Trackside Lounge: 3Q 2010

[Deggesty]

About a year and a half ago, a great-nephew of mine was driving from Baton Rouge to Memphis--and hit a deer on the Interstate. I never did hear just how the whole thing came out, but he was, for a time at least, without transportation.

[rvos1979]

Deer do tend to make a heck of a mess to semi trucks.  About 10 years ago when I worked on them, had one that came into our shop after plastering one in ND, making a mess of the drivers' side of the tractor.  No real damage, other than we had to straighten the front bumper a bit.  We had to pull it outside after about a half hour, the smell made it's way to the front office (this was in middle of winter).  We kidded the husband and wife team for a bit, the wife was driving at the time.  With all the fiberglass on semis now, a simple deer hit can result in a full radiator pack changeout, front end is not as strong as when you had those big Texas bumpers on the older trucks....

Pretty quiet on the train front this weekend, though St Gobain Container had extra cars on site due to the holiday.  Noticed CN is using a widecab SD70-type engine on the Vulcan gravel trains, usually pointed north.  It's not an SD45, but it's got flares.....  

[CShaveRR]

Yup--had a report on the TV news this morning of a motorcyclist hitting a deer around Grand Rapids--the cycle is not bad-looking (to the untrained eye), but the biker's injuries are described as "life-threatening".

[tree68]

I'm rarely surprised when I see deer any more, no matter the time of day or night.  I'm surprised the insurance companies aren't lobbying the state to expand the hunting season - hardly a night goes by that I don't hear at least one car/deer report on the scanner.  We just had a fellow on a motorcycle hit one in the middle of the afternoon.  Fortunately, he got out of it with some road rash and an unrideable (for the moment) bike.

[CShaveRR]

Thanks, Cannonball, for a nice tribute to your class. My parents were also high-school classmates, though they were very different from each other. I really don't know if they dated in high-school, but if they did it was interrupted when my dad helped win World War II.

Larry, we also had an encounter on this trip. I elected to take a back road (scenic, and not as bumpy as the old highway) from our lunch toward Grand Rapids. A small deer darted out in front of us. I was able to brake to avoid it, and I am not sure that anything would have been damaged had we hit (it was angling across the road away from me--had we hit it we might have knocked it down, but not much more). I was surprised to see a single deer in broad daylight, but a few minutes later Pat saw another one in a field, well away from the road.

Today we drop off Pat's quilts at the museum where they'll be part of an exhibit through August and September. She's the featured quilter at the exhibit this year, so there will be about a dozen of her works hanging there. My sister is also sending a couple of her quilts (made by Pat). The exhibit is at the Coopersville (Michigan) Farm Museum, which is about a block away from the western terminus of the Coopersville & Marne Railroad, primarily a tourist operation on the old Grand Trunk Western line I was intimately familiar with while growing up.

[tree68]

Carl, sounds like your dinner was a winner (groan).

I was sitting on the roof of our rescue truck tonight, applying the unit number (so helicopters can read it - it does happen from time to time if we have to fly an accident victim out by helicopter) when a movement caught my eye.  I looked up and saw a fox trotting down the street, in broad daylight, not quite nonchalant, but not acting suspicious in any way.  It made its way across the state highway without interrupting traffic and kept on going out of sight.

Wish I'd taken a picture....

 

 

[switch7frg]

Carl; glad you had a good time . 1951 was a good time grad. class. With 27 of us thrown to the world it was nice. Many plans were discussed for doing thingsto better ourselves.  But a recent unpleasant event changed things .  Korea was not a nice place to be in '51. 18 of the class never came home.  But we had fun while it lasted. I still live with one girl class mate, my Shirl. ~~~ Cannonball

[CShaveRR]

Our temperature in Lombard right now is 88 degrees (my computer says so!). We, however, are in Grand Rapids, the allegedly-cool north country, where the temperature is still in the middle 80s. We thought for sure that it would rain today, but the threatening clouds disappeared somewhere.

Our lunch with classmates went quite well. A few spouses didn't show, and one of the classmates didn't make it, but those who were there had a quiet, comfortable time. We may have made a Facebook believer out of my cousin.

