Trackside Lounge: 2Q 2010

[Deggesty]

I envy you, Carl, in being able to share your love of trains with your grandchildren. Of course, Ricki and I would travel much more if we could because we both enjoy travel by rail. As we told you last year, we met because we were both on the City of Portland just to be riding it. Perhaps I should look for a poem entitled, "Bless Me, but this is Pleasant, Traveling by Rail" (or something like that) which appeared in Trains many years ago, and post it. We are planning another trip for this spring, and expect to be in Chicago during it.

[AgentKid]

CShaveRR

And Katelyn is definitely curious about this "yard" I work in!

Bruce

 

[CopCarSS]

I'm so envious, Carl. What a great outing. It sounds like you've got a good group of future railfans there! Within a year or so, they're going to know more about railroading than I do!

[CShaveRR]

The train trip with Ellen and the kids is now history. Got off to a bad start, when we couldn't find a legal parking spot in Lombard. We decided to drive to Elmhurst, have our brunch there, then take Metra to Geneva and back, quick trip.

This was the first ride on anything that wasn't a tourist railroad or "toy" train for the two younger kids, and Katelyn doesn't remember her previous Metra ride, over four years ago. They were excited to see that we were moving, and to see other trains (of which there were a good half-dozen freights and a couple of scoots). Nicholai, it turns out, is excited by everything--trains, trucks, crossing gates, tracks without trains, toy trains on elliptical tracks (every time they come around!) and so on.

All of the new signal bridges on this stretch of the line are up and ready to go, with signals covered. (I've been told that the Lombard crossovers will be east of the station, so I suspect there will be a second wave of bridges coming between Lombard and Elmhurst.) In spite of a light rain, Geneva was fun to walk into. We discovered a yarn and toy-train shop (mostly Thomas, whose friends are all well known by the kids). We also found out that there will soon be a new "2Toots" restaurant in Geneva. I didn't understand where the lady in the toy store said it would be, but it should have a view of the tracks.

While waiting for our train at Geneva, we saw an eastbound NORX coal train go through--it was neat to hear the DP unit open up just as it passed us, for the climb up out of the Fox River valley.

On the way east, I asked Katelyn if she wanted to look out the front of the train and see the signals. She didn't say anything, but the gleam in her eyes and the big hug I got at that point was taken as an affirmation. So she was held up to the window as we passed the yard in West Chicago (the NORX coal train was sitting on Main Track 2), and as we passed the green searchlight signal and across the EJ&E diamond. SJ, you'll be happy to know that this time the diamond hardly bounced us at all! By the time we left the West Chicago station, however, Katelyn was ready to give her sister Emily a turn with Grandpa. We didn't pass or meet any trains between Winfield and Wheaton, which was a big disappointment to Emily.

Katelyn paid attention to the signals, and was able to pick out the ones that pertained to our train. She didn't get to see any of them change until after we got off the train in Elmhurst.

At the risk of being controversial, I must point out that the absolute high point on the trip for all three of the kids was before we boarded the train in Elmhurst (and again in Geneva), when the conductors of the passing freight trains practically fell out of the windows waving to the kids--accompanied by a few friendly horn toots from the engineer.

Nico didn't last very far on the trip home from Elmhurst before zonking out completely, but the girls thanked us again when they dropped us off. And Katelyn is definitely curious about this "yard" I work in! I hope to take more trips with these little guys, and soon!

[AgentKid]

All this talk about churches reminds me of a funny railway related story from my childhood. My brother and I were attending a vacation Bible School about 1962. In an arts and craft class we were making maraca's by wrapping paper mache around regular light bulbs. After the paper mache hardened the object was to strike the paper mache hard enough to break the glass, but not crack the outside.

Several attempts were made to do this, but several were broken because you couldn't break the glass without breaking the paper mache. Suddenly my Mom had an idea. She brought all the remaining maraca's home with us at lunch. After we ate, she carried the box out onto the platform and began breaking the glass by hitting the maraca's on the railhead! Every maraca broke successfully!

