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:
SD60 and C-420:
Enjoy.
Dan
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
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 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.
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!
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!
Good wishes to you, Dan.
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!
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.
There's one that you shouldn't forget Carl...hehe...
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.
CShaveRR And I remembered it, too, back on the second!
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.
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)!
"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
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)
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, ! And, as long as we're being cryptic, he's the other guy I was referring to in my post.
Got it.
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...
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...
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!
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?
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!
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...
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!
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
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.
CShaveRR ...the quilt shop in Cedarburg, etc.).
...the quilt shop in Cedarburg, etc.).
BTW, Carl, if you do attend Trainfest, please let me know; we might be able to make it there this year.
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...
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...
I hope others follow....
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.
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....
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!
Got a couple more birthdays to mention today. Happy birthday to Larry! Pat would have loved to have been a Tree-hugger today, but we kind of had to hang around here.We took the Senior Friends church group (I'm still a junior in that bunch!) to the Peck Homestead for a tour. Nothing much happened during the tour itself, but a couple of good freights went through beforehand. Pat and I contributed most of the refreshments: an edible fruit arrangement (it didn't get "eded" quite enough), pumpkin bread, cider (plain and spiced), and coffee...oh, and birthday cake.
Had a normal day on the railroad yesterday.
While waiting outside at the motel for the van to take us to the yard office, a conductor came out and joined me. He was wearing coveralls, went across the drive and laid down on the ground and started squirming around, working dirt into his coveralls. Then he got up and started pouring fake blood onto them. He was working on a costume for: 1 an up coming party, and 2 to give his daughter nightmares for the next few years. He also had a hockey mask and fake machete, which also was soon covered with blood stains.
After pouring the blood on his coveralls, then he says to me (and a couple others who came to watch), "I wonder if this stuff will "bleed" through the coveralls to his regular clothes and if it might make permanent stains?" It did and it can. Luckily for him, the clothes he had on underneath were work clothes, nothing really important.
We deadheaded by van down to Omaha to pick up a train. While on the way I watched a woman in a car with a cell phone in one hand and gesturing in the air with the other. (Also posted on the Driverless Trucks thread.) All this while going down a busy highway on the western edge of Omaha. Riding in the van really gives one a chance to see how many people are on or using some kind of device while driving.
Also while riding in the van, there's a stretch of I-80 that parallels the UP main line. The tracks here are on a high embankment with a couple of tall bridges over creeks and streets. I noticed on one of these bridges, 3 deer going across the bridge. While it's not unusual to see deer and other wild life in an otherwise urban area, you don't often see deer going across a tall bridge. I thought about calling in the "trespassers," but didn't.
Our trip was otherwise uneventful. However, a westbound reported that their EOT had went to 0 pressure on the train line but they weren't in emergency on the head end. We had met them but by then we were about 10 miles away from him and I didn't hear any details like unusual air flow. It sounded like it was just an EOT failure rather than something more serious.
As I said, just another normal day on the railroad.
Jeff
Jeff: I love your reporting. Dad used to tell us all kinds of things from the railroad. Like the engineer that bought a new 1 carat diamond ring, but had to wear gloves while at work and couldn't show it off. So he cut a hole in the glove. Everyone got to admire it!
I'm sure that gave him extra incentive to keep the ring bright and shiny, too!Hey, Mookie, I just saw a new thread asking about some "yellow thingies"!
BC - this won't be as fun since they have photos to work from....
Ughh! Heavy research tonight...I'm finally at a breaking point (in more ways than one!). Report sent out, new requests for info sent out, and I'd better get to bed. There may be a train ride in my future tomorrow.
This would appear to be "Stack-train Saturday" out in due-west-of-Chicagoland. I took a scoot into Elmhurst five hours ago to pay bills, and was skunked, train-wise. Two hours later (give or take) I was headed back west. I didn't get off at home, but stayed on to the end of the line at Elburn. We met one stack train west of Lombard, and while we were at Elburn (same train-set, just changing ends), stack trains went by in each direction, We passed that eastbound stack train again before we got to Geneva (he was waiting for us to get through the station, I guess), and met a westbound stacker at West Chicago. I got off the train at Lombard, but didn't go home. In fact, I'm sitting out of the cold breeze here at the deli. And we've had three freights through--all stackers!The crossovers at Wheaton have not yet been placed in service, nor does it look like much has been done at the pedestrian underpass at Chase Street (of course, this is the untrained eye observing there). However, steel has been placed over the tracks on about half of the Route 38 overpass being built between West Chicago and Geneva. More girders are ready to be put in position soon.Guess it's time to give up and go home...it's not going to get any warmer out there.
Interesting day today...lots of SD60s, EJE SD38s plus BCOL Dash 9 & 8s with a little WSOR in the mix...including an SD40-2 and E8A/B set. Details tomorrow...I'm beat!
oh OH! So THIS is how you reply to a topic on these boards. Ah-HA! Now if I could just get my other topic merged into this one as per my original intention...
*COUGH* where was I?! Ahem, so I thought I'd share some pics of Altoona's recent goings-on with y'all here. Things in my neck of the woods have...well....changed.
It all started at a crossing on Centre Street in Eau Claire. Thanks to the sand boom, this once-near-dead line thrived once again. And of all the units to see on this line, I find this rare little gem.
A few days later, I drove through Altoona. Well lo and behold, that number sure looked familiar!
Sometimes when I hear a train rolling by my apartment, I'd drive out to catch it. One night about a month later, look what I saw!
Why, even as I was headed out on my trip to Stevens Point last May, look what was just sitting in Altoona, waiting to be photographed again!
Oh sure, I've seen other SPs on sand trains in Eau Claire...some even leading!
Others trailing as well
But never has one kept coming back to often, so frequently, that it rose to becoming my favorite SP of all time. In fact, as I type this, I can almost guarantee SP 177 is either sitting in Altoona right now, or running a sand job and will soon be returning to the yard.
