we had real wireless in only one or two hotels on our trip, and the quality of the service was not good. The other places, even though they may have advertised "wireless," had a cable connection--which we had to be careful about and not move the computer much lest we lose the connection. The Fairmont Hotel service was quite good. Actually, we did not link up at only one hotel; we arrived in Seattle a little before bedtime, and our train for Vancouver left before a decent breakfast time. The instructions in the hotel rooms for connecting to the internet were not always correct, and in one particular room the wire connection was quite hidden--the bellman succeeded in finding it, though he had to hunt around for it.

All in all, modern communication is quite different from what it was even ten years, much less forty years, ago. We did take advantage of two hours of free wireless service in the Sacramento station; I asked a ticket agent about it, and she gave me a slip of paper with a password on it.

Six years ago and earlier, we were limited to landline telephone. Two years ago, I carried a borrowed cellphone and used it often. Last year, I obtained what is to some people a binkie,  and made use of it. This year, except for talking with you, I used it on two occasions--to call the hotel in Albany and ask that their van be sent to pick us up at the station in Rensselaer, and to call Enterprise (car rental, not the space ship) in Washington and ask that someone (not Scotty) come pick us up.

Safe travelling, and watch out for the idiots on the roads.

Johnny

[CShaveRR]

Johnny, the only success we've had with free Internet service has been at the Holiday Inn Express. That's why we returned to the same hotel in Fremont, and are sitting in this one in Burlington, Iowa (we had been planning on staying in Des Moines, but got there before lunch, so we pressed on, and will now return home a day sooner, following the old CB&Q at least as far as Mendota). Other places advertised free wireless Internet service, but we're not configured for wireless, so we couldn't do anything.

Compared to "original-UP" lines east and west out of Fremont, the former CNW line between Fremont and Mo Valley twists like a corkscrew. I wouldn't be surprised if UP eventually replaces a lot more than the bridge over the Missouri River.

If there's anything that could make me feel better about the relative lack of traffic on the UP's Overland Route, it would be that we saw virtually nothing on the BNSF where it could be followed between Ottumwa and Burlington. I hope we have better luck tomorrow.

[Willy2]

Nice trip report, Carl. I'm glad the rest of your trip across Nebraska went well. My parents and I will have to get back to Chicago sometime in the not too distant future.

[zardoz]

mudchicken

Odd sight of the day yesterday:

Former VIA double-door baggage car (ex-RPO?) RRIX 9688 being trucked south on I-25 through downtown Denver. The car was heavilly graffittied and the trucks were removed. Heading to Canon City?

Don't ya just love seeing things like a railroad coach being transported by a truck?!? What does that say to the general public about a railroad's abilities? Talk about great advertising for the trucking industry.  Is this shipment so time-sensitive that it must move by truck? Or are the railroad's rates so high it's cheaper to move by truck?

Same as when I see a load of ties or wheel sets cruising down the highway on a flatbed truck (and NOT a 'company' truck).

[mudchicken]

Odd sight of the day yesterday:

Former VIA double-door baggage car (ex-RPO?) RRIX 9688 being trucked south on I-25 through downtown Denver. The car was heavilly graffittied and the trucks were removed. Heading to Canon City?

[Deggesty]

Carl, it seems that you are as able to keep up with the distant world as we were on our trip last month (except when we were on board trains; VIA just doesn't provide internet service on the Canadian, nor does Amtrak on its long distance trains. Did you have to pay for any of the connections? We paid for one, at a Hyatt in Washington, but felt it was worth it to check on what we felt needed checking on. In Banff, I joined Fairmont Hotels' "President's Club," (no cost) and simply entered my membership number when connecting in a Fairmont Hotel (three more on the trip). Only one service was extremely slow, almost requiring a book in hand to while the time away while waiting for the service to carry through.

Johnny

[Modelcar]

Carl.....Don't forget about our 30 plus mile great bike / walking trail here thru Muncie in one of your possible Summer ventures.....

[CNW 6000]

Holy Nice Trip Report, Carl!  Sounds like it was a fun time.  I hope you & Pat make it home safe.

Been seeing lots of DM&IR ore jennys going past my locale: north AND south bound.  I presume they're going to Shops (NFDL) for some kind of work, but I'm not sure what.

 

[CNW 6000]

Holy Nice Trip Report, Carl!  Sounds like it was a fun time.  I hope you & Pat make it home safe.

Been seeing lots of DM&IR ore jennys going past my locale: north AND south bound.  I presume they're going to Shops (NFDL) for some kind of work, but I'm not sure what.

