Trackside Lounge: 3Q 2010

[zugmann]

CShaveRR

I'll have to check, but I believe the full circle (minus the center light) also had an indication.

 

 

I believe that was an indication to take the siding...

[rvos1979]

I can remember, back in the Wisconsin Central days, of seeing trains running on 10-minute headways, usually late at night in Burlington.  Made for some interesting watching, usually got to catch both intermodal trains, as well as everything else that plied WC rails.

As for timing one's speed to lights, when you have ten gears to go through to get up to speed, you tend to want to do as little shifting as possible, besides, it's part of the fun of dealing with traffic.  Got a bottle of water thrown at me the other day from the driver I jerked back to reality, after he tried to block me from changing lanes.  Some people just don't understand what it takes to drive a truck...... 

[zardoz]

CNW 6000

Today was another 'gangbuster' day but for both directions.  The first of 5 NB trains hit Oshkosh at 0515 followed by two more at 0532 and 0550 then a "lull" until 0620 and 0645.  Then it was the SB run...I heard RTC talking to 4 trains between Anton Siding, Nelson Siding, and the Steven's Point Yard.  All were to be run immediately following the NB clearing their areas.  The last SB went through around 12:30 (if I heard correctly).  9 trains in one morning!

So why is it every time I visit up there I feel lucky if I see 2 trains?!?  Or drive all the way from Milwaukee to FDL without hearing or seeing even 1 train.  Guess it's all in the timing.....

[CShaveRR]

Jim, that's easy: Oshkosh is north of Fond du Lac, and Dan's hoarding them all!

(Remember the days when we used to have two daily freights to Fond du Lac? You can't even get there from here any more!)

[Deggesty]

zugmann

CShaveRR

I'll have to check, but I believe the full circle (minus the center light) also had an indication.

 

 

I believe that was an indication to take the siding...

In my search, I first found two links that did not have the full circle or the "X," but I did find this one that shows both the "take siding" and "phase break (LOWER YOUR PANTOGRAPH!)" arrangements. Note that we had these two backwards; we could really have fouled up.

http://www.railroadsignals.us/signals/pl/pl.htm

Apparently, in 1950 those two were no longer used: http://mysite.du.edu/~jcalvert/railway/prraspec.htm 

Wikipedia gave some history of the signals, but did not give all of the PRR signals: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_railroad_signals 

 

[zugmann]

Good thing I don't use electrics...I'm kind of embarrassed I missed that one considering:

Phase break signals are still in use.   There's one on the Amtrak Main at Thorndale, PA,  and another at Perryville, MD,  and there's a couple on the other electric roads. (Septa, MNRR, maybe..)  The pennsy one at Thorndale didn't have the solid black disc behind the yellow lights, so the signal looked like a star (or skeleton). 

Here's one at Perryville: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattblaze/4509479059/   (not my photo, byt belongs to Mr. Blaze).

 

Here's the one at Thorndale http://acm.jhu.edu/~sthurmovik/Railpics/05-11-27_THORN/THORN-phaze-break.html

 

 Although  I think that phase break signals just require the hogger/motorman to "coast through" the section, and do not require the pantograph to be lowered.   I'm not an expert on electric operations, though. 

 

[Deggesty]

zugmann

Although  I think that phase break signals just require the hogger/motorman to "coast through" the section, and do not require the pantograph to be lowered.   I'm not an expert on electric operations, though. 

Thanks, Zug. My saying that the aspect called for the pantograph(s) to be lowered came from what I remember reading fifty or more years ago in Trains, in an article or item about the PRR signals. I cannot say what year this particular item was published, but I do not think it is worth my going back and trying to find it.

I wonder why there is no disc behind the head; this arrangement certainly strikes the eye as being bare.

[zugmann]

 I remember somewhere, seeing a manual where the full circle meant "lower pantograph".  Maybe it was the absence of the disc that made it a "phase break" signal instead?  (I'm just guessing).

 

Here's some lit phase break signals on SEPTA:  http://acm.jhu.edu/~sthurmovik/Railpics/05-06-17_R8_FOX_CHASE/SEPTA_RDG-Main_Phaze-Break.html

 

And one on MNRR, with a disc...http://palter.org/~brotzman/03-27-03_MNRR_TRIP/MNRR_Phaze-Break-Signal+SubStation-Gantry.jpg

 

 Like I said, I'm not sure... just guessing.

 

 

 

[CShaveRR]

Deggesty

I wonder why there is no disc behind the head; this arrangement certainly strikes the eye as being bare.

