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Trackside Lounge--second quarter, 2011

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Posted by tree68 on Saturday, May 28, 2011 6:06 AM

Check with area shortlines - they may have just what he wants, in less-than-perfect repair, laying in a junk pile.  It'll take some fixing up, but he'll have what he wants. 

I know a couple of people who have just what he's talking about, although I'm not sure the gates actually lower and raise in one case.

An automotive 537 flasher will handle the alternating flash part.

I know a guy who built an entire cab inside his house...  It can get interesting if he calls you over to his truck with "hey, look what I've got..."

LarryWhistling
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Posted by jeffhergert on Saturday, May 28, 2011 1:09 AM

In Nevada, IA there's a guy who has in his backyard a grade crossing signal, lights and gate.  I don't know if it works.  He also has an ex-RI block signal, the Type G with the triangular color light arrangement.

East of  Colo, IA on a farm, there is a guy who has the high nose and cab from a SD/GP type engine. 

So, it's possible to find such items.  Outside of a railroad or supplier, a salvage company that works with a railroad would probably be the best bet.  I know there's a firm in Omaha that salvages old track and signal components.

Jeff    

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Posted by WMNB4THRTL on Friday, May 27, 2011 10:16 PM

Can anyone, with enough money, buy a RR crossing sign with lights? I mean I know what crossbucks are but I think this guy wants the flashing lights and quite poss. the gate, too. Yes, he is serious, and yes, he has the $$$ to pay for it! Thanks for any help you can give me. I've looked online but have had little to no luck so far.

Nance-CCABW/LEI 

“Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” --Will Rogers

Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right! --unknown

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Posted by Modelcar on Friday, May 27, 2011 7:03 PM

                

Received  my magazine May, 26th.

 Trains

Quentin

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Posted by CShaveRR on Friday, May 27, 2011 4:22 PM

With the lawn mower broken (replacement parts on order!), I was able to use today's sunny-but-cool weather for a bike trip into Elmhurst.  This time I brought along my hand-held scanner, and was able to see perhaps three or four freights that would have gotten past me otherwise (used the streets by the tracks, instead of the bike path).

Thanks to the construction work around Lombard, traffic was running strangely again.  Track 1 was apparently out of service, so eastbound trains were all on Track 2, and westbounds were on Track 3.  At Emhurst, one of the eastbounds was switched from Track 2 to Track 2 (yes, that's right!) because it had to leave the line at Provo Junction.  Consequently, the scoot had to get around him by running on Track 1 past Provo, and crossing over to Track 3 at Park.

Shortly after noon, Track 1 west of town was returned to service.  The eastbound scoot was still on Track 2, but the next westbound went on Track 1, no doubt surprising a few people in the process (the Voice of Metra gave plenty of warning).  At the same time, MPRDM went west on 3, so everything was definitely back in service.

By the time I returned to Lombard, the block signals at Finley Road suggested that scoot traffic would be back to normal:  eastbounds on 1, westbounds on 3.

Best sighting of the day:  a westbound auto train (I think I heard "AGBDV") with a single SD70ACE on the point, and another single unit--UP 1995--as the DPU.  It was a treat to watch this guy take the crossover from Track 1 to Track 3 at Elmhurst at about 50.  (AGBDV suggests automobiles from IHB's Gibson Yard in Hammond, Indiana, to Denver.)


Carl

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Posted by zardoz on Friday, May 27, 2011 9:30 AM

CShaveRR

Thanks for the link, Larry--now I know why my daughter mentioned Towel Day.  She's a big fan--her name on several websites is/was 42:  the answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything.

What I cannot figure out is, why May 25 (2 weeks after his death date)?

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Posted by CNW 6000 on Friday, May 27, 2011 5:34 AM

Thanks Carl.  I saw those stencils on nearly every intermodal car on CN's Q198 yesterday and it got me thinking a little - which is dangerous!  I'm not sure if you'll recall, but a while back (1 or 2 editions ago maybe?) I mentioned something being "just a junk train" to which you took slight umbrage.  Yesterday I blew off 2 unit trains (spare the Q198) to catch 4 manifest freights.  Even caught some "D5-R" traffic on A446 - which also had 6 heads!

