ZUG;;;
Bought a pair of Dr. Comfort steel toes 3 years ago. Wear them about twice a week for 6-8 hrs. Break in took a while but really like them now.
NOTE: Dr. Comfort is a name for diabetic shoes. Had to go to a poidiatrist to order them but had a week to try them out. Foot inserts are great. They are rather expensive.
My last three pairs were Red Wing, and I still have two of them.UP gave out a shoe firm toward the end of every year. You filled out your part of the form, took it to the Red Wing store (we have two less than ten miles from here), got yourself fitted, and that was it. Red Wing submitted the form to the railroad, you paid 50 percent of the price via payroll deduction, and UP covered the rest. I still use them on hikes, and also use them when I visit the yard or am involved in some serious railfanning.
_____________I spent the entire day in the house today. We don't have a/c (save in the bedroom), but the ceiling fan in the new room made things bearable as I watched the temperature go up to 94 outside, then drop quickly when a thundercloud dropped a little bit of water on us as it passed overhead. Tomorrow looks to be another day like today, except I'm going into town for another concert in the evening (I'll bring my umbrella for this one--last night gave me a couple of heavy downpours in the city, while Pat said nothing at all fell out here).Tomorrow the inspectors come, and the contractor caps off the project by replacing our front door.
___________________Nothing new on the railroad construction projects, to speak of. Around Proviso, Track 3 is being rebuilt from Bellwood station east--a lot of rail on new concrete ties up to the Provo Junction switch, and Wednesday night a ballast train, with the power at the wrong end, was on the track. I think they might connect the two ends--the gap is getting smaller--before pulling that trainload across. The roadbed for the connecting track between our main line and the IHB is level; ties will be the next step.At Wheaton, still no new progress on the crossovers. They were surfacing Track 1 in the area of the new control point, but that's the track with the switches already installed. They still need the two crossovers connecting tracks 2 and 3, and signals. I expected this stuff a year ago.Also no progress at all on the walkway under the tracks here in Lombard. I wish they'd get it done, or perhaps redesign it so it would be more effective in the case of a scoot on Track 2 needing to make a stop.
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 need to vent.
I swear I can't find a decent work boot to save my life anymore.
I've had several pairs of the cheaper brands - all crap.
Had a pair of Red Wings that was decent, then the next pair I got was complete crap (most uncomfortable thing ever).
Have a pair of Chippewas, and they turned uncomfortable real fast (even with new insoles to replace the ridiculous things they came with).
Went to a store to try on some Danner's (of course the selection was pitiful - and they wonder why retail stores are suffering????) Their Quarry line boots seemed ok, but the toe part was a little narrow. And since I spend 8 hours a night on the ballast, that would get old real fast.
So I am at a complete lost. Ordered a White's catalog. I'm willing to spend some real bucks if I can just find a boot that actually lasts more than 6 months out here and doesn't kill my feet in the process. Of course our "walking ballast" is a joke. Too large to be walking ballast, too small for mainline, and sharp as a knife. Or I can walk on the road, but that asphalt gets old real fast, too. We don't get boot allowances, but discounts on a couple brands through our website. All cheaper brands. See my comment about those above.
Just frustrated.
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
My laptop wouldn't take well to a pool, or I'd give that a thought. I biked about five miles today, and the breeze is the only redeeming characteristic of the weather out there. Officially it's 89 now, the computer says 91 (observation station about a mile away), and Arthur says 94.2.I caught a coal train and a manifest while trackside (doing my chores, eating lunch in an air-conditioned venue, etc.), in addition to the two scoots scheduled in that time.The ceiling fan is making the new room tolerable, while I take this research break. Tomorrow I plan on going into the City for a concert near the Lake. I'm hoping that the forecast middle-90s temperatures won't apply down there.
Checking in post-mainenance shutdown. All seems to be in order thus far. Aside from that...it's friggin' hot...and I'm going to sit in the pool in the shade.
Dan
Randy Vos
"Ever have one of those days where you couldn't hit the ground with your hat??" - Waylon Jennings
"May the Lord take a liking to you and blow you up, real good" - SCTV
You might be right, Paul...losing five daughters (don't even suggest that the guy's gaining five sons!) might help clean out a house. We had two daughters, hereafter to be known as guest/emergency bedroom and quilt storage room.As for the expansion of the clan, little Sydney (actually named after my father, Sidney) was just the first of four second-cousins due within the month. Next up should be the daughter of Pat's brother, who's expecting a boy any day now. Then my other sister's daughter-in-law should be having a girl in about two weeks. Finally, our daughter's boy is due in three weeks. Charmageddon!