Your friendly neighborhood CNW fan.
Hey, as long as they keep it in your neck of the woods, it isn't likely to get patched or painted. Hang onto it!
I'm gripping with all my might!
But I'm also eager to see SP 266 come back. Only saw it once. It was moving and at night...pictures couldn't happen...Nor was I able to shoot the consist that both both 177 AND 144 in it....
Looks like I need to go west. Not sure if I've ever seen an unpatched SP. At least not that I've been able to photograph. Of a similar note, I did catch CN A446 with three BCOL units (in BCOL paint) Sunday...
CNW 6000Not sure if I've ever seen an unpatched SP.
And when I think of all the SP stuff I saw in CA "back in the day..."
Wish I'd been as interested then as now (and had a decent camera, to boot...)
tree68 CNW 6000Not sure if I've ever seen an unpatched SP. And when I think of all the SP stuff I saw in CA "back in the day..." Wish I'd been as interested then as now (and had a decent camera, to boot...)
Definitely head over here, Dan. I'm pretty sure SP 177 is assigned to the area. 144, 107, and 266 should be as well. But they....don't visit as much...
I have literally hundreds of pictures to share here since I disappeared (Working full time and living on your own sure can eat up a lot of a person's time!)
What's up, Janesville? Glad I decided to check to check this place out on my way to Chicago last year!
UP sand power is not limited to raw SP AC44s. A nice few SD60s can also be found here now!
Even the ACEs make it out here now.
And not just UP ones, mind you!
My personal famine is over. It had been ten days since I'd seen anything in the way of freight cars to document (quite a few freight trains, but usually they were stack cars, auto racks, or the usual coal gons--all stuff I'd seen before).Pat needed to buy stuff at a particular chain of fabric stores. So, in spite of the fact that it's not the nearest store to us, I decided that we should go to the outlet in Bedford Park, south of Midway Airport and Clearing Yard. I was able to dig out and select material for an altar-cloth at church, a new shirt for Pat, and part of a Victorian-era costume for one of our historical society volunteers.Then, coming home, we encountered not one, but two BNSF freights on the west side of Clearing Yard. The most interesting sight of the day for me was a GLSX hopper car--I couldn't see its whole number due to graffiti, but it was one of only three that they own. These hopper cars ate divided into four compartments, prominently marked on the car sides (too high for the graffiti), and evidently intended to handle different types of landscaping material.There was also an assortment of tank cars, older and brand-new, stencilled for the transportation of "Tar Oil" (is that what comes from the tar sands?). A new series of EQUX covered hoppers built by Trinity Industries, and some Mexican-built fourth-hand gondolas now operated by the Mahoning Valley Railway (MVRY). There were other less unusual cars sighted, but that should keep me busy for a while. We tried to continue the streak by dining in downtown LaGrange, with good sight lines of the BNSF main line (it grates on some people to have it called the "Racetrack"). We got to see two dinkies, but nothing else. Tomorrow we're headed out to Ladd and environs; I hope the "feast" continues (and I'm not referring to the fried chicken!).
CShaveRRThere was also an assortment of tank cars, older and brand-new, stencilled for the transportation of "Tar Oil" (is that what comes from the tar sands?).
Hi Carl,
I've been meaning to drop by the lounge for awhile now and this gives me a good reason to.
Oil from the Alberta Oil Sands is normally referred to as Synthetic Crude or Syncrude. "Tar Oil" sounds like the oil component of asphalt. Two notes; first, Oil Sands is a name developed in the last twenty years or so to make the product more eco-friendly sounding than Tar Sands, and secondly, Synthetic Crude is not to be confused with synthetic oil sold as Mobile 1 and other similar brands.
Now to jump into your wheelhouse. Procor (PROX) are far and away the biggest handler of Canadian Petroleum products of every description. Procor is the Canadian affiliate/partner of Union Tank Car. Procor handles all UTLX related business in Canada, but is a separate company from Union Tank. Unfortunately, from your perspective there are also plenty of GATX and UTLX cars operating up here. I am curious as to what reporting mark was on that "Tar Oil" car.
Going to the "Images" section of either Google or Yahoo and typing in "Procor PROX" will bring up pictures of some of the most bizarre looking tank cars you ever saw, some of which are quite old. There are many types of cars I have never seen, which must have been built for very specialized purposes, in very small numbers.
I have another post I think will be of interest to you and Jeff which I hope to put up here in the next few days.
Bruce
So shovel the coal, let this rattler roll.
"A Train is a Place Going Somewhere" CP Rail Public Timetable
"O. S. Irricana"
. . . __ . ______
PROX cars were not in the mix of "Tar oil" cars that I saw today: I had NATX (many different series), SHPX, GAMX, and PLCX. It was the SHPX tank cars that were built this past June and July.I did see a couple of PROX cars for liquefied petroleum gas on those trains. PROX cars aren't too uncommon around here. They have been getting brand-new cars recently, but they used to seem about a step behind the U.S. equivalent (Union Tank Car) all the time, just like CN and CP were always a little behind on freight equipment (slower to retire 40-foot box cars, to adopt center-beam flat cars, etc.).
Happy Kalmbach Day, everyone!I plan on celebrating by chasing trains in a hitherto-unexplored (by me/us) area.
Carl: Just when I thought my project in your backyard was over, it has acquired a new mystery (second screw-up on ex PRR by PC/CR) and on top of that I get handed a CB&Q mystery at Ottawa. Appropriate week for this corned-fusion with PC/CR playing the part of Ichabod Crane.
Same area in Gary?I was just through Ottawa today. The old CB&Q is operated by a shortline now (Illinois Railnet? I think Eolafan knows for sure), and they have an engine facility not far off U.S. 6 west of Illinois 23 there.Disastrous trip out west. Rip's Chicken was worth the trek, and we were able to buy gas for about 40 cents a gallon cheaper. I got a bunch of good sightings at Ladd...then lost the pad I'd written them on. Got a few consolation sightings at Creston (just east of Rochelle) and DeKalb, though.
