Trackside Lounge: Sep.-Dec. 2009 Edition

[The Butler]

AgentKid

[snip] In a uniquely Canadian and more particularly western Canadian way the TSN sports network will be broadcasting between 9 and 10.5 hours of Curling a day from today until Thursday. [snip]

Bruce

 

I'm envious.

[tree68]

The Butler

AgentKid

[snip] In a uniquely Canadian and more particularly western Canadian way the TSN sports network will be broadcasting between 9 and 10.5 hours of Curling a day from today until Thursday. [snip]

Bruce

I'm envious.

With two Canadian channels in our lineup, curling is available for viewing here.

While it's a precision sport that uses techniques I only vaguely understand but definitely admire, watching it can also be as exciting as watching paint dry.

[CShaveRR]

I'm visualizing maglev trains moving along a smooth guideway, guys with brooms desperately trying to smooth the track ahead of it...

Short as my hair is, it would definitely be curling!

[CShaveRR]

We now have a thorough coating of snow outside. Total accumulation of snow and sleet through tomorrow night is going to be somewhere between 5 and 9 inches. A friend in Milwaukee (not from the Forum) advises that they're expecting 14 to 16 inches. I haven't heard any anticipation figures from across the pool yet. We have to keep our driveway and walks clear tomorrow--not only do I have to get to work, but they're supposed to deliver a new dryer to us then.

[The Butler]

tree68

The Butler

AgentKid

[snip] In a uniquely Canadian and more particularly western Canadian way the TSN sports network will be broadcasting between 9 and 10.5 hours of Curling a day from today until Thursday. [snip]

Bruce

I'm envious.

With two Canadian channels in our lineup, curling is available for viewing here.

While it's a precision sport that uses techniques I only vaguely understand but definitely admire, watching it can also be as exciting as watching paint dry.

Mr. Larry, how could you say that! I find the sport very enjoyable to watch.  I got hooked a few years ago watching the Winter Olympics.

[The Butler]

CShaveRR

We now have a thorough coating of snow outside. Total accumulation of snow and sleet through tomorrow night is going to be somewhere between 5 and 9 inches. A friend in Milwaukee (not from the Forum) advises that they're expecting 14 to 16 inches. I haven't heard any anticipation figures from across the pool yet. We have to keep our driveway and walks clear tomorrow--not only do I have to get to work, but they're supposed to deliver a new dryer to us then.

That use to mean money in my pocket.  I use to plow Chicago Public School parking lots.  Forecasts like that meant bonus pay.

[CShaveRR]

Not as bad as expected this morning--temp apparently stayed above freezing. I can still see the mailman's footprints from yesterday evening.

Proviso will be plowed and salted, no question of that. I just need to find out how the tracks will roll and the switches will throw. And everything will be different when the cold hits.

[CNW 6000]

CShaveRR

Proviso will be plowed and salted, no question of that. I just need to find out how the tracks will roll and the switches will throw. And everything will be different when the cold hits.

I'm guessing that the operation slows down when it gets cold and speeds have to be reduced a tad, correct?

[CShaveRR]

Things will flow normally until the first problem. Cars may not roll down the tracks if the rail is covered with wet snow like this. You need to break the track open first. Retarders will quickly dry out and be all right, but probably not needed as much. As for other operations, perhaps taking a little extra care in walking (definitely not a bad idea) will slow things down.

[CNW 6000]

Good points.  Odd things I saw last night: I had some chasing that had to be done during the storm after work was finished and saw several times a lone CN GP40-2LW running light going north and south...within about 3 hours over the main.  No other trains in that time frame, so I wonder what was going on.  It wasn't moving very quicly at all...but a steady ~25 mph in either direction.  Any ideas anyone?

[blhanel]

Maybe the operator/rider(s) had to go back and forth between two locations, and decided to use the loco instead of rubber-tired transportation?  I know I'd feel alot safer up in the cab of a GP40 than I would in my minivan in weather like that...

[CShaveRR]

If you had a lot of snow, and a train couldn't get through, the locomotive may have been used to retrieve a crew that had (or soon would) run afoul of Hours of Service. Perhaps they also brought a new crew to said train.

[The Butler]

Could they be clearing the tracks for faster trains?  Know what I mean?

[tree68]

The Butler

Could they be clearing the tracks for faster trains?  Know what I mean?

Never mind faster trains, they may have simply been keeping the track clear.  Been there, done that...

[CShaveRR]

UTU is not known for changing the wording of news articles on the Archive News section of its web site. But if this were true, I'd gladly match it (as a loan), in hopes of moving things along...

Illinois has sought $550 in federal economic stimulus money to improve rail beds along the St. Louis, Milwaukee and Detroit corridors.

(This item was distributed Dec. 10, 2009, by the Associated Press.)

[tree68]

CShaveRR

Illinois has sought $550 in federal economic stimulus money to improve rail beds along the St. Louis, Milwaukee and Detroit corridors.

(This item was distributed Dec. 10, 2009, by the Associated Press.)

Maybe they're going for new mattresses in the sleepers?   

[Mookie]

groan....

[CShaveRR]

I'm groaning, too, this morning. Looks like UP's system velocity fell below 20 m.p.h. (and its goal) for the first time yesterday, no doubt due in large part to the blizzard to the west of us. I know it had an effect, because we humped the receiving yard dry yesterday, in spite of the various problems we were having. UP's management, by the way, sprung for some chili to serve to the folks freezing their tails off on the hump jobs.

It's about eight degrees warmer this morning than yesterday.

[zardoz]

tree68

The Butler

Could they be clearing the tracks for faster trains?  Know what I mean?

Never mind faster trains, they may have simply been keeping the track clear.  Been there, done that...

