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Trackside Lounge: Sep.-Dec. 2009 Edition

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Posted by CNW 6000 on Friday, October 16, 2009 8:14 PM

tree68

blhanel

Both you and Larry on the same day?  Wow, I didn't know that.  Happy Birthday!

It seems to be a popular day - one of my co-workers and one of the firefighters in my fire department also share the day.

LOL as one of my grandparents would have said...must've been a heckuva snowstorm 9 months ago...
Smile,Wink, & Grin

Dan

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Posted by CShaveRR on Friday, October 16, 2009 7:08 PM
Thanks, all!

Justin, I did take the day off from work--not because it was my birthday, but because of an unfortunate but pleasant encounter with many relatives in Michigan.

The trains didn't cooperate with me on the way home. I thought we were going to see an NS freight in Porter when we went through there, but it stopped at the holding spot just east of downtown Chesterton, and stayed there. Of course, nothing showed up on CSX for as long as we were along those tracks.

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 tree68 on Friday, October 16, 2009 6:59 PM

blhanel

Both you and Larry on the same day?  Wow, I didn't know that.  Happy Birthday!

It seems to be a popular day - one of my co-workers and one of the firefighters in my fire department also share the day.

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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Posted by bubbajustin on Friday, October 16, 2009 6:46 PM

Carl, and Larry,

Happy birthday! Car, did you take the day off work? Any special plans?

Well, I sure am glad that this week is over. Can’t wait for the cold, and rainy weekend.

As I’m writing this sentence a CSXT TV commercial is playing on the television. (R-A-N-D-O-M)

Well, peering over my Rail-Driver, I wish you all a good evening, and Carl, and Larry a happy birthday. Everyone have a good weekend.

Justin

The road to to success is always under construction. _____________________________________________________________________________ When the going gets tough, the tough use duct tape.

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Posted by blhanel on Friday, October 16, 2009 9:45 AM

Both you and Larry on the same day?  Wow, I didn't know that.  Happy Birthday!

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Posted by spokyone on Friday, October 16, 2009 9:17 AM

Happy Birthday Carl, from all the good folks in Aledo.

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Posted by Mookie on Friday, October 16, 2009 9:01 AM

Happy B'day BC. 

Too bad it isn't under happier circumstances. 

My favorite mother-in-law was buried on my birthday.  Kind of puts a damper on the whole day!

But I will be having a steak dinner tonite to celebrate your special occasion. 

And you still haven't caught up with me, either.

Hugs

SJ

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by CShaveRR on Friday, October 16, 2009 8:40 AM

Hi, Willy!  And thanks!

No big plans today--we're up in Michigan (this is my sister's computer), about to attend a memorial service for my last surviving aunt. 

Of course, my sisters have reminded me about how old I now am, something that my wife has only been able to demonstrate by experience.  The big six-oh.

Surprisingly, the fall colors up north here are behind ours at home.  I think it's probably our proximity to the lake and the river here that's holding them back a little.

Met up with a train last night on CSX rails; it was probably a Michigan Shore local (too short for a CSX coal train), but it was too dark for me to see anything but the headlight and ditch lights.  It should be daylight for most of our trip home, so I'm hoping that some busy trackage in Indiana will yield some results.

Larry, I hope your birthday is going well!  You still haven't caught up with me!

One guy at work is actively urging me to retire now (I think he wants my job!).  I'm old enough now, but too young and too scared.  It takes days like yesterday (when I stayed calm and cool under extreme conditions) to show that I'm not losing it, and still belong up there.

 

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 Willy2 on Friday, October 16, 2009 8:25 AM

Today, if I'm not mistaken, is Carl's birthday. Sooo... Happy Birthday, Carl!! Happy B-Day Any big plans?