Randy, I passed up a truck from your company on I-55 headed south between I-355 and I-80 at about 10:00 this morning. Driver looked kind of youngish and had glasses...wasn't you, was it?
Carl:
(1) Yep - the west site. (seems even the county isn't quite sure who owns a certain parcel [and their tax income might be less than what it should have been]) Getting weird - the answers I came up with weeks ago suddenly have an unexplained asterisk attached.
(2) It's Illinois Railway now (OmniTrax) and the site is just north of US6 in sight of the enginehouse. Just south of the old Rock main now run by CSX with IAIS overhead rights. Big jigsaw puzzle with locals modifying parts to suit their needs whether they fit or not. City and county records are a mess.
I heard that CN cancelled their order or new SD70ACe units recently. I wonder if they will see if GE can get a few more ES44ACs heading their way. Lots of fog today...and I think I need to seek out some C30-7s "up nort" fairly soon...
Going to where the locomotives and the pines are both green, huh?Never had much luck in getting close to the yard up there, but there were always some neat cars close to roads in the Ishpeming and Negaunee area. And it's fun to see the chutes lower and a carload of pellets slide into the hold of a freighter.
I'm swamped with freight-car information today. My report was "due" yesterday; I hope to finish it today.
Oh--I'm very proud of my grandson Nico. He couldn't decide whether he wanted to be a train or an octopus for Halloween today. So he came up with a "traintopus". His idea...but his mother and her friend seem to have nailed it, from the pictures I've seen.
Carl, can you send us a picture the traintopus?
Johnny
I can try (but I doubt that the "https" at the beginning will permit its being seen unless you're on Facebook):
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10201496667032177&set=a.1076232339645.13364.1041319112&type=1&theater
Many long-time readers of Trains will recognize the name Robert LeMassena, as an author and an authority on steam propulsion.He passed away on October 1; a memorial service for him will be held on November 13 at the Colorado Railroad Museum.I met him for the first (and only) time at the Museum in 2007. Another bastion of knowledge now gone, save for his writings.
CShaveRR I can try (but I doubt that the "https" at the beginning will permit its being seen unless you're on Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10201496667032177&set=a.1076232339645.13364.1041319112&type=1&theater
I'm signed into FB, but it says "not available." I tried taking the "s" out, and it didn't help.
Just got a file from a research correspondent, showing a couple of covered hopper cars (UP or MP origin) that are now on their eighth distinct reporting mark. There are over 100 cars in the file, and most of them have had considerably fewer operators, but all have had at least four, and most five or more.
Of course, this will mean updating files at this end...and that means tinkering with around 20 different files here (one for each company involved)!Maybe it's a good thing that I don't see so much trackside any more.
Jeff, did you know about (or have anything to do with) that 241-car frac-sand train that departed Mason City for Texas yesterday? I guess it had seven units (3/2/2), and was over two miles long in spite of the fact that these were probably all short covered hoppers. Over 32,000 tons. I guess some of the cars were scheduled to be set out at Parsons.
No, I was out on the west end yesterday coming home. I've heard of them running some sand trains like that every now and then. I bet that threw a wrench in things. South out of Mason City to Nevada is TWC. One siding at Iowa Falls (called Argon) has dispatcher controlled switches, the control points are considered to be manual interlockings with the south one also including the CN (exIC) crossing. (The crossing itself is an automatic interlocking, so if you have to flag thru the CP, you still have to operate the time release after talking to the dispatcher.)
The other two sidings, Sheffield and Buckeye, are hand throws with a spring switch at the south end of both. Usually the plan is to have southbounds take the siding at meets. None of these, or the CTC sidings at South Nevada and Cambridge on towards Des Moines are long enough for a train of that size.
South of Des Moines, most traffic is southbound (northbounds mostly come up over the exMP to Omaha, then east over the exCNW to Nevada) so meets wouldn't be as much of a problem.
Talking with a couple of union Local Chairmen, they've said in the last couple of monthly meetings they have with the railroad, the railroad has said that long term they would still like to build a big yard over around Ames/Nevada, near the junction with the Spine. The yards at Marshalltown, Boone and Des Moines are all surrounded by city with no room to expand. A new yard could eliminate, at least for classification work, those existing yards. I'm sure some yard facility at each, especially DM, would remain to handle local industry work. Also still talking about a third track across Iowa east/west and double tracking the Spine. I probably won't see it all, but hope to see some of it.
Considering that they haven't done much on second-tracking the Blair Line lately, I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for a third track across Iowa.
I remember talk about a classification yard at Nevada right after CNW got the Spine Line. That kind of evaporated after CNW didn't get the Milwaukee Road.
The UP still owns land over by Nevada. The other night at our monthly union meeting, the time line for double tracking the Spine was figured to be some time in the next 15 years. No mention of the east/west line or yard.
We were also informed that we're losing some auto traffic to the BNSF. (May not need that third main after all if this keeps up.) One customer has said when the current contract is up, they're going to move their business to the BNSF. The reason? The customer got tired of the treatment they get from the Sales/Marketing group. They said the BNSF people aren't as arrogant and easier to deal with. I guess are people haven't heard the last few CEO messages about how we need to start growing volumes.
I sometimes think that some in the glass palace have been lulled into a false sense of security since they've been able to claim record profits much of the last few years, even during the down economy and depressed car loadings. They've cut about all they can and are going to have to actually move freight if they want to keep up profits. I think the CEO mentioning that fact is a good thing, but maybe not everybody has got the memo.
We're too good for that, huh? I remember the use of the term "arrogant" when UP took CNW over, and yes, they were. There must have been some indoctrination that officers went through, because some ex-CNW guys soon became the worst of the bunch. You'd think they'd learn that some attitudes will drive even the big customers away. It will be harder to get them back than it will be to drive 'em off.
