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The Trackside Lounge: 4Q 2013

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The Trackside Lounge: 4Q 2013
Posted by CNW 6000 on Tuesday, October 1, 2013 5:16 AM

Good morning and Happy October.  Welcome to the next quarter's installment of The Trackside Lounge.  Here's a link back to the 3Q Edition:
http://cs.trains.com/trn/f/111/p/218844/2442193.aspx#2442193

...and off we go!

Dan

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Posted by CNW 6000 on Tuesday, October 1, 2013 5:39 AM

I'll start this out by sharing two pictures from Monday  We had an ALCo C-420 in the area.  Let's say it was one of the more photographed locos yesterday.

VLIX 7222's cab at speed:
Battlewagon

SD60 and C-420:
South End of the Northbound

Enjoy.

Dan

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Posted by CShaveRR on Tuesday, October 1, 2013 9:59 AM

Was it working, Dan, or D.I.T.?

I just saw over on Trainorders.com that there was a VLIX SD18 at Barr Yard, on the move (eventually) to Washington State.  The rarest of the rare...Chessie System paint, and riding on Alco trucks!  Originally C&O 1811, later 7311...it still carries 7311 as its road number.

Thumbing my nose at convention later today...riding my bike over to Wheaton to renew my driver's license (a vision test is all they're asking of me).

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 CShaveRR on Tuesday, October 1, 2013 4:32 PM

I am, apparently, a man of vision.  No problem getting a new license.

On the way there, I noticed that the control-point signal bridges for the new crossovers (CP Y024, "Wheaton") are up.  The signal masts (two heads for each track) are still covered and turned away from the tracks.

The underpass for pedestrians at Chase Street is being worked on.  It was finished last year, but now they're digging out the approaches to it (and the bike path has a shoofly until they're done).  I presume that when it's completed, they'll be closing the grade crossing at Chase Street...that was the original plan, anyway.

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 CShaveRR on Wednesday, October 2, 2013 12:32 PM

Today's Dan's birthday.  I pointed out to him that he's outlived an entire railroad already (Wisconsin Central). But other than that, he's just a young pup compared to some of us.

Have a great day, Dan!

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 zardoz on Wednesday, October 2, 2013 7:15 PM

CShaveRR

Today's Dan's birthday.  I pointed out to him that he's outlived an entire railroad already (Wisconsin Central). But other than that, he's just a young pup compared to some of us.

Have a great day, Dan!

Hasn't he also outlived the WICT?  Probably lots of others as well.

Good wishes to you, Dan.

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Posted by CNW 6000 on Thursday, October 3, 2013 8:19 AM

Thanks for the well wishes Carl and Jim.  Yesterday was a decent day trackside.  Started in Neenah catching CN C701, A415, A446 and A449.  Then I drove south only to miss the WSOR at Slinger/Ackerville so it was off to the CP starting at Cooney Siding.  Caught 298 and 484 there.  Then I headed to Reeseville for 801 and a pair of sharp looking CEFX SD9043MACs.  Then to Astico for 640 with CP and DME SD40-2s and 289.  Finally 800 with CSX GE power back southwest of Reeseville.  Wanted to hit up UP for some action, but timing didn't work out.

Back to work today...but it's also Friday as I have a short week!  WOO HOO!

Dan

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Posted by CShaveRR on Monday, October 7, 2013 6:46 PM

Kind of quiet in here...that "Chatterbox", with its charismatic proprietress, is going quite well.  Nice to have it in the family.

A storm blew through here Sunday night.  A UP Manager of Operating Practices was in the medical center this morning (I took Pat in for one of those examinations...or at the most, two), and he said that the lightning did a lot of damage at Proviso, hitting a locomotive and a light pole, and knocking out the hump for a time.

I hope I remember all of the birthdays coming up in the next couple of weeks.  I have to get in here nearly every day for a while to catch 'em all, and at the same time help take care of a new grandson while his mother delivers a paper at DePaul University this weekend (and that will be an experience in itself--getting to DePaul's campus in the Loop during the Chicago Marathon!).  I'm hoping the CTA will be my friend.

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 CNW 6000 on Tuesday, October 8, 2013 6:36 AM

There's one that you shouldn't forget Carl...hehe...

Dan

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Posted by CShaveRR on Tuesday, October 8, 2013 7:47 PM

And I remembered it, too, back on the second!

As for one of the others, I picked up her card today, and we got a new laptop yesterday (awaiting setup at her computer desk in our new room).


I was booted out of the house, sort of, today, so someone could work undisturbed on a project.  Since her sewing machine is in the same room as I'm sitting in right now, I suspect it's a wearable birthday present.  I had nothing that had to be done here, so I took off to Elmhurst.  Caught a few good trains, and have some equipment to check out yet tonight.  Had one adventure that I posted on Facebook, slightly modified here:



Attention, Elmhurst passengers:

It was my old nemesis, Automated Metra Lady. I wasn't a passenger today, but I was in Elmhurst, so I paid attention.

