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The Trackside Lounge--Fourth quarter, 2011

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  • Member since
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  • From: Calgary AB. Canada
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Posted by AgentKid on Saturday, December 24, 2011 5:39 PM

Merry Christmas to all.

I will be spending Christmas at my sister's place. My Mom will be over as well. The trip to my brother's place hasn't been scheduled yet.

Merry Christmas.

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 tree68 on Saturday, December 24, 2011 6:50 PM

Here's hoping that your holiday (whatever you choose to celebrate) is safe, and happy.

 

 

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 edblysard on Saturday, December 24, 2011 7:52 PM

Here's hoping Larry doesn't have a call out tomorrow, Mookie has all the trains she wants, Carl finds that one car he has been looking for, and Mudchicken gets the day off....

Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a good night!

23 17 46 11

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Posted by zugmann on Saturday, December 24, 2011 7:54 PM

edblysard

Here's hoping Larry doesn't have a call out tomorrow, Mookie has all the trains she wants, Carl finds that one car he has been looking for, and Mudchicken gets the day off....

Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a good night!

That's why you have to give the T&E folks the day off.  That way they won't mess up anything, and everyone else can stay home, too!

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 Saturday, December 24, 2011 11:35 PM

I just found an excellent Christmas present for everybody in the Lounge. A video of Royal Hudson CP 2816 EB coming out of the valley at Medicine Hat, AB, unassisted by diesel power, taken in 2010. This is the transcontinental line, and if they continued this trip forty more miles east, they would pass Hatton, SK, the site of our first station. This is the type of thing we would have seen 55 years ago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHR4C9GgiP8

Merry Christmas,

Bruce

So shovel the coal, let this rattler roll.

"A Train is a Place Going Somewhere"  CP Rail Public Timetable

"O. S. Irricana"

. . . __ . ______

  • Member since
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Posted by tree68 on Sunday, December 25, 2011 9:49 PM

edblysard
Here's hoping Larry doesn't have a call out tomorrow,

An hour left of Christmas day and I've managed to spend the whole day in my "jammies!"

That, of course, means I haven't had to run any calls.  Other agencies around the county weren't so lucky, owing to a very bad accident late Christmas morning and some rain/mixed precip this evening that apparently froze on some road surfaces, including the Interstate.  One accident was reported to be "with entrapment," although it turned out the driver was simply trapped inside her car by the trees she'd ended up in the midst of...

Tomorrow (Monday) is "Boxing Day."

Better give Mom a call (she's in AZ).

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...

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,024 posts
Posted by tree68 on Monday, December 26, 2011 12:17 PM

Ouch - Just found out that the folks in one of the cars in yesterday morning's accident were a well known (and popular) county fire investigator and his wife.  The wife didn't make it. 

It's bad enough when someone you know is in a bad accident.  It's a lot tougher when you're on the call in person. 

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...

  • Member since
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  • From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois
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Posted by CShaveRR on Monday, December 26, 2011 4:06 PM

That's rough, Larry.  Sorry for your loss.

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 Monday, December 26, 2011 5:57 PM

Some months ago there were a few posts regarding a World War II trainload of German Prisoners-Of-War ("POWs") in transit from around Pennsylvania Station, New York to Philadelphia, Harrisburg, and then over the Horseshoe Curve to Pittsburgh, etc.  I know it wasn't this thread, but I can't find which one it was, and I believe most of the other participants in that thread are regulars here (Deggesty, Modelcar/ Quentin, jeffhergert, Carl, and others).  I thought it might have been one of Conductor William Moedinger's reminiscences of his days as a Pullman Conductor, or possibly those of C. Grattan Price. 

But no - it was an article by Al Rung, then a PR guy with BN.  He worked directly for the PRR as a military "MAIN" train liason officer for a few months towards the end of World War II - very similar to Conductor Moedinger, who however was directly employed by the Pullman Co. instead - and hence the confusion, at least in my mind.  Here's the citation:

"Love those diesels!a manuscript in file for 24 years"
by Rung, A. M., from Trains, April 1977,  p. 26            

The article related his experiences during that time, such as how the diesels would not cover the passengers with smoke and soot during the night, obtaining ice for the air conditioning in the cars, etc.  He too greatly admired the GG1's, and thought that the PRR's electrification had helped to end the war sooner.  That was the context for the comments, despite the title.  If anyone wants more details, let me know - I could retype a few words of it, I suppose. 