Had a small train coming home from Fremont today. Only 172 cars (99 loads-73 mtys -14000 tons) for 11,500 feet. Didn't run too bad and we never stopped once we left Fremont. Slowed down in a few places, but didn't stop. Which is probably a good thing, since we didn't fit in very many places.
When we arrived, we heard there was a derailment at or near West Chicago. Haven't heard any details, but a train behind us was told they weren't going to call them out because they weren't taking trains. About 15 mins later the dispatcher told them they were going to call them out, but it would be about 2 hours and they would be held out until then.
I see on the news there was some bad storms that way and wonder if the derailment was weather related. I hope that Carl and our other forum friends who might be in the path of the storm system are OK.
I heard something on one of the other forums about a derailment as well, but if there had been one, it didn't affect the main line. UP stopped the scoots at the first warning, and didn't turn 'em loose for about 90-100 minutes. Then they annulled the next pair departing (two hours later). But if there had been a mainline derailment anywhere east of Elburn it would have caused more of a disruption, I suspect. I also don't suspect a yard derailment that would have disrupted much, unless some stack cars blew over in the yard, clear of the main line. We had powerful winds and a bit of rain, but that was about it.No damage to speak of in our immediate area. My raked yard doesn't look raked any more. I was able to gather a couple of armloads of twigs and small branches out of our yard this morning, in time for the yard-waste pickup.
The train-watching gods must have been smiling on me today (trust me, any photographers wouldn't have seen it this way!). Pat booted me out of the house to deposit a check for her (she was too busy, and even if I'm busy on my research work and have a report to do, I'm always busy...sez she!), and that involves a trip to Elmhurst to go to that particular bank. So I grabbed my ticket to ride (after a frantic search for same--I won't tell you where I found it!), forgot my watch, and took off.Before I got to the crossing, the gates went down and a solo GP15-1 headed west. No cars that I could see (there's a rise in the street, so it may have had a flat car or two). As I got up to the platform, another westbound train (this one was empty coal gons) came through. It was then I found that my pens weren't in my shirt pocket. I'd have to get a new pen when I got to Elmhurst, because my train was arriving right then. (Fortunately that train, with a wide assortment of CEFX, NCUX, and other cars, didn't really have anything I needed.) The westbound scoot met us just before we arrived at Elmhurst. I got off...saw a headlight for another westbound, so I beat it to the nearest store where I could buy a pen. Bought the pen, the train still hadn't moved out, but an eastbound was lined into the yard (red-over-lunar) from Track 1. I got back to the station, decided to mail the bill that was in my pocket. By the time I crossed the tracks to do that, the westbound was coming at me. I got across the tracks, dropped the bill in the mailbox, and came back. The gates were down, so I was stuck on the "wrong" side of the tracks. It was a slow-moving stack train on Track 2. I went into my pocket to get the pen to unwrap...not in my left pocket. Checked the right pocket, found two pens that I'd had with me all along...grrr!
As the four units of the stacker went by me, I saw a reflection of light on one of the containers: another westbound! This one would be on Track 3. Five big units (not sure how many were on line), and it was a manifest. So I wasn't on the wrong side, after all. Took plenty of notes. He was moving quite a bit faster than the stack train (raised eyebrows at that), and got by while the stacker was still moving past. One unfamiliar reporting mark on a two-unit sludge-container car. No sooner did the stacker get clear and I got across the track than the gates went down again. It was the eastbound that was lined into the yard on Track 1. Lots of power again (seven units, not all on line, and one of which was a Southern Pacific). And it was another manifest. More notes, including a new series of covered hoppers built in September. Then, "Danger! Another train coming!" I couldn't see it, but the ATWS was sounding off. The eastbound manifest cleared me just as two SD70s went by on Track 2, pulling yet another manifest! More notes to take, though this train contained cars from series that were mostly familiar to me. This whole show took only about a half hour! I walked to the bank (about 1/3 mile), and had enough time to get back and across the tracks before my scoot came. We met the eastbound scoot-l'heure by the gravel pit. Nothing the rest of the way home, or while I was still in the vicinity of the tracks afterwards, but that was certainly a worthwhile trip for me.I was trying to get a sightings report out tonight. I was close, but I'll have to put in a few notes from today's haul before it goes out. Suppertime now, but I have at least this evening's activity taken care of!
I'm back. Customer service got me a new key(Thank you). Ns has been busy. Csx is very busy as well. work is busy busy busy. Ma nature is getting ready to open the freezer. Matt brought his papers home and he is dealing aces. Chores to do tonight. Errands to do tomorrow. Hope to see some csx action too.
stay safe
Joe
Deshler Ohio-crossroads of the B&O Matt eats your fries.YUM! Clinton st viaduct undefeated against too tall trucks!!!(voted to be called the "Clinton St. can opener").
ATWS?
You won't see this one anywhere else, SJ: ATWS is the "Another Train Warning System" now employed on the UP's Overland Route near select Metra stations: If one train has the crossing gates down and another train enters the crossing circuit, this kicks in: a sign reading "DANGER! ANOTHER TRAIN COMING" begins to flash, and an automated voice reads the sign for you. It's very petulant about it, like you're being punished by the voice sending another train. Lombard doesn't have this, because there are no grade crossings near enough to the station (except for the pedestrian crossing, which was supposed to be replaced by a tunnel a couple of years ago...), and Wheaton doesn't have any because it was supposed to get an overhead pedestrian bridge (which still hasn't happened, either).Joe, I hope you have tolerable weather for your foray tomorrow. We'll be out in it, but any trains seen will be purely coincidental. No precipitation, but highs only in the 20s.
Mookie ATWS?
Carl, I think you need to brush up on your French. It should be "scoot de la heure."
Thanks, Johnny--I didn't have time to ask. Is that a difference in gender that changes du to de? And why is the la in this one and not in du jour?(I should be asking Pat--she's taken French. But she's busy preparing for our historical society's fete on behalf of our former director.)
