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Trackside Lounge - Spring '09 Edition

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Posted by bubbajustin on Saturday, March 21, 2009 7:39 PM

Youre welcome! I got a few shots today as well. Not very good. Time-line too my day. woke up, got yelled at by grouchy parents, took shower did chores, got yelled at some more, went to Lafayette, went to K-Mart and BB&B, Went to depto. Saw BNSF pulling NS train, got better pic of flower than tain doing 10mph... excerside for 68 min. got on line typed up this post. All I know sadly is that NN means Nevada Northern. Sorry. Did anyone else have an excitng day like mine? I like SD45's. Random bit of info there.Smile

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Posted by chad thomas on Saturday, March 21, 2009 3:03 PM

tim o'm
 I might as well make a contribution to the lounge, too. The photo is a bit old, taken in January, as Steamtown's Canadian National 2-8-2 no. 3254 makes a run to the coal dock. She was preparing for a sold out train the following day running from Scranton to Tobyhanna, PA and return. Now, aren't you glad today is the first day of Spring? :) Best of luck with the Trackside Lounge. Over in the Classic Trains forum, the old "Our Place," shut down with no trace it was ever there. Meanwhile, the Coffee Pot in Classic Toy Trains seems always to be overflowing. I'll have to check the neighborhood for more hangouts. See ya!

 

 

Thumbs UpThumbs Up  Nice shot Tim !!!

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Posted by chad thomas on Saturday, March 21, 2009 3:01 PM

CShaveRR

Chad, nice shots! Do you have any close(r)-ups of those box cars? I remember when NN had a fleet of 25 rather unusual box cars (I'll have to check to see where they went--they're too new to have been scrapped yet) and a number of gons.

Tim, welcome! Your shot looks cold--and I'm breaking out the bike today!

 

Thanks Carl, Q, Buba,

Carl, I was told the NN only owned 5 boxcars, the 4 shown and one rather raggedy looking one parked next the the museum (in town, not the NN museum). I would be interested in hearing what you know, especially the 'unusual' part. I'll get you some closer shots next time I go home.

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Posted by Modelcar on Saturday, March 21, 2009 8:17 AM

Interesting and different shots {Tim and Chad}.....But oh that Winter...Burrrr.  And two cabeese on the one train....!

Like the two distance shots too of the open area.....Different.

Quentin

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Posted by bubbajustin on Saturday, March 21, 2009 7:25 AM

Nice shots I like the Geep high hood. A SD9 is an nice thing to see in this ere of wide cabs. and mrning everybodySleepy Yawn. Mom has to go to the office today and when dad gets home from his classes he is going to take me to the depot al Laffayett for some train watching/ potography. I guess this is a lounge food not required here. Carl- we need to break out our bikes ourselves! I have a bike frm the 80's that's like when the sphix was being built! Anyway Mby we can figure out a way to make a big X over the unit and blow it up. (Size wize)

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Posted by CShaveRR on Saturday, March 21, 2009 5:41 AM

Chad, nice shots! Do you have any close(r)-ups of those box cars? I remember when NN had a fleet of 25 rather unusual box cars (I'll have to check to see where they went--they're too new to have been scrapped yet) and a number of gons.

Tim, welcome! Your shot looks cold--and I'm breaking out the bike today!

Carl

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CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

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Posted by tim o'm on Friday, March 20, 2009 10:46 PM
I might as well make a contribution to the lounge, too. The photo is a bit old, taken in January, as Steamtown's Canadian National 2-8-2 no. 3254 makes a run to the coal dock. She was preparing for a sold out train the following day running from Scranton to Tobyhanna, PA and return. Now, aren't you glad today is the first day of Spring? :) Best of luck with the Trackside Lounge. Over in the Classic Trains forum, the old "Our Place," shut down with no trace it was ever there. Meanwhile, the Coffee Pot in Classic Toy Trains seems always to be overflowing. I'll have to check the neighborhood for more hangouts. See ya!
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Posted by chad thomas on Friday, March 20, 2009 9:49 PM

Hi gang, how is everyone doing? I haven't been in here nuch lately except to lurk a bit here and there. I'm not traveling much these days because i am working on a project in Frazier Park (that's keeping me very busy). Anyway a few weeks back I caught a couple photo freights on the Nevada Northern I thought I would share.

first a boxcar freight (with 80% of NN's boxcars) at the bottom of the Keystone branch and then at the wye in Ruth with the SD9.

 Then the following weekend no.93 worked a photo ore train in the East Ely yard.

In contrast to the cold Nevada winter is the wildflowers on Gorman peek taken today


 

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Posted by Deggesty on Friday, March 20, 2009 5:52 PM

CShaveRR
Happy to wait for the Cornell verdict. I was able to note the location of sunrise this morning, though, so I'll know where it was at the equinox. That, by the way, occurred at 0644 CDT; sunrise here was ten minutes later.

To add a little more into the calculation, Carl, your local mean sun time is about nine minutes ahead of Central Standard Time, since you are a little over two degrees east of the 90th meridian. (And it is about fifty-one minutes behind Eastern Standard Time, which you are currently observing.)

