Nice work! Much appreciated! I haven't been out much lately, but doubt that you could drag me out during the predawn "blue hour" any more!
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)
I hope that everyone is putting his/her Memorial Day to good use, be it in the usual summer-holiday fun or the purpose for which it was intended. People don't seem to remember that flags used to be lowered to half-staff until noon on Memorial Day, then restored to full height. Remember, your parents may have survived the War, but they probably remember all too well fighting alongside people who didn't.Yesterday we took a spontaneous road trip to think about another service that was a wartime institution. Pat's mother was one of the gals who, during the War, gave out coffee and other edible goodies to GIs passing through town on the westbound troop trains (in her case, it would have been at Grand Island, Nebraska, on the UP). We, on the other hand, went to Streator, Illinois, where the railroad was the Santa Fe, and a monument has been raised to honor the young ladies at the local canteen, next to the depot. We looked for the name of a local friend who was influential in having the monument erected (she had met her husband here, in just that experience), but we couldn't find it.From a train-watching standpoint, though, the trip down, during, and back was interesting. We joined the CSX New Rock Subdivision (the former Rock Island main line) at Seneca, where a GP15T was sitting at the end of a yard. Most of the yard was filled with fertilizer-related tank cars and covered hoppers.Headed west along U.S. 6, it seemed that every available siding was filled with covered hopper cars of all types: for the plastics industry (Morris), the fertilizer industry (Seneca, I suppose), and sand (Ottawa and vicinity). This presence of cars had not been observed before by me, at least not to this extent. When we got to Ottawa, we were met by an eastbound CSX freight, which had a long string of sand cars behind the power (two big GEs). I believe frac sand is making for good revenue at this end of the line, though glass sand was always good here (why else would the B&O have even considered expanding into this territiory when they had the opportunity?). We saw no evidence of the line's major tenant, the Iowa Interstate.We headed south from Ottawa to Streator, and soon found the old Santa Fe station and the canteen monument. While we were there, a westbound stack train went through...two units on the point and two DPs on the rear. As it passed, we were startled to see the hind unit hit a low spot in the tracks (just beyond the grade crossing) and bounce a couple of times. Had anybody been in that unit, I'm sure the track defect would have been reported. If there's ever a major derailment in Streator, I'll be able to guess the spot--that looked nasty!After our trip to the monument and a look at the diamond where the Norfolk Southern crosses BNSF, I saw a bunch of covered hopper cars sitting along the NS. Nobody was around, and I didn't see any signs posted, so I scoured the yard for former numbers on the cars, doing better in that regard than I've done in months. One car I saw was TPCX 123372. It appeared to be a former Gulf Oil covered hopper (GOCX 58049). Amazingly, this is possibly the only car with these reporting marks (TPCX belongs to Trademark Plastics Corporation)! If that's the case, though, how did they come up with a number like that? A mystery that I may have to look into some other time.From Streator we went back to Ottawa, where I saw a yard I'd never seen before, north of U.S. 6 and east of Illinois 23, on the former CB&Q line. I didn't see it quickly enough to react, though, so that will wait for another trip. It had a lot of covered hoppers in it, probably for sand.We then went west to I-39, intending to visit Mendota and Rochelle before heading home. As we passed the Troy Grove exit, we saw a westbound UP train going under us on the Troy Grove Subdivision. It looked to be fairly good-sized. Last I knew, this would be a local based in West Chicago...I don't know if the demand for frac sand has produced more work on this line or not.