About fifteen years later when my sister was in Girl Guides, the group decided to do the same thing. At which point my Mom said how are we going to do this without a railway track outside the house. Everyone but my sister thought this was just hilarious. She was just confused. I forget how they did it in the end, but they were able to do it.

Bruce

 

[Mookie]

ought to be easier to hold up than Mookie was! (SJ could stand on her own, but was kind of surprised by the diamonds at West Chicago.)

Most people get souvenirs - I got a nasty bruise.....

[Modelcar]

CShaveRR

I guess you can tell where my sentiments lie!).

 

.......Right on Carl...!

[CShaveRR]

Brian, if I ever offer to take you to Willow Creek when you're around here, I'm afraid it won't be the megachurch...

Willowcreek, Indiana, is where CSX's ex-B&O main line crosses what is now CSX's ex-Michigan Central main line, inherited from Conrail. It used to be just one track crossing one here, but in the Conrail-breakup era, CSX double-tracked the B&O main line (and got rid of the CPL signals, doggone them!) and built a connecting track to the MC line (known by Conrail as the "Porter Branch"). Nice park for picnicking right near the diamonds.

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

CShaveRR

  . . . I think Garrison Keillor once referred to churches like that as "Six Flags Over Jesus" . . .

  I don't doubt it, though I'm not recalling that one myself.  Do a Google search for the phrase, and it turns up quite a bit - and one of the oblique references is to his June 24, 2000 show. 

For us, the search for a church - a pretty much uniquely American concept, I understand, as elsewhere in the world people just accept the local church as it is - has seemed to fall into either 1 of 2 types:  Good preaching and bad music, or vice-versa.  (Reminds me of the dilemma that a Broadway theatrical producer impresario was once bemoaning about his divas - the ones that sang like birds ate like horses, and vice-versa.)  Anyway, we've often found our 'comfort zone' at places like the Norbertine Abbey in Paoli (yes, the same as in the PRR's Paoli Local), and currently at Muhlenberg College's Eigner Chapel.  The students there do a good job with the music - it's still guitars and folk-music-like most of the time, but they have good taste in what they select and do it well.  That was also true when our daughter was attending Susquehanna University, which had strong programs in music, teaching, and religion, which often came together at the Sunday services.

- Paul North. 

 

[CShaveRR]

Quentin, I'm with you, of course--I love a good, strong pipe organ, well played and well written for.

A Facebook friend of mine, who used to attend our church, is now raving about Willow Creek (I think Garrison Keillor once referred to churches like that as "Six Flags Over Jesus", and my aspiring-musicologist daughter refers to contemporary church music as the "Jesus is my Boyfriend" stuff. I guess you can tell where my sentiments lie!).

________________

Looking forward to tomorrow--my daughter actually proposed that we take the grandchildren on a Metra ride (it's their spring break week), so we're going to go out to Geneva and back. I'll be able to study the placement of the new signal bridges, and I'm hoping we can peer out the front on the eastbound trip. Either Katelyn or Emily (probably not both at the same time) ought to be easier to hold up than Mookie was! (SJ could stand on her own, but was kind of surprised by the diamonds at West Chicago.)

We just got back from a bike trip to buy the tickets for tomorrow--caught a couple of trains in the brief time we were out there. Crews working near one of the grade crossings, so we've been hearing horns all morning. Train that went past us gave the usual warning (short and long, followed by repeated two-shorts) as they went by the workers, and appended an extra two-shorts for the kids at the school playground adjacent the tracks.

[Modelcar]

blhanel

We still use the multi-media stuff, but it's accompanied by a nice pipe organ.  If anyone here has ever attended Willow Creek in the Chicago area,

 

Good music is very important in church.....and Jean and I have been disappointed in the past year in the church we attend regarding that subject.

Grand piano....gone    Wonderful organ with great sound system with it....Gone     Now....contemporary formatting of music...key board...guitars...drums....few singers.  Have dual electronic video projectors to put words on front and rear screens.  Not using traditional song books at all now....We too have two services, and could have it both ways, but do not....