Thanks for the heads up about next month's issue.  Might have to pick that one up.

Heard a "little birdie" singing a bit yesterday evening.  We'll see if today proves fruitful - I'll post pictures if it is. 

Dan

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Posted by CShaveRR on Thursday, May 26, 2011 10:14 PM

No pull, Johnny...there are months when I'm the one who gets it behind everybody else.  I'd been anxious to get this one, though--I'd seen the issue when I was at Kalmbach earlier this month, but I couldn't obtain one.

(Big hint:  next month [August] will be a b&w cover shot by Richard Steinheimer, part of a worthy tribute to every railfan's guru.)

Dan, non-interchange means it has to stay on home rails (reasons could be anything from age to truck design, or others).  Limited-interchange means that not all railroads would accept it (possibly clearance or weight-limit issues).  There may be other factors, but these are usually the first to look at.

Carl

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CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

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Posted by CNW 6000 on Thursday, May 26, 2011 8:44 PM

Another question:
What's the difference between a "non-interchange" car and a "limited interchange car"?  Within the same road, lessor/lessee?  Between pairs of terminals?

Dan

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Posted by CShaveRR on Thursday, May 26, 2011 8:00 PM

Thanks for the link, Larry--now I know why my daughter mentioned Towel Day.  She's a big fan--her name on several websites is/was 42:  the answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything.

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 Deggesty on Thursday, May 26, 2011 5:03 PM

CShaveRR

(And, just to tie this in to the discussion, Kat has an interesting piece on accident investigation on page 16 of the new [July 2011] issue of Trains.)

Hey, Carl, what kind of pull do you have with Kalmbach that you get your issue so soon? A few miles closer than I am?Smile I just checked my mail, and the July issue was not there.Crying Of course, as I commented some time back, I remember when Kalmbach was doing well if the July issue arrived in Alabma before 1 August--and this was when Rosemary Entringer was doing what she could to get the issues out.

Johnny

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Posted by Deggesty on Thursday, May 26, 2011 4:57 PM

You don't have to be in a yard--if you ride the main line of TRAX (rapid transit) in the Salt Lake area, you will see many purple DERAIL signs along the way as (believe it or not) some industries still ship/receive by rail, and are switched at night by the Salt Lake (City?) Southern  Railroad. This line used to be part of the Los Angeles and Salt Lake line that went through Provo down to Lynndyll, on the main. As well as I can tell, these are split rail derails (a little more positive than rabbits, perhaps).

Johnny

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Posted by WMNB4THRTL on Thursday, May 26, 2011 4:54 PM

Now that's funny!!!! Laugh

Nance-CCABW/LEI 

“Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” --Will Rogers

Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right! --unknown

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Posted by mudchicken on Thursday, May 26, 2011 4:36 PM

WMNB4THRTL

MC, on my very first day, I was told by a fella that in the event of the dreaded derail, it was to be referred to ONLY as 'a mechanical problem,' and NEVER, EVER be call a derailment when within earshot of the public. Obviously, to prevent overreaction and/or panic, esp. in this day and age, you'd have CNN, etc there before your own people!! (I should say, I'm referring esp. to when a wheel slipped off the track, not necessarily a major malfunction.)

Wait till you see what happens when the local busybody complains about all those Derail signs in a yard near a main track....doesn't understand it witnesses a certain track appliance. Thinks eack sign is where a big bad D_____ment mechanical problem once happened. We wondered out loud if new signs should be made saying : "BEWARE - Gravity Works Here!".......LaughLaughLaugh (La Mirada, CA 1992)

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 mudchicken on Thursday, May 26, 2011 4:28 PM

CShaveRR

It has been brought to my attention that a very important birthday was missed yesterday.  So, a day late, happy birthday to Kathi Kube, Trains' esteemed Managing Editor!

