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)
Good day all. It has been quite some time since I was on here enjoying debating and information sharing back and forth. I have been busy working and learning more of politics. I changed my political view recently after learning more about things especially after Obama was elected and the NDP and Liberal Party of Canada tried to pull a coalition government like Mussolini did........well I won't go into a political debate so I will say no more.
I look forward to talking to you more often now and hope everyone has been well physically and so on.
Best Regards
Hi everybody!
Been a while scince I have seen you all. Cold today. 47*. Well hope you have a good weekend! The Pan American is awesome!
The road to to success is always under construction. _____________________________________________________________________________ When the going gets tough, the tough use duct tape.
Yah Carl were supposed to have a wintery mix here in Lafayette too. Man it alternates between shorts and jeans almost every day. Well if you don't like Indiana weather, just wait an hour!
Evening all!
Chris nice shots! Went with grandpa today to an action. We didn't buy anything. I had fun. Sadly i had my camra dand only got to hear 2 trains not see them. Theay were at Attica. Have some really crappy weather cummin' our way tommorow. Cold and snowy. Phhhht.
I used to attend auctions with my dad--he got started collecting antique tools and such that way. It wasn't all boring, though--I remember getting an antique (pre-knuckle-coupler) American Flyer train and an early Erector set at this auction (it was in Zeeland, Michigan; we drive past the site often, but I don't think it's used for auctions any more).
Another dull day at work, spiced up only by the sight of UP 2001 and 2002 (the Olympic units) getting ready to take something to Rochelle. I humped a carload of frogs (that's what the sheet said--probably a switch frog or two). I commented that the car should have been a hopper ('twas a gondola); I think that was over the heads of a couple of co-workers who usually can't resist snickering at my stuff.
After working in the lovely (yeah, right!) weather tomorrow, we get to drive in it--headed toward the Quad Cities/Muscatine, Iowa, to visit my sister in their new place (they have a view of the ICE tracks through Muscatine from their house). My other sister will also be there. We also have to go to Bishop Hill, Illinois, to submit a quilt to their annual competition (Pat finished it a few weeks ago). My sisters are up for exploring the area (one of them has a van that will hold all of us), and although Galesburg isn't directly on the way, I'll try and talk them into looking it over (shouldn't be too hard--no places to eat in Bishop Hill that I can remember!). The weather isn't going to be very cooperative on Monday; I'm hoping that we'll be following the tail end of the storm home on Tuesday.
Speaking of weather, Willy and Mookie were supposed to be getting together in Lincoln today, after the weather symposium that Willy was attending. I hope it cooperated (weather, that is!).
Sorry to be remiss...welcome back, Junc!
CShaveRRI remember getting an antique (pre-knuckle-coupler) American Flyer train and an early Erector set at this auction (it was in Zeeland, Michigan; we drive past the site often, but I don't think it's used for auctions any more).
Boy, Carl.....I really loved to "work" with Erector sets as a youngster...Can remember building a Thru truss bridge that spanned our kitchen table. It was stable too.
Quentin
Modelcar CShaveRRI remember getting an antique (pre-knuckle-coupler) American Flyer train and an early Erector set at this auction (it was in Zeeland, Michigan; we drive past the site often, but I don't think it's used for auctions any more). Boy, Carl.....I really loved to "work" with Erector sets as a youngster...Can remember building a Thru truss bridge that spanned our kitchen table. It was stable too.
Alas, our Erector "set" (actually a conglomeration of several sets) was one of the things that disappeared from the house while I was in the Air Force. Some of the items would become collectables, too. I guess Dad wanted to get rid of my "kid" stuff. The Marx train set disappeared, too.
I'd actually enjoy the challenge of "playing" with an old fashioned Erector set even now.
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...