Tonight we celebrate the birthdays of my mother-in-law (86, sharp, and healthy) and brother-in-law (52, big, and hungry--nice guy, though!). We're eating at a restaurant of his choosing--just glad he didn't pull what our granddaughter pulled, asking for her birthday dinner at the sushi place at Disney World!

Trains will have to wait until tomorrow afternoon, if then.

[Modelcar]

chad thomas

They must have held #3 at the next CP for the westbound to clear the station because it pulled in right as the track was clear. Anyway it was perfect timeing all around, here is one of the shots I got:

 

......Like that late at night shot Chad with available light.  It certainly looks late, and if anyone was in the priviate car, it appears they had bedded down for the night.

I have been in Needles just one time, many years ago, and that day a big thermometer {in the shade}, was setting on 120 degrees.  Stifling heat and humidity for me.  Was working {automotive testing}, out of Kingman at the time.

[CNW 6000]

Nice catch Chad.

This morning CN had three GEVOs on 199 passing through Neenah...they must've been working hard as they sounded extra loud chugging past me.  Once again, bad camera luck...oh well!  We got some more rain last night, did my garden and new grass some good...otherwise it's helping keep the humidity up.  Glad the A/C is on today...

[CShaveRR]

Needles? We don't run through Needles. Give me a good spot on the UP line east of Barstow or Daggett (Yermo?), and I'll do whatever I can for you.

You can rest easy for a while--the cars probably won't leave before tomorrow. I doubt that they'll be cleared over the holiday. We'd probably send the on a train to North Platte, where they'd probably have to go through the whole procedure again.

I got a look at some info: the load I check is 19'6" in height, which is taller than most normal auto racks. And, as I suspected, they're wider than standard: 11'0", as opposed to 10'8".

Nice shot, by the way! Now I realize why Amtrak isn't pictured too often at Needles. (Greetings from mild--by comparison--and breezy Western Michigan!)

[chad thomas]

  Hey Carl, I would be most greatfull if you could  give me a heads up when it's going to be in Needles (the narrower the timeframe the better ) so I can get some pix? I am in Winnemucca till Thursday, But afterwards I'll be back at home (Needles this month) across from the crew change where I can get good pix day or night from within 3 blocks my front yard .

Without a heads up, I MIGHT???? catch it... if I am home...and awake...and paying attention...and have my keys, camera, ect. ready....and am dressed (you tend to get twards the naked side when its 125 degrees by 8am ...and have cold water ready (don't leave home without it here abouts )...and the camera batteries are charged...and the tripod is in the cab ready to roll (unless it's daytime)...Ect.......

The other night, at about midnight, I got a heads up that the #3 was toteing an ex SP private car. I knew the Amtrak trains passed through dureing the night sometime but never payed attention (If I was even up) to when they passed through (if they were on time). So I checked the current sch. on line and found that they were both are schedualed for Needles within 15 min of 1am . So I  decided to go to the other side of the track and set up for the best lighting, composition, ect. location and see what I could catch with the tri-pod. After being intercepted by a nosey neighbor (but nice very guy) I had time to drive down to the underpass and cross over to the east side of the tracks and drive back up to the station where I could set up for a time exp. (while #3 was at it's short station stop). But #4was pulling into the station right when I got there. So I cought it too. They must have held #3 at the next CP for the westbound to clear the station because it pulled in right as the track was clear. Anyway it was perfect timeing all around, here is one of the shots I got:

 

[img]

[CShaveRR]

Larry, I understand your feeling about that, and, like you, I'm one of the guys that leaves home every time. I get back often enough, though. This time we were celebrating birthdays and dropping off quilts for an exhibition of Pat's work. I just saw that one of my former classmates (and current Facebook friends) was coming back home from Philadelphia, and suggested that we get together. She liked the idea, and it kind of grew from there. I talked to the one gal in town who could make this work, and together we made the reservation and decided on a time. A few of the Facebook friends we notified didn't respond, but I'd say we had about a 60 percent positive response. We had three classmates who gave us their very sincere regrets--one was working, one was recovering from surgery, and one had out-of-state family visiting.

By this time tomorrow, it will all be behind us, for better or for worse. I'm not sure what I hope will happen, because in groups like this I usually say next to nothing (you meet Pat, you'll understand that). But if I can say hi to folks, score a couple of hugs (my cousin will be there so I'm assured of at least one), and see that everybody's doing reasonably well at our advanced age (we do have at least a couple of cancer survivors coming, including my cousin), I'll be happy.