Willy

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Posted by Mookie on Thursday, October 15, 2009 8:34 AM

"59 Larry Girard's birthday"

Another of my "little brothers".....for an only child - I seem to have lots of little brothers!  Big Smile

Mook

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Posted by tree68 on Thursday, October 15, 2009 7:37 AM

CShaveRR
But we can't go without remembering that tomorrow is Larry Girard's birthday. If I remember correctly, it's not a nice round number, but if his impending retirement is based on his birthday, it's every bit as important. So have a great one, "Tree", and may your weather du jour be a bit better than ours!

59

The weather is looking pretty good, and I'll be out doing something I enjoy - presenting fire prevention to the kids at the local elementary school.

Thanks.  Have a safe trip, Carl.

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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Posted by CShaveRR on Thursday, October 15, 2009 5:23 AM
Hi, everyone!

I have to shut down the computer for a while--after work today we're making a quick trip up to Michigan for a memorial service (my last surviving aunt), and won't be back here until late tomorrow. But we can't go without remembering that tomorrow is Larry Girard's birthday. If I remember correctly, it's not a nice round number, but if his impending retirement is based on his birthday, it's every bit as important. So have a great one, "Tree", and may your weather du jour be a bit better than ours!

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 CShaveRR on Tuesday, October 13, 2009 8:53 AM
Thanks, Noah--let's hope so. But today we visit the endodontist...more fun!

But before we go, a big happy birthday to Chris "CopCarSS" May. He may be a little too busy to pop in today, what with his guest from the east, but let's hope that--in spite of the nasty birthday present he got last night--he has the best birthday ever! Until the next one...

(I would have preferred that the Rockies had won, too.)

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 Noah Hofrichter on Monday, October 12, 2009 9:59 PM

I know I don't post that much around here, but I still do read the posts regularly.School just keeps me busy enough that I don't always have a lot of time for typing.

I'm glad to hear it sounds like things are getting better for you Carl!

So, the talk about a runaway car in Colorado brings to mind one of my favorite, and true, railroad tales. It was told to me some years back by someone who was indirectly involved. I'll admit I don't remember all the details anymore and it was certainly a better story when told by the railroader, so I apologize for that, but the gist of the story is still there.

As I recall, there was a similar situation that took place at the Wisconsin & Southern yard in Janesville. At one point during a switching move, a couple of cars "got loose" with the conductor still riding on board. They began to roll downgrade (I believe a broken or an improperly set handbrake was the cause), and the conductor, who had been hanging on the side of the car, failed to jump off right away. By now the cars were gradually picking up speed, and the conductor finally made a leap off. He ended up rolling head over heels along beside the tracks, radio and paperwork flying everywhere, but I believe he came through without any real injuries.

The cars, by this time being pretty much unstoppable until they hit some sort of uphill grade or derailed, made it out across the Rock River Bridge, through the GM plant, and down towards the UP yard (or it might have still been the CNW at this point, I don't remember a date) in South Janesville, still rolling at a pretty good clip all the way. They finally ended up coming to a stop, but until not after they had been noticed by the yardmaster. He called up the folks over at the WSOR to ask if they knew that the cars had rolled away, which by this point they did. In reply the yardmaster quipped, "I know you boys are power short, but you do realize you can't kick cars all the way to Chicago!"

Noah

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Posted by CShaveRR on Monday, October 12, 2009 6:33 PM
Every bit as far as I could in my prime, Johnny! Wink

Carl

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Posted by Deggesty on Monday, October 12, 2009 5:20 PM

CShaveRR
Something for me to be thankful for: the nurse-practitioner has lifted all of the physical restrictions that I've had for the past week. Our post-appointment lunch netted us two trains, and one more was at the staging area.

That's good to hear, Carl. How far will you be able to throw a switch now?Smile

Johnny

Johnny

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Posted by CShaveRR on Monday, October 12, 2009 4:33 PM
I sympathize, Kid. For the longest time I worked second shift (1500-2300), and didn't have many evenings available for a social life, including the kids' after-school activities. However, I was available for many of the school days, and actually served my time as the "music lady" in Ellen's classes. Also got to go on a lot of field trips that usually were the domain of stay-at-home moms.

