tree68 Dan - there are areas that have ATCS up on web servers, Deshler being one of them. Kinda fun to sit here in NY and see what the traffic looks like in Ohio... They put the signals around the new intermodal facility on satellite, though, so there's a "black hole" on the display. I don't get trackside all that often in ATCS territory, so I haven't bothered to mod a scanner for that purpose. I'm sure you know there's a Yahoo group for ATCS.
Dan - there are areas that have ATCS up on web servers, Deshler being one of them. Kinda fun to sit here in NY and see what the traffic looks like in Ohio... They put the signals around the new intermodal facility on satellite, though, so there's a "black hole" on the display.
I don't get trackside all that often in ATCS territory, so I haven't bothered to mod a scanner for that purpose.
I'm sure you know there's a Yahoo group for ATCS.
Dan
mudchicken The SDP40-F units were basically an SD40 with a cowl. . . . [snipped]
Comparing with the data for the SD40 - see: http://www.thedieselshop.us/Data%20EMD%20SD40.HTML , the SDP40F apparently was 72'-4" long vs. 65'-8" (or 70'-8") for the SD40 (SD40A), if I understand that tabulation correctly. The truck wheelbases were the same at 13'-07", but the truck centers were 59'-07" for the SDP40F, but only 53'-07" for the SD40 (58'-07" for the SD40A). The C-C trucks are listed as "HT-C 6-wheel" for the SD40, but only as "6-wheel" for the SDP40F.
- Paul North.
Birthday greetings today to Ricki Degges, Johnny's wife. Hope this finds you happy and comfortable!
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)
Carl - caught a CSX "ore train" (K532?) today. Normally the bulk of the cars (three bay hoppers) carry AOCX marks, along with some CSXT, as was the case today. A number of the cars, though, were re-marked DJTX, complete with a spiffy little logo. Sorry, didn't jot down any numbers, but they were in the six-digit range.
Larry 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...
AOCX is the reporting mark for Alcoa (Aluminum Company of America). I've seen some of their cars in the past, but never anything that looked like a likely component of a unit train. Would that be aluminum ore, Larry? From where to where?
DJTX is a mark connected with the David J. Joseph Company, and they've gone through a couple of spiffy little logos (one blue, one green).
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Had a dental appointment today--my coronation will be held in a noon ceremony, one month from now. I'm no longer gruntled, because the novocaine's wearing off. But the best part of any dentist appointment for me is the fact that the office is within viewing distance of the tracks. I enhanced that today by taking the train from Lombard to the appointment (in Elmhurst) and back. Before my train arrived, I saw a westbound ethanol train go from 2 to 3 over the crossovers (Track 2 west of town was occupied by a manifest staging at Finley Road).We met the westbound scoot just before arriving at Elmhurst. As soon as "my" scoot cleared the plant (crossing over from 1 to 1), the red signals changed for two more eastbounds: a red/red/yellow for Track 1, and a red/red/lunar for track 2! As "my" scoot went down the line, the signal for track 2 changed to yellow/red/red, then green/red/red, and the train that I'd seen at Finley Road came through--a manifest bound for CSX (probably QNPSKP...plenty of lumber, a few reefers, and a lot of box cars). As soon as he had disappeared, we had a westbound NORX hopper train on Track 3, followed by the eastbound WEPX coal train for which the Track 1 signal had been lined. It was a busy few minutes, and I had to leave right after that for my appointment.
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I've been getting reports about nice runs being made by Amtrak on the route of the Wolverines, now that the speed limit's been increased. Kalamazoo to Niles has been done in 32 minutes (that's close to 48 miles), for an average speed of around 90. And today I got a report that says that Kalamazoo to Chicago was covered at an average speed of 68 m.p.h. So far, the only reports I've seen have given station-to-station times, but this is whetting my appetite for clocking a few mileposts when we take our trip.
The alumina ore is headed to the ALCOA plant at Massena, NY, where they can take advantage of hydropower from the St Lawrence Power Project. I'm not sure where it comes from - possibly Louisiana.
I think they run about one train a week.
We often see aluminum ingots headed south on I-81 - on trucks.
Carl...reading your anticipation of your upcoming ride on the new hi speed Amtrak route, reminds me {guess it's the talk of speed}, of my experience decades ago....and I mean decades....on our way to Patchouqe, Long Island from Johnstown, Pa...
Upon arriving at Harrisburg and removing the K4's....and getting electric GGI's....those steel structures along side of the track that support the catinary...started to fly by the window....
