Trackside Lounge: 1Q 2010 Edition

[zardoz]

CShaveRR

Just saw an article on a UP derailment in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, this afternoon.

 

http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/83839177.html

 

Sounds like it would have been MPRSS (Proviso-South St. Paul). The hazardous material most likely to be found on this train would be sulfuric acid; it reportedly wasn't affected by the derailment. Guess Zardoz will have a few more freights in his neck of the woods for a day or so. Hope they get it cleared up before the snow flies up there!

It was MPRSS.  The derailment happened about 1/2 mile due west-northwest from my place.  Wouldn't you know it, I was sitting in the dentist chair when it happened.  By the time I got there, it was already closed off to the public. It happened about 1/4 mile north of Bain Station road.  At first, I thought that maybe the train picked one of the switches around the Bain south leg of the wye, but there was no crossing damage (too bad, it is an extremely rough crossing). But to the north I could see the wreckage near the switch for the north leg.  Couldn't get close enough to get a photo.

The snow hit long before serious cleanup started.  I have no idea how they tamp track when everything is covered in snow.

The trains were running already the next day. 

This morning (2-10) I saw a convoy of about 10 tractor-trailers from Hulcher loaded with heavy-duty equipment departing the site heading south.

[CShaveRR]

Here's something that I hope somebody catches in a photograph:

http://www.utu.org/worksite/detail_news.cfm?ArticleID=50733

And no fair posting a white rectangle showing this in a snowstorm!

[The Butler]

 Carl or anyone else for that matter, do you know of an online source for UP division and subdivision names?  I am looking for the names of the lines in Bismark, Missouri, the main line through town and the branch line to Desloge, Mo.,and a few others.  I've searched UP's website and could not find anything.  Thanks either way.

 

[CShaveRR]

No, Brian, Pat and I slept right through it (so I still haven't experienced an earthquake). I was surprised when my relief (who lives well south of Chicago) said that it woke her up.

The storm left over a foot of snow (12.9" at O'Hare, some distance from the lake--where it was probably heavier). I had to drive through only a couple of inches in my driveway this morning, thanks to my shoveling last night (and Pat, bless her heart, took care of that later today!).

It seemed like not much had been done at the yard overnight, as we were contending with snow-blocked classification tracks and failing switches. Up in Penthouse A, I had to have one switch swept out before we started. After that, everything was fine. There were apparently drifting problems in Yard 9, because we didn't get very many shoves from there--the RCOs spent a couple of hours sweeping out just the switches they needed to get a shove out (then, when they got to the hump, they had to go in and warm up--the wind wasn't too friendly, even though the temps were in the 20s).

From the looks of things, Round 2 is really causing problems out east. Let's hope some lessons in mountain railroading for flatlanders* were learned in time!

________________________

* I know nothing! But even flatlanders like I eventually develop a healthy respect for stuff moving downhill and what that energy can accomplish.

[spokyone]

I-80 in Iowa. 18 wheeler rear ends snow plow. He said he could not see it. Gee! I can see 'em 1/2 mile away with all their strobe lights ablaze.I don't like I-80. I bet he can't see crossing gates either.

[mudchicken]

The QZ probably became a stupid zone thanks to some of the fine local citizenry.

(train vs. snowplow or yellow equipment [take your pick] have a frightening penchant for colliding with trains in the snow...)

[CNW 6000]

A pleasant 20 degrees and sunshine with little wind to make snowblowing easy.  I'd say we had about 8" or so.  Ran the Bolens for about 90 minutes this morning.  Did the west half of my block, the west half of the block south of me, and the east half of the block across the street.  I must've woke a few folks up (with snowblowers) as when I finished the last part and was running "light blower" back to the garage...I heard a bunch of snowblowers start up and begin working.  When they got to their sidewalk (cleared!) they looked around and seemed confused.  Pretty funny. 

Heard CN blowing for crossings in town last night during the snow.  I know that Oshkosh is normally a quiet zone, does/can weather change that?

[blhanel]

Get tossed out of bed alittle earlier than usual this morning, Carl?

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,585337,00.html

 

[CShaveRR]

The snow is falling harder now--after six hours, I took another four inches off the driveway. Now I might be able to get to work in the morning if another foot of the stuff falls. If I had to go through 16 inches, I might not make it!

[Modelcar]

After the 2" overnight and up to late this morning when it stopped....then another very light flurry activity for an hour or so this afternoon and now the overcast seems very light. 

Unless it really comes at us tonight, it might appear we're on a path of less snow than anticipated.  That would be nice, but I'll not gloat yet.....

[CShaveRR]

So far, the big, bad weathermaker has been kind to us. I've been out shoveling twice (about three inches at 10:30 this morning and another inch just now). The second time wasn't bad (Pat helped), but the village plow had left us a sloppy present in the driveway.