Thanksgiving north of the border sounds a lot like the Yankee version. Enjoy, and don't forget to be thankful!

Something for me to be thankful for: the nurse-practitioner has lifted all of the physical restrictions that I've had for the past week. Our post-appointment lunch netted us two trains, and one more was at the staging area.

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 AgentKid on Monday, October 12, 2009 2:12 PM

I just wanted to wish all my fellow Canadians a very happy Canadian Thanksgiving today. I hope it is not to late for the folks in the Atlantic and Eastern timezones to see this before they tuck into their turkey dinner.Dinner And of course it will be a half hour later in Newfoundland.

I will be going to my sister's for dinner. She was born after we moved out of the station at Irricana and into Calgary. She never has been a railfan although some of the history interests her. To her, railroading was just a job my father went to at midnight and finished at 8:00 AM for most of her childhood. He held what was called the 3rd trick East dispatcher job. (Brooks and Maple Creek Sub's on the mainline and a couple of branch line sub's) He slept while we were in school, so he was able to attend as many if not more of our afterschool activities than the kids whose parents worked day jobs.

Anyway have a very happy Thanksgiving!Big Smile

AgentKid

 

So shovel the coal, let this rattler roll.

"A Train is a Place Going Somewhere"  CP Rail Public Timetable

"O. S. Irricana"

. . . __ . ______

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Posted by mudchicken on Monday, October 12, 2009 9:45 AM

The concrete bunker where Chris works at Concrete Madness was pretty close to where the railcar wound up....like about 1 mile to the NE of where he works.

(I never knew those big covered hoppers could fly like that.Blindfold)

Paul: Daughter's location is somewhere around MP 7.9. Railcar wound up at MP 4.7 ... current location of where the car allegedly got loose was at MP 12.5 from what we hear. Around a 1% grade got it moving.

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 CShaveRR on Monday, October 12, 2009 9:16 AM
Paul, we'll have a shout-out for Chris here tomorrow. I think he's kind of busy, with his significant other visiting him from out east.

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 Paul_D_North_Jr on Monday, October 12, 2009 8:44 AM

mudchicken

CShaveRR
  In the Diner yesterday, Mudchicken mentioned the episode of the runaway plastics covered hopper that went through five miles' worth of BNSF trackage in Arvada before derailing. So, would the headline I saw for the incident be slightly "sensational" in nature?

Runaway rail car races through Colorado

Carl: News media twisted the story around bigtime. Incident was serious, unfortunately. 1 more mile and it would have been into the top of North Yard & Rennick. The car was airborne for a good distance as well as landing on its side on the joint main track. Some major questions remain. 

 

Until about a year ago, my daughter had lived for almost 2 years within 100 yds. of that track in Arvada, at the Water Tower Flats complex on W. 55th St., in the SW quadrant of where Olde Wadsworth Blvd. crosses the track, opposite the historic Arvada Flour Mill and the Lowe's store there, etc.  Nice neighborhood and town, with a lot of genuine small-town ambiance in the old town portion - we really liked visiting there. 

Chris/ CopCarSS lives in that general vicinity, too.  Wonder if he heard anything or got any photos of it ?

- PDN.   

 

"This Fascinating Railroad Business" (title of 1943 book by Robert Selph Henry of the AAR)
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Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Monday, October 12, 2009 8:35 AM

CShaveRR
   I have to visit Elmhurst tomorrow, and hopefully get some physical restrictions lifted. Maybe lunch, too, and trains! Wish me luck on all counts, please! 

Consider it done ! Thumbs Up  Hope the hospital visit is short and pleasant, and the lunch and train count is long and fun !

"This Fascinating Railroad Business" (title of 1943 book by Robert Selph Henry of the AAR)
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Posted by CShaveRR on Monday, October 12, 2009 8:15 AM
I suppose if the railroad itself doesn't understand things yet, it would be hard to expect the media to get things straight. Should have spent more time in the area so I'd be familiar with the lay of the land.