In one of my Pennsy Railroad books here, it indicates they were running that route at least 90 mph. We sure seemed to be flying compared to the steamers that were just removed.....But then, we had just got rid of most of the mountains too....By the way, that was 70 years ago this coming Summer.
Quentin
Happy Valentine's Day to one and all out there. Please feel loved, and pass it on!
And, we're off! Stay tuned...
Quentin, I believe that Philadelphia-Harrisburg is now supposed to be good for 110 as well.
.....Yes Carl....that's the way I remember it for it's ability to handle that speed for several years now.
Have a wonderful time, you two and keep us posted!
Happy tracks, or is that trains--I know it's not trails!!
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
Paul_D_North_Jr mudchicken: The SDP40-F units were basically an SD40 with a cowl. . . . [snipped] And a steam generator/ boiler, fuel and controls, etc. For a good drawing and dimensions, see: http://www.thedieselshop.us/Data%20EMD%20SDP40F.HTML Comparing with the data for the SD40 - see: http://www.thedieselshop.us/Data%20EMD%20SD40.HTML , the SDP40F apparently was 72'-4" long vs. 65'-8" (or 70'-8") for the SD40 (SD40A), if I understand that tabulation correctly. The truck wheelbases were the same at 13'-07", but the truck centers were 59'-07" for the SDP40F, but only 53'-07" for the SD40 (58'-07" for the SD40A). The C-C trucks are listed as "HT-C 6-wheel" for the SD40, but only as "6-wheel" for the SDP40F. - Paul North.
mudchicken: The SDP40-F units were basically an SD40 with a cowl. . . . [snipped]
Amtrak traded 18 SDP40Fs for 25 CF7s and 8 SSB1200 locomotives. Became Santa Fe's 5250 Class. Most spent their freight career on the transcon hauling stack trainsand rarely came over the northern transcon (original ATSF transcon through Colorado and over Raton) which saw the SD39's and SD26's (SD24m's) along with older conventional turboed stuff.
My sweetheart and I took Amtrak 350 to Kalamazoo on Valentine's Day (returning on 353). I was timing mileposts. 33...33...32...33...33...33...32...33...33... yes, that's 110 m.p.h.!Incredibly, we had to wait nearly ten minutes at New Buffalo for the timetable to catch up with us! The wait at Niles was nine minutes (plus one more for a straggler), none at Dowagiac, and we were into Kalamazoo several minutes early as well. The pace wasn't quite as fast east of Dowagiac, because they were working on a couple of meets. Pat didn't realize that we took the siding around Lawton for 351, because it was a nonstop meet. We also didn't stop for the other one (365), just west of Kalamazoo.The westward trip on 353 wasn't as spectacular, in spite of plenty of 110-m.p.h. running. We departed Kalamazoo about 30 minutes late, and had to stop at Dowagiac to meet an eastbound (we held the main). There are a lot of sidings on the route, but seemingly never enough. We were down only nine minutes at New Buffalo, but got stabbed at Porter by the eastbound West Olive coal train on CSX (I'd dearly love to see Amtrak extend their own track a mile or so westward at Porter!). We still made it to C.U.S. very close to on-time (in spite of a short stop at Englewood).Kudos to the crews--both of them--very nicely-run trains in every respect. Delays were explained very well (except for once when the P.A. cut out), and the cars were clean and well stocked.Quote of the day: "You gotta show me how to do that!" (from the brakeman, regarding my showing him the derived speed on a calculator).Even better, for me: "We're approaching Kalamazoo" (to the people a few seats back)..."We're coming in to Kalamazoo" (to Pat, on the south side of the train)..."You already know where we are!" (to me, on the milepost side)...
A few other notes: A lot of the cities in Michigan along our route (some of which are station stops, others of which we blew through with no reduction) have put fencing along the tracks to keep trespassers out (sometimes chain-link, sometimes more decorative in the downtown areas). Not a bad idea in this case. And yes, some decent-sized towns--Three Oaks, Buchanan, Decatur, Lawton--were passed at no reduction in speed.
Surprising, on this corridor, was the number of grade crossings we encountered and had to blow for (I was in the second car, so heard it all): some of these crossings were little more than driveways, but all were well protected by flashers and gates, no doubt a requirement. And I would presume that they're all tied into the line's control system (most had antennas of varying sizes by them).
Amtrak has a maintenance base in Niles, where a lot of track equipment was found. But many of the industrial spurs also had some track equipment in them. Maintaining a line for 110 must be quite an undertaking. But they did a good job--I had no problem moving in the coaches, or even texting at those speeds.