Yes, Carl, French is a little more difficult than English when it comes to both definite and indefinite articles. "La" and "une" are used with feminine nouns and adjectives; "le and "un" are used with masculine nouns and adjectives--but if the masculine noun begins with a vowel or an unaspirated (unpronounced) "h," "l'" is used as the definite article. If a feminine noun begins with the letter "h", it does not matter if it is aspirated or not. "Heure" (as I was taught) is pronounced more or less "er." If a singular noun is masculine, "de le" is contracted to "du;" if a plural noun is masculine, "de les" is contracted to "des". However, if a plural noun is feminine, there is no contraction of "de les."
The only time I remember really making use of my high school French, I was walking back to the station in Québec (remember, the French "qu," just as the Spanish "qu," is pronounced as though it were like a "k;" If the English had reached Lower Canada first, we would have the province and city of Kebec, which is a "First Tribe" name). I was looking at a map, and still missed a turn. As I was trying to figure out how to get back where I wanted to go, un Québeçois approached me, and asked en anglais if he could help me. When in Rome, do as the Romans do (if what Rome does is right), so I replied en francais. He did understand my need, and showed me, on my map, how I needed to go.
Incidentally, when traveling by train in Canada, except in Québec, announcements are made in English first and then in French; in Québec, the French announcement comes first. I am sure some Québeçois would prefer that no English be used anywhere, but, even in Québec there are newspapers published in English, and people who meet the public are bilingual, just as the people who interact with USA tourists in Tia Juana speak both languages
Congratulations today to Dan ("CNW6000"), who bagged Bambi's 9-point father. Venison for a few weeks, anyway!
CShaveRR Congratulations today to Dan ("CNW6000"), who bagged Bambi's 9-point father. Venison for a few weeks, anyway!
I almost got Bambi's mom yesterday - with the locomotive. You could count the feet between her and the pilot on one hand when she cleared...
Threatening us with some weather over the next couple of days, but it looks like we'll have reasonable weather for the Polar Express trips this weekend. The trip to my daughter's house for Thanksgiving may not be as pleasant, though.
tree68I almost got Bambi's mom yesterday - with the locomotive. You could count the feet between her and the pilot on one hand when she cleared...
That is a nasty sound. Thumpthumpthumpthump...
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
zugmann tree68I almost got Bambi's mom yesterday - with the locomotive. You could count the feet between her and the pilot on one hand when she cleared... That is a nasty sound. Thumpthumpthumpthump...
Then there was that eight cars full of families behind me....
Thanks Carl. It felt good to get that buck. 9 points, 16" inside spread and dressed at 165 lbs. Enough meat for a while.
Now it's off to the woods to play beagle for my dad...and see about finding a doe.
Hope Dad got his too, Dan, in time for dinner!I also hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving, wherever it may have found you. I'm sure half of the football fans weren't so happy.We made it up to Michigan in spite of the advisory of lake-effect snow through northwestern Indiana and western Michigan. For us that involved a trip further east before going north. Consequently, I was lucky enough to catch a train of the Michigan Southern (or whatever that railroad now is) at White Pigeon, Michigan, and a freight of the Grand Elk Railroad near Three Rivers, Michigan. Both trains yielded neat sightings for me. We had mostly sunny skies all the way up, except for where we had to cross the snow belt perpendicularly in the vicinity of South Bend.Today, however, the snow caught up with us. We woke up to about six inches on the vehicle, and had to make several trips over roads in varying states of plowedness (looks like I coined another word here). While we were at dinner a few more inches fell, and I had to brush the SUV off again after our trip up north for dessert. But, far more importantly than the food, we got together with lots of members of both families, and some foreign students from Poland, Russia, and India which my niece brought to dinner with her. Our baby grandson held up well for most of the day, but had a meltdown just before bedtime. It's rough work, being the main attraction at three different gatherings (or one of the main attractions, at the gathering where there were two other babies of the same age, all second-cousins).
Well dad didn't see any deer. I walked a couple miles thru the brush trying to flush one (or more) out and it didn't work. That happens.
Spent some time trackside yesterday and got quite a few NB trains including phosphate loads from CSXT, two stack trains and three "manifest" trains that had exactly one boxcar on each but were over 100 cars total. Lots of hoppers (grain and potash) and tanks.
My sister got her boy (3 yrs old) one of those plastic caterpillar train sets for his birthday. It was opened with the help of his 4 year old sister who then commented: "Let's put this together so we can take turns!". Well, that was nice of her.
Guess it was a big hit. And don't worry - once they get a little older, I'm sure their railroader uncle will buy them a Lionel set.
zugmannGuess it was a big hit. And don't worry - once they get a little older, I'm sure their railroader uncle will buy them a Lionel set.
My grandson already likes trains and has a sizable collection of "Thomas" stuff.
He also likes fire trucks. I have a substantial number of diecasts, ranging from Hot Wheels to museum-quality items. I'm tempted to show them to him, but he's four - I'm not sure it would turn out well...
tree68 zugmannGuess it was a big hit. And don't worry - once they get a little older, I'm sure their railroader uncle will buy them a Lionel set. My grandson already likes trains and has a sizable collection of "Thomas" stuff. He also likes fire trucks. I have a substantial number of diecasts, ranging from Hot Wheels to museum-quality items. I'm tempted to show them to him, but he's four - I'm not sure it would turn out well...
My older grandson is definitely into the Thomas stuff (he's 5 1/2 now). He subscribes (courtesy of Grandpa) to the Thomas the Tank Engine magazine (his older sisters get Highlights), and he tells me about anything he does in connection with trains.My daughter gave him and his sister pictures of turkeys for Thanksgiving, and told them to "disguise" the turkey (to keep it from being devoured). For Nico, the tall neck and head became a stack and a plume of smoke, and the large breast (or pair of breasts) had a smiling Thomas face on it. The fan-tail profile became the cab, and a pilot covered the legs. My other grandson is too young for trains yet. He had his first train ride in October, but he's definitely a jet-setter. At four months he's probably gotten as many frequent-flier miles as a free rider could accumulate, with two round trips out this way from California...he's already visited four states in his young life, and gotten a good look at a snowfall on Thanksgiving Day in Michigan.(Alas, they returned home to California this morning. The house seems quiet once again.