Trivia:  Pipe organ.....My favorite.....The stronger, the better.  Love it.

[blhanel]

tree68

My daughter and SIL are looking for a new church since they've moved.   Easter service this year was at a church several of their friends attend.  At least 12 performers on the stage - keyboards, guitars, drums, Christian music, with the words on the big screens over the stage.

We do the same for the contemporary services at our Lutheran church, but I don't attend those, as my commitment to the Chancel Choir requires me to attend the earlier traditional service.  We still use the multi-media stuff, but it's accompanied by a nice pipe organ.  If anyone here has ever attended Willow Creek in the Chicago area, we are always copying their stuff.

[tree68]

CShaveRR

That sounds like our kind of church, Chris! I think that quality music is underappreciated in our home church.

My daughter and SIL are looking for a new church since they've moved.   Easter service this year was at a church several of their friends attend.  At least 12 performers on the stage - keyboards, guitars, drums, Christian music, with the words on the big screens over the stage.

Interesting...

[CShaveRR]

That sounds like our kind of church, Chris! I think that quality music is underappreciated in our home church.

I thought weed weasels had the market on black eggs cornered!

[CopCarSS]

MC - Thanks for the info! First free weekend I get I'll wander out that way!

Easter was very nice for me. While I cantor at my church, the music director didn't feel that I was special enough to sing on Easter. That being the case, I headed down to Littleton to hear one of my friends who sings at a church down that way. It was really impressive! They've got a nice, full choir complete with several brass, strings and percussion instruments accompanying them. I'm not sure which Mass they sang, but it was something Baroque and was a delight to hear. My friend keeps pestering me that they need tenors down there. I may have to think about it a bit. I think it'd be fun to sing there.

Easter afternoon was spent with my adopted family. Part of the annual festivities includes the hiding of Easter eggs, including two coveted black Easter eggs.  The black Easter eggs each contain a fairly sizable dollar amount (this year each had a $20 bill). One of my "cousin's" takes pride in the fact that his black egg is always the hardest to find. I guaranteed that I could better hide a black egg than he could. Once the pack was turned loose, it took all of 15 seconds for his egg to be found. Mine, on the other hand, took 20 minutes and was only found when I started giving clues.

The king is dead. Long live the king!

[CShaveRR]

Pat and I hope that your Easter was as happy as ours. She got to go to church and sing in the choir and see many friends who get to church far less often; I got to work. Doesn't sound fair? Well, I was the one who got to see the most amazing sunrise, with a fleeting glint of the sun off the north side of the Willis Tower (got the name right!). I then was April-fooled by the person who relieved me, and managed to get her back before leaving for home (she couldn't believe I did it with a straight face, and neither could I). Meanwhile, the day was fairly easy, and I was at the top of my form. Then home for a salmon dinner, and to watch a thundershower pass through (eat your heart out, Willy!). And bedtime less than two hours hence! Couldn't ask for much more!

[mudchicken]

CC:

UP Julesburg Sub goes Sterling to Julesburg along US-138, maybe two trains a week above the BNSF/BN connection to Alliance where all the coal trains go off towards Peetz and Sidney. The line has changed little since 1980 and is 133# jointed rail largely on cinders. It is about all thats left in NE Colorado east of LaSalle of what had been the Omaha-Denver passenger main line. (Union to Fort Morgan to Kersey is gone and BNSF took over below Sterling down to Union(Brush).

The route you followed on Google is the ex-BN/CB&Q Cheyenne line (Holyoke Sub) that is now home to NKCR. After getting out the sandhills east of Sterling, you follow the railroad from Fleming to the east. The main engine facility for NKCR is at Grant. They only run 1-2 trains a day through there along with BNSF coal trains going to Wallace, NE and back, but you see more railroad there than going by I-76, I-80 without much difference in time. Do not be surprised to find Detroit Edison SD40's, LTE SD-45's NKCR GP-30 and GP-35's  roaming around out there plus whatever else OmniTrax banishes to there. There also is a lost looking BRC Jordan Spreader that usually calls Grant home (north side of the 2 bay shop building).