(And, just to tie this in to the discussion, Kat has an interesting piece on accident investigation on page 16 of the new [July 2011] issue of Trains.)

- And it will get even more interesting-er on that subject shortly.ConfusedConfusedConfused

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 tree68 on Thursday, May 26, 2011 3:00 PM

Well, now there's two things to remember May 25th for - Kathi's birthday, and Towel 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 WMNB4THRTL on Thursday, May 26, 2011 1:57 PM

GiftCake

And I'll add my belated wishes to Kathi, as well. Hope it was a good one!

Nance-CCABW/LEI 

“Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” --Will Rogers

Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right! --unknown

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Posted by CShaveRR on Thursday, May 26, 2011 1:49 PM

It has been brought to my attention that a very important birthday was missed yesterday.  So, a day late, happy birthday to Kathi Kube, Trains' esteemed Managing Editor!

(And, just to tie this in to the discussion, Kat has an interesting piece on accident investigation on page 16 of the new [July 2011] issue of Trains.)

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 WMNB4THRTL on Thursday, May 26, 2011 1:26 PM

MC, on my very first day, I was told by a fella that in the event of the dreaded derail, it was to be referred to ONLY as 'a mechanical problem,' and NEVER, EVER be called a derailment when within earshot of the public. Obviously, to prevent overreaction and/or panic, esp. in this day and age, you'd have CNN, etc there before your own people!! (I should say, I'm referring esp. to when a wheel slipped off the track, not necessarily a major malfunction.)

Nance-CCABW/LEI 

“Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” --Will Rogers

Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right! --unknown

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Posted by mudchicken on Thursday, May 26, 2011 1:10 PM

On the railroad I worked for, the wreckmasters were always Mechanical guys, which made for some weird situations.

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 Wednesday, May 25, 2011 3:09 PM

Actually, MC, I thought a "derailment coordinator" sounds like an obsolete job description from your department! Devil


(Sun's out now...too late to get much done.  I did get to see two tampers and related equipment at work in the area of the new control point.)

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 Wednesday, May 25, 2011 2:17 PM

...You operating guys are making me nervous again.Ick!

(This being the same day that Operation Lifesaver is applied to the already dead in the newswire by and for NS.)

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 Wednesday, May 25, 2011 12:54 PM

Derailment Coordinator at work:

"All right--which one of you wants the next wreck?"  (Don't laugh--we used to have a CRO who asked that, then delivered!)

"Let's put one down over here--things have been running 'way too smoothly!"

"This guy owes me one."  Or, worse yet, "I owe him one."

"Slow news day? We have a Key Train that can fix that!"

"Just can't get the timing right on those washouts!"




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 Wednesday, May 25, 2011 12:40 PM

Well, I suppose that's better than it would be if it were the other way around  . . . NS "Likes" Hulcher ?!?

Back in the 1970's or so one of the southern US railroads - L&N or ICG or similar - had a 'display ad' in the trade press (including Trains, as I recall) - for a "Derailment Coordinator" (or a similar title).  Of course the need for and unfortunate selection of the title for that job description was the subject of at least 1 caustic commentary in the "Railway Post Office"/ Letters to the Editor section, which also noted that one of the 'selling points' was "Opportunity for Advancement" ! (or similar)

- Paul North. 

"This Fascinating Railroad Business" (title of 1943 book by Robert Selph Henry of the AAR)
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Posted by AgentKid on Wednesday, May 25, 2011 12:24 PM

I suppose it is just good business to like one of your biggest customers!Big Smile

Bruce

 

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 zugmann on Wednesday, May 25, 2011 12:13 PM

For the facebook users here: I just had to laugh at this one.

 

 

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any

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Posted by AgentKid on Wednesday, May 25, 2011 8:26 AM

I couldn't sleep last night, so about oh-dark-thirty as one of the regular posters used to say, I got up and searched the internet and found the Canadian Hours of Service Rules as enacted by Transport Canada. I will just hit the highlights.

