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The Trackside Lounge, 1st Quarter 2013

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Posted by CNW 6000 on Thursday, January 10, 2013 9:58 PM

Correct Randy, the Pulliam Power generating plant in Green Bay. With the WPS contract in UP's hands they are the only (save for the rare coke & Canadian coal) unit coal trains I see. When BNSF had the contract we would also get the Weston traffic too.  UP can run on home rails to Weston from the PRB all the way here to Whitt Siding on the Adams Sub.  There a CN crew brings the loads north to Weston (C705) or the empties south (C706).

I have heard conflicting reports of whats going on in Green Bay.  It's either a shut down from the EPA or a conversion to natural gas...or a temporary draw down to upgrade exhaust scrubbers. I'm hoping for #3.

Dan

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Posted by zugmann on Thursday, January 10, 2013 11:56 PM

We've been pretty heavy with coal around here - some going to export, some going to a power plant that they re-started (temporary or permanent I don't know)  for the first time in a year or so.  Even one of our regular plants is having their yard expanded to handle more cars at a time.  Good stuff.

Add to that the crude trains and ethanol trains, we're doing pretty good. 

And I got myself a new toy - a new airbrush.  Always wanted to try it out, so finally got me one.  Now if I can figure out how to connect the damned thing to my compressor we will be good.  That will be the challenge for the weekend.  (Compressor has a 3/4" NPT while the airbrush is 1/8" BSP.  And I didn't even know those acronyms a few days ago.....)

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


  

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Posted by CShaveRR on Friday, January 11, 2013 9:29 AM

I've heard rumors about one (or more) of the Commonwealth Edison plants along the Des Plaines River either converting or shutting down.  The Plaines generating station has been getting coal by unit train since the early 1960s, and it would be a wrenching experience to see that go away.

Yesterday's train-watching experience included a coal train of UP and CTRN aluminum hoppers (going to Rail-to-Water or whatever it's called now), and an ethanol train headed east.  The cars were no longer new, and the RPMG logos had been obliterated on more than half of them, but the solid string of identical tank cars still was a spectacular sight.

Z-mann, are you planning to liven up some of that desk work with that airbrush?

Carl

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Posted by jeffhergert on Friday, January 11, 2013 10:33 AM

In the Chicago/NE IL/SE WI  area, we've heard that Plaines is going to close due to age, not feasible to upgrade or convert.  Also that the Will County, Waukegan and maybe the Sheboygan plants will either close or convert to gas.  Powerton, near Peoria may also be on that list.

We've lost the Mid-American (a Berkshire-Hathaway interest) contracts to the BNSF for those plants where the UP dosen't make the exclusive or final delivery to the plant.  Some of those plants also may be up for conversion.

It used to be that almost all the trains I worked were either loaded or empty coal trains.  While working an empty coal bucket is still pretty common, I can go a couple weeks between working a loaded coal train.  Now it's mostly manifests, some of them quite long.  Long enough that it's sometimes hard to hear the conductor's radio when doubling the train up in the yard.

Jeff    

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Posted by tree68 on Friday, January 11, 2013 12:54 PM

Zug - a trip to your favorite home inprovement store will probably fix you up.  I presume you have a regulator as well.

LarryWhistling
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Posted by Deggesty on Friday, January 11, 2013 4:43 PM

Zug, I have known what National Pipe Thread is, but what is BSP?--I may have been familiar with fittings using this type of thread, but did not know it by that designation. Does it have to do with small tubing? 3/4" down to 1/8" is quite a reduction, is it not?

Johnny

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Posted by zugmann on Saturday, January 12, 2013 12:26 AM

Deggesty

Zug, I have known what National Pipe Thread is, but what is BSP?--I may have been familiar with fittings using this type of thread, but did not know it by that designation. Does it have to do with small tubing? 3/4" down to 1/8" is quite a reduction, is it not?

British Standard Pipe, from what I read.  1/4" to 1/8".  I'm going to have to get a regulator and moisture trap... probably check Harbor freight first.  Not the best stuff, but the price is right to get me started.  If nothing else, I'll just pick up a compressor for airbrushing - though I'd rather not.