[CopCarSS]

Good Morning and Happy Easter!

Unfortunately, I didn't get out to chase 844 from Cheyenne to North Platte as planned. I was offered the opportunity to work a 40 hour week this week. Since that hasn't happened since last August, there was no way I could turn it down -- even for 844 in snowy conditions.

I did manage to make it out to CRRM for the 'Bunny Express.' Those results are posted in a seperate thread. It was windy (gusts to 45 mph or so), but still a nice day.

Meanwhile, MC, I Google mapped the route you suggested for North Platte. I do believe I'll have to take that one of these days. That's the UP Julesburg Sub, right? What kind of traffic does the line see?

I hope you all have a happy, joyous Easter!

[AgentKid]

Carl, you can't leave before that car gets to Creston. Otherwise conspiracy theorists will be discussing Zardoz's theory for decades to come!

Bruce

 

[CShaveRR]

We're making an effort here to return EOTs to the railroads to whom they belong, and there's been a bulletin put out that UP trains will have UP EOTs on them. CN could have different colors on railroads they've absorbed recently. If you get a close enough look at these things, you'll be able to determine their ownership.

Yes, James, I may not have this cushy job in a few months!

[CNW 6000]

LOL!

I know CN did send a section of switch mounted in a Gon back and forth between Shops and Neenah a few years ago.  I noticed that I was seeing an awful lot of switches in trains and started writing down reporting marks.  I think I only saw it 8 or 10 times and the distance is smaller...but close enough!

FRED question for those that know.  Let's say train ABC123 goes to a large yard in, let's say Milwaukee or Chi-town.  This train has a FRED on the last car.  When the train is broken apart does the FRED somehow find it's way back to the "home" road that brought it there or would/could/can/does it go to "the next train"?  I ask because I've noticed some FREDs of differing colors on the back of CN trains.  Thanks in advance.

[zardoz]

CShaveRR

The car's weight shows as 70 tons. If it went to Council Bluffs and back 22 times (that's about a 1000-mile round trip), you've got 1,540,000 ton-miles.

That's just the UP's way of increasing it's stock value by bumping up it's ton-mile counts.

If Carl all of the sudden disappears, we will know that it was indeed a cover-up for the conspiracy.

[CShaveRR]

I'm sure every major railroad has had (or is having!) an embarrassing story like this, Paul. I'm hoping that the right person might be able to do something about it. There's a spur in Creston just waiting for it (I think)--I checked it out on the way home from Rochelle last week.

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

Carl, that story about UP gon 30517 is one of those 'too true to be funny' types.  Kind of reminds me of the song about that guy who'll never return, 'cause he's riding forever beneath the streets of Boston, or whatever it was, or something like that.  There has to be material there for a ''Who's on First?'' routine or a Gilbert and Sullivan song.  Let's just hope that some anti-UP type or the competition doesn't get wise to it.  ''Yes, this car's on time for the ETA - but this is last year's car'' (with apologies to the Forum member here who uses that similar line in his signature).  Restores your faith in bureaucracies and people who will follow procuedures to a fare-thee-well, even if they lead to such illogical results . . .    . . . can't get there from here, eh ?

- Paul North. 

[rvos1979]

Carl, if that worked, I would probably have about 30-40 trains worth of cars built by now, The country's roads are definitely in poor shape.... 

[CShaveRR]

Randy, I have to ask: do you carry some of those "shake-the-box" rolling-stock kits with you for travel over the rougher roads (hey, it might work!).

Our beautiful weather is set to end late tonight, with a band of showers passing through (more severe to our south). Tomorrow's highs are supposed to be "only" around 60--that's still a bit above average. Easter will be pleasant (near 70), and partly cloudy. My "sunrise service" will be held at work--the sun goes on duty a couple of minutes before I do. I might get to celebrate by pulling down the new shades installed in the tower yesterday (translucent, so I can still see most of what I need to).