The six twenty-eight train to Chicago will be boarding off Platform 1--the north platform. Please safely make your way to Platform 1--the north platform--to board this train. Thank you.

Repeated for a total of four times, as usual.

There were a few problems, though.

1) This line doesn't have trains numbered in the 600 series.

2) No train is scheduled to leave from Elmhurst at all at 6:28, a.m. or p.m.

3) It was one-freaking-forty in the afternoon!

A few minutes later:

Attention Elmhurst passengers: The six twenty-one train from Chicago will be arriving on Platform 1--the north platform.   [If it's arriving on the platform, where should I be standing?]   Please safely make your way to Platform 1--the north platform--if you wish to meet this train. Thank you.

Again, repeated.

But I won't repeat the problems with this announcement again...they were about the same.

I suspect that the announcement might have been for the UP Northwest Line.  They have a Train 628 that starts out in Barrington.  Train 621, however, is not its westbound counterpart, so I'm not sure.  There are four times that the number 6:28 appears in the Northwest Line schedule, but not for any trains originating or terminating at that time.  So I can't really figure out what was going on.  I sincerely hope everyone caught or met the trains they were supposed to.

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 CNW 6000 on Wednesday, October 9, 2013 5:34 AM

CShaveRR

And I remembered it, too, back on the second!

 

That I did note.  Always appreciated! I was thinking of the one I'm aware of on the 16th.

 

Got the rail pursuit vehicle back from the fixer yesterday...there went $1500.  I did get new ball joints, alignment, tires and shocks out of the trade though.  Almost like having a new car!  The downside is I now have to start saving for a new camera/lenses again.

We had 4 ex-Oakway SD60s thru here on CN yesterday, so far today it's been three container trains (all SB) plus one empty coal train (CC marked hoppers) and another (WPSX) is due out today as well.

Dan

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Posted by CShaveRR on Wednesday, October 9, 2013 11:56 AM

We have two birthdays to remember on the 16th (and the guys are only a year apart)!  We have two for tomorrow as well (with a much wider spread in age).

And today we extend our best wishes to Pat, A.K.A. Boss Hen, who is celebrating (we hope!) her birthday.

Once again I am swamped with freight-car stuff, and have to fit it in around preparations for our daughter and grandson's arrival this weekend.  Pat is out shopping for more supplies right now, and I have to leave for trackside...I mean, my chore with the Historical Society, which will entail two crossings of the tracks.  The past two days have yielded me a new-to-me reporting mark for my records, and three series of nearly-new cars.  And I just discovered what I think is the secret of the strange numbering system of the Mosaic Company's MOCX covered hoppers!  Holy coal cars, Mookie (that's a hint)!

Carl

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Posted by Mookie on Wednesday, October 9, 2013 2:09 PM

"Holy coal cars, Mookie"

Well, Mookie turned her collar around backward, but didn't get any revelations from it.  

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by mudchicken on Wednesday, October 9, 2013 3:47 PM

BossHen intends to celebrate "the day that won't be acknowledged" in NY next week. (Hopefully two birds and a certain tree cross paths in Syracuse)

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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Posted by CShaveRR on Wednesday, October 9, 2013 4:55 PM

SJ, remember 'way back at Mookiefest, when we discussed the numbering scheme used on a lot of the utility-owned coal cars, and what you could often tell from the numbers?

MC, Thumbs Up!  And, as long as we're being cryptic, he's the other guy I was referring to in my post.


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 Mookie on Wednesday, October 9, 2013 5:32 PM

Got it.  Thumbs Up

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by tree68 on Wednesday, October 9, 2013 5:33 PM

mudchicken

BossHen intends to celebrate "the day that won't be acknowledged" in NY next week. (Hopefully two birds and a certain tree cross paths in Syracuse)

Just gotta figure out when and where...

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
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Posted by CShaveRR on Thursday, October 10, 2013 5:21 AM

Two more birthdays to celebrate today.  I have to put Pat's first...she's now older than I am for a little bit.  Happy birthday to the love of my life, and my favorite co-conspirator!

(I'm up early because there's an apple crisp in the oven to be finished in time for breakfast.)

And Willy's another year older today.  Still furloughed, judging from the total lack of clouds and bad weather we've been having here.  Happy birthday, Willy!

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)

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Posted by CNW 6000 on Thursday, October 10, 2013 11:31 AM

Happy Birthday to Pat and Willy.  If this nice, albeit unseasonable weather, is due to Willy being off of work...then I hope he has lots of vacation.

Working on sorting some train lists for a friend...then out to cut the grass and who knows?

Dan

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Posted by CShaveRR on Friday, October 11, 2013 6:40 PM

Today has been a waiting sort of day.  We were first waiting for daughter's friend to drop off some baby clothes for our California grandson, who is going to encounter brisk fall weather for the first time.

Then wait for the tech guy to plug in and bring up our new PC.  I'm back on the Mac right now; it has also survived an upgrade to this week's standards (it was the first time this computer has been described as being "long in the tooth"!).

