Trackside Lounge, Milepost 0906.01--no defects

[tree68]

CNW 6000

Anyone see anything interesting lately?

I've got to work on getting the video from Deshler with the DIT switchers on-line.

On another angle, in keeping with the contest theme, here are two of my pictures of first generation Diesels.

The RS-3 shot was post-processed into a "water color."  I don't have the original loaded up on-line, and this does look nice.

The second is one of our F's during our annual Polar Express trips.  That's not me with the lantern.

[CNW 6000]

I've been gone too, but am back now.  Spent the last 3 days in Door County with limited outside interruptions...kinda nice.  This week I have vacation all week and am staying home with Aedan so Misty can adjust to going back to FT at work w/o worrying about midnight feedings, etc.  I plan on introducing JR to some railfanning...but I suspect he'll be asleep in the carseat!

Anyone see anything interesting lately?

[tree68]

There - Knocked down all of the cobwebs!

Place is kinda quiet without Carl around.

[blhanel]

I've gone completely around Superior- in fact, Joanie and I did that for our honeymoon.  Have a safe trip, Carl.  We'll be heading out soon for the great northwest, but I'm not going to advertise our departure date here.

[tree68]

Carl - you'll be accomplishing something I recently realized I've now done twice (albeit not all at the same time/on the same trip) - drive completely around one of the great lakes.  I've been completely around Erie and Ontario now.  Maybe that's a goal for retirement - get around the other three...

[CShaveRR]

Well, folk, this may be the last post for a while. Later this morning Pat and I leave for a week-long foray to the wilds of western and northern Michigan, where the trains don't run, the cell-phone doesn't reach, and the laptop will be relegated to CD ROMs and Solitaire.

If we're lucky, we'll be able to catch Marquette Rail in Ludington or Manistee, then the CN (WC) in da Yoo Pee. Our trip back home will be on the Wisconsin side, and just might have a few more trains, though we'll probably be more anxious to just get home.

If I can access the Internet anywhere along the way, I certainly shall. Everyone please take care, and enjoy whatever railroading you can!

[AgentKid]

Over the weekend I unpacked and set up an old 80's vintage desktop scanner I have had in storage since the early 90's, and put in some frequencies from the most recent Canadian Trackside Guide I have.

Just a few minutes ago, at 2:12 PM MDT I heard someone call "CG". That is the old TELEGRAPH call sign for the Laggan and Red Deer Sub's. dispatcher's office. My father used to talk about working in both "CG" and "CY", the old commercial telegraph office, by using those call signs.

It's living history like that that keeps me coming back to this hobby.

AgentKid

 

[AgentKid]

CShaveRR

There is a chapter in the book for each of the twelve major railroads in the Chicago area (next version will have 11--EJ&E will be consolidated into the CN chapter)

That is just amazing! I wanted to get back to you sooner but there isn't time for everything. I appreciate your reply.

I read something like that above, or the interesting photo's and discussion with wanswheel and Henry6 over in The Classic Trains forum about railroading in New York City, and I cannot believe the scale of the operations. I look at the pictures of the CN single track mainline in BC in the August issue of TRAINS or TrainBoy's recent picture of the CP single track mainline at Exshaw, AB and it is hard to believe that they are the transcontinental mainlines in Canada.

You see and hear about picturesque logging and mining railways right up to major Class I operations, but railroading in NYC and Chicago almost seems like you are talking railroading on another planet. the scale is so huge. Thank you Carl, for your reply.

 AgentKid

 

[tree68]

Our passengers are generally a pretty mellow lot.  A couple of times that we have encountered issues, they've always taken it in stride.  We had problems on a grade with leaves one time, requiring a "rescue" by our Utica train locomotives, and most of the passengers thought it was quite the adventure.  Same with the time, right after a snow storm, that the way was blocked by downed trees.  The few passengers on board thought it was quite the lark, and later shared their pictures from that day with the crew.

The boorish are the exception.

The Adirondack Park is huge - bigger than each of 6 of the states.  No wonder she didn't happen upon us, unless she was in the Lake Placid/Saranac Lake or Old Forge areas.

