The Trackside Lounge 2Q 2012

[CShaveRR]

Sounds like you have a very thoughtful kid on your hands, Dan!  Pat and I enjoyed that.

[CNW 6000]

Thanks Carl.  He's quite curious and fun to listen to.

I'm wondering if anyone can help me with some UP symbols I'm having a devil of a time decoding.  I'll post them below:
1) GS-2BIC
This train was grain empties that went north through WI and ended up (I think) in Itasca to interchange with CN.

2) G-AICT
This train was loads that went north through WI.  I can't figure out AI and I think CT is CSXT in Chicago.

3) R-NMNX-S
This is sand loads from Norma, WI to maybe NS in Chicago somewhere.  Sometimes has NS power.

4)O-RPXK and O-RUPP
These are sulphur trains that come out of Roseport, MN (RP and RU) AFAIK.  I think PP is Sommers/South Perkin, IL but don't know what XK is.

If anyone has any insight...could you share?  PM works too if you're not comfortable putting it here.  I'm just curious where these go as I saw or heard them this last spring.

[CShaveRR]

Just make sure you continue to be a good influence on him, Dan! 

I can't help with the symbols.  Number 3 would make sense if it were RNMNSX, an extra going from Norma to the NS.  No hyphens, by the way, on UP train symbols.

[jeffhergert]

Thanks Carl for mentioning about not usinf hyphens.  I see that a lot on posts on railfan sites.  Who do they think we are, the BNSF?

I have a list of codes, but it is old and I don't see any of those listed.  The UPHS site may have a list of origin/destination codes, but I don't know how current it is.  It may be where I got my list from.

Jeff 

[CNW 6000]

Carl (and Jeff),

Yes, I know I shouldn't use symbols and was trying to make sure I separated the type of train from the origin/destination codes.  Train number 3 is a sand train so the prefix of R (rock, sand, stone) should have the suffix of S (sand) according to the information I have written down.  It goes from Norma to NS somewhere in Chicago AFAIK.

I also have several lists of UP (& BNSF) codes for origin/destination symbols but couldn't find them.

Thanks anyway gents.
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Photography question:
I now use a Canon 300D and  I'm considering purchasing a 28-135mm lens.  Has anyone used a lens like that?  Thoughts?  I've read reviews from places like DPR and a couple other sites...just checking.

[CShaveRR]

Can't believe I beat the cafe to the punch this morning...

Happy eleventh birthday to Matt Kohnen (the "Onionhead" that I disappointed last weekend by not ordering fries).  Also to a couple of females whose names I may not mention, and to my grandson Nico (4).  Don't worry, Kiddo--that haircut will grow back!

And happy Flag Day...if you've got it, wave it!

I'm contemplating a trip to the Bensenville area today, to see whether some of the UP's old bridges are coming down yet.

[CShaveRR]

I couldn't miss today!

We had a quilt shop in Bensenville that Pat wanted to visit, so I went along, expecting to parlay it into a trip to note the progress on the UP O'Hare bypass relocation (work on the new track is done, but I was hoping to see old alignment disappearing). So, on the way there, we encountered an eastbound CN freight crossing the highway in Villa Park (there was a single DP unit toward the end). Catching any trains on this line is rare and getting rarer, now that CN owns the old EJ&E--and this one netted me two new reporting marks and a completely new series in a third.

After the quilt shop (which we thoroughly disrupted, as usual), we went into Besenville (old bridges still there), and around through Franklin Park to Irving Park Road (the bridge still there, but parts of the old embankment are gone). After passing under the old bridge, we caught a northbound WEPX coal train on the new alignment (first time I saw a train on those tracks). He was not going very fast, and it was easy to see the amount of superelevation they put on those curves. They need to be good for 50-m.p.h. freights.

Going back through Bensenville we were stopped by a westbound CP train crossing York Road (that's old MILW, more recently IMRL, ICE, and DM&E). It surprised me by having a typically CN mix of freight equipment; I don't think I saw a CP or DME car on the whole thing.

Then we hit Elmhurst, stopping for lunch. As we were looking for a parking spot, two westbound freights were heading out simultaneously--the auto-rack train was outstripping the manifest, but was also much longer. That was the start...in the half-hour that it took us to eat lunch we had a scoot and three more freights, plus an outbound manifest passed us on the way out.