And Carl - I am not 100% sure what I'm going to do with this thing yet.  I haven't done much art since I took this current job.  Hoping to change that one way or another - and now it seems I may have to armor up for a fight.  I swear, everybody wants to make huge deals about everything.  Oh well.  I think I will win.

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


  

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Saturday, January 12, 2013 1:21 PM

zugmann

 

And I got myself a new toy - a new airbrush.  Always wanted to try it out, so finally got me one.  Now if I can figure out how to connect the damned thing to my compressor we will be good.  That will be the challenge for the weekend.  (Compressor has a 3/4" NPT while the airbrush is 1/8" BSP.  And I didn't even know those acronyms a few days ago.....)

   I think we're all looking forward to some original avatar artwork from you now.  The pressure's on.

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

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Posted by zardoz on Saturday, January 12, 2013 2:11 PM

zugmann

Deggesty

Zug, I have known what National Pipe Thread is, but what is BSP?--I may have been familiar with fittings using this type of thread, but did not know it by that designation. Does it have to do with small tubing? 3/4" down to 1/8" is quite a reduction, is it not?

And Carl - I am not 100% sure what I'm going to do with this thing yet.  I haven't done much art since I took this current job.  

Take it to work and touch-up/customize the locomotive interiors.

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Posted by zugmann on Saturday, January 12, 2013 3:31 PM

Murphy Siding

  I think we're all looking forward to some original avatar artwork from you now.  The pressure's on.

Nah, I pretty much suck at art.  I just do it for fun.  Besides, with this new forum software the avatars are so tiny you can't make out half of them. 

And hopefully by the end of the week, I'll have this job thing squared away. 

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


  

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Posted by CShaveRR on Sunday, January 13, 2013 9:48 PM

I had a packed house (about 35 or so people) for my talk on the local railroads for our historical society this afternoon.  I got some compliments, and nobody walked out (at least not beyond the refreshment table). 

My talk kicked off the Historical Society's series of "Second Sunday" talks.  I wished them better luck next time...the talk will still be about "railroads", but they'll take it underground.

Carl

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Sunday, January 13, 2013 10:43 PM

zugmann

Murphy Siding

  I think we're all looking forward to some original avatar artwork from you now.  The pressure's on.

Nah, I pretty much suck at art.  I just do it for fun.  Besides, with this new forum software the avatars are so tiny you can't make out half of them. 

 

  Don't sell yourself short.  Besides, the avatars aren't THAT small.  For example, in the recent one, where you have a picture of yourself in it,  your face isn't that clear, but I can make out that you're wearing a hat.

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

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Posted by zugmann on Sunday, January 13, 2013 10:54 PM

Murphy Siding

Don't sell yourself short.  Besides, the avatars aren't THAT small.  For example, in the recent one, where you have a picture of yourself in it,  your face isn't that clear, but I can make out that you're wearing a hat.

I never had one with a picture of myself in it.  Now if you are confusing me with the raccoon, I don't know whether to chuckle or be offended? 

I'll chuckle.

And as an update - I did get the airhose hooked up.  Just need a regulator, moisture trap, and some paint would probably help.  Next days' off project.

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


  

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Posted by zugmann on Sunday, January 13, 2013 11:40 PM

CShaveRR

I had a packed house (about 35 or so people) for my talk on the local railroads for our historical society this afternoon.  I got some compliments, and nobody walked out (at least not beyond the refreshment table). 

My talk kicked off the Historical Society's series of "Second Sunday" talks.  I wished them better luck next time...the talk will still be about "railroads", but they'll take it underground.

Years ago (10+ now) there was a local restaurant/bar that used to have a day of railroad speakers.  Everything from slide shows to historical talks.  Lasted a few hours and they packed the place.  There's very few things like that anymore around here it seems.  Even the local museums don't do squat - and this area is very rich in RR history.

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


  

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Posted by CNW 6000 on Wednesday, January 16, 2013 6:40 AM

zugmann

Murphy Siding

Don't sell yourself short.  Besides, the avatars aren't THAT small.  For example, in the recent one, where you have a picture of yourself in it,  your face isn't that clear, but I can make out that you're wearing a hat.

I never had one with a picture of myself in it.  Now if you are confusing me with the raccoon, I don't know whether to chuckle or be offended? 

