Depot Diner & Coffee Shop

[chad thomas]

Larry, Are you putting your new camera to good use?

[tree68]

Holiday for me (plus a 4 AM ambulance call), so I missed lunch altogether. Will lend a hand for supper. BLH - I can sympathize with you on the sun. Heard a northbound yesterday while I was in town that likely would have provided some photo ops, had I wanted to wait for them to fini***heir work at the yard (dropping off some cars for the locals to deliver), but virtually every shot I could have gotten would have put the nose in the shadows. Summers's a-comin' (some day).

MC - You're sounding like us. We got a big hit of snow before Christmas which has been melting ever since. Even though the low was -8 this morning (under crystal clear skies), we're looking at rain in the forecast again later in the week. The snowmobilers are crying foul! At least most of the ski areas have had a chance to make snow (I'm sure they were at it last night), so they are still open.

[mudchicken]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CopCarSS

MC, have you actually seen anything more than an errant flurry? That's all I've managed to see while out about about this morning. What's scary is this is starting to remind me a lot of 2003. That was a bit of an interesting March that year...

Meanwhile, thoughts and prayers go out to Mutt and CW. Hope things work out for you guys ASAP!

And Brian, dig the shots. Thanks for sharing!

We got an inch plus a thin sheet of ice down here at the ranch (Elev. 6200)[:D][:D][:D]

[CopCarSS]

MC, have you actually seen anything more than an errant flurry? That's all I've managed to see while out about about this morning. What's scary is this is starting to remind me a lot of 2003. That was a bit of an interesting March that year...

Meanwhile, thoughts and prayers go out to Mutt and CW. Hope things work out for you guys ASAP!

And Brian, dig the shots. Thanks for sharing!

[mudchicken]

Let it snow - let it snow - let it snow......FINALLY! (First snow in 28 days here, even if the promised 5-8 inches turned out to be less than 1...the mountains, as usual, got snowfalls measured in feet while those of us in the flats get zilch)

[blhanel]

Thanks- I need to pay better attention to lighting, though. It's difficult to get well-lit shots when the sun is so low this time of year; the shadows ruin alot of my shots.

[waltersrails]

BL the pics look nice

[Modelcar]

....Where is everyone this morning.....Seems the holiday has everyone hibernating. I'm just passing a bit of time on here waiting until time to head to the dentist as scheduled late this morning....I dentist and 10 female associates, not bad......

[JoeKoh]

good morning
juice and coffee are ready and someone asked for ham and eggs for breakfast here ya go. I need someone to handle lunch while I get some rest then i'll try to get supper on about 6.any suggestions would be great.
stay safe
Joe

[Modelcar]

....Ok, Ed and Jim....will join in....and congrats on good job at hand...!

[edblysard]

Morning folks.
As Jim said, those of you on my mailing list will receive a email with a letter attached.
Read it.
Act on it.
At the least, pass it on to your forum friends.

Sometimes, you do a good thing, for no other reason than it is a good thing.

More info tomorrow.
Ed[:D]

[waltersrails]

ham and eggs this early morning for me.

[Anonymous]

Hi All [:)]

Well I am in from work, got some fuel (from the fuel rack in the kitchen, you know these human engines need fuel too just like the diesel ones do) and have read some important emails, and emailed a few also. [8D] [;)] I forgot to take my "pressure" pill so now I have a splitting headache--the kind where you can feel and hear the blood flow. [:0] [B)] [8] That will cease in about 30 minutes when the one I just took really goes into action. [^]

Now to get down to the important business at hand.

Many of you have asked, either here in the diner or by email, what you can do to help CW and Locomut during this unfortunate situation they are in. Ed and I have discussed the situation and agreed upon a plan of action. Ed has put together a letter explaining the plan. You may email myself or Ed and we will email you that letter. Thank you in advance for your help.

Well I am about to fall out so off to bed I go.

Everyone Take Care

[blhanel]

Time to share pictures from yesterday- spent five hours by the tracks, saw at least 12 trains with a variety of motive power, including two SP units (one unpatched) and a CSX unit, and caught a pair of CNIC engines working the CR terminal near downtown while I was headed for the UP line. Not a bad day all-in-all!

A sample of the shots I got:





A couple of times I got caught "sleeping", didn't have the camera turned on- so the pictures aren't the best. I need more practice is the problem. The rest can be seen at http://blhanel.rrpicturearchives.net/archivethumbs.aspx?id=9202&Page=1 . Enjoy!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CShaveRR
Granddaughter, who doesn't like loud noises, eventually became used to the sound of trains passing, and will probably be good to go when the weather gets warmer.

I use to be scared of that when I was very little e.g. 2 or 3. but I got use to it and later loved hearing the sound.

[CShaveRR]

Sarah, please be careful with kerosene heaters indoors! The fumes could be deadly.

The trip may have been fun at the time, but I'm barely awake right now.

As for hide-and-go-seek, well...
AMG

[CSXrules4eva]

Carl, I'm glad you and fam had a good time on that little train trip past Geneva!

I am a bit jealous, you were out having fun today and I was here at home sitting with no power in 40 wind gusts, it was cold, cold, cold, cold, really cold, in my house today. I had to break out the Kerosen heater. Guess what I cooked some food on it though! It came out tasting good! So, thats a change I was cooking in the living room. As soon as I took my first bite of the food the power came back on.