Carl,
Glad to hear you had a relly fantastic day at work!!! () So you humped a set of frogs in godolas hugh? Interesting. I had a really bad 20 minuets of morning. I went to Attica today (30 mi south of Lafayette) and dad and I sat at the Attica marker sighn on the NS ROW. We sat for probably 15 minuets and my patients depribed freekin' dad got tired. So we went on (I was really upset at this point beacause I had seen that a WB train had a clear aspect.) So anyway. We went on when I saw her cummin'. Dad whipped over I turned on the camra, bailled off the moving truck in pouring rain, snapped the picture and fell face frist into a pool of watered down creasote.... Well I had a really pecahey morning hugh? To make matters evan wose mom had the good camra and I had the old crappy one. It is the most grainy thing I've ever seen! Ugh...
Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh ! everyone Everyone Everyone Everyone Everone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I got a shutterfly account here is one of my pictures! My best one yet!ictures!
Nice shot, Justin. It really does a nice job of putting the train in a rural atmosphere.
I was out and about yesterday, too. The blizzard that was supposed to hit Denver Friday/Saturday kind of petered out and didn't do much but give a nice little dusting of snow. That dusting proved to be rather pretty, though, so I headed out to the Moffat Sub for some shots.
Traffic was pretty light, but I was able to get some shots.
My first shot was taken near Tunnel No. 1 of a westbound coal empty with lots of power. UP 5821 is on the point:Next up is the westbound California Zephyr as it approaches Blue Mountain Road:
After that, I listened to the radio and found out that I had an eastbound, but he was up at Cliff. Having nothing better to do, I hung out by Blue Mountain Road and waited for hom to head down the mountain. You can see the mid-train DPUs just above and to the left of the lead unit in this shot:
By this time, I needed to start heading towards home, and so I decided to follow 6044 back into town. Here he is as he approaches the Indiana St. overpass. As with all the shots, I kept the white balance on the blue side to give a "cold" feel to the shots:
I caught him again at Simms St. and decided that a "tele-wedgie" would be the shot of choice here. I really need to use the M 135mm more often. It's an amazing lens!
And finally, here he is crossing my street. The weather isn't quite as dramatic down in the city, but I thought it would be worth the effort to shoot him one more time:
-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
Thanks for the knd worda Chris! Youre's are way better. I like the AC4400AC's in their new scheem! I will display one more photo.
A good ol' SD70.
Chris: Re that third shot, either you didn't have the camera level, or that's a pretty steep grade in the background! Re the last shot, I wish my street had a busy rail line crossing it.
Justin: You've got some pretty nice shots there, keep working on it!
Brian (IA) http://blhanel.rrpicturearchives.net.
Thank you! Chris lives on the UP Moffat line. That is the famous curves I belive right Chris? I will keep working on my photo's.
Quentin , did your E set have a motor ? Mine had enough pieces to build a Draw Bridge and a ferris wheel , amoung other things. I wonder how many Mech. Engineers got their carriers from those E sets ?? ~~~~~ My worm gear kept bending the bar arm to raise the bridge , don't recall if I ever figured why or how to make it work. Thanks for the memory . Respectfully, Cannonball
Y6bs evergreen in my mind
Chris, absolutely!! got the feeling of cold railroading . The only thing missing in the shots is the ( burble) and the whine of the blowers . However, it don't take much to imagine that. ( Zipping up my Carhart jacket ) LOL . ~~~~ Young Justin; you are getting a good hand at shooting trains . Good shots of CSX in Attica .
Respectfully , Cannonball
LOL LOL LOL!!! Thank you very mutch for te kind words, but that CSX is in Lafayette. Ns goes through Attica! So you know where Attica is hugh?
Check out my new location and signature!
Night everybody, mom is almost home and I must help her unpack.
See you tommorow!
bubbajustinSo you know where Attica is?
Western New York - home of the Attica & Arcade..... Still running steam...
switch7frg Quentin , did your E set have a motor ? Mine had enough pieces to build a Draw Bridge and a ferris wheel , amoung other things. I wonder how many Mech. Engineers got their carriers from those E sets ?? ~~~~~ My worm gear kept bending the bar arm to raise the bridge , don't recall if I ever figured why or how to make it work. Thanks for the memory . Respectfully, Cannonball
Cannonball.........