 

[CShaveRR]

Larry, I'll bet the tourist railroads are just full of potential for events like this:

Rail passengers killed after complaining

Two passengers have been stabbed to death after they complained about a man humming on a train, say reports in China.

The knifeman was humming along to his CD player when three people in the carriage complained about the noise.

A fight began and the trio wrestled the man to the floor and began beating him, said the state-run Xinhua news agency.

The man — identified only by his surname Yan — then pulled out a blade and stabbed all three of them.

One died on the train, while another died later in hospital.

The third man was taken to hospital and is recovering from his injuries.

Yan was arrested by police on the train, which was travelling from Kunming to Chengdu.

Larry, my sister-in-law was backpacking in the Adirondacks this past week--said she had material for your railroad but didn't see the railroad itself.

[tree68]

It's my experience that an open-book test still requires that you have a pretty good knowledge of the subject matter.  As Carl points out, if you know where to look in the book, it's a handy resource.

Generally speaking, the people who have the most trouble with an open-book test are the ones who don't know the material to begin with.  If they know the test will be open-book, they rely on that instead of learning what they need to know.

 

[CShaveRR]

Jeff, I don't think doing the exams without the books would have been possible, with the questions they asked--I had to do mine in my home subdivision (could have been Geneva or Milwaukee; I chose Geneva); and the questions were of a nature that required in intimate knowledge of siding lengths, detector locations, and other such stuff that I, who never strays from the yard, would never have gotten without the book. Same with CORA--I don't ever get to these other railroads any more, so I'm not sure of their speed limits at a certain point, or even their signal indications, without looking them up.

Were I on the road, I think I would have enough familiarity with my line to know the permanent speed restrictions, and where the control points were. On any of the CORA railroads, since I'm required to have the book with me, I'd have it open to the railroad I'd be operating over, more precisely to the page covering exactly where I was, with the signal section ready to refer to quickly if I were in doubt about the aspects.

Speaking of which, I encountered a yellow-over-flashing-green on CSX tonight on my way home from Michigan. Let's see...Approach Limited. Book doesn't give CSX's definition of Limited Speed, though (this signal wasn't in CORA territory).

Generally at work, I have enough rule knowledge to get past nearly all of the strange things one might encounter. In this case, the answer is not so much knowing the rule, but knowing where to look it up, should something strange come our way. We're usually able to take the time to do things right, and if there's any doubt, just take the safest course of action--that's safest in more ways than one!

[Deggesty]

CShaveRR

Again, we were allowed to use the book on this test--you were given scenarios and had to figure them out.

Carl, is your open book exam more difficult than a closed book exam would be? When I was taking physical chemistry in college, we would have one or two thorough tests each semester, and the tests were given us in the chemistry library.. The first part was on theory, and it was closed book. The second part was one or more problems, and we could use any resource found in the library (including Beilstein's Handbuch des Organische Chemie, which was in several volumes). I was glad to finish the course. I did enjoy the lab work, even when I had to repeat an experiment that failed because I began with an entirely wrong assumption.

When you come up against a difficult situation at work, do you have time to look through the book, or do you have to quickly realize that a hammer and a few nails will get you home? (I'm sorry, I couldn't resist this reference) 

Johnny

[CShaveRR]

Jeff, you are right--there were two copies of the trainmen's book, anyway. I don't know if they had two engineers' versions here, because there weren't that many of them. The trainmen's versions were alternated by where we were seated, so looking at the next guy's answer sheet would get you nowhere.

Kid, it is more of a question of how to read the timetable and the special instructions contained therein. The timetable could be used in taking this test, so for us it was as much a reading/comprehension test as anything.

(By the way, Jeff, something to look forward to--our new Chicago area timetable has grade profiles in it, in addition to the colored schematics you got in your latest version.)

CORA is the Chicago Operating Rules Association. There is a chapter in the book for each of the twelve major railroads in the Chicago area (next version will have 11--EJ&E will be consolidated into the CN chapter), plus one for pertinent NORAC rules, and another for GCOR. Each railroad's chapter has diagrams, maps, signals, and instructions for their Chicago-area lines (rules that must be obeyed--otherwise follow your own railroad's rules). Flogging a dead horse here, if the Amtrak employee had checked his/her CORA book and looked at the red-over-yellow rule in the NS section, the rear-end collision involving the Pere Marquette might not have happened. Again, we were allowed to use the book on this test--you were given scenarios and had to figure them out.