So, since I was on a roll, I decided to bike to Wheaton and see what I could concerning the crossovers and underpass they're putting in there. The grade crossing was barricaded (and we respected that), but there were several sections of prefab concrete bridge lying along the tracks. If the abutments are also prefab, it might be fairly easy to put in the bridge, one track at a time. Unfortunately for me, the trains we saw in that couple of hours consisted of three scoots and a westbound manifest, probably MPRCB.

Steel support walls are also being driven for the overpasses in Lombard, which will cross over two streets and the UP tracks, following the right-of-way of the old Chicago Great Western man line (now the Great Western Trail). It will be an impressively long span over the three tracks and service road, due to the angle at which they cross (fairly acute--less than 45 degrees, I suspect); I'm sure UP won't want a pier in there anywhere, since it also crosses over the new control point.

[CShaveRR]

Late update to the "can't miss" for today. I went to mail a letter, which includes a bit of time along the tracks. The home signals for the crossovers showed inbounds lined up on Tracks 1 and 2. Track 1 was the scoot (on time) and Track 2 was a stack train. By the time I could see the signal again after the stacker went by, Track 1 had another train lined up. Meanwhile, the outbound scoot met the stacker east of Lombard (on Track 3). As the scoot pulled into the station, the next freight appeared on Track 1. I waited for that to go by, then headed home. While talking to a friend, I saw another westbound (stacker with a DP on the hind end). Not a bad haul for less than an hour!

[zardoz]

Carl, it sounds like you really hit the jackpot; I hope you bought your lottery ticket today.

[blhanel]

If he did buy one, he's helping fund the jackpot for 20 employees in the shipping/receiving department of Quaker Oats here...

http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Are-You-Iowas-Next-Millionaire-241-Million-Lottery-Ticket-Sold-in-Cedar-Rapids-159027765.html

 

[CShaveRR]

No lottery tickets purchased here.  The only good luck was with trains yesterday; a lot of other things (car problems, misplaced car key, to name two) kind of compensated for that.

Today will bring 90s and muggy weather to Chicagoland, but we'll be out on bikes to run our errand to the Historical Society.  I might be able to get a lunch and a couple of trips across the tracks out of that.  Meanwhile, those two new reporting marks remain mysteries, and the backlog of paperwork keeps growing.  I need a vacation!

[CShaveRR]

Happy Father's Day, to everyone who fills the role, whether biologically, spiritually, or emotionally.  And even if you're not a father, you have one, or have had one!  Think of him, and show gratitude...he did nice work!

[blhanel]

I enjoyed myself today- and got treated with the opportunity to get another picture of my favorite locomotive!  Thanks, UP!

[CNW 6000]

Nicely done Brian.  Where was that one?

[blhanel]

Westbound on UP Transcon, SE Cedar Rapids.  Destination transfer track to CRANDIC just west of Beverly Yard, consist will be used this week for NRHS Convention excursions (we're riding the Wednesday one to Newton, IA and back).  1995 is currently sitting all by its lonesome in Beverly yard track, I'm assuming its next assignment will be to return the consist to Chicago next Monday.  My album on Facebook will be growing by leaps and bounds.

[CShaveRR]

Brian, Dan, and everyone else:  stay hydrated out there!  It's 90 in our back yard right now, and a nice breeze is making things bearable in the shade, but I still need to keep a tall, cold one handy.  My usual, thanks. (Dehydration:  been there, done that, not pretty.)

One of my vacation sightings was a new-to-me reporting mark.  It looks like this company--Braskem America--has acquired over 1000 cars that were formerly DOWX and CCBX, and is relettering them BRKX.  This has kept me out of too much trouble for the past few days.

I'm also getting used to a new mouse (I can just see Mookie's ears perking up!), since the clicker bar on the laptop has worn out.  Keep cool, SJ!

[zugmann]

BRKX... must be a brakeman's car. 

 

We had a misrouted gondola here with the reporting marks ZVBX.  Nothign special about it, but I had fun with saying the reporting marks.  ZVBX.... yes, my switchman just rolled his eyes.

There was a brand new hopper here the other week when you were on vacation, but I forget the reporting marks.  FXHR or something.  FRHX?  Something like that... build date of 5/12, probably it's first trip on the main.

[CShaveRR]

How about FHRX?