West of Porter will present its own set of problems in getting improvements. Raising speed limits from 79 to 110 won't save much...what needs to be done is get the slow spots out of there, as well as places where stops are likely (Englewood is supposed to be in the process of having a flyover built, but I didn't see much progress). Meanwhile, Michigan has bought the line between Kalamazoo and Dearborn, which had pretty much been orphaned by NS. One hopes that it can be upgraded to 110-mph standards within a few years. Had it been maintained for 79, that wouldn't save too much time, but with the line having deteriorated in many spots (according to reports), and schedules having been adjusted accordingly, an upgrade will do great things for this corridor.I know we couldn't have driven to Kalamazoo in the amount of time it took us to get from home into the city and out by train (less than four hours, with a little over two on Amtrak...breakfast would have required a stop in the car, but not on the train, and we had to walk between stations, get our tickets, etc.). So the trip, as it now stands, is auto-competitive. The further you can go on a schedule like that, the better it will be!
CShaveRR [snipped] I know we couldn't have driven to Kalamazoo in the amount of time it took us to get from home into the city and out by train . . . So the trip, as it now stands, is auto-competitive. The further you can go on a schedule like that, the better it will be!
I like this quote, too - that's a great summation of the rationale and justification for rail passenger service, at even just "Higher-Speed Rail" levels, achieved without the costly and difficult blazing 3-digit MPH speeds.
.....Interesting report Carl. Reading such report makes me wonder how plans for near future updates ever can be accomplished with each session of Congress wanting to gut Amtrak funding....
What a way to run a railroad.
For those of you that follow this sort of thing, all of CP's EMD SD90MAC's, Class DRF-43, #9100-9160, have now been taken out of service. These units were built in 1998-1999. There must have been a lot of problems, considering CP only recently retired some GP7's and 9's that were 55+ years of age.
Bruce
So shovel the coal, let this rattler roll.
"A Train is a Place Going Somewhere" CP Rail Public Timetable
"O. S. Irricana"
. . . __ . ______
The classification of these units suggest that they are no longer (or never were) 6000-horsepower "true" SD90s...am I right on that, Bruce?
Carl, that is correct.
CP 9300-9303 Class DRF-60a were the only SD90MAC-H 6000 hp units CP had. The original order was for 20 units, but in the end these 4 were sold for scrap in December 2010.
Had a brief encounter with the railroad tracks this morning before church. In about 10-15 minutes, after a westbound scoot on track 3, we had two stack trains come east--one holding to Track 1, passed by another crossing from 2 to 3. Just as I was leaving, a third stacker came west on Track 2. They're getting better at timing these things--he didn't have to wait at the signal.
Our church's annual auction for missions is tonight. I'm offering a day of train-watching (including lunch, and a journey out as far as either Rochelle or Porter/Michigan City). I hope it sells, at least once...I'll gladly contribute more than one of these trips! (Pat put a quilted wall-hanging and a couple of handmade jackets in as her contribution, and also helped put together a basket with an offer to knit some wool socks.)
CShaveRR Our church's annual auction for missions is tonight. I'm offering a day of train-watching (including lunch, and a journey out as far as either Rochelle or Porter/Michigan City). I hope it sells, at least once...I'll gladly contribute more than one of these trips! (Pat put a quilted wall-hanging and a couple of handmade jackets in as her contribution, and also helped put together a basket with an offer to knit some wool socks.)
Get any takers?
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
Yes, I will be giving a tour than includes three guys from our church (younger than I, but definitely not kids, or "youth"). One of them had gone out west (Rochelle, etc.) with me before, so this time I think we'll head east toward Porter (with obligatory stops at Blue Island and Dolton). The date will be pretty much for them to agree on; it's not too difficult to clear up a day in my schedule (unless it's when we're on vacation).I was also asked to give a little talk on the action around here at the monthly Men's Breakfast meeting next month. I'm not a public speaker, but I think I can make it interesting...our line is a hotbed of expenditures lately (crossovers, new track, a flyover, new signals for both trains and pedestrians, pedestrian overpasses and tunnels coming...and more down the road).
Had lunch today at the local speakeasy (Italian food, operated by a guy named Capone). While we were there, we had three manifests and a scoot go by. Not a bad haul. For some past visitors, dis is da joint dat bumped out da barbecue place in da same location. Dere motto is "Try our food...or else!"
I should pay closer attention to the calendar--I could have spent a whole half day more celebrating Quentin's birthday today! (That's "Modelcar" to the uninitiated.) Hope your day has been a good one so far, and that you and Jean can celebrate on into the evening.