Our trip into Mendota, however, was scrubbed (yes) by an enormous rain shower. We stayed on 39 until getting close to Rochelle, where we filled up on gas for 20 cents a gallon less than we would have paid in Chicago (but ten cents more than it was going for in Ottawa!). The City's railway has built a new storage yard (two or three tracks) in the vicinity of I-88, possibly to aid in switching the production at Nippon Sharyo's new passenger car plant. The track-lengthening project at their existing yard (near the interchange tracks for UP and BNSF) has been completed, and the cold storage plant had a good supply of big refrigerator cars near it, including many of the new ARMN 170000-series cars. We didn't linger at the Railfan Park, as it was getting late...we did, however, see an Approach light on the westbound home signal for UP Track 2, and encountered a stack train on the way out of town. It was short, with a DPU on the hind end; Global 3 was probably the destination (incidentally, we encountered Intermodal Drive when coming into Rochelle from the south...I wonder where that leads!).Headed out, we met another westbound UP freight just beyond Creston. I was a little surprised that this was all we saw until we got to DeKalb. My favorite McDonald's in town is gone...in the process of being rebuilt, perhaps to better utilize the tiny wedge of space between the highway, the cross street, and the tracks. I'm just hoping I'll be able to see over the fence they've put up along the tracks.From DeKalb we took the far-less-scenic direct route home, arriving before dark and in time for a TV show that Pat was looking forward to. Now I have plenty of sightings to document, three "new" reporting marks to provide listings for, and enough stuff to keep me busy for the rest of the day. Except, of course, we'll pause to walk up to our local cemetery this afternoon, when the VFW helps dedicate three new monuments to Lombardians who died in wars--two from the Civil War and one from World War I. The Federal Government provided the markers, and local school children provided the pennies that has paid for their installation.
Carl - I remember that flags should go to half staff at dawn or when raised, but on days like today, I'm usually trying to do three things and forget.
What gets me is that the noon thing notwithstanding, flags used to be raised to full staff by whoever was conducting a ceremony, as part of the ceremony (and usually during the national anthem), no matter the time. That doesn't seem to be the case any more.
That said, I took our brush truck to a neighboring village (same township) for their small parade and ceremony, after opening up our fire station with refreshments for the local American Legion, which visits four cemetaries around the area, as well as doing the parade and accompanying ceremony.
The rest of the day was spent recovering from four long days on the railroad, with a break for mowing the lawn.
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...
Carl, I have the feeling that very few people today remember that the proper procedure for fying a flag on Memorial Day involved close-blocking the flag when it was raised in the morning, immediately lowering it to half-staff until noon, and then close-blocking it again. As I recall, form my older brothers' Scout Handbook (70+ years ago), half-staff meant the height of the flag down from the top--not, as I have observed in the last few years, hal-way down the pole.
I had occasion to go out this morning, and I saw many flags that Scouts had placed in front of people's houses--and the flags are permanently fastened to the poles, so it is impossible to fly them at half-mast. The few flags I saw flying from high poles were all close-blocked. Neither Katie nor Jackie had heard of the former practice, and Katie was worried when she saw the flag this morning (I was up some time before she was), but understood when I explained it to them.
Larry, it seems that some of ways we grew up with are no longer taught.
I understand that, properly, the national flag is not to be flown at half-mast unless there is an event that affects the entire nation. So, if an event affects a particular state only, only the state flag should be flown at half-mast.
Johnny
zugmann PS - taken off duty, off property.
PS - taken off duty, off property.
zardoz A little CYA perhaps?
A little CYA perhaps?
Simple statement of fact.
That is all.
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
Yesterday I went to the local Memorial Day Parade. Many flags were carried and not one was at half staff. I would think it might be difficult to carry a flag at half staff and not have it trail on the ground.
Was the parade in the morning or in the afternoon?
I still remember my first experience in lowering the Colors at the end of the day. One evening, as my college president's son and I were going back to our dormitory after supper, we noticed that the flag was still flying, we took it down, and Bob said that we would make a cocked hat (I knew what he meant)--which we did.
Some time later, the college was given a new flag (the one we had was getting into a bad shape). I do not know how it was that Bob had the new flag, but we took the old flag down and raised the new one--and I took the old flag and burned it in the dormitory's furnace.
Bob and his cousin Tom had spent three years in the Marine Corps, much of it in Korea. Tom had a bad experience there (told me by a mutual friend): one day he and a buddy were going somewhere in a jeep, and the Chinese started throwing some heavy stuff. They stopped, and ran for a shell hole; while there both wanted to smoke--and their cigarettes were in the jeep. They matched to see which one would go, and Tom thought he had lost--but before he got back to the shell hole, another shell landed in it.
Dig the High ISO shot Zug. My next DSLR body will hopefully be capable of that range. Currently it stops around 2400.
Here's a few shots for the TSL to enjoy.
One for Carl - CN C701 (loads from UP @ Antelope Mine, WY to Green Bay, WI) going thru the Oshkosh Bridge, or what's left that CN hasn't finished replacing yet.
Some shots of battle weary BCOL C40-8Ms. CN has 'blessed' us with lots of these lately.