You know, for the life of me...I can't remember right now if the set did have the electric motor....I remember it was in a pretty good size metal box. E-Sets were a wonderful toy....in my mind, more than a toy. A valuable learning "toy"....Lets....see, I believe the maker was Gilbert.
Chris....Really enjoyed your photos.....and yours too Justin.
He he he he!!!!! No that's not the town I live by Larry, I wish but, no. I live near Atttica Indiana. A small settltement just south of Lafayette. It is mostly single track so meets are comon at the sidings. Quintion, thanks for the kind words! Now for the last time good night! I wish I could stay up but mom refuses and I have to go to school in the morning, and i'm a bit sleepy... See you tommorow afternoon at about 4:10 like normal!!!!!
Erector sets were made by the A. C. Gilbert Company, as were American Flyer trains. My Erector set had an electric motor, and enough curved pieces to build a ferris wheel.
Larry, interesting that you should mention a Marx train set: I saw one yesterday, in pristine condition! Actually, it was a coal train on the former IC&E, powered by UP units, consisting of exclusively gons bearing reporting marks MARX. That's a new one on me.
I'm checking in from Muscatine, Iowa, this evening--my sister's house has a fantastic view of the ICE tracks and the Mississippi River. I also saw those KCS covered hoppers for the first time, the ones with the fancy paint scheme. If nobody's decided to nickname these things "Belle-hopps", they should!
Gotta go--we're dining out.
I haven't posted too much in the latest version of the lounge mostly because I haven't had much to say, nor the time to post it (Senior year of high school and preparing for College next fall have kept me busy). I have been reading regularly though. Today I've finally got something worth posting.
Noah,
Nice photos; I especially liked the last one. And very interesting information. Thanks.
Noah HofrichterI also made a two day (well, day and a half) swing through Minneapolis and St. Paul this last weekend, and I had a chance to do a good bit of railfanning one day.
What areas did you visit, Noah?
Noah HofrichterToday I've finally got something worth posting.
Very nice clear and colorful photographs. Agree....the track in that last photo makes one wonder how a locomotive and cars stay on the rail, no matter how slow it's traveled.
Spending Winters down in Florida {back a few years}, we used to see local action on the Florida Central near Eustis....Tavares and north a ways toward Altoona....The track was every bit as wobbly and horrible shape {as in your photo}, and they used it every day.....I never did see anything on the ground.....They would sway back and forth as it passed.
Thanks Zardoz and Quentin! The track up this way is pretty bad really, though they still can run over it I guess, and derailments aren't that frequent. At one crossing (a photo I didn't post) as I looked through the viewfinder I realized on the track through that area the train didn't do the usual rocking motion; it just stayed leaning in the same direction, and it wasn't a super-elevated curve either!
Brian, I mostly checked out the usual hot spots in the cities themselves; Northtown Yard, the MNNR's yard and roundhouse, and the Dayton's bluff area in St. Paul. It was a nice trip, even if it was a cloudy day, and it was good "research" for the next time I'm up in the area. Like I said, details with pictures to come later.
Noah
Nice pictures, Noah! That track actually looks pretty good, compared to some I've seen and/or been over. It looks like CP is upgrading the line from Nahant southwestward, with welded rail and a few new ties. We saw a welded-rail train go northeastward last night (and one of the buffer cars was a Santa Fe mechanical reefer--honest, I swear!).
Headed home from Muscatine today. Haven't decided our route, though we'll hug the ICE up to Nahant before turning east. Pat feels bad about the ratio of quilt-store purchases to trains seen yesterday, so we might be able to do some interesting stuff today.
We did pace a train from Altona to Galesburg yesterday--saw some flagrant examples of truck hunting as the train moved at about 45 m.p.h.
So long from (and to) Iowa!
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