[CShaveRR]

Camp Mookie didn't fail to please--in the time we all spent there Saturday morning, there were nine trains, plus a couple of light-engine moves--consists being wyed. Driver and Pat went to the International Quilt Study Center; Mookie and Willy's mom spent a lot of time in the cars (Willy a little less), while I was outside most of the time, garnering copious notes and considerable sunburn. Train Number Ten stopped short, allowing us to make our escape for lunch together, after which we all went our separate ways.

Pat and I got to Kearney Saturday night, then to North Platte (after driving to Ogallala and back) last night, sticking to U.S. 30 the whole way. Tonight we're back in the same room of the same hotel in Fremont. We're headed home now; should be back there in three days.

Highly recommended:

Fremont: Just park on Main Street by the tracks, and let the trains come to you.

Grand Island: They haven't yet done whatever they plan to with that caboose they positioned by the flyover, but it's still a great place to catch both UP and BNSF. Saw a BNSF train curving up and away from us just south of here--knocked Pat's socks off; it was spectacular. Speaking of which:

Curves anywhere on UP's Overland Route are apparently caused by geologic formations, and (in a non-photographer's eye) are extremely photogenic when enhanced by a train.

Wood River: Ginny's Cafe. Home cooking, done fast and well--trains just across the highway (diagonally because of a lumber house) if you're lucky. We happened to stop there, but although the place is mostly frequented by locals, the guest register shows lots of out-of-state visitors, including a trio from France!

Kearney: A road runs parallel to and north of the tracks all the way through town. Just let 'em blow past you!

North Platte: the quilt shop on Front Street. No, Pat didn't write this! I exited the shop in the pouring rain to see trains several times while she was (we were) shopping, and was protected in my observations by the Jeffers Avenue viaduct.

North Platte: the Golden Spike Tower. Staffed by people who know the yard, and can point out what's happening (or not--not a single car went over either hump while we were there!). Gift shop got a few bucks from us--stuff for the grandkids, you know! More improvements are planned; we'll have to return in a couple of years.

Paxton: Ole's Big Game Steakhouse and Lounge--it has a serious flaw, though: once you've eaten there, you'll probably be hungry again in two or three days! One can hear, but not see, passing trains. (We had the sunday dinner buffet.)

Finally, a couple of observations:

I may be a little prejudiced, but there's no better stretch of railroad anywhere than that three-track stretch west from Gibbon Junction! The trains we met and passed were usually moving at about 50 (we couldn't pass one intermodal!), and just gliding along over that track. No rock and roll, very little bounce. Never saw a wooden tie on the UP main lines all the while we were in Nebraska. We saw tampers, rail inspectors, and heavier track equipment doing an excellent job of keeping things in shape, without hampering the flow too much. Some grade crossings appear to have been recently closed. Off the three-track, it appears that the remaining double-track stretch of the Overland Route between Fremont and Grand Island is getting CTC: lots of fresh-looking signal and crossover work.

At about four or five places in Nebraska, both east and west of North Platte, there were large pedestrian overpasses in some of the smaller towns. These had ramps (not stairs) up to a distance well above the necessary clearance height (one was taller than an adjacent signal bridge), and made a smooth arc over the property (there was usually a chain-link fence to dissuade short cuts across the tracks). Might make good photo opportunities. But these were all of one design: whose?--the state's? the railroad's? There are places a bit further east that could learn from these!

[CShaveRR]

The peripatetic lounge has moved to Fremont, Nebraska, our base for the day--from Fremont we traveled to Lincoln, where we got together with Mookie and Driver, and had an unscheduled car repair done (I swear, as soon as the odometer hits six digits, the fun begins!). Thanks to our car problems, Millie took us to Camp Mookie, where the coal gons were moving freely on BNSF. Once the car problems were at least temporarily solved, we went to an Arby's south of Omaha to meet and greet Willy, who serves up a mean Roastburger and Reuben sandwich.

Back in Fremont for the night. Tomorrow, we all (Mookie and Driver, Willy and parents, Pat and I) meet at Camp Mookie and hope the action is still heavy there. After lunch, Pat and I will head west, joining the UP Overland Route again at Grand Island on our way to North Platte and beyond. Our thanks to both Mookie and Driver for their help in leading us to a good car repair place, and to Willy for being such a good dinner host!

[CShaveRR]

On the road now, in the railroad town of Boone, Iowa.  Had a great meal and chat with Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Hergert in Ames (tomorrow is Becky's birthday!).  The biggest disappointment of the day was that we couldn't get close to the construction site of the new Des Moines River bridge.  We were not very close to any tracks today, except for breakfast at DeKalb, where MPRPE blew (referring to speed, not the horn) through town.