I was hopeing I could play hide and go seek, in the dark. It's a lot of fun, espeacilly when the whole street has no power!!! I've done it before with some of my friends and a couple of other people, man that was a blast!

Well, hopefully the power at my job went out so I don't have to go into work tomorrow. lol Keep dreaming Sarah......

[tree68]

OK, Got my supper. Madam La Mook's not around so I'll be in the hammock for a little bit of a nap....

Not long ago my fire dep't was called out for an accident that involved a pickup breaking a pole (no injuries, and the owner later drove the pickup away). The pole held a guy wire that braces a pole across the road. When the pole broke, all the poles down the line bent, too. We didn't realize it at the time, but that action had pulled the neutral off the first house in line. We were back an hour later, looking for what set off a fire alarm. Fortunately the power crew was right there and fixed it in short order.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[railfan619]

Good eveing everyone well it is now sunday night and the weekend is gone but it's all good and tomorrow starts another week for me but anywho nothing new has happened for me in the last two days besides it was really cold out this past weekend. I just can't wait until spring for the nice warm weather to come on back. But that's about it and I will be talkin to you all later.

[JoeKoh]

carl
glad you got to spoil granddaughter.matt is used to train noises now and has learned the towns on the route. brian thanks for helping with the potatoes.everything is ready.oh and they found the ticket scammer from fostoria down in florida.he will be brought back to ohio this week.
stay safe
Joe

[blhanel]

Sounds like a good time, Carl. My son just announced his engagement a couple of weeks ago, so maybe in another couple of years I can look foreward to that kind of fun!

[CShaveRR]

Well, after over a year, I've finally been allowed to get my granddaughter up close to a train!

My wife and I drove out to Geneva, where we met daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter (and granddaughter-to-be, but that's another story), and, after a belly-filling and wallet-emptying brunch we boarded a Metra train and went west!

Eight and nine days before the beginning of actual service beyond Geneva to Elburn, they ran a series of familiarization trips for the crews that will be handling the trips. A notice was put out inviting Chicago-area employees and their families along for the ride. Since I now have weekends off, I decided that we should try it.

The single most frustrating thing about the experience was that there was plenty of free food on board--we didn't need that expensive brunch, after all!

The train trip was relatively slow, and there was a layover of over an hour in the coach yard at Elburn, after they'd pulled up to the station platform. Lots of people got off, and I think the crews had to go to an orientation session while they were there. We stayed on board, and Katelyn tired herself out entertaining other passengers (she had a Bears cheerleading outfit on, and if you cue her by yelling "Touchdown!", she'll raise both arms in the air).

In the time we were out trackside (a little over two hours total) we encountered at least six freights, all but two of which were stack trains. One of those "raced" us most of the way westbound--almost caught us at Randall, gat partially by us at LaFox, and passed us for the last time when we stopped in Elburn.

Daughter had a bit of motion sickness, brought on by pregnancy and riding backwards (the latter was easily solved; the former was placated with complimentary pickles).

Granddaughter, who doesn't like loud noises, eventually became used to the sound of trains passing, and will probably be good to go when the weather gets warmer.

[JoeKoh]

okay we're ready to go brian.everything should be done at 6. if you go away hungry its your own fault.
stay safe
Joe

[blhanel]

OK, I'm here, where are the spuds? Got my handy-dandy peeler ready to go...

[Modelcar]

....The car came with a first aid kit and it's never been used....Do have first aid supplies around the house....

[mudchicken]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Modelcar

...We join with prayers for CW and Mutt.....Here: 2 veh's...2 extingushers and 4 in the house and garage....and a rolled up 60' hose connected in the garage..{attached}.
As well as trying to be conscious all the time of situations and leave no questionable appliances on as we leave the house. Plus smoke detector in hallway...{single story home}....In summary, trying to be careful.

Make sure those fire extinguishers are at least 8 pounders - Anything less is like spitting at it. Checked your first-aid kits to see that everything is fully stocked lately?

[Anonymous]

Hello All [:)]

I just talked with CW and Mutt. They are still in the dark. [:(] Not much change since yesterday.

They ask that everyone keep them in the prayers during this time.

Today is Thursday, well my Thursday anyway. Every day is someone's Friday at the railroad. [;)] It just turns out my Friday is Monday. [B)] But I will say this, my week sure goes by pretty fast. [^]

Everyone Take Care. [:o)] [8D] [:)]

[Modelcar]

...We join with prayers for CW and Mutt.....Here: 2 veh's...2 extingushers and 4 in the house and garage....and a rolled up 60' hose connected in the garage..{attached}.
As well as trying to be conscious all the time of situations and leave no questionable appliances on as we leave the house. Plus smoke detector in hallway...{single story home}....In summary, trying to be careful.

[JoeKoh]

good morning
juice and coffee are ready to go.the breakfast bar items of eggs bacon sausage and pancakes will be up shortly.we also have some cherrios or cinnamon rolls for those who want them.supper will be pot roast with carrots and onions mashed potatoes and green beans.we also have some of the pies left that cw pre made.apple and cherry.brian your in .will start peeling at 1 pm est.
stay safe
Joe

[Anonymous]

Sorry to hear about CW and Mutt's Problems. Hopefully they can get thru it ok.