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Posted by chad thomas on Monday, July 17, 2006 9:49 AM
Happy birthday Weez !!!!
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Posted by M636C on Monday, July 17, 2006 10:14 AM
 james saunders wrote:
 M636C wrote:

 kevinstheRRman wrote:
Holy Heat stroke Batman... it's like 38 degrees out side.. which is... 107, 106 F

I think...

I think now is a good time to fix my picture issues.


I'm visiting Port Hedland for the first time in two years.

It's mid winter here, 25 degrees Celcius, clear blue sky and just the weather for train photos.

I spent the last two days down in the Dampier area (about 250 km west of here) looking at Pilbara Iron (the former Hamersley and Robe River lines). We had bad luck with the former Robe line and the Hamersley line was closed for rail replacement for a lot of the time. We still got a lot of photos (and a flat tyre).

Is Mookie still around here? Two years ago I found a new siding named "Mooka" and now there is an SD70ACe with a brass nameplate with that name!

M636C




What are those new ACe's like? I'd love to get over to the pilbara one day to see those big EMD's and GE's running around! (one day)

The original car dumper here in Port Hedland came from the Oroville Dam construction project on the California Oregon border. This operation used the first U25C locomotives and the dumper was designed for these locomotives which are much smaller than current locomotives.

The Alco C636 which started the operation here also fitted the dumper, but the later locomotives have all been trimmed to fit, the GE Dash 8s have different cabs and cut down radiators, the AC 6000s have lower cabs with sloping sides and even bigger (but lower) radiators (it is VERY hot here in summer) and even the SD40s have low profile fans to keep within the dumper profile. The SD70ACes don't fit the oldest dumper, but the radiators are lower and the cabs are slightly lower, but they are clearly taller than the AC6000s. At the moment AC 6076 and ACe 4306 are running as a pair but I've only seen them as remotes mid train. Hopefully I'll see them leading before I return East. 6076 is the only AC6000 in the orange and grey colours carried by the SD70ACes (all the others are still blue and white) so that is the pair to see leading!

The SD70ACes sound quite different to the GEs of course, but sound a lot like the SD40s, and you often get SD70ACe/SD40 combinations with a distinctive sound. There is one pair of SD70ACes running which must be number two desirable lead combination.

I spent the weekend down at the Hamersley line where everything is pairs of Dash 9 44CWs. At least there are two colour schemes (silver and silver and yellow) and three lettering styles. The Robe line has Dash 8s as trailing units still in the Robe River yellow. One rebuilt Robe Alco is in storage (clearly visible) in working order.

M636C

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Posted by mudchicken on Monday, July 17, 2006 10:17 AM

Mooks:

Sorry bout dat - Has to do with Chad Thomas and holes in the ground. Will put the scottie monster back up in a while. (we are having to barricade Andy in the house when we are not home. He staggers around in the heat and is going blind now. With 100+ temperatures around we are really concerned about the 17 years old guy's ability to handle the heat.)

Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
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Posted by SactoGuy188 on Monday, July 17, 2006 10:23 AM

Good morning from frighteningly hot Sacramento, California! It's supposed to be over 100 °F. highs for almost the entire week. Shock [:O]

I hope there are plentiful cold drinks in the refrigerator--we'll all need it!

 

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Posted by CShaveRR on Monday, July 17, 2006 10:54 AM

Hey, Colin!  Happy birthday!  (Keep cool!)  E me if you decide to brave the heat and try out that scanner!

By the way, you share a birthday with "Professor" Peter Schickele, one of my favorite entertainers.

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 chad thomas on Monday, July 17, 2006 11:04 AM
 mudchicken wrote:

Mooks:

Sorry bout dat - Has to do with Chad Thomas and holes in the ground.

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Posted by Mookie on Monday, July 17, 2006 12:20 PM
 chad thomas wrote:
 mudchicken wrote:

Mooks:

Sorry bout dat - Has to do with Chad Thomas and holes in the ground.

  Chad has gophers?

Poor Andy - this is not a good time for man nor beast(ie).....

Mooks

 

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by jeaton on Monday, July 17, 2006 12:45 PM

We are keeping our pup in the cool also.  The heat is also getting to our neighboorhood critters.  A family of bandits has taken up in the fireplace chimney.  I guess they wanted even cooler and figured out how to open up the damper and let themselves into the house.  Up at 3:00am this morning showing them the door.

The little rascals climb up a now unused TV antenna tower about 30 feet up to the fairly steep roof, climb up to the roof ridge then crawl up six feet of brick chimney to get in.  Maybe I could talk them into taking up and installing a chimney screen.  Either that or I find somebody with a sky hook to do the job.

Stay cool.

