Trains.com

Chatterbox 2.0

45392 views
585 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,023 posts
Posted by tree68 on Thursday, May 15, 2014 1:09 PM

Mookie

Sunny, chilly, 53.  Ah Spring!

+83F here in the north woods - but the cold front isn't here yet...

Got the mower and snowblower swapped out of their seasonal spots.  Now to mow...

LarryWhistling
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...

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Central Iowa
  • 6,901 posts
Posted by jeffhergert on Thursday, May 15, 2014 2:43 PM

I mowed today.  It just doesn't seem right to mow when you can see your breath.  Although it was a bit refreshing after only having a little over 4 hours sleep.  At least the sprinkles didn't turn into anything heavy.  I don't like mowing in the rain.

Jeff

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,323 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Thursday, May 15, 2014 3:12 PM

cold rain today.Ns ran a train with the southern/wabash heritage units right by work.Couldn't get a picture though.Tomorrow is Friday.Need to check Matt's homework.

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").

 

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois
  • 13,681 posts
Posted by CShaveRR on Thursday, May 15, 2014 3:15 PM

Our lawn definitely needs mowing, but it's either too wet for me to push the mower, or we are too busy with being tour guides or greeters during Lilac Festival.  I hope I can get through the crop on Saturday and that weather allows it--that's probably the first chance I'll get (I'm not out there now because it's wet...we've had 4.5 inches of rain so far this month; the last half-inch hitting this morning).  

Today, Pat and I were holding down the fort as greeters in the carriage house, for those who would like to take the historic tours of Lilacia Park.  It is a soft job (I was on the computer, but without Internet), but extremely frustrating to me, because (a) the trains that come through have to sound their horns for the construction workers who seem to be breaking a little more ground, and (b) I can hear everything, but see nothing.  Oh, well, no more Lilac Festival after Sunday...then I have to start working on eliminating the need for holding the Green Valley Bindweed festival in our yard.

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)

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Georgia USA SW of Atlanta
  • 11,919 posts
Posted by blue streak 1 on Thursday, May 15, 2014 5:24 PM

jeffhergert

I mowed today.  It just doesn't seem right to mow when you can see your breath.   At least the sprinkles didn't turn into anything heavy.  I don't like mowing in the rain.

Jeff

 
Jeff:  What is it going to take to stop  " Old man winter " predicted 45F tonight and the next 2 - 3 nights although have doubts.*  Yes mowing tomorrow at 60 degrees if it dries. t
  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Central Iowa
  • 6,901 posts
Posted by jeffhergert on Friday, May 16, 2014 4:33 AM

Last night on the way west, we met a stack train.  The engine was the UP 4014.  No Big Boy in tow.

Jeff

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: US
  • 13,488 posts
Posted by Mookie on Friday, May 16, 2014 6:50 AM

jeffhergert

Last night on the way west, we met a stack train.  The engine was the UP 4014.  No Big Boy in tow.

Jeff

Cool

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

  • Member since
    May 2005
  • From: S.E. South Dakota
  • 13,569 posts
Posted by Murphy Siding on Friday, May 16, 2014 7:03 AM

     Frost this morning.  I think it killed all the dandelions in my yard.

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois
  • 13,681 posts
Posted by CShaveRR on Friday, May 16, 2014 9:38 AM

No frost here, but to the north and west of us (Elgin, DeKalb), snow is falling!  It's May 16.

I wish something would kill the dandelions in the yards around ours. 

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)

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Denver / La Junta
  • 10,820 posts
Posted by mudchicken on Friday, May 16, 2014 10:01 AM

Kinda explains some things about a survey field crew suddenly not being productive near Streator. (looking for buried section corners under slick wet roads not a healthy thing to be doing right now) - I cut my grass at dusk last night out of self defense. We are supposed to be getting wet shortly and I need some time at work to make-up for being off with my AREMA tribe on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,023 posts
Posted by tree68 on Friday, May 16, 2014 10:58 AM

Mowed front yard yesterday.  May have to call in a farmer to bale the back yard.

Rain today.  Looks like it should end soon, so I may be able to mow the back yard tomorrow.

Temps also down by 30 degrees since yesterday's record-tying high of +84F.

Good thing I've got plenty to do in the house...

LarryWhistling
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...

