Quentin, that's a great story, and very nice of you! Thinking of my granddaughter today, on her ninth birthday, and that inspired me to revive the Forum thread I started back when she was born. I had to search a while for this one.While finding the right thread among all of the threads I have participated in (must be around 4200), I found three threads from various times written by Mookie, just titled "Why?" There's one curious kitty!And SJ, we were out in the good weather watching trains, today, too! It was supposed to be a shopping trip, but I suggested to Pat that she bring her knitting along, just in case. We had a combination of bookstore and fabric store that required visits from us, so I suggested that out beyond Geneva was probably the best place to find these things and get me some much-needed sightings at the same time.Headed out there, we found an inbound manifest while going through Wheaton, another inbound manifest at West Chicago, and a loaded coal train and an outbound scoot at the Kane County line. Lunch was at the Caboose Bar and Grill, inside the station building at Geneva...we had the best seats in the house for an inbound scoot and an outbound manifest. The food itself was very good, too. Definitely a spot to take visiting railfan dignitaries! Two of the manifests I'd seen to that point had my "target" cars in them...one each of 100 new mechanical reefers for the UP. These were relettered from GBRX reporting marks very recently, but were built in April and May of this past year. I'd been looking for one of these cars all month, since I found out they existed!Construction notes: the new crossovers at Wheaton aren't ready for use yet (signals still covered), but the plant now has its permanent name: "CP Y024 College". The name on the signal bungalows had been "Wheaton" throughout the construction phase until now. This is going to be a tough one to get used to, because many of the crews use "College" as short for "College Avenue" when describing the nearest station stop. The control point is not named for the avenue, but for Wheaton College, which is to the north of the entire control point. The new bridge that will carry Illinois 38 over the UP tracks is looking good, with all steel in place. Not much has been done lately, but the snow-covered route that the road will take to get to the bridge is evident from both sides. For now, the highway is down to one lane in each direction, causing big backups, especially when a train goes through. This pair of lanes will have to go up onto the new bridge soon, so that grading for an intersecting road can be completed. The completed road will have four lanes, plus turn lanes for the intersection, with no train interference (I hope the road has good shoulders and a sidewalk on the structure, just in case!).So, coming home from a successful shopping trip, we encountered a westbound stack train at this very crossing. Next was a westbound scoot at West Chicago, followed by a westbound manifest and an eastbound scoot at County Farm Road, between Winfield and Wheaton. The scoot ran interference for us through much of downtown Wheaton, and at Glen Ellyn we were treated to my fifth manifest freight of the day, also westbound.Now I have plenty of work to do...
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)
.....Thanks Carl, I was thrilled to receive the reply back from her daughter, and that it had made a mark on my music teacher of oh so many decades ago. Made me feel good to have "done something nice to a person". Especially Miss Lance.
Quentin
well, didn't win the lottery, but 2nd day of getting in a couple of hours trainwatching.
Actually had some business! Mostly coal coming and going, but a little freight mixed in. And a bonus - 3am, heard Amtrak heading to Chicago, whistling through town. (that line is the only one that can still whistle.)
Near 60 yesterday and today - back to 16 tomorrow with 35 mph gusts of north wind. Murphy - do you have anything to do with this?
She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw
Bit the bullet and bought a new device I hesitate to call a cell phone - they do so much these days. Now I'm busy getting it back to where the old one was. Most of the "apps" are readily available - it's some extra stuff (like ringtones) I may have to run down.
The old "died" three times on the salesperson - a good indication that I was just in time in replacing it.
Off to daughter's house tomorrow for Christmas. Looks like we're having leftovers - she apparently had more than enough to feed the crowd she had at the house Christmas Day.
Warm here (if you consider the 30's warm), at least enough to get rid of much of the ice on the driveway. The overhead power, cable, and phone lines, as well as many trees, are also shedding their ice, so it does one well to know what's over your head at all times. We don't have as much ice as we had during Ice Storm '98, but some of the chunks would probably still give one a good knot on the head.
Time to make cranberry relish to take to Daughter's house. I'll make the pie in the morning.
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...
Tree! We are having left overs thru the month of January - maybe beyond. And relish would be good - along with Blueberry for the pie? When you are in the neighborhood, you know....