Jay

"We have met the enemy and he is us." Pogo Possum "We have met the anemone... and he is Russ." Bucky Katt "Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future." Niels Bohr, Nobel laureate in physics

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Posted by blhanel on Monday, July 17, 2006 12:52 PM
 jeaton wrote:

We are keeping our pup in the cool also.  The heat is also getting to our neighboorhood critters.  A family of bandits has taken up in the fireplace chimney.  I guess they wanted even cooler and figured out how to open up the damper and let themselves into the house.  Up at 3:00am this morning showing them the door.

The little rascals climb up a now unused TV antenna tower about 30 feet up to the fairly steep roof, climb up to the roof ridge then crawl up six feet of brick chimney to get in.  Maybe I could talk them into taking up and installing a chimney screen.  Either that or I find somebody with a sky hook to do the job.

Stay cool.

Jay

Bandits of the masked variety (racoons)?  Yikes!  Joanie would check us in to a hotel for a week...

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Posted by locomutt on Monday, July 17, 2006 1:14 PM
Metra Kid2,

Sign - Welcome [#welcome] to the Diner and Happy B-Day [bday]!!!
Hope you get some very good use from your scanner!!Smile [:)]

Mookie,no comments about anything,even another thread?!?!Mischief [:-,]

Being Crazy,keeps you from going "INSANE" !! "The light at the end of the tunnel,has been turned off due to budget cuts" NOT AFRAID A Vet., and PROUD OF IT!!

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Posted by mudchicken on Monday, July 17, 2006 1:17 PM

Jay:

If they come back, we can loan you Gus. (or you could borrow a few from Door County up in NE Wisconsin)...Gus has cornered cousins of your guests on steel fenceposts more than once here.

Scotties do not like racoons and the bandits don't like the german shepard size jaws on the terrier frame with a terrier 'tude! http://www.doorcountyscottierally.com/

Banged Head [banghead]Banged Head [banghead]Banged Head [banghead]

Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
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Posted by rvos1979 on Monday, July 17, 2006 1:55 PM

Afternoon everyone.....

It's the three H's again today, with a chance of storms today.  Tomorrow is going to be about ten degrees cooler, and a bunch less humid.

Gatorade and Squincher are topped off, found Mudchicken's tap empty again, will have to get him a bigger tank (is 1200 gallon big enough?).

See everyone later.

EDIT:  Just had a severe thunderstorm watch posted, expecting nasty weather later as cold front moving through.

Randy Vos

"Ever have one of those days where you couldn't hit the ground with your hat??" - Waylon Jennings

"May the Lord take a liking to you and blow you up, real good" - SCTV

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Posted by cherokee woman on Monday, July 17, 2006 3:55 PM
Good afternoon, everyone.  Sure is nice and HOT outside.  Went for a walk, and it ended up being a
very short walk.  Even walking slow, it was too unbearable outside. 

For supper tonight, I've made a big pot of that cold soup (can't remember the name, and probably couldn't spell it, if I did remember the spelling).  It's in the fridge, next to the lemonade. 

Guess that's about it for now.  Everyone take care, try to stay out of the heat as much as possible.
I've loaded up on ice cream, vitamin water, and iced tea, if no one cares for the Gatorade or squincher.

Message From:
The CookChef [C=:-)]
Angel cherokee woman "O'Toole's law: Murphy was an optimist."
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Posted by JoeKoh on Monday, July 17, 2006 4:15 PM

matt and I did go over to deshler. they are finishing up installing the diamond.they found alot of water underground so they had to set up the drainage so the extra water goes into the deshler resivouir.going to be alot of trains coming through tonight.

stay safe

Joe

Deshler Ohio-crossroads of the B&O Matt eats your fries.YUM! Clinton st viaduct undefeated against too tall trucks!!!(voted to be called the "Clinton St. can opener").

 

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Posted by Kozzie on Monday, July 17, 2006 4:34 PM

 cherokee woman wrote:
Good afternoon, everyone.  Sure is nice and HOT outside.  Went for a walk, and it ended up being a
very short walk.  Even walking slow, it was too unbearable outside. 

For supper tonight, I've made a big pot of that cold soup (can't remember the name, and probably couldn't spell it, if I did remember the spelling).  It's in the fridge, next to the lemonade. 

Guess that's about it for now.  Everyone take care, try to stay out of the heat as much as possible.
I've loaded up on ice cream, vitamin water, and iced tea, if no one cares for the Gatorade or squincher.

Message From:
The CookChef [C=:-)]

Hey Paula, we have Gatorade down here, but I haven't heard of squincher...???  Is that a home-made drink?

Dave

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Posted by CShaveRR on Monday, July 17, 2006 5:42 PM

Brian, we know a great hotel in DeKalb--think you could convince Joanie that you had masked bandits?

And you don't want to be in the same state with them, right?

CFDMD, please!  Lots of it!

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 blhanel on Monday, July 17, 2006 8:09 PM
 CShaveRR wrote:

Brian, we know a great hotel in DeKalb--think you could convince Joanie that you had masked bandits?