Dan, we won't be settled in for a long time. We're putting things in place slowly, trying to figure out the most lo0gical places for them (or, in some cases, deciding that things are no longer necessary). Last Thursday we replaced the defective chandelier in our dining room with a new one (old one had one socket that wouldn't stay lit). Note to do-it-yourselfers: opening the circuit which turns off the light in question might not be enough, when it's on a three-way switch...I found that out the exciting way! We also replaced a 35-year-old lampshade in the living room that was falling apart.
Saturday we took the advice of my sister and a friend and stopped at the Holland (Michgan) Bar Stool Company to look at and price bar stools. The bar stools aren't much taller than chairs, but their prices can reach the ceiling! We expected to be ordering something special, but instead walked out of there with a couple of clearance stools. I'd been envisioning padded stools with rotating seats and backs, but that would not have been right for our place. Instead we got a couple of finished wooden stools--no backs, no swivel--that fit very neatly under the counter overhang when not in use. We saved a lot of time by knowing in advance the height of the stools we needed.Our goal isn't so much to get moved in quickly as to be able to get the car back into the garage by winter. Or perhaps by October, when our daughter--with our new grandson, we hope!--comes to spend a couple of days while presenting a paper at a seminar at DePaul University.Back to research...lots to do, and time's a-wastin'!
As an aside, passenger trains must have a lighted marker. A flag doesn't meet the requirement.
When my kids left I ended up with a storage room and a guest room, which I eventually refurbished with a new paint job and a nice king-sized bed.
I also use the "storage room" for model work. If I can get that room hoed out, it's going to get a futon for backup guest room work.
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...
Congratulations, Carl, and to Pat and your builder for "Getting 'er done" successfully in spite of the weather and his medical challenges ! May you enjoy it all for many years to come.
And while chatting with a newly-engaged co-worker the other day, I observed that perhaps the reason his prospective father-in-law was willing to consent to the marriage is that . . .
with 5 daughters in the house, marrying them off was a cheaper way to gain extra space than building an addition !
- Paul North.
CShaveRR Johnny, I believe that a locomotive headlight displayed dim to the rear constitutes a marker according to the rules, both for light locomotives and for trains concluded by a distributed-power locomotive.
Johnny, I believe that a locomotive headlight displayed dim to the rear constitutes a marker according to the rules, both for light locomotives and for trains concluded by a distributed-power locomotive.
Congrats on the newest additions to the clan. Sounds like you've had a very busy weekend thus far. Got the house in order yet?
Johnny, I believe that a locomotive headlight displayed dim to the rear constitutes a marker according to the rules, both for light locomotives and for trains concluded by a distributed-power locomotive.I just got back from the Land of No Trains again, where we dropped off quilts at an upcoming show. I also got to have breakfast with some high-school classmates, and got to hold the grand-nephew to which I alluded in my previous post on this thread.Then, when we returned, we went to a baby shower of sorts for my daughter in California. My other daughter organized an Oovoo shower, and Linda's friends and relatives from Illinois (us), Michigan (including the new grand-niece, my sisters, nieces, and mother), and Wisconsin showed up on a TV screen and watched her unwrap shower gifts and show off her only-weeks-away-from-delivery-she-hopes profile.On the way home, we saw a westbound Amtrak Wolverine Service train slow for the junction at Porter, Indiana, then hasten past an eastbound crude-oil train west of town.
By our rules, a train is one or more locomotives, with or without cars, displaying marker, blah blah blah...
So a single lite engine can be an official "train". As far as a marker, an engine move (singular or plural) can have a EOT (FRED), a dimmed headlight, marker lights, or a flag depending on time of day.
I do not recall ever having seen, or heard, the expression "railroad locomotive." I had understood that locomotives are used only on railroads.
By the way, if an engine is running light, does it have to have a FRED on the rear? What description of train is now in rule books? It used to be that a locomotive with markers on the rear was considered to be a train when running light.
Johnny
http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site36/2013/0713/20130713_025331_20130713.pdf Going to add on to Carl's frustration (along with a few others) with those who went off on the "tanker" idiocy by the (not so) professionals of the news media describing railcars, The Denver Post did a nice front page blurb on activities at CRRM in Golden today. How many ways can a reporter/ neophyte butcher the descriptive noun "train"? (a locomotive, a steam locomotive, is not a train by itself)
We trust our contractor...the standing joke is that the architect, electrician, drywallers, painters, plumber, floor guys, tree specialist, and concrete contractors should have a little sign on their truck doors saying "Al's guys". Even in the middle of things, when Al was in for bypass surgery (pre-emptive, thankfully!), his sons and nephew handled things. We're likely to have him back...smaller projects being lined up now!Happy birthday today to Sam, as in "SamFP43". Does the "43" have some significance as to age (ears on, Mookie?)? Today is also my son-in-law's birthday (daddy to my current grandkids), and we just welcomed the arrival of a grand-niece this noon...the Charmageddon has begun (a bit early)!