[rvos1979]

Paul_D_North_Jr

Idle Pastime: In Off Hours, Truckers Pick Up Stitching

With Less to Haul, Drivers Try New Hobbies; Quilting in the Cab

Do you suppose Randy and edbenton might be taking any of that up in the near future as well ? 

 

Actually, Paul, I usually take some model railroad things with me to do when I have downtime and can't sleep......

Seriously, we have been pretty busy lately, though our company going to paperless logs may change that (can't cheat anymore).  At home for the weekend now, will work on the layout some more, gonna try to get some track laid this weekend, in between Easter and trying to get a DOT physical done (called the person who sets these up, but she must have not been in today)

Got stopped twice at Winchester Rd in Neenah yesterday by CN, general freight going south, and a stack train going north.  Did not mind, has been beautiful the last two days, if a bit windy.

[CShaveRR]

Hmmm...a cover-up!

UP gondola car 30517 is now showing an ETA in Creston, Illinois, of 1749 on April 5, a full 24 hours behind its "original" ETA. Nothing much wrong with that--those things happen.

But that "original ETA" was recently changed--from sometime last September!

This car is loaded with concrete grade-crossing slabs, and is supposed to be set out for unloading by MofW forces at Creston. But for some reason, they can't figure out where to send it so a crew can deliver it. The spur is designated as being in the same zone as West Chicago, but West Chicago has no crews going out that far (eleven miles beyond DeKalb). Rochelle's yard crews (only eight miles west of Creston) seem to be exclusively for Global 3. Rochelle's other UP industries are served by crews from Sterling (about 35 miles away), but Creston seems to be outside their limits as well.

So this car seems to run back and forth between Proviso and Council Bluffs. Every time we sent it to West Chicago or Sterling, it would come back to us. It also seems to have made at least one detour to Yard Center, one to North Platte, and was short-stopped once at Boone and taken to Beverly in a local freight before being brought back to Proviso (could they have been thinking that it was for Creston, Iowa?). If the car's history is accurate, it has now visited us 23 times with the same load! (I guess it says something about our car handling that the load hasn't shifted any of those times!) It was bad-ordered on two occasions for light repairs.

The car's weight shows as 70 tons. If it went to Council Bluffs and back 22 times (that's about a 1000-mile round trip), you've got 1,540,000 ton-miles. If a railroad can move a ton of freight about 500 miles on a single gallon of fuel (that's better mileage than CSX advertises), we've still used over 3000 gallons of fuel just ferrying that car back and forth. That's the better portion of a modern locomotive's fuel capacity.

So here's the challenge--give somebody specific instructions for this car, so it is either put on the head end of a train for setting out by the road crew (westbound, since that's the way the spur in Creston faces), or give us a proper block in which to put the car, instead of just saying that it goes on the train to Council Bluffs ('cause that's where our conductors will send it, every time!). Then once it's set out in the proper place, tell them what to do with it.

Of course, there may be another minor problem: the spur in Creston is now restricted to MofW use only. Does an engine spotting a car there for MofW purposes fulfill that requirement, or is it just a place to get track equipment in the clear? And if it's the latter, then what?

Somebody, somewhere, must know about this car, and maybe they're even missing it. It's not lost--a trace will turn it up in its correct location every time. Since the "original ETA" was changed on this car--recently--we Proviso folks aren't the only ones who recognize a problem. But should we call in the Guinness people if it makes too many more trips?

[Modelcar]

CShaveRR

Sad news--the wife of my long-ago friend passed away after the ordeal with their car in the retention pond in Westmont.

 

.....And I had commented on this just a day or two ago...of something surely needs to be done to stop such incidents from happening....Now, Again...!  Yesterday....another one in the Indianapolis area, and a fatility....!  A car down into a retention pond.

[tree68]

CShaveRR

May everyone's celebration of Holy Week be meaningful and ultimately joyous!

How can it miss?  I'm spending Saturday working our "Easter Bunny Trains" and Sunday with my daughter's family (including the grandson!).  I'll have to share the grandson with his other grandparents, though.  Hopefully he won't be overwhelmed.