I forgot to mention that I was given a Rudolph for Christmas by Katie's son John. It's about four inches long (N gauge?), and all eight wheels turn; no motor, though; No. 9725.
Johnny
Mookie well, didn't win the lottery, but 2nd day of getting in a couple of hours trainwatching. Actually had some business! Mostly coal coming and going, but a little freight mixed in. And a bonus - 3am, heard Amtrak heading to Chicago, whistling through town. (that line is the only one that can still whistle.) Near 60 yesterday and today - back to 16 tomorrow with 35 mph gusts of north wind. Murphy - do you have anything to do with this?
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
Great day yesterday. Went and explored Bellevue. Had some other "joe's" watch trains with us. We also went and looked at Fostoria's new train park. We stopped by Findlay too on the way home. After a weekend snowstorm then a weekend of flooding, glad they had a good weekend for train rides. Need to get ready for Church and Sunday school. Chores to do as well.Back to work tomorrow.
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").
One of my rare days off is about over. Back to the grind (and Sterling).
Mooks: Huskers learn anything after dealing with 'dem Bearkitties?
mudchicken One of my rare days off is about over. Back to the grind (and Sterling). Mooks: Huskers learn anything after dealing with 'dem Bearkitties?
Christmas II with daughter's family complete - she's making great use of the leftovers she had from Chrismas day - we enjoyed shepherd's pie, made with turkey. Turned out well!
Grandson finally got the last big item on his list. His mom coordinated the purchases by both sides grandparents, but he had to wait for today to get my contribution. He knew exactly what he wanted, though, and got it.
Rained most of the day in the Syracuse area, but stayed mostly dry here at home. Hopefully I can clear a little more of the ice off the driveway before temps go south again.
Showed grandson pictures of my diecast fire truck collection. He noted a "transformer," which he's big into right now as well. Letting him see the collection first hand will be a chore, but I think the prize pieces, which aren't toys, will survive.
Monday done.get a couple days off now. Ns had 2 bnsf norange aces on the point of a coal train in the siding. Ma nature is getting ready throw a curveball at us for new years. Happy Birthday tomorrow to Mr. Houston Ed. Going to spend time with Matt and Mamma.
Happy New Year's Eve everyone!
Happy Birthday Houston Ed.
You have another wrinkle in your birthday suit - or so they tell me!
Wrinkles?
What wrinkles?
I have wrinkles?
OMG!....I have wrinkles!
23 17 46 11
Everyone have a great, happy, and safe new year.
Norm
Mookie Happy New Year's Eve everyone! Happy Birthday Houston Ed. You have another wrinkle in your birthday suit - or so they tell me!
Absolutely, and funny hats are my specialty!
Remember folks, have a designated driver tonight…I want all of you to be back here tomorrow!
I'll be doing the same thing I've been doing all along. Staying home.
Happy day wrinkly hat-man and swamp resident!
In the bad old days I could work all day and then go out on New Years Eve. Not gonna happen this year. Da boyz and I are having a snooze-in today.
From yesterday, still see that the former MRL SD-45 (now OMLX 3148) is still sitting at Sterling on BNSF's engine tracks. Think it is now rusted to the rails. NKC Railnet has gotta be paying a monster parking fee.
Norm48327 I'll be doing the same thing I've been doing all along. Staying home.
Same here - but I'll be patiently waiting for some yo-yo to decide he/she can drive home complete with sheets in the wind...
I just finished counting up our responses for the year and posting them on our website, which virtually guarantees we'll have at least one more call...
And - Happy Birthday, Ed!
Sir C - as an FYI on your OMLX - same neighborhood - the city just completed work on the crossing at 14th & Hwy 2 (next to da big house) Still no train traffic, but sure a lot easier on Millie's old joints.
Also sitting home and letting the snow cover us up. We may get upwards of eight inches here by tomorrow night. No place to go tomorrow that I'm aware of, so we probably won't shovel until it stops. That could be Thursday.Nice dinner tonight; sparkling grape juice for later. I fully expect to sleep the new year in.Now back to the research...
Closing down this quarter of Chatterbox. Moving to new space for 2014. Inviting everyone to stop by and either observe or chat.
Happy New Year to all.
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