And now, we have to wait a few hours for the plane to arrive.  Ironic--they're coming from sunny California on Alaska Airlines.  Baby seems to have taken to flying all right.  The car seat is ready for the midnight ride from O'Hare. 

Tomorrow Linus meets his aunt and cousins; Sunday I get to accompany him on his first train ride!

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)

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Posted by CNW 6000 on Friday, October 11, 2013 9:14 PM

I hope the rides go well Carl.  When are you and Pat up this way again?

I'm back awake again as I got called in to my "extra" job for a few hours of special runs...at least it pays well but I could use the sleep.  Hi-ho...

Dan

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Posted by CShaveRR on Saturday, October 12, 2013 1:02 AM

The plane rides went remarkably well, and he slept all the way home from the airport, too. 

Certainly not this weekend, Dan...whenever that show is in Milwaukee we might make it that far, anyway (and all that that entails--like Duplainville, the quilt shop in Cedarburg, etc.).  Gee...last time I saw Aedan he was about as big as Linus is now!

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 rvos1979 on Saturday, October 12, 2013 6:31 AM
Carl, November 9-10 is Trainfest, my dad and I have not picked a day yet, depends if he has to work that Saturday or not. Maybe we can cross paths that weekend as well, I'm taking the whole weekend off.......

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

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Posted by CShaveRR on Saturday, October 12, 2013 8:23 PM

Our best wishes to Aimee Blysard, who's been celebrating her birthday today!  I haven't been around to wish anyone much of anything, but I know she's a proud grandparent, too, so she'll forgive me for devoting much of the day to all of our grandchildren (the "usual suspects" met their California cousin for the fist time today); we all shared Linus' first experience at Portillo's.

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 zardoz on Saturday, October 12, 2013 8:26 PM

CShaveRR

...the quilt shop in Cedarburg, etc.).  

Would that be Ye Olde Schoolhouse?  That's one of Kathy's favorites.

BTW, Carl, if you do attend Trainfest, please let me know; we might be able to make it there this year.

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Posted by tree68 on Saturday, October 12, 2013 8:29 PM

Psst - Need some help.  Kindly head over to this site and cast a vote for completing the restoration...  You can read about the "battle" in another thread here on the forum...

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
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Come ride the rails with me!
There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

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Posted by zardoz on Sunday, October 13, 2013 8:01 AM

tree68

Psst - Need some help.  Kindly head over to this site and cast a vote for completing the restoration...  You can read about the "battle" in another thread here on the forum...

Done.

I hope others follow....

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Posted by CShaveRR on Sunday, October 13, 2013 5:15 PM

Did my duty over there, Larry, along with a few encouraging words.

Jim, we've been to the Schoolhouse a couple of times, and Pat likes it, though most of the material seems a bit drab to me.  There's one in Thienvllle we've also hit, and she especially likes to see the museum in the barn near Cedarburg. 

I'm sure there will be folks asking about when the group photo will be taken at Trainfest, and I'd like it to be a good showing.  We need to get more actual staffers there.  I've mentioned it to Pat, so we'll see how things go.

Today is Chris May's birthday ("CopCarSS" on this site).  Hope it's a great one for you, Chris!

Linus got his first train rides today, into the city via Metra.  Crowded trains, due to the Chicago Marathon.  We had to be over on the other side of the Loop, and the route between the station and Linda's venue was crossed by the Marathon route two or three times.  That problem was solved by the CTA, whose Green and Pink Lines took us above the commotion.  Going in, we saw the runners crossing over the Kinzie Street Bridge and up Franklin Street beneath us.  Before we went home, we saw some runners with medals around their necks--some of them looked like they barely made it; one had a bag of ice on his head.  I know Metra ran some extra trains out of town this afternoon.

Linus was pretty unimpressed by his train trips, either nursing or sleeping most of the way.


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)

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Posted by CNW 6000 on Sunday, October 13, 2013 9:51 PM

zardoz

tree68

Psst - Need some help.  Kindly head over to this site and cast a vote for completing the restoration...  You can read about the "battle" in another thread here on the forum...

Done.

I hope others follow....

I did done it also too!  Sorry Carl...feeling flaky tonight.  Real snowflakes...however...are forecast for a week from yesterday...we shall see!

Dan

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Posted by CShaveRR on Tuesday, October 15, 2013 3:00 PM

It's like my posts didn't take today.  I posted one here and elsewhere on this Forum; no sign of them.

Linus and his mother are safely home in California, in time for the Chargers game on Monday night.  He was dressed as a football (brown onesie with appropriate lacing), and Daddy was in his jersey.  I sure hope Chris didn't spike him in the end zone!  (Daughter posted a shot of the two of them...the "Huh?" look on Linus is priceless!)

Now that they're no longer here, I can get back to freight-car logging.  I'm over a week behind in recording sightings, still filtering out the ones I need, and barely started on the report.  I'm not going to get much done tomorrow; I'll be otherwise occupied.

Birthday greetings today to Jim Ribar, known to the Forum as "Zardoz"!  Hope the sun shone somewhere for you!

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)

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