[jeffhergert]

CShaveRR

I am a T&E folk, so I take it every two years, just like the rest of them (engineers may do it more often, for licensing purposes).

 

Never the same test--there are always enough fresh changes and "flavors of the month" to make it interesting.

Engineers may have to take it more often because of the licensing process.  In addition to taking them ever two calender years, you have to take it the year you recertify.  I took the tests last February.  I have to renew my license next year so have to take them again before my b-day in April.  It depends on how things fall into place.

There are also different tests for trainmen and enginemen.  Engineers that are set back to working as conductors have to take the engineer's test.  There are two different test booklets for both crafts, so make sure your answer sheet clearly states which booklet was used!

Jeff    

[tree68]

Northeast Operating Rules Advisory Committee's rulebook is probably nearly identical to GCOR's as far as content goes.  CSX also has its own rulebook, and I think NS does, too.

There are some regional variations (three-step/red zone/in-between, f'rinstance), but the basics are the same.

[AgentKid]

CShaveRR

CORA and timetable, 99 on GCOR

Hi Carl,

I'm not familiar with CORA. What does that mean? And I think GCOR is General Code of Operating Rules, right? Wouldn't that cover timetables though? What sort of extra items would a timetable test cover, or am I misunderstanding the "CORA and timetable" part?

I've read my Dad's UCOR, Uniform Code of Operating Rules, book a couple of times over the years. Do any railways still use it? And I presume NORAC that Larry talks about, is another varient again. Actually my Dad had two editions (releases?) of the UCOR. Looking at the oldest one was cool because all of the relevant illustrations used steam engines.

Hope you enjoy your vacation.

AgentKid

 

[tree68]

CShaveRR

Never the same test--there are always enough fresh changes and "flavors of the month" to make it interesting.

Yep - "Human Factors" was the phrase of the day for our classes this year, plus we changed over from the Conrail EC-99 brake book to GVT's. 

We've been doing our rules (NORAC) annually, with brakes every two years, but there's word we may back off a bit.  With volunteers, though, the annual thing gives us a chance to bring everyone together at least once a year.

[CShaveRR]

I am a T&E folk, so I take it every two years, just like the rest of them (engineers may do it more often, for licensing purposes).

Never the same test--there are always enough fresh changes and "flavors of the month" to make it interesting.

[CNW 6000]

CShaveRR

I just read something about an official ground-breaking coming up. Hard to imagine all of that grading and berming being unofficial!

 

Better day today on the rules: 100 percent on CORA and timetable, 99 on GCOR. Somebody will have to watch me in double-track territory, I guess.

How often do you have to take these tests?  Same frequency at the T&E folks?  Same test even?

[CShaveRR]

I just read something about an official ground-breaking coming up. Hard to imagine all of that grading and berming being unofficial!

Better day today on the rules: 100 percent on CORA and timetable, 99 on GCOR. Somebody will have to watch me in double-track territory, I guess.

[tree68]

CShaveRR

Is the yard at North Baltimore taking shape yet, Larry? When we were there in May, it was mostly just grading, nothing distinguishing.

They've built a berm all along Route 18 - the only views you get are through the access cuts.  That's fine for John Q. Public, but us railfans certainly would prefer a better view.  Maybe they can be convinced to include a parking area alongside and a viewing platform on top of the berm.....

That said - they are moving a lot of ties (a string of gons at Deshler gets regular visits from a boom truck which would arrive empty and leave full, variously with either wood or concrete ties).  I saw both wood and concrete ties with track attached, but obviously not in a place to handle traffic (trains don't stay on well if the track is on a 30 degree angle...).  The local foreman had the track in that area - a sure sign of a westbound was hearing someone call for permission through his limits.  They were doing signal testing in that area, too.

And they're still doing a lot of grading.

[CShaveRR]

Two tests down, two 95 percents. Not really dumb mistakes, so I don't feel so bad (especially the air-brake test, keeping i mind that air is The Enemy in the hump). Tomorrow we have tests on CORA, the timetable, and GCOR.