One for Zug...and Carl too...nice lash on a nice spring day on CN A446 (Green Bay to BRC)
Finally...Happy Memorial Day. Thanks to those that have served, are serving, or gave all.
My Flickr Photostream if you desire to see more: http://www.flickr.com/photos/danbraun/
Enjoy.
Dan
John WR Yesterday I went to the local Memorial Day Parade. Many flags were carried and not one was at half staff. I would think it might be difficult to carry a flag at half staff and not have it trail on the ground.
I'm not sure the half-staff rule applies to flags being carried. Ditto flags displayed indoors on poles, where it is also likely they'd touch the floor if lowered to half staff.
It's become very common to fly flags at half staff for local or state "events." We've done it for firefighter deaths, particularly line-of-duty deaths.
Lowering the flags at the FD to half staff means lowering three flags (US, state, and FD), although I'm always careful to lower the US flag last, and raise it back to full staff first.
tree68 I'm not sure the half-staff rule applies to flags being carried. Ditto flags displayed indoors on poles, where it is also likely they'd touch the floor if lowered to half staff.
From http://www.gettysburgflag.com/FlyFlagHalfMast.php#ixzz2Uc8HzzT9
For flags that can't be lowered, such as those on many homes, the American Legion says that attaching a black ribbon or streamer to the top of the flag is an acceptable alternative. The ribbon should be the same width as a stripe on the flag and the same length as the flag.
Stumbled upon that the other day. Learn something new daily.
Interesting fact there Zug, thanks for sharing.
Couple rounds of natural fireworks last night. Nothing to get worked up over but it did save me from having to water some plants today. May try to swing trackside if time permits this afternoon...should be a plethora of BCOL units around today. Can't get enough.
My foray trackside yesterday (with a little help from my friends) included the westbound Ringling Brothers-Barnum & Bailey Red Unit's train westbound. It was headed to Omaha from Hershey, Pennsylvania; UP just put a unit ahead of the two NS units to activate cab signals and ATC on our line. A bunch of fifth-graders who were at one of our Historical Society's museums were able to add the sight of that train to the things that made their school trip special.
Today we venture forth to BNSF country for a little while, including lunch in LaGrange.
Just got this note from Metra:
Bellwood and Berkeley Track Construction
Effective immediately and continuing until further notice, the south platform #3 will be removed from service at Bellwood and Berkeley due to ongoing track construction. Please board all inbound and outbound trains from the island platform. The island platform can be accessed by utilizing the pedestrian tunnel.
This suggests to me that Track 2 has been connected at both ends, leaving Track 3 as the one to be rebuilt and straightened out in the vicinity of Provo Junction. Might have to take yet another trip to check this out.
Pretty much as expected...New Track 2 becomes old track 2 west of 25th Avenue. New Track 3 ends abruptly east of Bellwood, and you can't even see where it was. Crossover switches are in place, but no track on either end of the switch on Track 3.Ground-level connection to IHB is completely gone, as is the bridge over Addison (Mud) Creek that used to be part of it. Pile driver is in, and one set of pilings for the replacement bridge is pretty much in place. The mainline bridge over the creek at this point still doesn't look big enough to accommodate all three tracks; time will tell.
Sounds like quite the project Carl. I presume that's related to the videos you've posted on Facebook?
Uncle Pete surprised us yesterday on their Ft Collins Branch with a local that went beyond Ft Collins towards the La Porte cement mill (rare anything goes that far out on the branch) and capped it off with an Ohio Crane (bridge crane associated with pile drivers) and a clamshell bucket cleaning the Poudre River bridges the old way. (if ya got it, flaunt it?)
CNW 6000 Sounds like quite the project Carl. I presume that's related to the videos you've posted on Facebook?
That's correct, Dan. I wish I could get those videos out elsewhere, but I can't even download my phone directly to my computer--just to Facebook. They did a good job of wiping out the old track, considering that I rode it the same day they made the announcement. ______________________As I mentioned on the thread about the Sandhouse Gang talk, CN has torn down the old large shop building at Joliet, and is building an intermodal yard on the east side of their yard there, taking up some of that area. The yard at Joliet doesn't look at all like the industry-storage yard that it did when EJ&E was in charge. CN had a couple of through freights moving when I went over the Jefferson Avenue bridge there last Sunday.The road crossing north of the yard, at Woodruff, has been closed off, making it a little more difficult to make a quick circuit of the yard. However, I can now go right up to the tracks on the street and watch trains go by--it isn't posted there. One train was leaving for the north (west) when I was there, and a second train was just sitting across there.