The bandage came off clean today. But before I go off to visit the nurse, I should wish Aimee Blysard a very happy birthday today.

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 mudchicken on Sunday, October 11, 2009 10:26 PM

CShaveRR
In the Diner yesterday, Mudchicken mentioned the episode of the runaway plastics covered hopper that went through five miles' worth of BNSF trackage in Arvada before derailing. So, would the headline I saw for the incident be slightly "sensational" in nature?

 

Runaway rail car races through Colorado

Carl: News media twisted the story around bigtime. Incident was serious, unfortunately. 1 more mile and it would have been into the top of North Yard & Rennick. The car was airborne for a good distance as well as landing on its side on the joint main track. Some major questions remain.

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 CShaveRR on Sunday, October 11, 2009 9:44 PM
Today was the first day this season that I saw temperatures below freezing on the tower thermometer. There also were little white thingies in the air--don't know if they were snowflakes or feather fragments, but I suspect the former.

A good day for gainful railfanning: caught the first perishable train (63 cars) going by a couple of hours ahead of the arrival time projected before I left for work (so it didn't get slowed down too much in Illinois, anyway). They did have a "slow-track" delay out near the river--showed a few miles as 60-mph track!

Also saw a nearly new UP ES44AC: 7461, which was built last month, according to its computer file. I hadn't realized that these were still coming in.

I have to visit Elmhurst tomorrow, and hopefully get some physical restrictions lifted. Maybe lunch, too, and trains! Wish me luck on all counts, please!

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 tree68 on Saturday, October 10, 2009 8:12 PM

CShaveRR
let's just say that she's in a different decade than I am, for now.

And a time traveller, to boot!   Happy Birthday, Pat!

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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Posted by CShaveRR on Saturday, October 10, 2009 3:00 PM
Were you dreaming of a white birthday?

They've taken the snow out of our forecast, but this morning I had to scrape frost and ice (from last night's rain) off the car before driving to work. (Car is parked outside this week, as I'm still not allowed to lift the garage door.)

Pat's been getting a lot of phone calls and Facebook greetings today. Shortly we'll go grocery shopping, and she's already picked out the place where she'd like to dine tonight: Buona (Nora knows this one!).

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 Willy2 on Saturday, October 10, 2009 9:14 AM

CNW 6000

Happy B-DayHappy Birthday to Willy and Pat!Happy B-Day
I hope your day is a good one.  Just don't party too much! Smile,Wink, & Grin

19 years old, that means I can now squander my money on lottery tickets and scratch off tickets. Yay!

Happy birthday to Pat!! Happy B-Day

4 inches of snow on the ground here in Omaha today, and it's still snowing. This was just one day shy of breaking the record for our earliest one inch or greater snowfall.

Willy

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Posted by CNW 6000 on Saturday, October 10, 2009 8:43 AM

Happy B-DayHappy Birthday to Willy and Pat!Happy B-Day
I hope your day is a good one.  Just don't party too much! Smile,Wink, & Grin

CN's been running more and longer trains lately.  I wonder if that's a sign of things improving.  I've heard some more guys have been called back, but some are still 'out there'.  I have noticed several times now SD70M-2s running long hood forward (ditch lights on) at track speed.  They are usually leading 2 or 3 units and a long train.  I've seen this evenly spaced between NB and SB.  Any ideas on why?

Dan

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Posted by CShaveRR on Saturday, October 10, 2009 5:07 AM
Good morning (and thanks to you wiser folk)!

We have a couple of very important birthdays to celebrate today:

First of all, Willy is 19 today. Good luck with that, Will, and have a great day (that was a very special year for me!).

And also a happy birthday to my favorite editor, quilter, and wife (not in that order), Pat. This is a significant birthday in some circles...let's just say that she's in a different decade than I am, for now.

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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