Johnny

 

Johnny

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Posted by CShaveRR on Friday, March 20, 2009 5:38 PM
Chris, my tires have some Kevlar strips that I insert between tire and tube. I still get the occasional flat, but I suspect that "little thorny things" don't do the damage that they otherwise would.

Carl

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Posted by CopCarSS on Friday, March 20, 2009 5:34 PM

bubbajustin
 I guess cop car is in charge so whatever he says I'll do.

LOL, I wouldn't put that guy in charge if I were you!

Seriously, I just happen to have created the latest incarnation of the Lounge. I'm just here for the chit chat like everyone else.

I also happen to agree with Carl -- if cyberfood is your thing, the Cafe is probably a better place for that. CW is a much better cook than I could ever hope to be anyways.

Carl -- just placed an order for some new tires with Kevlar lining for my road bike. I was having terrible issues with punctures from annoying little thorny things last year, so I figured this would help that out a bit. Now I've just got to get the crank issue straightened out, and I'm good to go.

Meanwhile, I've been looking around a bit at recumbent trikes. The "tadpole" style is really kind of calling to me. I watched a video of one, and they just look like they're a blast to ride in. Alas, they're not exactly cheap, so I think my current duo of two wheelers will serve me for the time being.

Anyways, I'm going to go check our skies and see if the cloud cover vanished, and if it did I may go see if I can scare up a train or two.

-Chris
West Chicago, IL
Christopher May Fine Art Photography

"In wisdom gathered over time I have found that every experience is a form of exploration." ~Ansel Adams

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Posted by CShaveRR on Friday, March 20, 2009 5:07 PM

Happy to wait for the Cornell verdict. I was able to note the location of sunrise this morning, though, so I'll know where it was at the equinox. That, by the way, occurred at 0644 CDT; sunrise here was ten minutes later.

Justin, I see the nose of a CSX GE unit. Maybe you could teach me how to superimpose a red "X" over it!Evil

Happy birthday to Stacey, Matt's Momma and Joe's wife!

Just my opinion, Justin, cyber-food or other fantasies are better left in the cafe.

Our bikes are home from the shop--Pat brought hers home with the car, I checked mine out a little more directly. Will bike home from work tomorrow if the weather is as promised.--have to work up to a round trip...maybe Sunday!

Carl

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CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

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Posted by bubbajustin on Friday, March 20, 2009 4:23 PM

Me 

 

Can you guy's see this? I just see a little red "X"

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Posted by bubbajustin on Friday, March 20, 2009 3:49 PM

tree68

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.

Goodness gracious! Just like math class all-over again! Kind of paying attention to Judge Judy and the computer at the same time. Today was a half day at my school. I'm now 5 hours 45 minutes and 94 seconds into spring break! Kind of cool today though 45* now. The waether man, not my dad by any means, says that it will be warmer tommorow. Hope so! Mom says she is doing a bit better. Back still hurts though. Well have a good evening. Thought we might bring up the idea of maby me fixing some "virtual" lunch when I get on here. I'll do it if you want me too. I guess cop car is in charge so whatever he says I'll do.

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Posted by tree68 on Friday, March 20, 2009 7:12 AM

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.

LarryWhistling
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Posted by blhanel on Friday, March 20, 2009 6:06 AM

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.

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Posted by CShaveRR on Friday, March 20, 2009 5:34 AM

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

Carl

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Posted by tree68 on Thursday, March 19, 2009 10:44 PM

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.

LarryWhistling
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...

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Posted by CShaveRR on Thursday, March 19, 2009 8:31 PM

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

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CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

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Posted by bubbajustin on Thursday, March 19, 2009 4:30 PM

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.

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Posted by CNW 6000 on Thursday, March 19, 2009 4:15 PM

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.

Dan

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Posted by bubbajustin on Thursday, March 19, 2009 3:33 PM

CNW 6000

Deggesty
I hope your bandit did not try to hold a train up. Smile

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.

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Posted by CShaveRR on Thursday, March 19, 2009 3:30 PM
CNW 6000

CShaveRR
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).


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!

Carl

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Posted by CNW 6000 on Thursday, March 19, 2009 12:21 PM

Deggesty
I hope your bandit did not try to hold a train up. Smile

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.

Dan

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Posted by Deggesty on Thursday, March 19, 2009 11:55 AM

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.

These shots remind me of a worm named "Ooey Gooey." I do not remember more than the first two lines and the last one, but: "Ooey Gooey was a worm, Ooey Gooey he did squirm...[then comes the sad tale that he was on a railroad track and a train came along]...ooey, gooey!"

I hope your bandit did not try to hold a train up. Smile

Johnny

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Posted by CNW 6000 on Thursday, March 19, 2009 8:28 AM

CShaveRR
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).


Kent who?

Dan

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Posted by CShaveRR on Wednesday, March 18, 2009 8:53 PM

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.

Carl

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CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

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Posted by CShaveRR on Wednesday, March 18, 2009 4:46 PM

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).

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)

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Posted by bubbajustin on Wednesday, March 18, 2009 4:20 PM

Oh so this was all Carl's fault!!!Big Smile ( 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.

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Posted by tree68 on Wednesday, March 18, 2009 11:36 AM

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.

LarryWhistling
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...

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