Well everyone is certainly in a celebratory mood here today, so I will join in in wishing the birthday gal a
One question about the coaches in Brian's picture. Just how old is that bi-level low centre door technology. I ask because when I rode the Rocky Mountaineer luxury train from Calgary to Vancouver with my mother on Mother's Day weekend in 1999, one of those coaches appeared out of nowhere on a siding near Revelstoke, BC being used as a gang sleeper car. It had the cheapest all yellow paint job money can buy, and looked to be in really rough shape. It was one of the most severe examples of what doesn't belong in this picture I have ever seen.
I won't have as much time as usual this week to look at the forums, as this is the week they are having the trials to determine Canada's Men's and Women's Curling teams for the 2010 Olympics. 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. A lot of businesses will even have it on in the background at work. I imagine that if you could measure overall productivity on a week by week basis like the AAR does with carloadings you would detect a noticeable drop in productivity in Canada west of Thunder Bay, ON. We do take our curling seriously, and is there ever a strong field of teams this time. I may not get much done, but I will enjoy myself.
Bruce
So shovel the coal, let this rattler roll.
"A Train is a Place Going Somewhere" CP Rail Public Timetable
"O. S. Irricana"
. . . __ . ______
34 plus degrees now and the snow has about had it here.....
That "other" system......?? We'll hope it deviates another direction.
Quentin
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)
Quentin: Some people are absolutely rabid about their birthday. And even holidays. Fortunately I have my Dad's good nature - celebrate them when you can and if not on the day, no big deal. Another day will do just fine.
The Driver also doesn't remember times I have screwed up or made a mess or acted like a boob. So it all works out for the best!
She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw
MookieAnd anyway, my Driver/husband of 20 years keeps thinking my birthday is November 7th!
Jen....I have had the same problem....Wife Jean's B D is Aug. 9th and I sometimes have "moved" it to another near by month....Not good....!
Now since I'm informed: Best of Birthday Greatings..... {the green is for your request of June}.
CShaveRRBrian, that's one ride I wouldn't mind taking. Think I'll ever get to do it on an Amtrak train? Glad you had sunny weather--it was cloudy here yesterday, and today we have a small accumulation of snow. They aren't even hazarding a guess as to how bad the big one will be starting tomorrow night.
Glad you had sunny weather--it was cloudy here yesterday, and today we have a small accumulation of snow. They aren't even hazarding a guess as to how bad the big one will be starting tomorrow night.
Re your question above, I hope not- the "Holiday Express" (picture) consists of the coaches used for the Hawkeye Express, which are old Metra-style bi-levels- so if you want to experience what we did Saturday, just go hop on the next Metra headed out to the burbs. They're not the most comfortable seats in the world, but we really enjoyed visiting with friends on both legs of the journey while watching the Iowa countryside between Palo and Vinton roll by. I do have high hopes for increased AMTRAK service around here in the coming years, though. It would be nice to be able to drive less than an hour to get to an AMTRAK stop.
As far as the next storm is concerned, I'm paying close attention to Willy's posts on the subject on Facebook- looks like we're in line to get 8+ inches. Last night the local prognosticators were being amazingly specific on predicting that we'd get 1.4 inches overnight- looks about right out my window today.
Brian (IA) http://blhanel.rrpicturearchives.net.
Happy Birthday Mook. Many returns...
Dan
MookieAnd anyway, my Driver/husband of 20 years keeps thinking my birthday is November 7th! Keeps me humble and of the opinion that birthdays really are overrated!
That just means you get the November present, then another "guilt" present when you remind him of the real date...
Larry 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...
Thank you for the kind words, Brother Carl.
I have made many friends from the forum and hope to continue making new ones and keeping all the old ones.
Will never quit being curious, since this is a subject very close to my heart.
Having said that, I want you all to know that I will be changing my birthday to sometime in the month of June. I have never had a cold or snowy day in June in my hometown here in Nebraska. Perfect! And anyway, my Driver/husband of 20 years keeps thinking my birthday is November 7th! Keeps me humble and of the opinion that birthdays really are overrated!
CShaveRRWe might be getting some winter flakery as soon as tonight, with some accumulation by morning and more during the day. I would dearly love to be snowed in. The first of the weekly perishable trains is finally getting close to me here. It has had nothing but problems before this morning--I think I counted three times it was delayed by broken rail ahead of it (longest delay was two hours). There have also been signal problems, as well as the usual trains ahead, trains being met, and trains passing it (yes, folks, UP lets Amtrak run around the perishable train!). So, after it lost some time in Council Bluffs, I see no more delays. The train began to make up lost time on former CNW territory, and picked up time all the way across Iowa and well into Illinois. There were some check-points where it was averaging 60. It should be several hours early into Proviso.
So, after it lost some time in Council Bluffs, I see no more delays. The train began to make up lost time on former CNW territory, and picked up time all the way across Iowa and well into Illinois. There were some check-points where it was averaging 60. It should be several hours early into Proviso.