________________

I was very happy to get away from work this afternoon, for reasons other than wanting to get up here to western Michigan. My retarder was still inoperative, and Marco's Tonka toys were all over the place. Somebody, somehow, pulled the plug on all of Tower B's switches, confusing the daylights out of the Princess Bride-to-be. There were about 500 more cars in the receiving yard when we couldn't hump any more than there had been when we started. When my relief gave me a fairly generous quit, I elected to make a hasty exit before learning what had happened.

[tree68]

CShaveRR

Can't wait for tomorrow--reservations have been made for ten high-school classmates and five spouses to get together for lunch.

While I enjoy seeing old friends at HS reunions, there's always a bit of sadness, as one knows that the next day many will be headed back to the four corners of the world from whence they came (myself included, as I graduated in MI and now live in NY).

Enjoy your gathering!

[AgentKid]

Willy2

I guess this makes up for all of the days that I've sat for three hours without seeing a single train!

 

Karma can be a good thing sometimes.

Great photos.

I just wanted to get an early start wishing US readers a happy Independence Day.

CN followers might want to note that they may have dodged a bullet in the flood department near Yorkton, SK over the last couple of day's. From what I can tell in the Canadian Trackside Guide, the Yorkton Sub. may have seen better days. I am not sure if they use it to move potash. There must be some grain moved as the news reports say Yorkton has a population of 17,000 in grain country. That has got to mean there are elevators in that town. I will keep watching the news.

Bruce

 

[CShaveRR]

Great reaction to an unexpected situation, Willy! That train just went east as far as Council Bluffs. However, we had the 1995 come into Proviso from the west yesterday, and the Katy unit (1988) is going to Global 1 sometime today after a trip across the Overland.

Happy Independence Day to everyone. Pause and reflect on this great country and how it came to be. Then celebrate in your own way. For us, there won't be much celebrating--I have to work, then we make a 200-mile drive. I expect that as dusk gathers somewhere along the route we'll see some pyrotechnics, professional or otherwise. I hope the natural pyrotechnics Willy mentioned elsewhere hold off.

Can't wait for tomorrow--reservations have been made for ten high-school classmates and five spouses to get together for lunch. We saw one of these couples last month, but two more haven't been seen since last fall, a number more after that since the last class reunion (three years ago), but there are a couple of folks I haven't seen since actually being in high school with them.

[switch7frg]

  Sure good shots . The paint scheme is not flashy , but catches the eye . The sunlight  is perfect.  Thanks Willy.

                                       Cannonball

[Willy2]

Just thought I'd share a couple photos I took of UP's DRG&W heritage unit earlier this week. I had no idea this train was coming, so it was a nice surprise.

I guess this makes up for all of the days that I've sat for three hours without seeing a single train!

[Willy2]

CopCarSS

For Willy and the Chicago crowd, there's a print offer at The Online Photographer that might be of interest.

Thanks for sharing! That's very impressive. Aside from the storm, the boats on the water and the lines of lights on the highways really add some interesting components to the scene.

[CShaveRR]

tree68

CShaveRR

Once again, I proved how outstanding I can be...

At least you weren't outstanding in the snow!

Naw, I'm only outstanding on the good days.

[CShaveRR]

I think that folks are trying to give me some memorable days at work.

Today (and probably tomorrow), I was/will be working with the most vital section of one of my intermediate retarders out of service. I think I did all right today--nothing went down too fast for the Tower C operator to handle.

New switches are being installed or otherwise positioned for installation at our yard. The group that has been removed from service has three of its five replacement switches in position, and they are being welded together--saw a couple of successful thermite welds pulled off. Some of Tower A's switches are supposed to be replaced Monday (as much as I'd like to watch, I'm grateful that I'll be far away from the hump on that day!.

UP 1995 (CNW) arrived today; UP 1988 (MKT) is going to enter the area sometime tomorrow. I haven't kept up on when it will come in (or where), or when (and to where) either of them will depart.

