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.
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)
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.
Jeff
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?
She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw
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."
Johnny
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.
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...
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.
Dan
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!
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