Missouri's Department of Natural Resources has given permission for a company to start mining "frack" sand in an area not far from the town I live in. The sand is to be trucked to a trans-load (right term?) facility (mentioned here: A Modern Team Track? ) where it will be loaded in to railcars. At work, we were discussing what type of railcars. We figured covered hoppers would be used. There was disagreement on the type of hoppers. Anyone know what the railroads are using? My curiosity has gotten the better of me.
Thanks,
James
Frac sand is usually hauled in small-cube (3000-3400-cubic-foot-capacity) covered hoppers. The cars have gravity outlets (nothing fancy), and maybe three or four round roof hatches up top. Carrying it in open-top cars would cause loss of commodity, not to mention consternation among neighbors of the railroad and fouling of ballast. The use of larger covered hoppers would be inefficient, since the load limit would be reached before the cars were filled.
James,
I've seen CN use short two-bay hoppers for this and UP use both two-bay hoppers and open gondolas.
I haven't seen gondolas for frac sand, only covered hoppers. It could be something with the grade of sand and where it's going. I've seen both small and larger covered hoppers, with the larger ones being older and probably on their last assignments before being cut up. (Alter at Council Bluffs has recently started cutting up some old cars there. Some old CNW and MP covered hoppers, both large and small.)
Right now because of where I'm working, I'm seeing the empty cars being returned. The loads going south go through Des Moines to Kansas City. The empties, because of UP's directional running, come north out of KC to Omaha and then east to the Spine at Nevada, IA. Sometimes, they take the long way and go all the way east to Proviso before heading north.
Besides Pearl Harbor, today we honor the pearl of the Forums on her birthday.One can't say enough about Ms. Mookie, the kitten who would work for milk, and whose curiosity is infectious. Many years ago she was one of the inspirations that kept me on the Forum. She reminded me of an inquisitive little sister, so I "adopted" her. I've since found out that she has the knack for saying just the right thing to make one smile, or to make one think...or both!Without revealing too much, today is a birthday bearing a significant number. But don't be lulled into complacency by that...no telling how many lives she has left. Happy birthday, SJ! Hugs from Pat and me!
Carl, Dan, and Jeff, thanks for the information.
Hmmm. I better put Madam LaMook's b'day on my calendar...
On railroad all weekend, so out of touch with forums. Decent weekend, despite some power issues on the train Sunday. We got through them. Another 2,700 reasonably happy riders!
tree68 Hmmm. I better put Madam LaMook's b'day on my calendar...
SJ, accumulating birthdays isn't such a bad thing, when you consider the alternative.We finally have enough snow on the ground here to cover grass and the remaining leaves. And the roads...not a pretty picture around here last night. Today is sunny and very bright. But not very warm--I show 17 degrees locally in midday.No train sightings or anything today; still recuperating from a cold and subsequent funk. I have plenty of research to keep me occupied--this time I'm looking at the old CSXT hoppers (mostly off the Chessie side of things) that made up the 7400 series on the Reading & Northern.
SJ, accumulating birthdays isn't such a bad thing, when you consider the alternative.
BC - I will get younger?
Umm...no, SJ, you'll just cease to accumulate birthdays, weight, fortune, friends, fame (maybe not), and oxygen...
P.S. Anyone have a few degrees to spare? I only have two of them up here.Of course, if I don't get to bed pretty quickly I might get the third degree from Pat...
CShaveRRP.S. Anyone have a few degrees to spare? I only have two of them up here.
We're actually at 35 here in the north woods of NY. But the prognosticators have threatened us with up to two feet of snow in "persistant squall areas." I don't live in one of those areas, but if the winds shift to the southwest, we'll probably see a decent accumulation.
The way the wind is blowing, we'll have Carl's balmy temperatures here sooner rather than later...
From what I understand, we lost those two degrees (and borrowed one from somewhere) for a while overnight.Tomorrow night the performance repeats itself, and probably outdoes itself. And tomorrow we're under a winter weather advisory.
D'ya think?
Hmmmm. I think my snow qualifications are out of date.
Nice photo, zug - the one circumstance when those mainly black units might be more visible, rather than less as is more usual (IMHO) . . .
- Paul North.
jeffhergert I haven't seen gondolas for frac sand, only covered hoppers. It could be something with the grade of sand and where it's going. I've seen both small and larger covered hoppers, with the larger ones being older and probably on their last assignments before being cut up. (Alter at Council Bluffs has recently started cutting up some old cars there. Some old CNW and MP covered hoppers, both large and small.) Right now because of where I'm working, I'm seeing the empty cars being returned. The loads going south go through Des Moines to Kansas City. The empties, because of UP's directional running, come north out of KC to Omaha and then east to the Spine at Nevada, IA. Sometimes, they take the long way and go all the way east to Proviso before heading north. Jeff
Short 'n Heavy on Flickr
The next shot is what I usually see from CN. Train L576 usually shuttles frac sand south from Stevens Point, WI (after another local runs it there) so it's not a 'true' unit train but for sand it's about as close as I can get. This one is seen along Lake Winnebago with an ex-Oakway SD60 leading a CN C40-8M "barn".
CN Frac Sand on Flickr
Interesting operations either way.
Thank you for the pictures, Dan. On the pictured covered hoppers, does anyone know how many hatches do they have on top?
You're welcome. I think I have a photo...but can't seem to find it. I'll keep digging unless someone can chime in.
I noticed on the gon picture that there is a little of the sand flying off the top. That would be bothersome, as I mentioned, to anyone whom that train was passing by, and to the ballast eventually.