I'll chuckle.

And as an update - I did get the airhose hooked up.  Just need a regulator, moisture trap, and some paint would probably help.  Next days' off project.

One thing I use the regulator for is varying the amount of paint applied for washes of dirt/etc.  Useful to create variety in projects.
CNW 490047 HO Scale Weathering

WP 38123 HO Scale Weathering

WP 38127 HO Scale Weathering

Dan

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Posted by John WR on Wednesday, January 16, 2013 9:39 AM

In my town (Bloomfield, NJ) Canals are the big topic.  The Morris Canal ran through the town and there was at least one inclined plane here.  The canal carried iron from western New Jersey and later coal.  Before the canal was built it was cheaper to import iron from Britain than to haul it 30 miles from western New Jersey to New York.  Canals were certainly important.  

But railroads were important too.  Locally there was the Newark and Bloomfield railroad which was built before 1850.  The line still provides commuter service with two stations in town.  It has been improved so gentlemen passengers are no longer required to get out and push it up the hills.  

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Posted by CShaveRR on Wednesday, January 16, 2013 10:39 AM

Canals are pretty important here in the Chicago area as well.  It's the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal that's the key to connecting Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River (and why the Chicago River flows upstream, and why the river level in the downtown is a few feet below that of Lake Michigan).  The most notable canal, from a historic standpoint, is the Illinois & Michigan Canal.  It didn't cut through the divide between the lake and the river, but it started at the portage that was later cut through, and followed the Des Plaines and Illinois Rivers as far as LaSalle.  Much of the Rock Island's main line between Joliet and LaSalle is never far from the canal.  The entire length of the canal and environs is now a national historic site, one can bike or hike along the old tow-paths, and still view some of the lock sites, aqueducts, and spillways.

Another canal that's important to navigation (probably more so than the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal these days) is the Calumet Sag Channel, connecting the Calumet River with the Illinois Waterway (the I&M Canal's modern-day replacement) near the Saganashkee Slough (that's where "Sag" comes from in the name).  This is the canal whose bridges one can't miss while railfanning at Blue Island.

On two occasions I was able to take a (pleasure-boat) ride that made the triangle including the Cal-Sag Channel, Calumet River, Lake Michigan, Chicago River, Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal, and Illinois Waterway as far as the Cal-Sag Channel.  One passes through locks on the Calumet River to get up to the level of Lake Michigan, then down to channel level again at the mouth of the Chicago River.  If I had a boat of my own, I'd be spending a lot of time giving railfan tours of the fascinating bridges along this route, both highway and rail (unfortunately, since I took my trips, they quit using the Hulett coal unloaders on the Calumet River...those machines in action were thoroughly fascinating to everyone in my extended family, young and old (my youngest niece considered them the high point of the trip).

Carl

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Posted by John WR on Wednesday, January 16, 2013 3:24 PM

Before the Civil War most of the smart money in the country was invested in canals.  While canals were expensive they connected natural waterways (such as Lake Michigan and the Mississipi River) which were free.  Canal boats could carry far more cargo than a railroad car and more cheaply.  Government favored canals as a much safer investment for the people's money than a railroad.  The whole idea of building an iron road much of which only paralleled natural waterways certainly was absolutely ridiculous or so it seemed.  Railroads might have some limited use to go where canals could not but their only purpose was to get to the closest waterway.  

Somehow things didn't work out that way.  Railroads wound up putting many canals out of business.  The old Morris Canal which used to run near my house is an example.  Ultimately a railroad, the Delawre Lackawanna and Western put it out of business.  The railroad could carry coal from Scranton, PA to the Hudson River more cheaply than the canal could.  

And the inclined planes were a Rube Goldberg invention if ever there was one.  

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Posted by CShaveRR on Thursday, January 17, 2013 10:42 AM

The best part of my doctor's appointment today is that I can take the train to it (Lombard to Winfield and return); I'll check on any progress at the Wheaton crossovers while I'm on the trains.

The worst part is that I'll probably be feeling like a steam locomotive when I'm done.    (You know, with a tender behind.)