On a similar (kinda) note...we had an open house at the Oshkosh Model Railroad Club Saturday night. I was running Q197 (loaded stacker) Westbound. Our layout is in an area 45' x 90' and has a double tracked mainline around it. The layout has several spedometers and the top speed for freights is 65. Based on our fast clock and 'guesstimated' running distances, 5 laps around the layout gets me from point A to B. I usually average 50 "mph" around the layout as my train is longer and usually gets the high green for meets. Last night...not the case. I was shorter than normal and kept getting stuck behind coal trains. My train was beginning to run late (nearing "2 hours") when I was finally able to get around the last coal train and dodge the local switcher. The dispatcher let me run right hand (normal for us is left hand...shocking, right?) to get clear tracks and there I went. The last two laps I averaged 63! Ok I know HO scale isn't the same as what you mean obviously...but I sure felt a little "crunch" to get into the terminal "on time". Some of the visitors to our open house who watched me jump in speed 20 mph asked if I was in a hurry. I put on a sly grin, hit the horn, jumped to notch 7 and said "Yep"...off I went. LOL!
At least yesterday was sunny, if not too warm...
Got to go for an appoximate one-hour round trip train ride-
I looked at the Canadian Trackside Guide and it lists the distance as 1.9 mi. That would be taken from inside Alyth near the Yard Office, and Ogden Road joins the line near the south, timetable east, throat of the yard, We continue beside the line for a few block's past where the RR has its' signboard for Ogden, so I would think we parallel the line for a mile or a little more. I'll check his odometer next time.
After I posted this morning I looked at the Saturday Morning news show on one of the stations. At the start of the show they said only about a third of the staff made it to work. The first news they did looked a little odd as the person who puts the names under peoples faces wasn't there, and without the info at the bottom of the screen it made everybody's head look bigger than normal. I took a look at 9 and again before the end of the show at 10 and by then things were mostly back to normal. There was all kinds of storm related mayhem, but as I have notice discussed on other threads, RR freight train delays just aren't newsworthy.
The snow has stopped but otherwise conditions aren't much different than I described this morning. Didn't get much accomplished today.
CShaveRRSnow to the south of us, soon to be snow to the east of us...just found out from my brother-in-law that they had 12-15 inches of the stuff in Grand Rapids. I'm sure our time shall come.
Boy, that stuff must be all around us.....Just talked to some family members in Somerset, Pa. and they have about 3" of the stuff there. Here, we've not seen nary a snow flake this season yet.
Got up to go Curling this morning and it turns out the weather is to crappy to be out in; Light Snow, 17 degrees F (-8 C), windchill of 0 degrees F (-18 C), and a 27 MPH (44 kph) wind from the North. Without a good reason like work.
I've been enjoying my Saturday morning trips to the rink as I can be a passenger, giving me time to look at CP operations on the mainline between Alyth and Ogden as somebody else does the driving down Ogden Road. I travel with non railfans so I just keep my observations to myself but it is still nice to get up beside the railway.
Looks like I will be stuck inside today. Have to check the mailbox to see if the January 2010 TRAINS has come yet.
How's the Gatorade binge going Carl?
tree68you're probably back up to the "F" mark
I have to thank Larry for a good dipstick joke. I tried to think of one Thursday night but I drew a blank.
We have had bad weather here today and it is going to continue until early Saturday. A good old fashioned blizzard. Railroaders wouldn't have had a good day today. Things just don't work right under these conditions.
I have never heard how this modern AC power is to work with on cold winter days. Coming west across the prairie to Calgary into a headwind like today used to be cold work on a SD-40-2. It took a long time for somebody to decide to go back to full width cabs. Time to put the news on to see if they had any newsworthy problems.
CShaveRRAnd there are plenty of dipsticks around work with which I might be able to check fluid levels.
When you have to interrupt your enjoyment of a glass/bottle of Gatorade for a trip to the facilities, you're probably back up to the "F" mark...
Gotta stay hydrated Carl...and the Gatorade is better than the next option: IV fluids...
We've got snow and wind this morning. Themometer on the truck said 23F, nice and brisk. CN has been busy this morning. I can hear them blowing for crossings north of town (Sherman Rd.) and then when they are due East of me I can hear (if wind is right) the warning "bell" on Nevada St. I have to get to Green Bay as a pair of AC4400s I ordered came in. I think 5 in the 'fleet' should be enough...lol.
Still waiting for word from CP on my application...
CShaveRROur boss didn't like the old blue--he told me that it was a color he last saw on a '68 something-or-other
It sounds like whoever built that tower used a colour you just don't see in the rest of the world. It reminded me of the two shades of green the CPR used relentlessly throughout their system anytime an interior had to be painted. It didn't matter if it was a station, a caboose or whatever.