The snowfall rate is supposed to increase tonight, and so's the wind. Blizzard conditions are possible overnight. I hope to do another shoveling job (maybe only the driveway) this evening, and that'll have to be enough to get me out of the driveway for work tomorrow morning.

There may have been problems on our line through town--I heard a number of trains blowing themselves by men working on or near the track. I doubt that it was serious.

[CShaveRR]

Just saw an article on a UP derailment in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, this afternoon.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/83839177.html

Sounds like it would have been MPRSS (Proviso-South St. Paul). The hazardous material most likely to be found on this train would be sulfuric acid; it reportedly wasn't affected by the derailment. Guess Zardoz will have a few more freights in his neck of the woods for a day or so. Hope they get it cleared up before the snow flies up there!

[CShaveRR]

The TV news is forecasting 9-15" for this storm (and the warning has been extended to noon on Wednesday). One model shows most of Cook County (that's Chicago and Proviso) and eastern DuPage County (that's us!) getting 20 or more inches! And toward the end of the storm, the wind is supposed to turn northerly, i.e., down the Lake, giving the snow belt (Gary and environs) even more.

On our way home from the dentist today, we saw a halo around the sun, formed by ice crystals high in the atmosphere. Only a few more hours before they come down to earth.

Trains seen this afternoon included the westbound Bird, which flew through town too fast to help us at the traffic light, and an eastbound manifest that was more helpful, running interference for us at all of the crossings in Elmhurst. Those two, two scoots, a Wisconsin Electric coal train, and a high-green lineup for some sort of freight from the west summed up our day. We also did our payday shopping two days early, so we can contend with the weather tomorrow and other business (including work) on Wednesday.

[AgentKid]

Well, I was away from Calgary for the first time since 2008 (Thurs.-Sun.), and wouldn't you know it, CN made the most significant operational change here in the last 30-35 years.

That was when they ceased operating into their downtown station. The discontinuance of through service between Calgary and Saskatoon, SK mentioned in TRAINS last year was also important.

CN announced on Thursday that they are going to build a new logistics park NE of Calgary at Conrich on their Calgary-Edmonton line (Three Hills Sub.). See http://www.trains.com/trn/default.aspx?c=a&id=6295  As far as ideas go, it is not a bad one. It is as flat as a tabletop around there and they should have all the space they need for unloading containers and turning semi's around.

CN has always been a victim of its' own corporate history around here. It inherited two small yards from its' predecessors and built Sarcee after the formation of the CNR. That was on the outside edge of the city then, and was the terminal of both the Hanna and Three Hills Subs. But it to was small and by the time of the intermodal age they had no space to expand the operation there. When it comes time for expansion at this new site, to paraphrase The Who song, they can see for miles. I hope it works out for them.

Bruce

 

[rvos1979]

Well, if my math is correct, we are supposed to get 9 to 17 inches of snow here in Burlington, and the wind is to pick up.  I might be spending an extra day at home, keeps one less truck off the road, we will see what the weather is like tomorrow morning before deciding.  Drove up to Terminal Hobby Shop in Milwaukee today, picked up more track and cars for new layout, as well as my scrap paper building for the paper mill I'm working on.  If I wind up staying home tomorrow, I'll have something to do.....

[CNW 6000]

Last forecast I saw for up this way was 8"-10" with the heavy stuff coming after midnight tonight through midnight tomorrow.  Guess I better get that snowblower fixed...

[tree68]

At least you're not still digging out from the 2+ feet you got over the weekend.  The mid-Atlantic region is likely to be closed again on Wednesday.

[CShaveRR]

Good morning! The watch has now become a warning, and we're in for 7 to 13 inches' worth of snow from tonight through Wednesday morning...followed by wind. Interestingly, this seems to be a lake-effect thing, since the only counties in Illinois under the warning are in the Chicago area--everyone else is under a "winter weather advisory".

Got a note from the Mudchicken; he's made it safely into the Chicago area, and may be hunkered down for a while. While I'd much rather be available to point out locations of interest (or research) for him, we're stuck with dental appointments this afternoon--both of us!

[CShaveRR]

Well, it looks like our time is coming. Winter storm watch begins Monday night and ends Wednesday morning. We could get 6-10 inches of the stuff. Our original plan was for a trip into Michigan on Tuesday, but I'm not so sure about that now.

We pretty near cleaned out the receiving yard today--I think we left the afternoon guys (and gal) with two trains to hump, and not much projected to come in before dark. They're going to wish they had a television available to watch some football game or something.

Sure sign that a recent merger has happened: our CP transfer was pulled into the yard by a DM&E SD40-2.

[Modelcar]

CShaveRR

We have a coating of snow on the sidewalk--you can still see the cracks through it.

Edited {Sun 7th}...Official count stands at 9.5" of snow from the storm.

That sounds good Carl.....Here, and we were more or less on the out limits of this weather system, there is no chance to see any seems in the sidewalks.  I'm guessing we received 6.5" of the stuff, but with 35 mph winds overnight, you can imagine it moved it around quite a bit....A 2 ft. plus, line of snow along the back side of the house where the wind reshaped it from blowing it off the roof.