CShaveRR I noticed on the gon picture that there is a little of the sand flying off the top. That would be bothersome, as I mentioned, to anyone whom that train was passing by, and to the ballast eventually.
Gives the DPU traction.
zugmann CShaveRR I noticed on the gon picture that there is a little of the sand flying off the top. That would be bothersome, as I mentioned, to anyone whom that train was passing by, and to the ballast eventually. Gives the DPU traction.
I will say that I did notice "a bit" of sand in the air as the train went south/east bound past me. It wasn't a cloud of sand or anything but I did notice it. I'll have to dig in my notes to see if I can find what the train symbol was...usually I have/know/find it but it's not coming to me for some odd reason. I wonder if they still run like that. I don't normally 'fan' that line. Good excuse for a road trip!
Ma Nature finally sent us some (little) amount of that white stuff that falls from the sky. Not much though...two and a half more days until vacation...sigh...
Jeff - a WPSX loaded coal train was through your neck of the woods overnight/today. Had WPSX 600 (gondola) in consist. Were you the lucky one who got to "drive" it?
I study those WPSX trains when they come past me. They usually have a fine assortment of gons and hoppers, with rotary-coupler ends painted three or four different colors.What I'm looking for when I see them is the gon (one per train) with two rotary couplers. They can usually be differentiated by some change in code in UMLER listings, but not in WPSX's case. WPSX 401-781 (yellow rotary ends) have no double-rotary cars that I've found. WPSX 801-927 (green rotary ends) have 801 and 802 with two rotary couplers. WPSX 1001-1150 (hoppers with vermilion rotary ends) have at least four double-rotary cars, with random numbers; a couple of those appear to have been added after the cars were built. Finally, WPSX 1401-1814 (unpainted aluminum, with orange rotary ends) have at least three cars, all in the 1700 series, with two rotary couplers. I don't know how many more are out there.
Fascinating note there Carl. As I only see the trains destined for Pulliam in Green Bay, WI (not rotary equipped) I won't see any of the 'bathtub' sets unless someone screws up or BNSF takes the contract over again. If BNSF gets it they run trains to Weston through this area too and then I would see the 'bathtub' gons. Once, a bathtub set was sent to Pulliam by mistake and nobody caught it until it was at the plant. Saw loads go up and back in the same day as they couldn't unload them in Green Bay. Train was sent west to Weston.
Caught an interesting lash the other day. GP38/SD60F/GP38...and boy were those Geeps screaming! Also caught a lash with SD38/SD60F/GP38...same thing. A couple of times I wished I was doing video instead of stills.
I've been bemoaning the fact that my sightings in December have so far taken up only one page in the "paper trail". It's allowed me to get a few things researched for other folks, obtaining help from online contacts, etc. But yesterday we had lunch at my favorite deli, and in less than an hour three freights went through: an inbound WEPX coal train, an outbound manifest, and an inbound train comprised entirely of brand-new TILX frac-sand covered hoppers (334300 and 334400 series). There might be another 100 cars coming later, as the series shows as going up through 334581.(The coal train and manifest didn't have anything for me...just a few cars to check on, and I had that information already.) What I'm hoping to see for myself is one of UP's 100 new mechanical reefers, ARMN 170225-170324. The lower-numbered cars in this group were probably relettered from GBRX reporting marks.
I picked a bad day to go train-hunting today. Besides cold, rainy weather forcing me to use the car, I encountered (from a couple of blocks away) a Metra-pedestrian incident at Main Street in Glen Ellyn. I don't know about the extent of the injuries, but the eastbound scoot involved was annulled east of Glen Ellyn, and its passengers accommodated on the next scoot an hour later. No traffic was getting through easily (even the westbound scoot sustained a long delay). A crossover at Wheaton might have been helpful here, but those new crossovers haven't been placed in service yet. I caught an eastbound manifest stopped on Track 2 in Wheaton, but he was still sitting there when I returned from West Chicago (no immediate action on CN at West Chicago, either).Plenty of reefers visible on the manifest I saw, but none of the new ones. I have enough research work to keep me occupied while Pat builds up her Christmas wardrobe.
We were stopped today in Council Bluffs because of traffic ahead of us. Where we were stopped was at the west end of the yard complex, which includes controlled switches and signals. This stretch of track has 5 signals in about two miles, all but one an absolute signal. We were stopped, behind a train about midway where we could see the next 3 signals. The first one on a signal bridge, the second was a "pot" or dwarf signal and the third a wayside pole signal, all absolutes.
The train ahead left. After a few minutes all three signals changed to approach. That pot signal is always hard to see, especially in daylight. As I was getting ready to pull, I had to change radio channels for a minute as we have to check with the yrdmstr if there is any Track Breach Protection in effect. After talking to him and switching back I look up and we still have approaches on the bridge and pole signal, but I can't see the yellow on the pot signal. I ask the conductor and he can't see it anymore either. We can't tell if it went red or dark. While we are "job briefing" (discussing the situation) I start to see it sort of flicker between yellow and unobservable. The conductor notices this too.
Then I see what's causing the "flickering." About a dozen turkeys had been hanging around the track eating spilled grain. We couldn't see that pot signal because there was a turkey standing right in front of it! He was just the right size to block the light, but until he moved away from it, not big enough to be noticeable by himself. I released the brakes and we started across town.
Shoulda grabbed the turkey. Sounds like he was already stuffed.
Norm
Had a weasel been holding the turkey in front of the pot to see what you would do when you reached the pot?
jeffhergert . . . After talking to him and switching back I look up and we still have approaches on the bridge and pole signal, but I can't see the yellow on the pot signal. I ask the conductor and he can't see it anymore either. We can't tell if it went red or dark. While we are "job briefing" (discussing the situation) I start to see it sort of flicker between yellow and unobservable. The conductor notices this too. Then I see what's causing the "flickering." About a dozen turkeys had been hanging around the track eating spilled grain. We couldn't see that pot signal because there was a turkey standing right in front of it! He was just the right size to block the light . . . Jeff
Then I see what's causing the "flickering." About a dozen turkeys had been hanging around the track eating spilled grain. We couldn't see that pot signal because there was a turkey standing right in front of it! He was just the right size to block the light . . . Jeff
Train Crew: "DS, can you verbally clear us past the pot signal ? We can't see the indication."