And you don't want to be in the same state with them, right?

CFDMD, please!  Lots of it!



I wish that were an option, Carl, I'd love to- unfortunately, all my extra liquid assets are spoken for next month in the form of gasoline and required motel stays out west (a trip to Cali) and a belated wedding reception.  And the preparations around here kept me away from stalking the C&NW consist.Banged Head [banghead]

OK, I give up- what does CFDMD mean?Confused [%-)]
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Posted by CopCarSS on Monday, July 17, 2006 8:26 PM

 blhanel wrote:

OK, I give up- what does CFDMD mean?Confused [%-)]


Methinks it has something to do with Cold Diet Mountain Dew, but alas! I've no clue what the "f" is...fresh?

And now for something completely different...

MC, what was the tunnel shot that was previously posted. It seemed far to green a thing to exist in our fair state (unless of course it was in the Weminuche Wilderness down Silverton way...which my cousin has renamed the "Wet Too Much Wilderness..." Laugh [(-D]

-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 blhanel on Monday, July 17, 2006 8:32 PM
How about Caffiene Free Diet Mountain Dew?  I should've guessed that one, I had one today myself!
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Posted by CopCarSS on Monday, July 17, 2006 8:35 PM
Do they make Caffeine Free Mountain Dew (Diet or Otherwise?) I suppose it's possible...it just doesn't seem to jive with the whole "extreme" marketing that they've been employing of late. Perhaps that's why I've never heard of it...they don't advertise it at all!

-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 mudchicken on Monday, July 17, 2006 8:50 PM
 CopCarSS wrote:

 blhanel wrote:

OK, I give up- what does CFDMD mean?Confused [%-)]


Methinks it has something to do with Cold Diet Mountain Dew, but alas! I've no clue what the "f" is...fresh?

And now for something completely different...

MC, what was the tunnel shot that was previously posted. It seemed far to green a thing to exist in our fair state (unless of course it was in the Weminuche Wilderness down Silverton way...which my cousin has renamed the "Wet Too Much Wilderness..." Laugh [(-D]

 

Chris: Freeburg, Missouri (one of my client's embargoed lines when he owned it and I got to inspect it / cost the possible reopening of the line...Santa Fe built it in 1903, Rock Island wound up with it after the financial panic [irony in there somewhere]) I had fun with the green & the eerie lighting.

Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
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Posted by blhanel on Monday, July 17, 2006 8:53 PM
 CopCarSS wrote:
Do they make Caffeine Free Mountain Dew (Diet or Otherwise?) I suppose it's possible...it just doesn't seem to jive with the whole "extreme" marketing that they've been employing of late. Perhaps that's why I've never heard of it...they don't advertise it at all!


Oh yeah, it's out there all right- actually, I had a Caffienated one today, I'd rather drink water than waste money on the caffiene-free variety.
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Posted by james saunders on Monday, July 17, 2006 9:57 PM
 M636C wrote:
 james saunders wrote:
 M636C wrote:

 kevinstheRRman wrote:
Holy Heat stroke Batman... it's like 38 degrees out side.. which is... 107, 106 F

I think...

I think now is a good time to fix my picture issues.


I'm visiting Port Hedland for the first time in two years.

It's mid winter here, 25 degrees Celcius, clear blue sky and just the weather for train photos.

I spent the last two days down in the Dampier area (about 250 km west of here) looking at Pilbara Iron (the former Hamersley and Robe River lines). We had bad luck with the former Robe line and the Hamersley line was closed for rail replacement for a lot of the time. We still got a lot of photos (and a flat tyre).

Is Mookie still around here? Two years ago I found a new siding named "Mooka" and now there is an SD70ACe with a brass nameplate with that name!

M636C




What are those new ACe's like? I'd love to get over to the pilbara one day to see those big EMD's and GE's running around! (one day)

The original car dumper here in Port Hedland came from the Oroville Dam construction project on the California Oregon border. This operation used the first U25C locomotives and the dumper was designed for these locomotives which are much smaller than current locomotives.

The Alco C636 which started the operation here also fitted the dumper, but the later locomotives have all been trimmed to fit, the GE Dash 8s have different cabs and cut down radiators, the AC 6000s have lower cabs with sloping sides and even bigger (but lower) radiators (it is VERY hot here in summer) and even the SD40s have low profile fans to keep within the dumper profile. The SD70ACes don't fit the oldest dumper, but the radiators are lower and the cabs are slightly lower, but they are clearly taller than the AC6000s. At the moment AC 6076 and ACe 4306 are running as a pair but I've only seen them as remotes mid train. Hopefully I'll see them leading before I return East. 6076 is the only AC6000 in the orange and grey colours carried by the SD70ACes (all the others are still blue and white) so that is the pair to see leading!