Now, at noon....we have bright sunshine, an pretty, mostly blue skies.  26 degrees right now.

[CShaveRR]

We have a coating of snow on the sidewalk--you can still see the cracks through it. It looks like it may have frozen after it hit; I suspect that it'll be slippery out there if they haven't gotten to the roads yet.

Meanwhile, they're talking about some serious accumulation from a storm due to hit here on Monday and Tuesday. Had plans for a trip on Tuesday, now we'll have to see.

My student will be back with me today. I've got nothing against him, but I wish he'd have let me have my Saturday morning to myself.

[CNW 6000]

We had a "dusting" of snow today that was pretty wet.  Basically melted shortly after it hit the ground.  At least the roads didn't get too icy today.  Waiting for Aedan to get tired (currently bouncing in his ExerSaucer and giggling!) so I can get him to bed for the night.

Tomorrow brings some swimming with the little guy in the morning, some light maintenance of my truck and my wife's car around mid-day and then railfanning with the little one in the afternoon.  Should be a busy day.

[The Butler]

I was in Mount Prospect, Ill. yesterday for Dad's 75th birthday.  Drove home today.  I saw one train the whole trip.  It was the Texas Eagle.  I saw it along Interstate 55 around 2-2:30 pm.  Engine number 40 was pulling seven cars.  I can't give a better description because I had the joy of driving in blowing, wet snow that stuck to the front of vehicles, for the last 300+ miles.  Sitting here at home, there is now two inches of heavy, wet snow on the ground. 

[CShaveRR]

I did, Quentin! I wish our snow looked as good, but here it's accompanied by a stiff northeast wind, which doesn't make things too pleasant. We aren't getting the volume, though they now say that we might have two inches before this is over.

[Modelcar]

Carl.....Check my report in the diner.

[CShaveRR]

My student (actually re-training after a long stint as a yardmaster) was sick again today; I just hope that my brief exposure to him two days ago doesn't knock me out--can't afford that. Voice is not the best.

Folks whose main east-west Interstate highway carries a number about 20 below ours are in for some weather. We've had some snow falling now for a couple of hours, but we're not supposed to get more than an inch today and tonight. The temperature has already dropped below freezing, so we might see a little more than originally thought.

[CShaveRR]

I broke/made the freight trains.

I also got a compliment from a hump conductor I never expected to get one from: He said, "I'm in no hurry to see you go."

Of course, when the older heads talk to me (and I had one come up today), the subject always turns to "When do you plan on going?"

[tree68]

I'm fortunate that I can carry my insurance over (at a cost, of course), so that part isn't an issue.

As I've mentioned, having a lengthy list of potential projects helps a great deal - and new ones seem to crop up as well.

One really great thing is losing the 200 miles I drove to and from work each week, and the attendant cost.  So far I've managed to avoid many superfluous trips - in fact, it's about time for my weekly shopping excursion. 

If anything, I feel I could be doing more with my now-free time, but sometimes there's a good movie on and the Dal has settled into my lap, so unless there's a deadline involved (I run a small printshop, so that does happen), who cares?

I was able to clear out the bill box and cover the truck payment for a while with what they paid me for unused vacation, so right now all I have is the "usual" stuff.  That was definitely a goal.

I decided ages ago that I wanted out - I just had to wait until things came together. 

[Modelcar]

Retirement:  Lots of opinions.  Somehow I missed Larry and his retirement....Heard him talk about it, but not that he actually did do it....

It took me most of one year to decide to actually stop and really do it {After 37 years}....But certainly didn't cause much of a problem.  Soon headed to Florida for that first Winter and did that for about 8 years.

Both Jean and I  have been out of the work force now for some time....we're in the 17th year of it this year. 

If one can figure out the insurance situtation that goes a long way to comfort one.  We've managed to to that.  Company {former employer}, has set up reimbursement that helps us with the financing of such.  Found the Medicare Part D is really working for us and it's affordable for our meds.

We tried to have our home and peripherals in place by the time we retired and we did.....So....some of it hinges on health and we're all different on such subject, but so far we've managed to do quite well....

I did not have any bad feelings of not going to work anymore once I really did pull the plug.

Each of us of course has our own concerns and I suppose one must simply listen to our personal concerns and along with some outside info., make the decision......and don't look back.  Just my

[Mookie]

I retired rather suddenly and not by choice, so it took me about 6 months to figure out a new routine.  But just like adjusting to a new job, you figure it out with time.  The first thing you will enjoy is the not having to meet deadlines each and every day.  Life is a slower pace if you aren't always having to answer an alarm clock. 

Even without set hobbies, I have still managed to keep busy.  I just pace myself a little more and follow a whole new routine.  I still answer an alarm at 5 am, but it is his alarm and not mine and once the car leaves the driveway, life slows down to a nice leisurely pace.