I don't know the first thing about phase breaks or their significance--or whether this is a signal that's always lighted or lighted intermittently as needed (enlightenment welcome!).

But Johnny, I suspect that the lack of a background is to indicate that this is not a block signal, and should not be construed as such.

__________________

Had a great time at the wedding last night. It was very much an honor to be invited--the bride and I were the only railroaders there. I guess I'm a special person in her life, after all! It was interesting to see her mother and sister, who share that lovely smile. Pat and I were made to feel very welcome and comfortable in a sea of onetime strangers.

[zardoz]

CShaveRR

Jim, that's easy: Oshkosh is north of Fond du Lac, and Dan's hoarding them all!

(Remember the days when we used to have two daily freights to Fond du Lac? You can't even get there from here any more!)

I can't even remember the train numbers. Were they 295 & 297?

But what I do remember is coming down Eden hill with the usually heavy train coming around the curve at the bottom of the hill to the absolute signal at tower NW (you never knew if the signal would be clear, as the distant signal was changed to a fixed approach after an ice storm took down the code lines on almost the entire sub). Then after passing the signal, going thru FDL at 30mph with just the dinky little bell on the front of the locomotive making noise (city had a no-whistle ordinance even back then), going over crossings that were totally blind due to the buildings built right up to both the road and the tracks.

[CShaveRR]

Yup...295 and 297 (but don't ask me any more when they went out)! Inbound were 296 and 298. 298 came in during the evening--next to the engines were Black River Falls iron ore, autos from Bain, and a block of Penn Centrals. I think I worked the job that delivered those blocks to the IHB a couple of times.

[switch7frg]

  Randy ; do you ride the wave on the traffic lights? Depending on speed limits , the lights usualy change in 19sec. Maybe times have changed. ~~ A " funny"  thing  turned bad for a driver in a 4 wheeler  some years past.   He tossed a piece of 2in.x 2ft. pipe at the cab and the drivers ran over it and  flipped it back at him.  It stuck the rt. door frame at the windshield  breaking it. The passenger was  busted  by the police for not doing a nice thing.  I wonder if passenger had to pay for the damage he caused??  Have fun and keep on truckin'.  Cannonball

[Deggesty]

[Quote from Carl]" I don't know the first thing about phase breaks or their significance--or whether this is a signal that's always lighted or lighted intermittently as needed (enlightenment welcome!)." 

Carl, one of the links I posted gives a little information concerning phase breaks. Since the railroad used three phase power from several sources along the way, it was possible that the power from one source would not be in phase with that from the next source. There is no discussion of what damage would result to the electric components if the two sources were greatly out of phase (ask your friendly local electrical engineer about this); there is the comment that if there is little difference between the two, it would not be necessary to coast through the break. and the signal might not be lit. So, it would be lit only if the difference were so great as to cause damage. Apparently, the rotation of a generator or convertor is not precisely controlled so that all sources could remain in phase with one another--and the power would not be exactly 25.00000000000 Hz.

I have had little occasion to study three phase power since the winter of 1956, when I was taking my required course in physics. I do remember enough to know that you can usually tell the difference between a three phase motor and a single phase motor by looking at the housing: the single phase motors that I was concerned with were like camels--they had one or more humps that housed the capacitors that started the motor--and the three phase motors were like llamas--they did not need capacitors to give them kick starts so they had no humps; the phase differential took care of that. I had to instruct the techs who were responsible for replacing such motors on the various tools that needed them.

[CNW 6000]

CShaveRR

Jim, that's easy: Oshkosh is north of Fond du Lac, and Dan's hoarding them all!

 

(Remember the days when we used to have two daily freights to Fond du Lac? You can't even get there from here any more!)

SShhhh Carl...you caught me!

Jim,
I've had days like that too...from my house (if the atmosphere cooperates) I can hear detectors at MPs 169.1, 181.1 on a regular basis.  If I'm lucky...really lucky...I can hear 194.6.  I have had the scanner on in the house with the big antenna all day and only heard a couple of locals and trains being 'kicked' around in Neenah and/or Shops.

Next time I get a flood heading SB I'll LYK.

[CShaveRR]

You're lucky, Dan--I can't get any detectors from here. The nearest one is nine track-miles away, near West Chicago.

But today I've been hearing the trains whistle for track-workers (as they're required to do). I went out on a bicycle errand this afternoon and caught a meet between a westbound manifest (destined for North Platte) and an eastbound Sheboygan coal train with a DP at the hind end. While I was busy, an eastbound manifest (two GEs--second one was CSXT) went through. And the eastbound scoot-of-the-hour went through while I was biking away from the tracks toward home.