Another forum tried to come up with an acceptable name for the lighter shade of green that didn't involve a bodily secretion in the description, and eventually decided on "Seafoam Green". Naming the darker trim shade wasn't quite as difficult. I think they ended up calling it "Moss Green". This stuff was on walls, ceilings, chairs, cupboards, desks, and waiting room benches in the stations. Only the living quarters could be painted different. And it was similarly applied on any other interior that needed painting. Some cabooses used a gray variant but I think that came after the station's had received their final painting.
Was that shade of blue in your tower found elsewhere on that system back in the day? Once those companies settled on a colour, I think they used to buy it by the tank car full.
Paul_D_North_JrIn exactly what way, Larry ?
It's really hard to describe - without the lantern, you're still the conductor (actually, I'm a trainman (brakeman/assistant conductor), and it says so on my cap, but they don't know the difference).
With the lantern, you're the conductor - spoken with a certain level of reverence and often followed by a request for a picture with the kids.
The cap itself has much the same effect - even though our car hosts generally wear black & white, too, our conductors have "the cap."
Bottom line, though, is that you're exactly right - it's a prop and part of the picture that the kids (and their parents) have for the role.
I sign "autographs" as "the Conductor," with the year. And get my picture taken a lot. Goes with the territory.
tree68 [snip] On another note - it's amazing to see the difference in reaction from the passengers when you are carrying the lantern, or not. Night and day.
In exactly what way, Larry ? More respect for the authenticity/ genuineness or being more 'in character' ? It's really a 'prop' or part of the uniform - same as a hose or axe for a fireman, a briefcase for a businessman, the mailbag for a mailman, etc. For a large part of what I do at work the suit and tie are part of the uniform - we get taken more seriously because of that alone, even if the person is the same in a T-shirt and jeans . . .
- Paul.
AgentKidI hope at least some of the kids get into a discussion with their parents about how a lot of North American's were still getting their light at night from kerosene less than a hundred years ago.
It's amazing how many of the kids are surprised to find out that there's a real flame inside the lantern, and that it is hot.
I don't always get a chance to engage on the PE trips, but when I do, I'll tell them how the lantern was used. Even the adults are sometimes surprised.
In this day of IPods and do-it-all cell phones, the idea that somebody used a flame from a lantern to do their work is rather foreign to a large part of the audience.
On another note - it's amazing to see the difference in reaction from the passengers when you are carrying the lantern, or not. Night and day.
tree68While we normally switch over to battery lanterns for "real" railroading, most of us who are working our Polar Express trains as "cast" as well as crew carry kerosene lanterns (normally fueled with modern lamp oil), so it's not inconceivable that we could pass a signal using one of them. I'm using an Adlake lantern I bought new a couple of years ago. They still make them
While we normally switch over to battery lanterns for "real" railroading, most of us who are working our Polar Express trains as "cast" as well as crew carry kerosene lanterns (normally fueled with modern lamp oil), so it's not inconceivable that we could pass a signal using one of them.
I'm using an Adlake lantern I bought new a couple of years ago. They still make them
Larry, I'm glad you get to do this. I hope at least some of the kids get into a discussion with their parents about how a lot of North American's were still getting their light at night from kerosene less than a hundred years ago. I personally have one memory yet, of going to sleep at my grandparents farmhouse and seeing the living room lit with what they used to call a coal-oil lamp. They moved off of that farm to a house with electricity in 1958.
Even at Irricana from 1956 to 1965, electricity was still not reliably delivered all the time and we had two lamps within easy reach. They were always referred to as coal-oil lamps though.
I mention this because because a couple of years ago on another forum there was a hilarious series of post's (although the poster's though they were being serious) regarding a fellow who had been given a globe railroad lantern and his attempts to light it. One of the first posters advised him to try to do this outside, and as subsequent post's revealed, they were right!
This went on over the course of a weekend, and it came out that there were two types (grades?) of kerosene. This lamp which was for outdoor use and had a notation on it recommending use of a heavy grade of kerosene. It was reported that there used to be a type of kerosene that had additives in it that would prevent sloshing around when a lamp was used outside in a rigorous manner, and another lighter type of kerosene for lamp's that sat on a table inside. I don't know how coal-oil fits into this equation. Adlake lamps were mentioned in that discussion too, and I did take a look at their website.
One more story. I remember once we had a power outage and there was a train expected later in the day. My Dad went into the freight shed and came back out with two globe lanterns; one red, and one white and a red flag. There was a space on his desk that never seemed to be used, and those two lanterns fit there just fine! He said he had to do this in the event the superintendent were to make a surprise visit, and he was supposed to have those things ready. As it turned out the power came back on not ten minutes later. I have no memory of him personally using a lantern on the job although he did do it a lot at Hatton, SK, on the mainline, when I was just a baby.
Oh, well.
DeggestyCarl, I'm glad you made the trip safely, despite the backup. Was it actually the firecrews, or the rubberneckers who delayed the westbound traffic?
Carl, I'm glad you made the trip safely, despite the backup. Was it actually the firecrews, or the rubberneckers who delayed the westbound traffic?
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