During very heavy snowfalls, this technique has been used to keep the crossings clear of too much ice buildup in the flangeways.  The downside to doing this is that it tends to pack the snow into switch points.

During anticipated heavy snows, Metra used to (I don't know if they still do) turn the entire train that will be the first one in the morning from outlying points that do not see any rail traffic all night long (Kenosha, Richmond, Harvard). The locomotive leads in to Chicago, so the weight of the loco will cut the crossing ice better than the much lighter cabcar.  Whenever I was running one of those trains, I would still slow down while going over certain crossings that I knew usually have a lot of auto traffic over them.

[CShaveRR]

Today, we humped Cryo-Trans reefer 3169. My records show that the car is named "Gallup". That would make sense--most of their cars carry geographic names of cities, mountains, bodies of water, etc. And Gallup is a well-known city in New Mexico. So I immensely enjoyed seeing CRYX 3169, the Gallop, passing by me! It just rolled--not even a trot or a canter.

[mudchicken]

I'm sure it galloped when Mr. Dowty got hold of it.

[CShaveRR]

Mr. Dowty doesn't reside in Proviso, so it rolled merrily along.

[CNW 6000]

CShaveRR

Today, we humped Cryo-Trans reefer 3169. My records show that the car is named "Gallup". That would make sense--most of their cars carry geographic names of cities, mountains, bodies of water, etc. And Gallup is a well-known city in New Mexico. So I immensely enjoyed seeing CRYX 3169, the Gallop, passing by me! It just rolled--not even a trot or a canter.

Being more of a 'motive power' and MOW equipment fan while trackside...the CRYX and similar series reefers with names on them are neat to catch.  I have seen quite a few heading up through the Fox Cities (FDL/OSH/NEE/APP) on the CN.  Never figured out where they were heading though.  Carl-do you keep track of the ones you've seen or simply note the type/name and move on?  Also...who's Mr. Dowty?

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

Dowty is a different type of car retarding system, which was invented in Great Britain in the 1980's or so.  It consists of a group of small hydraulic cylinders or pistons - each about the size of a shaving cream can - with a metal plunger shaped kind of like a mushroom cap in the top.  See this photo - http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/75/Dowty-Retarder1.JPG/300px-Dowty-Retarder1.JPG

The flange of the moving car's wheels contact the plunger and pushes it down - but because the hydraulic fluid must be squeezed through a small internal orifice, that takes a lot of energy, which slows down the car.  After the wheel passes, a spring restores the plunger to its previous height. 

Actually, they are now manufactured or sold by Ultra Dynamics Railway Products .  See - http://www.dowties.com/    'Google' it and I'm sure you'll find more.

- Paul North.

[CShaveRR]

Thanks, Paul, for helping out with the explanation of Dowty retarders. There are often rumors about installing some of them here (especially on the tracks on which it's rough to get the proper speed), but I have my dowts.

Dan, I have noted the names of every Cryo-Trans car I've seen--actually I think I have all of their names. That's enough to keep me busy, since they have hundreds of cars. I occasionally look up CRYX 3099--Proviso--because I suggested the name for that one. There are also reefers named Lombard, Elmhurst, and Wheaton, so someday I might try to follow those, when I run out of other fun things to do.

After today, I think I'm going to start a rumor about the possibility of their decorating the interior of my tower as a handbasket...slightly rough day today.

[Modelcar]

Paul_D_North_Jr

Dowty is a different type of car retarding system, which was invented in Great Britain in the 1980's

 

Wow....They look like they could double {under some circumstances}, as a derailer....such as a light car and  unloaded....even some strong wind, etc....

[CNW 6000]

Modelcar

Paul_D_North_Jr

Dowty is a different type of car retarding system, which was invented in Great Britain in the 1980's

 

Wow....They look like they could double {under some circumstances}, as a derailer....such as a light car and  unloaded....even some strong wind, etc....

Maybe they're designed for light cars, etc because rail cars...I mean "wagons" as they're called over there (right?) aren't as 'heavy' as a standard US car.  I dunno...it's a thought.  I just asked Aedan and he simply looked at me and burped...so I'm going with the theory I just mentioned.   

[CShaveRR]

The slower the cars are, the less resistance the plungers are supposed to offer. In theory, a car traveling the proper speed will not be hindered by these. I've never been to a Dowty-equipped yard, but I understand they're pretty noisy--of a different type of retarder noise than I've become accustomed to.

Dan, Aedan is right on the money.

[CShaveRR]

Another weekend just beginning here...watch a live Nativity presentation tonight, then back to the hectic pace of family Christmas activities.

(Bubba)Justin, happy birthday!

Euphoria is seeing two eastbound greens at the Park control point in Elmhurst (the most you can possibly get), both for trains making crossover moves...and having the eastbound perishables arrive first, and clear just as the stacker comes into view, moving even faster. Both had to clear out before the scoots were due, in 20 minutes. And they did.

[CShaveRR]

The thing that every railfan should be able to hear at least once in his life:

"Grandpa, I have a hard question for you. It's about trains."

Her question had to do with ties, and why they were necessary. Not really very hard to answer, but it showed that our little four-year-old is keeping her eyes open.

One of these days, she'll have to go train-watching with me. Had the weather been better today, I'd have given her mother the chance to do some Christmas shopping without Katelyn hovering too close.

She got an extra-special hug after we went to lunch today.

Oh, by the way, we've found yet another railroad-themed restaurant geared to kids--this one's in Naperville at Route 59 and 111th. Choo-choo Johnny's has a good, slightly overpriced menu, G-scale trains to deliver the food, and a couple of other operating trains to look at. Their TV screen was showing real trains instead of Thomas!