The SD70ACes sound quite different to the GEs of course, but sound a lot like the SD40s, and you often get SD70ACe/SD40 combinations with a distinctive sound. There is one pair of SD70ACes running which must be number two desirable lead combination.

I spent the weekend down at the Hamersley line where everything is pairs of Dash 9 44CWs. At least there are two colour schemes (silver and silver and yellow) and three lettering styles. The Robe line has Dash 8s as trailing units still in the Robe River yellow. One rebuilt Robe Alco is in storage (clearly visible) in working order.

M636C



maybe if i start walking from brisbane, I could get there some time...next year Tongue [:P]


James, Brisbane Australia

Modelling AT&SF in the 90s

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Posted by rvos1979 on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 1:58 AM

Kozzie:

Squincher is bottled by an independent company, I've seen it in soda cans as well as small pouches (tear off top, add water, drink).  As far as I know, it comes in orange, fruit punch, and lemon-lime, also saw grape when I worked for the railroad.  At Stoughton Trailer here in Wisconsin the company buys the stuff by the palletload.  The orange tastes a lot better than the same Gatorade flavor, and I believe the fruit punch is about the same.

Didn't get a drop of rain tonight, but had severe weather north and south of us.  Supposed to be about 85 tomorrow, with much lower humidity.

Gunite all

Randy Vos

"Ever have one of those days where you couldn't hit the ground with your hat??" - Waylon Jennings

"May the Lord take a liking to you and blow you up, real good" - SCTV

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Posted by Mookie on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 6:18 AM

........Table for two in the corner please! 

I am expecting a nice young gentleman for fine food and a couple of cups of milk, so we need a quiet corner.  His name is Willy and we are going to discuss the aspects of UP vs BNSF, a conversation I fully expect to find most enlightening!

Madame La Mook

 

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by JoeKoh on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 6:39 AM

mookie your booth is ready.want to make it 3 people?matt would need chocolate milk. breakfast will be pancakes and waffles with bacon,eggs and sausage.im not sure what we will have for lunch or supper yet.have to email a birthday girl in pennsylvania.Happy B-Day [bday] to Nora.Im sureshe wouldnt mind chocolate cake for dessert.

stay safe

Joe

Deshler Ohio-crossroads of the B&O Matt eats your fries.YUM! Clinton st viaduct undefeated against too tall trucks!!!(voted to be called the "Clinton St. can opener").

 

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Posted by Mookie on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 7:14 AM

Happy Happy to Nora!  Guess we could now say - "Hot Nora?"......  (berry punny!)

Chocolate Cake is like the color black in clothes.  It goes with all occasions.

Matt and Willy will know more than I do about the railroads.  Will have to just sit and sip milk and listen!

Moo

 

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by CShaveRR on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 8:15 AM

CFDMD is, as many surmised, caffeine-free diet Mountain Dew.  It's not available in all markets--in fact, we have to go to Michigan to get ours (trip coming early next month).  I know where you're coming from, Brian--the caffeinated stuff tastes better, but there comes a time of day after which it shouldn't be drunk.  Guess I need a supply of both, after all.

I'll add my birthday greetings to Nora--she's another person I really miss seeing here.  Wouldn't mind seeing her and the guys in person, either.

Sis, I wish I could join you at your table.  I'd like to meet young Willy sometime.  (Already met Matt--wouldn't mind seeing him again, either!)

Back in the closet for now.  Sigh [sigh]

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 Mookie on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 8:44 AM
 CShaveRR wrote:

CFDMD is, as many surmised, caffeine-free diet Mountain Dew.  It's not available in all markets--in fact, we have to go to Michigan to get ours (trip coming early next month).  I know where you're coming from, Brian--the caffeinated stuff tastes better, but there comes a time of day after which it shouldn't be drunk.  Guess I need a supply of both, after all.

I'll add my birthday greetings to Nora--she's another person I really miss seeing here.  Wouldn't mind seeing her and the guys in person, either.

Sis, I wish I could join you at your table.  I'd like to meet young Willy sometime.  (Already met Matt--wouldn't mind seeing him again, either!)

Back in the closet for now.  Sigh [sigh]

I am working on a meeting for the visit in October.  Since you are both UP - this will be another conversation where I will just sip and sing. 

Willy is a very special person and someday I hope to put an X next to his name on the ballot!

SJ

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by tree68 on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 8:59 AM

Last time I chatted on-line with Nora she was happily working for the railroad at a small yard near Pittsburgh.  Not the conductor gig I think she still wants, but RR nonetheless.

But, just in case she's lurking, Happy Birthday!  Otherwise, all quiet on this front.  Weather a little milder, but I'm in an air conditioned building today, too...

Can I get a bacon cheeseburger (cheddar cheese, medium well) for lunch?  Doesn't do much for the cholesterol, but it sure tastes good....Dinner [dinner]

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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