Perhaps the biggest thrill was humping (halfway-humping, anyway, so power could handle them) a block of nine cars--five RBLs for spacers, and four depressed-center cars, each with at least ten axles and weighing at least 280 tons. The loads were huge engine/generator sets--probably slightly wider than the 10'8" clearance gauge and at least as tall as an auto rack, each shrink-wrapped in white opaque plastic. Once the Clearance Bureau okays them, they will head west out of here to San Diego. The UP will handle them as far as Barstow.

Worked today with the bride-to-be, but didn't get to ask what they were wishing for. Had I been relieved on time, I would have met her fiance, but they had left before I got relieved.

[CShaveRR]

Thanks, Paul and Dan--I had that confirmed for me, so we're ready for their big day.

Followed, sort of, by my big day...

It still lifts upward on most locomotives I'm familiar with.

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

CShaveRR

  [snip] Does anyone know what it means when it says "wishing well" on the invitation? I know it has to do with the gifts, since she said they weren't on any bridal registry, but what's expected of us? Of course we wish them well, but I think some information is missing.

I'm certainly no expert on weddings, but I believe 'wishing well' is being used here as an adjective and noun - like the little structure of stone with a little roof and a bucket on a windlass, etc. - and not as a verb-adverb combination.  In other words, they may have a decorative or ceremonial 'wishing well' set up at the reception, into which the guests may deposit whatever gifts they choose for the newlywed couple, and then make a wish for their happy future together.  Hopefully someone with more savvy on that point will be able to provide better guidance.

CShaveRR

  Right now I'm waiting for some mail (expected in the next two weeks), and I have to make a phone call (in two or three weeks), and set up an appointment (also in about three weeks). Then I close the anglecock and apply firm, steady upward pressure to the lever...

I know the expression towards which you're heading, Carl - but I think it's more apropos of the 'link-and-pin' era than today's Janney/ MCB coupler types - or at least not to the ones with the cutting lever on the bottom that you have to push on to get them to function . . . Don't forget to check the status of the hand brakes, either - on both sides of the cut . . . .  Best wishes to you and Pat on that move, too.

- Paul North. 

[tree68]

CShaveRR

Once again, I proved how outstanding I can be...

At least you weren't outstanding in the snow!

[CShaveRR]

Once again, I proved how outstanding I can be...the night shift was humping well past turnover time, and I was due to relieve one of our female CROs. As is usually the case, she locked the lower door. So I was left out standing until she finished the train and came down to let me in.

Came up the stairs to find a whole section of our yard missing! Below one of the group retarders, all of the switches had been removed, and the area was being regraded. By the time I was relieved, they were using two speed-swings to move one of the new switches into place. I've been told that the entire yard is going to get a do-over this way over the summer.

_________________

Feeling kind of smug today--helped organize a reunion of sorts for up to a dozen of my high-school classmates in Michigan on Monday. For a fairly spontaneous thing, I think the results will be spectacular. Classmates from the Chicago area (me), Detroit area, and Philadelphia will be there.

[tree68]

Spent Canada Day in the Adirondacks, filling in a blank conductor slot on the railroad.  We're still using an F for our locals, which leads to a 10 mile push move.  Fortunately, I had two trainmen who knew the territory and were willing to call the moves.

Off day today (not that I don't have plenty on my "to do" list), then the weekend.  Probably EMS bike patrol on the 3rd for one local fireworks display, then hopefully on the river on a fireboat for another on the 4th.

[CNW 6000]

CShaveRR

Right now I'm waiting for some mail (expected in the next two weeks), and I have to make a phone call (in two or three weeks), and set up an appointment (also in about three weeks). Then I close the anglecock and apply firm, steady upward pressure to the lever...

I believe the "wishing well" phrase means they would rather have a card and/or financial gift rather than household or personal items.

Wired and installed 6 shop lights in the new garage.  Two reasons: 1) seeing things is good; and 2) we'll need the light for Aedan's party on Saturday.

Hoping to have time to get trackside...maybe on Sunday.  CN, make it busy...are you listening?

[AgentKid]

Error. I can't seem to delete this post.

[CShaveRR]

That is one knockout shot (and, unfortunately, that referred to electrical power for a lot of folks in the area)! It appears to have been taken from one of the apartment buildings in the area. Thanks, Chris! Any idea what those limited-edition prints would sell for?

[CopCarSS]

For Willy and the Chicago crowd, there's a print offer at The Online Photographer that might be of interest.