Carl

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Posted by Deggesty on Thursday, January 17, 2013 11:15 AM

"Tender:" is that a noun or an adjective?Smile

Johnny

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Posted by John WR on Thursday, January 17, 2013 11:57 AM

Johnny,  

Reading your posts makes me think about things I shouldn't be thinking about.  

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Posted by CShaveRR on Thursday, January 17, 2013 5:03 PM

Johnny:  yes, of course!

Good news, though--the outcome was nothing like that.  My blood PSA level was no longer elevated, so I'm good to go.

Dan, I saw a WPSX train headed east and hanging a left at Elmhurst.  Is there some other plant that these go to, besides the one you're concerned about?

Lots of people working at the crossover site in Wheaton, but no more new switches have been installed.  Still can't find the footings for the westward absolute signals, either.

Carl

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Posted by rvos1979 on Thursday, January 17, 2013 7:19 PM

Carl:  UP still runs to the power plant in Sheboygan, and I'm not sure who has the contract right now for the Pleasant Prarie plant, but I think that one is also UP.....

Also had a doctor's appointment today, was happy that I lost about 23 pounds......

Randy Vos

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Posted by CShaveRR on Thursday, January 17, 2013 7:30 PM

True dat, Randy, but those trains run with EDGX and WEPX gons, respectively.

Congratulations on the weight loss.  Instead of weight, I lost ground...

Carl

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Posted by zardoz on Thursday, January 17, 2013 8:59 PM

rvos1979

Carl:  UP still runs to the power plant in Sheboygan, and I'm not sure who has the contract right now for the Pleasant Prarie plant, but I think that one is also UP.....

Also had a doctor's appointment today, was happy that I lost about 23 pounds......

UP is indeed delivering coal to Pleasant Prairie at this time.
Randy, about those 23 pounds -- they're not lost......and you can have them back any time!
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Posted by CShaveRR on Friday, January 18, 2013 7:39 PM

The starvation diet of manifest trains continues for me.  A trip to Chicago netted one such train...on the adjacent track, too close (and too fast) for me to see much of anything.  Lots of stack trains observed today, though, and an auto train (also too close) with one of the common-but-evasive WRWK trilevels (I see their KCS commemorative logos, but can never catch a build date off one of the flats).

The triple-track project is making slow progress.  There is rail on the new Track 1 up to Bellwood Station from the east, and sub-ballast all the way past the station and under the bridge.  It's now possible to see more clearly where the three tracks will be shifted through there. 

On a sadder note, the Lake Street tower at the north throat of Union Station (not to be confused with Lake Street at the throat of Ogilvie Transportation Center) has been leveled.  That was an attractive building--not at all deteriorated--right up until the backhoe hit it.

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 Deggesty on Friday, January 18, 2013 10:11 PM

"The starvation diet of manifest trains continues for me. " You poor man! Are you going to waste away to nothing?Crying Can Pat do anything to help?

Johnny

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Posted by zugmann on Saturday, January 19, 2013 7:02 AM

I don't like Dan's avatar.  Makes me think I'm at work.

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


  

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Posted by CShaveRR on Saturday, January 19, 2013 11:35 AM

Yes, Johnny, it's a cruel world out there.  I can't run off and stay anywhere for long enough to see the things I want to.  Pat would be bored if she accompanied me (she's got a cold now, so she's not going out anywhere).  I have tried staying at Elmhurst until it gets cold or dark, but the railroad doesn't cooperate (as I've mentioned before, I prefer Elmhurst to Lombard because the trains--even though they're the same ones I'd see here--tend to move more slowly, giving me a chance to either get more info or be more accurate on what I'm able to glean from the passing equipment).

Doesn't matter at the moment, though.  I got an e-mail with a few prior-identities for box and tank cars I'd been curious about.  I also have found myself a website that helps dig out origins for the tank cars on one of those small-time leasing companies that get the big guys' worn-out cars and try to breathe a little more life into them.  I'll be busy here most of the day, and the morrow, and the next week...

But I definitely want to get out in today's weather--we're at 42 now, and the temperature's not supposed to plummet until the high winds come this evening (advisory says 7:00).  They're threatening subzero lows for two or three days from now.  No major snow forecast.

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 mudchicken on Saturday, January 19, 2013 1:44 PM

Conrail/USRA Line Code 3257, where art thou?

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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