CShaveRR Thanks, James! I've changed it for those pictures, and i hope it helps.Today we gave the check for our final payment on the house renovations to the contractor with a ceremony and blessing held in the remodeled kitchen. Now
Thanks, James! I've changed it for those pictures, and i hope it helps.Today we gave the check for our final payment on the house renovations to the contractor with a ceremony and blessing held in the remodeled kitchen. Now
Carl I hope you got lein releases from all sub contractors and suppliers ??
Thanks, James! I've changed it for those pictures, and i hope it helps.Today we gave the check for our final payment on the house renovations to the contractor with a ceremony and blessing held in the remodeled kitchen. Now we spend the rest of our lives rebuilding the home-equity line of credit that was nearly depleted. And tweaking of our living space for almost as long.Had to chuckle...one of the people who came over today was our pastor. He hadn't seen our house since just before they began tearing down our old sewing room. And today, with everything nicely in place, I think he said "Wow!" about nine times before he said anything else.
Another hot one on the books (for this year so far anyway) is in store for today. I, however, will be out in the boat fishing on the Fox River today...and getting close up pictures of the new CN bridge replacing the CNW bridge in Oshkosh...I mean fishing.
Why is work less fun after vacation? Ugh..
Carl, make sure the setting on the Facebook pictures is set to "Public." Otherwise, only "Friends" on Facebook can see them.
James
CShaveRR Trying something different here: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=629131380431149&l=98fc5682b0 https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=629131360431151&l=ff95296abd Do these work?
Trying something different here:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=629131380431149&l=98fc5682b0
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=629131360431151&l=ff95296abd
Do these work?
Once I signed into FB they worked fine.
That train was you saw would become X341. The CP and GMTX units got set out at Stevens Point. CP power will go west to MN on L517 and the GMTX will be going north to Superior Silica Sands if I read things right.
zardoz mudchicken "The Content Is Currently Unavailable" My wife says I should have that tattooed on my forehead.
mudchicken "The Content Is Currently Unavailable"
"The Content Is Currently Unavailable"
Working fine down here in Florida, Carl......
In Wildwood, FL tonight, headed to Orlando in morning to give Mickey Mouse his adult beverages (Guess he likes the stuff from Chippewa Falls)......
Managed to swing by the house on the Fourth, saw that the city of Burlington is installing medians in some of the railroad crossings to better comply with quiet zone laws.
See everyone later.....
Couldn't tell you, Dan--by the time I was able to get to that window the units were past me. No CNs, though--just the two CPs and the blue.
Carl - was the numbers on the CP units 5014 and 5015? Did you see CN 2508 with the train?
I'm trying to figure out a surprise sighting I got yesterday.
I hadn't expected to see anything at all train-wise, as Pat and I were out on a hiking trip with another couple from our church. After the hike we were hungry and thirsty, so we went to the Two Brothers Brewing Company in Warrenville. I had no idea how close it was to a railroad track until a train surprised the four of us (the tracks are beneath a small embankment on the other side of the parking lot and a field). Be sure and get a west window...we were just lucky!The railroad was the CN, former EJ&E, somewhere between Eola and West Chicago. The train was westbound (geographic north), moving right along. The power, however, was a pair of CP units and a blue lease switcher! I wonder what they were doing there.Today I ventured up on the new bridges (not yet officially open, but certainly in use!) that carry the Great Western Trail over two streets and the UP tracks toward the eastern edge of Lombard. It wouldn't be easy to shoot off the bridge itself, thanks to the obligatory chain-link fence, but some shots might work from the areas adjacent to the bridge, particularly on the west side. C'mon over and give it a try!
My last day of vacation for now. 11 days off sure was nice. Caught some trains, spent plenty of time with Aedan and had time to relax. Can't complain.
Caught lots of ex-Oakway SD60s yesterday as they worked on CN. They sure sound nice attacking Byron hill!
Last winter I was riding with my neighbor in his '82 F350 with 8' plow on the front. Bambi's mom tried to make it...but the plow saved the truck. Not pretty.
Carl - UP keeps sending nice C45ACCTE's up on the CNAPM/C701 coal trains. No complaints here! They were even so kind as to send a patched CNW AC44 up last week too.
Yesterday's catch was a pair of IC (CN) C40-8W's leading a northbound container train, Q193. Funny thing about that was it was all single stacked! Either way - I'll take it.
TTFN.
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