Oh, Happy Birthday, Quentin!!! Hope it was a very nice one for you!
(Better late than never Carl.)
I have been cooking and cleaning up a storm today!
.....Thank you posters for all the good wishes.
Item: Recently, I've discovered Ruby Tuesday has great Trout with almonds, and lemon butter on the filet's....Along with my chosen sides.
This has been some time now and I've been doing my share of going there. Well, Jean and I headed there about 2 this afternoon. I'm all set for some more of this good trout.
First we noticed, new menus....Thinking well, new prices, and perhaps that is true, but looked thru and found no trout....Questioned the waitress about the new menus, and she explained of doing away with 3 items on the menu and adding several new offerings. Trout..? Yep, one that was eliminated...! Finally, I'd found a great item I really liked on our local Ruby Tuesday menu...and now gone...!
So we talked it over, and decided we would choose to leave. Appologized to the waitress....{not her fault}, and she was very nice about it.
Ended up at Applebee's....Did ok, but a bit put down...wondering why they would abandon such a good entree on the menu at R T's....
Just about 10 days ago we were talking to a female mgr. there and I related how great the trout was, etc.....She even ended giving us some coupons of $5.00 each.
Today we celebrate a milestone birthday for someone who probably won't see or hear about this...
Happy birthday to John Bromley, former PR chief at Union Pacific, and more recently chief at the UPRR Museum in Council Bluffs. He retired recently, hopefully to many, many more years of railfanning, painting (the artistic variety), grandchildren, and reminiscing.
Congratulations also to Andy Cummings, after five successful years on the editorial staff of Trains. He has vowed that we haven't seen the last of him...
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Quentin, I haven't been to a Ruby Tuesday for quite a while. There are a lot of things that they do well, but usually another place will do any specific thing a bit better. Still, they hold a special place in my heart, for many reasons: Pat and I were introduced to them by no less a personage than Mookie herself, and one of their establishments was the site of the great forum summit in Lincoln in October 2005. A Ruby Tuesday was also where Granddaughter Emily, at age 18 months, endeared herself to staff and customers alike by toddling around the place (under the watchful eye of parents, grandparents, and aunt and uncle), telling everyone, "I love you!" Sorry about the trout, Quentin.
Project report: on the most recent backup I exceeded 3000 files with information or organization (not sure how many of these are folders). I am still working hard on sightings from a week ago today. One has already given me over 600 more words in one file and probably several hundred in another, and another one has led to interesting discoveries, as the cars are now on at least their fourth operator. We also found, in that batch of sightings from last week, some third-hand box cars new enough to have been built for BNSF.
Carl....we lived thru the "trout" episode ok at Ruby Tuesday, but it did take a move on our part and move to another restaurant. Applebee's.
Our Ruby Tuesday is really a nice one....just a few years since it opened now, and we've been well pleased with it.
The dropping of the excellent entree such as the trout was a real surprise to us...And disappointing. We'll give them another try soon, and see how we make out. Then decide.
Q - I've found that the best way to get something taken off the store shelves is to like it. Seems as though as soon as I get used to a certain store carrying a given product, they almost invariably drop the product.
I'll vouch for that--it has happened to me countless times!! It is maddening, for sure or at the very least, very disappointing!
I do not know how many times Ricki has been upset because a food item she has liked was discontinued--because the market for such had fallen off. To me, if an item has become a poor seller, the merchant or wholesaler is justified in discontinuing it.
Johnny
tree68 Q - I've found that the best way to get something taken off the store shelves is to like it. Seems as though as soon as I get used to a certain store carrying a given product, they almost invariably drop the product.
....Yes, Larry, that really does sound familiar...!
There is a company in New York somewhere called "My Brands" (www.mybrands.com) that specializes in hard-to-find products. We had a special salad dressing that I like on ordinary green salads and Pat uses for coleslaw...one chain (Meijer) used to carry it around here, but no more, and we can't get it in our usual stomping grounds. My Brands carries it, and gives you price breaks for quantities, so we usually buy it in boxes of six. If a product has been dropped and your store can't (or won't) stock it, I'd recommend this outfit.
Keeping railroading in here: I got my current issue of Railway Age today, and it had a cover story on CREATE. Oh, boy, was I looking forward to it! But it turned out to be primarily about the Englewood Flyover on Chicago's South Side...nothing new, and some interesting but uninformative artist's conceptions of something in the area that showed only one of the two routes in question. Bummer.
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