I'm showing that as Flint Hills Resources (another source says First Hills Resources).  They have new, large-sized covered hoppers in series 580001-580100 and 628601-628820 series (different builders).  The first two digits of their numbers are probably tied to their capacity in hundreds of cubic feet.

All I've seen so far from FHRX has been tank cars.

[zugmann]

yeah, FHRX 58xxxx sounds right.   I had the paperwork for it somewhere, but I think it got tossed by now.

[CNW 6000]

CShaveRR

All I've seen so far from FHRX has been tank cars.

I've seen one or two of those as well.

Hot and humid again today.  CN has been changing symbols for certain trains around here...keeping me busy reordering my lists of them.  Nice excuse to stay in the a/c when it's h/h/h outside.

[CShaveRR]

One more day of HHH here as well.  Things are supposed to change tonight or tomorrow morning.

Today I hope to find some good stuff when we visit BNSF country.  We meet daughter and grandkids for lunch in LaGrange, and expect to be regaled with Emily's exciting tales about Zoo Camp.  Unfortunately, Pat is against a couple of deadlines (I've told her that retirement and deadlines aren't supposed to go together!), so we can't linger.

Missed a birthday here a couple of days ago.  Meteorologist Willy's mother Bev had a significant birthday on Monday.  I understand that most aspects of her turning this horrifying age were gratifying for her (been there, won't go back again!).

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

I believe it was noted industrial designer Otto Kuhler quoted in a biographical article in Trains some years ago to the effect of [corrected at 4:52 PM]:

"Have become 80, do not recommend it, will never do it again." 

(from "Otto Kuhler, an original - paintings, etchings, streamlining jobs"

by Morgan, David P., from Trains, October 1975, pgs. 33 - 43, at 42)

- Paul North.   

[CShaveRR]

That quote was the inspiration for my oft-repeated line, Paul.  I'm not ashamed to admit it.

Nothing railroad-wise came of our visit to LaGrange and environs today, unfortunately.  We had one westbound train of stacks and racks, obscured for the most part by a PACE bus.

Tomorrow's another day, and we have to be out again.  It's not supposed to get as warm, and I hope the rain clears out in time for me to bike my AFHT errands.  I'm also slated to do some yard service, some pickups on the branches, and perhaps a little surfacing work.

Prayers requested for Quentin's wife Jean again; she had a setback, which we hope was caught in time.

[Modelcar]

......Just in time Carl....Thank you very much.

[WMNB4THRTL]

Prayers and thoughts to Jean and Quentin!

[Modelcar]

WMNB4THRTL

Prayers and thoughts to Jean and Quentin!

Much appreciated.....We're thinking positive, in our effort to get thru this....

[blownout cylinder]

I really need to get some more photos in my photobucket collection...we have a 'covered trestle'(?) thing going through Greenway Park just outside of downtown London ON that just begs for some train pix to be taken...CN doubletrack right through there...oh my  ...and the neat thing about this is is that the park has benches that are below the trestle...I got some rather unusual shots there..

Now it is time to do this...

[CShaveRR]

Besides being the birthday of my California daughter, it's also the special day for our pal and crony JoeKoh(nen).  Have a great day, Buddy.

Blownout Cylinder:  Do it!  Sounds interesting.

(I have to do it today, too...the yard work I didn't get done yesterday.  The highs are lower, but there's still plenty of heat left, and we need a bit more rain than we got yesterday.  It didn't even affect the rain gauge, but managed to come down while I was biking my errands.)

[zugmann]

Might be time for a break. 

[CShaveRR]

I couldn't agree more--I've been hard at work in our yard, and it is beginning to look cool and presentable back there.  But, after days of hearing trains and not being able to see them, I think a break is definitely in order.  We have car errands to run in Crestwood (lunch with a longtime friend of my daughter's and her family) and Bedford Park (Fabric store...last day of a sale), and I think I can squeeze in stops at Blue Island, Summit, and home via LaGrange.

Still trying to wrap my head around that head-on collision in Texas. 

Quentin, we haven't given up on you and Jean!

Thoughts, too, to the folks in Colorado under scorching heat (flame-driven and otherwise), and for everyone else in the path of this heat-wave.  That includes us, come Thursday--they've revised it to the upper 90s now, but they had given the expected high as 105 as recently as Saturday.

So many reasons to be safe out there!