We were supposed to meet Mr. and Mrs. Ackerman as well, but Larry was at work, and in Fremont.

Tomorrow we'll be going to quilt-fabric stores in Ames, Ankeny, and possibly Des Moines, before visiting Council Bluffs and Omaha, and winding up in Fremont.  So, of course, Larry will probably be back in Boone!

[CShaveRR]

Unfortunately, the teacher doesn't often get the chance to have his students in the proper "classroom" situation. I must say that, had there been any headlights at all showing on the "Racetrack" through LaGrange when we finished lunch, my daughter would have been willing for me to take the girls and watch from a safe place.

[CopCarSS]

Carl - That's great that your grandkids are starting to take an interest in railroading and asking questions! They've got a great teacher! Safe travels on your upcoming trip!

[CNW 6000]

Well at least you had fun with the Grandkids.  We'll catch up another time!

[CShaveRR]

I don't think we'll make it to the quilt show up there, Jim--that's over with on May 10, and we're still on the road then. When planning our trip for today, we just found out that the Museum is closed on Mondays! Pat didn't want to travel tomorrow, since we have a lot to do around here before leaving on Wednesday.

Believe me, the grandchildren wore us out as much as the 350-mile round trip would have!

[zardoz]

CShaveRR

Our planned trip to Oshkosh turned into a little "Monkey business" with our grandchildren at a play-place for kids under six.

Didn't make it to Oshkosh?  Are you planning to try again at a later date?

[CShaveRR]

Hey, Chris--you done good! I'm seeing BN 528403 and 526811, respectively.

Our planned trip to Oshkosh turned into a little "Monkey business" with our grandchildren at a play-place for kids under six. This was followed by lunch in LaGrange, with a view of the tracks. Our oldest grandchild is beginning to ask questions like "Why is the train going backwards?", and if we said "A train's coming," both of the girls had their noses to the window. Oldest one also asked me, "Grandpa, how much do you like watching trains? And don't say 'Every day of the week.' "

Tomorrow: pretrip packing and preparation. Wednesday: outta here!

[bubbajustin]

Wow! That's nothing you see very often... Grafeti on a rail car! No! I guess that's the reader before the new gray strips.

[CopCarSS]

Hey Carl! Look what I finally caught (complete with a 100% crop of their ACI labels):

Sorry about the shadows on the ACI labels. Hopefully they're still readable for you.

Meanwhile, I'll have a seperate post about the weekend's adventure up soon.

[tree68]

zardoz

CShaveRR

 The other regular operators know how to put the "class" in classification, and the "pro" in Proviso. This guy--he just puts the "um" in hump.

After working on the auction this past week, I can identify with that!

Sometimes we get people who can read the copy clearly, concisely, and with some inflection.  Last night we even had the sports guy from the local commercial TV station reading.  He's something of a character anyhow, but it was a pleasure to have him on the air.

Sometimes we get folks who could put pretty much anybody to sleep (no matter how much energy drink they've had).  With them, "drone" gets a capital "D", and they don't do anything for keeping us on schedule, either.   They're probably the worst, and some of them simply don't understand the concept of reading faster.

Of course, we do encounter folks who aren't familiar with with local pronunciations (Madrid - with the emphasis on the first syllable - Mad rid).  Some of them simply don't have a clue about much of anything and can't pronounce even some common words.

Live TV.  There's nothing like it.

[zardoz]

CShaveRR

 The other regular operators know how to put the "class" in classification, and the "pro" in Proviso. This guy--he just puts the "um" in hump.

[CShaveRR]

Deggesty

It gives me a good feeling to be favorably compared to someone else's close relative. I do wonder, in what way I remind Pat?

Johnny

She says it was your general appearance, plus your voice and many mannerisms.

I now get two weeks of not putting up with any conductors (or semiconductors). I'm hoping that our regular one (recovering from a traffic accident) returns before I do. He sometimes uses a broad brush, but his work is at least editable. The other regular operators know how to put the "class" in classification, and the "pro" in Proviso. This guy--he just puts the "um" in hump.

[CShaveRR]

CNW 6000

Carl,

I don't know if I'll be able to join you for lunch on Monday...I was told today to expect a very full Monday!  Also...if you get the Duo back by you on Sunday send 'em back up thru Adams on Sunday! 

Oshkosh trip is cancelled. We just found out that the museum isn't open on Mondays (a more thorough reading the first time would have told us that!). Tuesday is out, because we need to get ready for the bigger trip.

The Duo wasn't on the outbound trains today--I couldn't check on its status, unfortunately.