Tomorrow is a bike trip to Elmhurst. And while Pat's in the chair, with the dental hygienist working over her (working her over?), I hope to be catching a train or more out on the platform.

[CShaveRR]

A happy anniversary (friendship) to Chris "CopCar" May and Sue! Chris is out east with her at the present time.

[CNW 6000]

Zardoz,

Get trackside soon.  BNSF 9806 is SB with WPSX coal empties.  The light behind it went red again after going dark.  I was on two-wheeled human-power and cruising home for lunch (where I am now).  PM me if you get a chance.

[CNW 6000]

Another just went south Jim.

[CShaveRR]

I wonder if I should get to Deval for the show there.

We had a cool, comfortable bike trip to Elmhurst, where we caught two manifests (one in each direction) before I could even get the bikes locked up. It didn't ever let up too much--I'm glad Pat didn't need me as a morale booster in the dental office, because I was busy! I'm not in the coffee-shop crowd, but might start frequenting one in Elmhurst for free wi-fi!

[zugmann]

 A Zugmini Tale:

 

The Cooler God. 

 _________________

 

(Note: this story is not meant as a dig at any religion, theology, demonology, or anthology.  It's just the rantings of someone that has been up all night working):

 Anyone that has ever worked on the railroad and doesn't have exlcusive use of their locomotives has come to known the Cooler God.  This supreme being also takes the form of the "Refrigerator God" on other less hill-billy roads that believe in mechanical refrigeration.  For this little story though, I will speak of the Cooler God and only the Cooler God as my deity.

 

Every once in a great moon you will board a locomotive.  Perhaps it has been parked with its train for a few hours.  Or maybe the locomotive is on the shop outbound tracks.  Or perhaps it was laying over in some yard track.  Part of the normal beginning-of-the-shift ritual is to dump out any melted ice in the cooler,  add some fresh ice, and maybe some more bottled water.  But every once in awhile, you will find an unopened bottle or can of soft drink (or soda, or soda pop, or pop for yinz Pittsburgher folk).   Left over by other crew members?  I think not.  A railroader would sooner jump out of a moving train at 75 mph (with trailing foot first, or was that last???) than leave something that costs as much as a $1.59 in a locomotive cab.   We may be beautiful, but we're cheap. 

 

No, this was the work of the COOLER GOD.  All hail.  The Cooler God took pity on us that hot day, and rewarded us with a caffeinated, carbonated beverage, already chilled.  As we drink it's goodness, we must thank the Cooler God for the gift.  

 

But thanking is not enough.  You must occasionally leave sacrifices for the Cooler God.   The Cooler God may be omnipotent, but he also gets thristy.  And one thing, and only one thing, will satisfy Him - an unopened can or bottle of soft drink.  Offer such to the Cooler God, and when you least expect it, your generosity will be rewarded.

 

Please my friends, make sure the can or bottle is unopened!  Even though the Cooler God is generous, He can also be vengeful!  If the Cooler God is merely annoyed, he may make your ice melt fast, or have the cooler leak all over the cab floor.  But if the Cooler God is severely angered, the cooler could disappear, and not be found when you board the locomotive.  When tha happens, get on your knees and repent, and offer twice the sacrifices for the next several days  - especially if I'm going to be relieving you...

 

 

--zug. 

 

[CNW 6000]

Pretty funny Zug! 

[CShaveRR]

CNW 6000

Pretty funny Zug! 

Not really funny--but nicely put! Fair is fair, in cases like that. The Golden Rule applies.

We have refrigerators in the towers at Proviso. One CRO (with the reputation for being a PITA, and for drinking more of the bottled water than anyone else) left a note once about stocking the fridge with water, or lack thereof. The note ended with something to the effect that your mother was not around to take care of things. The gal who relieved him was a little ticked with the tone of the note. Between her and me, we made sure that that fridge was so full of water that he couldn't squeeze his lunch in there. A note was left, telling him to be sure and re-stock the fridge when you've gone through this water, and signed "Mom."

(This gal was something else--she normally is sweet and has a timid little voice over the speaker. But she always managed to find her voice--and the choicest words--when she was ticked off! The picture of her hugging me at my retirement party is among my prize possessions--the lipstick on my collar washed off, though! I was always "Sweetie" to her, and she was always "Kiddo" to me.)