DS: "Why not ? What's the problem ? Is it out ? Should I call the maintainer ?"
Train Crew: "No, there's a large turkey standing in front of the signal . . . "
Good thing it wasn't a bear, I suppose. Thanks for sharing !
P.S. - More on Track Breach Protection - such as when a train crew member has to occupy a 'hot main' to walk and inspect a train - such as one that's gone into emergency - or a malfunctioning locomotive, etc.:
http://v045.ax2600ab.omhq.uprr.com/emp/news/uponline/2013/september/09_11_weekly_safety_topic.shtml
Jeff, if you had a less experienced conductor, you could have said that you were using the horn to call for the signal. Then, watch the signal clear up after you sounded the horn.
Carl, that's one for The Treasury of Railroad Folklore!
We had an old pot signal that was getting real bad (dirty/old/unfocused). We'd come down to the signal in the morning and the sun would hit it at such an angle that you couldn't see what it said. No biggie, it was the first interlocking signal coming off dark territory, so you had to be prepared to stop regardless, so we'd stop the train, I'd hop down, walk over to it, shade it with my shadow so I could see the slow clear it was trying to show, jump back in the cab and off we go.
Got some funny looks from the people sitting at the adjacent road, but you do what you have to do.
Signal has been replaced, BTW.
Carl - Saw about a dozen COER boxcars headed east on the CSX Chicago Line through Utica Sunday. All very similar, but I don't recall now if that means "new" or just all patched the same. I'm leaning toward at least recently painted...
Merry Christmas, everyone!Right now we're in the Land of No Trains, waiting for the weather to improve. We may decide to remain until tomorrow. Either that, or put runners on the car and find a good horse who knows the way...COER is becoming one of those companies that gets a lot of cars when per diem pays more than mileage. In their case, the cars are owned by The CIT Group. And I suspect that they're patched.
Sometimes these things start innocently enough...We got out of church, and wondered aloud whether there was anyplace we should go before going home. I decided to take a route along the tracks, and noticed that an eastbound train was lined up, with no scoot due for well over an hour. At that point it occurred to us that we really should put gas in our car (first time since our trip home on Christmas), so we went to our usual gas station, still the best price among all we saw. Then, since I had screwed up on a color choice for a quilt, I offered to take Pat to the quilt-fabric store to get the proper shade of purple (darker than what we'd already gotten...twice!). We headed off that way, then decided that we had enough colors to get by, so I just went toward the tracks in Elmhurst.The eastbound on Track 1 was still lined up, and it had high greens on both signals in Elmhurst, typical of what a scoot would get. So I was ready to go home. And as I drew in my hopes and was turning around, down the track appeared a headlight! I was able to find a spot first-out at the crossing for the manifest, which gave me a few good sightings to check on; nothing particularly new. After the train passed, I looked up as we were crossing the tracks...another headlight, eastbound on 2! I drove around a few blocks, and by the time I got back to the tracks I could see that it was a stack train. I drove west along it as it was headed east. Nothing exciting (I don't usually look too hard at the cars on a stack train, but there were some series of secondhand cars I was hoping to see...no luck this time). We headed back toward Lombard along North Avenue. Amazingly, the gates on the CN were going down ahead of us! A very long eastbound freight came through. I had to get into the left-turn lane to get as close as possible. There were, again, a few potentially-useful notes made.So we turned left on Addison Road, crossing the track where the train had just been (single track...not a chance we'd see anything else there). But about a half-mile south, we crossed the UP again. And, coming around the curve was another eastbound on Track 2! It turned out to be another stacker, and it also turned out to be stopping short of the crossing, for whatever reason. So we left it there, and headed for home. Never did catch the westbound that had appeared to be ready to head out while we were in Elmhurst.This entire episode took about 45 minutes, including filling up with gasoline. I often wish I'd have this much success on the trips I take to go train-hunting!
Happy birthday today to our favorite (and brightest, wittiest, and best-looking) creature from the swamp: Ed Blysard.As you used to say, Ed, Stay frosty! (Just don't stand out in it!)
With the upcoming end of another three-month life at the Lounge, I'm wondering whether now would be the time to consolidate things over at the Chatterbox.There was a time when we needed an alternative to the "Depot Diner and Coffee Shop", and, more recently, the "Flat Wheel Diner", which seemed to highlight fictional food above life in general. The past quarter has brought new life to that venue, and taken the attention away from fictional serving of food.
We like trains, people over there like trains. The conversation about railroads is generally deeper over here, but we could do that over there as well. We're still available to answer questions for the newbies, give advice to the people who want to hunt trains, and whatever. But sometimes a smile or two helps things along as well.Comments welcome, of course!
Only 125, well now 126, posts in this topic over the last quarter. May be a good time to draft a letter of intent to the STB.
CShaveRRComments welcome, of course!
In addition to being an alternative to the "Diner," as I recall, the Lounge was supposed to be sort of a "no specific topic" railfan thread, to include the posting of pictures. While there haven't been a lot of pictures, it has served the railfan aspect pretty well.
The diner was intended to be the home of off-topic socializing, and was copied from similar threads on other Trains/MR forums.
tree68 CShaveRRComments welcome, of course! In addition to being an alternative to the "Diner," as I recall, the Lounge was supposed to be sort of a "no specific topic" railfan thread, to include the posting of pictures. While there haven't been a lot of pictures, it has served the railfan aspect pretty well. The diner was intended to be the home of off-topic socializing, and was copied from similar threads on other Trains/MR forums.
Let's try one more quarter...http://cs.trains.com/trn/f/111/t/226239.aspx
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