  • Effective April 1, 2003
  • a maximum of 12 hours per single shift
  • a weekly cap of 64 hours
  • undisturbed rest period of at least 8 hours at a workers home terminal
  • undisturbed rest period of at least 6 hours away from a workers home terminal
  • a single day maximum of 18 hours work, non consecutively, with a minimum 6 straight hours rest
  • applies to yard employees, and management employees who preform operational duties

Now we all know.

Bruce

 

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 CShaveRR on Wednesday, May 25, 2011 8:03 AM

Hope you can do it under shelter, Dan!  The sun's been up for two hours here, but you wouldn't know it.  Shouldn't be needing artificial illumination by this time, but we're all lit up.

Everything but the "T" word is in our forecast...severe storms?  Hail, yes!  But it's still tentatively Grandkid Day, and we have to go find a new handle for our lawn mower, too.  The old one broke clean off during some hard use yesterday, and the old push mower is no good without a handle to push on!

It's a little early for the lakeflies, isn't it?  Our family cottage is at about your latitude, and late August is the worst time for them.  Tried to enjoy a nice stroll on the beach once, and got eaten alive!

No chance at the railroads for a while.  I spent most of yesterday working on the history of 20 former Santa Fe box cars that are now on their fifth or sixth (and probably last) reporting mark, some old MoPac covered hoppers in their fourth life, some secondhand center-beam cars, and some thirdhand (at least!) P&LE gondolas.

Makes me want to go out and see something new for a change!  But for now, I'd better check the pumps...our street is becoming a river!

Carl

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CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

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Posted by CNW 6000 on Wednesday, May 25, 2011 5:17 AM

zugmann

Well, I went to the list, but took a hold-down on a utility gig.  There's a couple of jobs open in the next few weeks, that I can hopefully stay away from being on-call. 

 

 

One of the more senior guys at a local terminal likes the day U-man job.  There's half the trains in/out over the course of the shift and all the locals switch their own trains in and out.  Plus it rests on Friday/Saturday.

Chatted with a buddy who worked a local last night.  The crew debated changing the informal name from "The Oshkosh Rocket" to "The Lakefly Express" as the Oshkosh Yard is about as close to the shore of Lake Winnebago as they could get without getting wet. 

Yesterday wasn't a good day trackside for me, really - I missed about 9 trains by less than a minute each.  Guess the timing wasn't there.  This afternoon I get to change a water pump on the Blazer and then hopefully the coolant stays below 200 degrees for a while.

Dan

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Posted by AgentKid on Tuesday, May 24, 2011 5:49 PM

jeffhergert

About the HOS, don't forget that Canadian HOS may be different than US HOS.  One poster who's from and railroaded in Canada on another forum said that until relatively recently, Canada didn't have HOS, at least as we in the US know it. 

I was hoping someone would have posted the current Canadian HOS rules by now. From the time I was old enough to understand the concept, until I got hooked up to this internet thing in the late nineties, I always knew it as 12 hours on, 8 hours off.. There were rules about maximum number of miles and minimum guarantees, but that would change as business conditions warranted.

Things all started to change after the Canadian Operating Rules and other documents came out in the early nineties. The point the poster Jeff mentioned was making, was that what had been agreements between the employers and the unions became codified in law. Periodically, I see mentions of a major revision to Canadian railway regulations done in the mid nineties, but I have never actually read it. This all happened after my Dad passed way in November 1992.

And about the three station swing jobs, the stories my Uncle and Dad could tell. By the time my Uncle hired on in 1959 he traveled from station to station using his own car. My Dad's seniority date was in May 1948, and he never bought his first car until May of 1954, a month after I was born and we were living at Hatton, SK. Like the song says "he'd been everywhere, man", and it was all on trains. He traveled in cabooses, passenger cars, baggage cars, and locomotives. It all seemed to work out, except he said no sane human being would ride a 5700 2-10-0 series engine twice, unless he was paid to be there. I guess the ride was so bad it walked the fine line between rough and terrifying.

Bruce

 

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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