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

CShaveRR

  [snip] (This gal was something else--she normally is sweet and has a timid little voice over the speaker. But she always managed to find her voice--and the choicest words--when she was ticked off! . . . ) 

 

Kind of like Cadet Laverne Hooks as played by actress Marion Ramsey in the first Police Academy movie (1984) - see: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087928/ and http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0005092/quotes 

Life on the railroad - thanks for sharing, both of you, zug and Carl.

  Although, in the instance related by Carl, 'some people I know' would've also taken the bottles out of their carriers and stacked them on their sides with the long-ways left-to-right to fill the fridge in such a way that when the door was next opened, most of the bottles would suddenly tumble out on the floor, a la 'Fibber McGee's closet'.  And maybe even taken the caps off a few and left them standing upright on top of the stack, so that the offending person was sure to get an ample splash of the cold water that he must have really wanted so badly to leave a note like that . . .     Probably would've bought a case or two of a different brand to make it abundantly clear that the official 'company property/ supplies' wasn't being wasted or misused, either, in the effort to assure that he got enough water.  And even the floor gets washed . . .

- Paul North.  

[CShaveRR]

Paul_D_North_Jr

CShaveRR

  [snip] (This gal was something else--she normally is sweet and has a timid little voice over the speaker. But she always managed to find her voice--and the choicest words--when she was ticked off! . . . ) 

 

Kind of like Cadet Laverne Hooks as played by actress Marion Ramsey in the first Police Academy movie (1984) -

Exactly! I've often thought about her in those terms--and she could go from lamb to lion and back in the length of one phone conversation!

As for washing the floor, that happened--whether it needed it or not--every time one of our former employees would decide to defrost the fridge, then forget about it, or not realize that it helped to remove the ice and water!

[CShaveRR]

Taking some of my free time and putting it to use. Pat and I biked to her meeting, then I hovered around the tracks to see a couple of freights (and three scoots) and shop during the hour her meeting lasted. The lawn is mowed; the trees re-sprayed, and we can go out shopping with the car again tomorrow (butterfly day today!).

Yesterday we discovered a small little-kids' book about trains at a toy store in the mall (grandchildren dragged their mom and us into the place!). I believe it was published by the Smithsonian--or at least it invokes their name. Pictured motive power and freight cars (except for a TBOX) are BNSF. It doesn't say much, but calls cars by their right name (including "tank car", thank you very much)! And names other important components for train-watching, including track, trucks, headlight, end rails, and so on. A very pleasant surprise! I would have bought it for my grandkids on the spot, but daughter didn't want me taking anything away from their Saturday plans...going out to the Illinois Railway Museum in Union to spend a day with Thomas.

Another family reunion, another trip to Michigan this weekend! We're going to own that Tollway one of these times! I'm hoping we have time to stop and smell the railroads on the way up and back.

[CNW 6000]

CShaveRR

I would have bought it for my grandkids on the spot, but daughter didn't want me taking anything away from their Saturday plans...going out to the Illinois Railway Museum in Union to spend a day with Thomas.

Ahh, yes.  Thomas the "Bank" Engine as I've heard it called.  Pretty lucrative event to hold.  I need to get back to Union again next year...sigh...how long to Diesel Days?  LOL

[Deggesty]

It's lonely in here.

[zugmann]

 Ok, trivia time:  What's an O.O.P.S. on the railroad?  (hint: nothing to do with wrecks or crashing).

 

Rail employees (esp. yardbirds): let the fans have a try at it first...

[CShaveRR]

You've got me, Zug! I'm a former rail employee and a yardbird, but I'm not familiar with that one. I have the feeling it's going to be one of those "Why didn't I think of that?" moments!

Johnny, nothing much has been happening here lately. We're in Michigan at the moment, and Pat just won the sunbonnet contest at the farm museum's ice-cream social. The hat she made herself about four years ago blew away everything else.

Being dragged out for supper...

[CShaveRR]

Congratulations to Aunt Nora, whose sister had a healthy baby girl this morning!

Headed out east to Lowell, Michigan, for our family reunion. Lowell was on two railroad lines back in the day (PM and GTW). Later, both were spun off to related companies, and I'm not sure if they're one railroad now or not--or even if anything's left.

Lowell was also home, as recently as the early 1970s, to a miniature live-steam railway that was open to the public at times. The local NRHS chapter (West Michigan Chapter, based in Grand Rapids), had a few folks who were active there, so it was an interesting place to hold either a meeting or a gathering. One can't even see where it was any more.