_____________________
One of the biggest thrills of just plain train-watching at Elmhurst (or anywhere, for that matter) is seeing a pair of freight trains moving in the same direction. It doesn't matter what the speed--it's always spectacular. Monday I was in Elmhurst, and saw a westbound stack train coming out of the yard and passing the station on Track 2. As soon as it knocked down the crossing gates, the "Another Train Warning System" was speaking up. I thought it was a malfunction--those seem to happen often enough--until, between the first and second units of the train I could see the power of another freight, also coming out, and using Track 3. After cursing the positioning of the manifest behind the stacker and using the tunnel to get to the other side, I noticed that the speeds were still pretty well matched. Then the stacker started moving a little faster. I was taking notes on some of the freight cars that were going past on the manifest, and when I looked again, the stacker had picked up to close to its top speed. Both trains cleared me at about the same time.Not really significant to anyone who can't understand the thrill such a scene can provide. But there's another point here, too. Back in the days when I hired out, this would not have been possible. The two trains could not have come out of the yard at the same time--one would have had to follow the other. And, there was still a third track available for a freight to use between Elmhurst and the receiving yard, or vice versa ("vice versa" wouldn't have been possible, either, before the days of Centralized Traffic Control). Just another day in the life of a big railroad living up to its potential!
One of these times...
One of these times I'll remember that my granddaughter Emily and everybody's favorite Mudchicken share today as their birthday.Happy birthday, Charlie!P.S. Emily's seven; I think MC has a few years on her.
Well, it appears I am back after an absence from this forum of at least 5 years. I used to be known as TimChgo9 (I think....gettin' older, memory is fading...LOL) Thought I would come back around and see what has been going on. Nice to see many of the familar names from when I was active before.
The member formerly known as "TimChgo9"
Yes it's me, TimChgo9, can't seem to access the old account, so I had to make a new one.
Photog566 Well, it appears I am back after an absence from this forum of at least 5 years. I used to be known as TimChgo9 (I think....gettin' older, memory is fading...LOL) Thought I would come back around and see what has been going on. Nice to see many of the familar names from when I was active before.
That name is familiar.
Welcome back!
Thanks!
It's good to be back... Just been catching up on everything I have missed. (Boy, that's a lot of reading.)
I've been meaning to shoot this puddle for some time now.
I don't know.... maybe with the reflection in more focus?
Or even B&W?
Love it!!
Great focus, nice and sharp.
Quiet in the Lounge, quieter here. I'm in the Land of McWifi and No Trains. Every time I visit the local Mickey Ds to get on the Internet, I have about five research questions to check on. Most of the time I don't have answers, but then I have to come back here to say that. But today I had to drop in and mention some birthdays. Everybody's favorite Onionhead turns 12 today (happy birthday, Matt!). Coincidentally, it's the fifth birthday of my favorite grandson, Nico. In a couple of months I won't be able to say that (he'll have some competition). There are other birthdays that I'm not supposed to remember today, but do. Enough said.Tomorrow I get to head to the Land of Maybe a Train If I Get Lucky. And after that, home...maybe to a semi-functioning kitchen! It will be the first time in history that a bag of corn has been popped in a microwave oven in that 60-plus-year-old house.
Popcorn I use gets shipped in on SKRX cars.
That's pretty cool.
Hi all, it's been a while. hope all is well with everyone
Carl, I couldn't agree more on seeing 2 trains in the same direction. A couple years back I was coming out of Barstow and encountered these two trains at Nebo rd.just leaving town for needles. The stack was doing about 25 and the Ethanol was just getting moving. It looked like a run around at first but by the time the stack and I were in Dagget the tanks were gaining. OH boy it was on then!!!! We all ran side by side at 60+for over 25 miles. What a rush!!! Finaly on the west side of Ash hill the stacks got held back to fall in behind the tanks. But the tanks and I rolled on for another 60 miles neck in neck all the way to Essex where there was more then 10 eastbounds stacked up behind a track project (bridge replacement I think).
Last shot and they look like some millipede monster from a Transformers movie!
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