See what I mean about Willy's "curve" photo of MPRDM at Glen Ellyn? That definitely would have been in the competition, and I would have voted for it. I was right there when he shot it. That is the start of the first curve west of Chicago on our line that has a speed restriction on it--the second curve, just to the west, is where the 1976 Glen Ellyn Wreck occurred.

Is the yard at North Baltimore taking shape yet, Larry? When we were there in May, it was mostly just grading, nothing distinguishing.

One of my daughter's friends, from Milwaukee (one of the bridesmaids at her wedding), will be spending the night with us on Friday night. We'll have to kick her out when we head out Saturday morning. Earlier in the evening, we'll get a chance to see how the grandkids react to Aunt Linda and Uncle Chris, whom they haven't seen in over a year (Grandson Nico has never seen them).

[Modelcar]

Nice photos Willy....Chicago can be an interesting place.  I haven't been in the area now for some years but while still working, I had the opportunity at various times to do so....Not a small place.  I've been into all 3 airports at one time or another and yes have been in and out of there via rail....all the way to Seattle and the east coast.  Many interesting places to see in Chicago.  Hope you did get to enjoy the area.

[tree68]

CShaveRR

As Joe would tell you, Larry, "Stay safe!"

Sounds like you're getting a lot more variety in trains than we had.

Sleeping in the truck (on the air mattress, under the cap) was a pain, and it didn't storm like we expected, but if I had stuck with the tent, who knows?

The first movement through after the storm served as the "rainbow," though.  Tucked in behind the road power were two old UP switchers, a patched SP switcher, and three switcher slugs, headed east for points unknown.  Unfortunately, the storm found a way to get some water into the battery compartment of my Rebel, which rebelled.  I got video, but that will take a day or two to unload.  I'm pooped.

Made it home in one piece, including a quick visit with grandson in Syracuse.  Had to wait on the last train I saw at the diamond to get out of town, and saw one in North Baltimore as I passed through there.  That's quite the intermodal terminal they're putting in there, by the way!

Time for a couple of phone calls (it's Mom's birthday) and I'm in bed...

[Lord Atmo]

 The skyline always looks great. Looks like you got both UP and BNSF action too. Nice

[Willy2]

We arrived back in Omaha about an hour and a half late. We had hardly left the Naperville station and we had to wait for an intermodal train to cross in front of us. We also had a lengthy wait for barge traffic on the Mississippi River at Burlington, Iowa. Here are a few photos from the trip, starting with a UP manifest in Glen Ellyn:

 

Next is a BNSF intermodal at the Naperville Amtrak station.

Some very lazy lions at the Lincoln Park Zoo.

Finally, the Chicago skyline and a splash of water. It's not the greatest picture, but it's different.

[CShaveRR]

As Joe would tell you, Larry, "Stay safe!"

Sounds like you're getting a lot more variety in trains than we had.

[tree68]

A few more through trains, including one that had two former UP switchers, a former SP switcher, and three slugs tucked in behind the motive power.  Unfortunately, my camera got wet  in the storm (more later), but I did get video.

The storm.  Thought it was going to miss us, but we got hit square on - pea sized hail, 60+ MPH wind.  Took down numerous branches and my tent.  Got the tent back up and dried out, but the truck is looking like the place to camp tonight - the storms are training right over us...

ATCS shows an EB and WB queued up for us.

[CShaveRR]

Just one more time:

For the next two days, instead of reporting to my regular job, I will be in rules class, refreshing my memory for, then taking, what should be the final rules examinations of my career. Then one day of work, then two weeks of vacation. We'll be going to the old stomping grounds in western Michigan at least twice, and may venture as far north as the Lake Superior shoreline in Da U.P. The first trip to Michigan will cover two family reunions in as many days--both daughters, both sons-in-law, and all three grandchildren will also be there.

Railfanning? Not much can be planned, as there just isn't enough railroading up there. We might be able to visit Marquette Rail in Ludington and Manistee, and we might luck out and see something along the CN after we cross Da Bridge. If we go up there, our return via Wisconsin might be a little more fruitful in that regard.