- Paul North. 

"This Fascinating Railroad Business" (title of 1943 book by Robert Selph Henry of the AAR)
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Posted by CShaveRR on Thursday, December 29, 2011 4:01 PM

Could this have been the thread, Paul?

http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/forums/t/148930.aspx?PageIndex=1

By the way, Paul, I have sent a PM to you.  I know how hard it's been for me to check and see when I have them, so I'm giving you the heads-up.

I am hoping that the year isn't over for me yet.  We've had uncommonly warm weather; I was actually doing a little outside work today.  If the morning rain (unusual in itself for December 30) doesn't last too long, I might just hop on the bike again and try to conjure up some 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 jeffhergert on Thursday, December 29, 2011 4:53 PM

I've been around exCNW people too long.  Last night we went past Woody (small yard in western Omaha) where a westbound manifest was making a pick up and a local/yard engine was still working in the yard.  One of the trainmen was standing next to a UP baywindow caboose, now used as a shoving platform. 

I said to the conductor as we went by, "Look they have their way car out tonight."   

Jeff

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Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Thursday, December 29, 2011 10:35 PM

Thanks much, Carl - that indeed was it - quite a few months ago ! (March - April 2009) . . . Whistling 

I did receive your PM, and will respond in a few days (after the holidays and some very out-of town guests from Phoenix depart . . . ).

Happy New Years's to everyone !  (Be safe, too !) 

- Paul North.   

"This Fascinating Railroad Business" (title of 1943 book by Robert Selph Henry of the AAR)
  • Member since
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Posted by CShaveRR on Friday, December 30, 2011 9:03 AM

My "morning showers" are going to turn into an all-day affair...so much for my biking and train-watching plans!

It could have been snow, though...snow is much prettier, but has an uglier aftermath.

Plenty of computer work to keep me busy.  (My own barometer of activity in the research department is that my four-color pen has run out of green ink ahead of everything else, suggesting that I'm clearing sightings faster than I'm writing them down.)

And the forecast is for better weather tomorrow.

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)

  • Member since
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Posted by CShaveRR on Saturday, December 31, 2011 8:22 AM

Time to catch up on birthdays...we missed Bob "Spokyone" Vaughn's birthday yesterday; hope it was enjoyable.

Today we celebrate the birthday of Ed Blysard, probably the most eloquent writer I know on the Forum, and a good railroader, woodcarver, herpetologist, snow-hater, dad, and grandpa besides!  Many happy returns of the day, Young Feller!  Keep 'em upright!

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)

  • Member since
    March 2002
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Posted by edblysard on Saturday, December 31, 2011 3:26 PM

Thanks Carl..

Plan on keeping them up right and on the rails today...gotta do the same Sunday and Monday, both holidays, so $$$$ for my troubles!

No rest for the wicked!

23 17 46 11

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Posted by CNW 6000 on Saturday, December 31, 2011 6:27 PM

You haven't been on vacation up here have you Ed?  We're still missing our snow...just checking.  Many happy returns for your birthday.

Managed to sneak out a bit today...caught X116 meeting M347 just outside of Oshkosh.  That'll about do it for my trains until...next year...yep.  I'll be ready with the next version of the TSL for '12 shortly after midnight.

Dan

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Posted by CShaveRR on Saturday, December 31, 2011 8:04 PM

$$$$ for your troubles sure beats a penny for your thoughts, Ed! 

In the olden days (before you hired out, I'm sure), operating railroaders received their birthday as a holiday (later replaced by Veteran's Day, which was itself replaced by the day after Thanksgiving).  Just think...you could have had three holidays in a row this year (don't know how that would have worked in other years). 

For those who are celebrating at venues other than at home, be careful and safe while traveling.  From Pat and me, best wishes for happiness, health, and prosperity during the coming year.  May your train-watching venues stay busy, may your railroad stocks outperform the markets, may you get to the places you want to go, and may you enjoy life, love, and laughter throughout 2012!

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 Modelcar on Saturday, December 31, 2011 8:27 PM

......Two holiday $$$$$ days should make up quite a bit for making a fellow work on them, and next to his birthday. 

Enjoy yet another one Ed.....Should have many more to do the same down the road...{railroad}.

Quentin

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Posted by The Butler on Sunday, January 1, 2012 8:36 AM

Just to close this one out, a link to the new thread:

Trackside Lounge--First Quarter, 2012

James


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