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,323 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Friday, May 16, 2014 2:31 PM

cool day today.Ns was working uptown when we left. Need to go mow in Defiance before I need to call in a bale wagon. Maybe csx will run something good by us.

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").

 

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: US
  • 13,488 posts
Posted by Mookie on Friday, May 16, 2014 7:14 PM

I am going to go get in my box and pull the lid shut 'til further notice!

Wilted Flower

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Georgia USA SW of Atlanta
  • 11,919 posts
Posted by blue streak 1 on Saturday, May 17, 2014 6:51 AM

45F south of Atlanta this morning.  Have never had to turn heat on in May before.  Usually can balance between warm and cool/

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,323 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Saturday, May 17, 2014 6:38 PM

guessers say frosty in the morning.Csx was backed up at usual.tomorrow will be better.

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").

 

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,023 posts
Posted by tree68 on Saturday, May 17, 2014 8:06 PM

JoeKoh
guessers say frosty in the morning.

Frost warning here for the overnight.  Might do the tulips in for this year, but probably won't hurt the weeds any...

Stopped today to take a couple of pictures of an old school where my grandmother taught many, many years ago.  Also had a nice chat with the fellow across the street (who owns the property), who was wondering why I was poking around and peeking in the windows.  Turns out he knows one of my cousins, who had filled him in on the family history a while back.

LarryWhistling
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...

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: US
  • 13,488 posts
Posted by Mookie on Sunday, May 18, 2014 4:56 PM

Last "cool" nite is gone, now.  Will be mid to upper 80's all this week. 

Train yard fairly quiet.  Did see two NS and one GATX/GMTX.  GATX on hood; GMTX under window.  Really bright blue.  GP-38?

Nice & quiet.  Even trains seemed to whisper by.  Love it! 

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois
  • 13,681 posts
Posted by CShaveRR on Sunday, May 18, 2014 7:36 PM

Today was the last day of the Lilac Festival in Lombard.  After the parade (all two hours' worth!), I gave my last tour of the season at Lilacia Park.  The Historical Society wasn't conducting official tours today, but I couldn't very well not give a tour to my daughter and her family...

This tour took about an hour, including the side trip to Dairy Queen for cones dipped in a lilac shell (actually white chocolate dyed the appropriate shade of purple).  But a lot of the time at the park was spent at the north edge, because no fewer than six westbound freights went by (nothing east).  Nico and his grandpa were enraptured, of course!  The trains included two frac-sand loads, an empty train of WPSX coal cars, two manifests, and a ballast train.

 

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)

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,023 posts
Posted by tree68 on Sunday, May 18, 2014 7:45 PM

Spent most of the day at our county fire training center, looking for stuff we need to fix (our county firefighters association operates the center), and watching a fire training class do searches in the smoke tower, then "fight" a fire in the burn building (they didn't actually put the fire out until the end of the day).  I still smell like hay and pallet smoke, and I didn't even go into the building during the burns.

The class finishes up tomorrow night, and we'll have about 20 more trained firefighters in the county.

It was a nice, sunny day, but the wind was cold.  The short sleeves didn't last long, I can tell you.

Looking like some possible scattered showers tonight, then seasonal temps for the rest of the week.

Next weekend starts the official "season" on the railroad.  I'll be engineer on our Friday night wine/beer train...

LarryWhistling
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...

  • Member since
    July 2008
  • From: Southeast Missouri
  • 573 posts
Posted by The Butler on Sunday, May 18, 2014 8:35 PM

I mowed the yard and trimmed some branches, today.  Mid 60s temps. made it a nice day for it.  Last of the cool nights here, too.  The temps. for the rest of the week are to be in the 80s.

Yesterday, I was in Festus, Missouri, and was able to watch a BNSF manifest cross the bridge over US 61/67.  I saw a Southern boxcar with SOU reporting marks and, I swear I saw gondolas (?) with ATSF reporting marks.  Those cars had short side, weren't very long, and the sides looked recessed. 

I was the first train I had seen in months.  I just enjoyed the sight.  Wink

James


  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,323 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Monday, May 19, 2014 3:57 PM

afternoon

busy day.saw amtraks capitol limited split 2 stopped ns trains at work upon arrival.when I left it looked like a sand hopper train was still waiting for a crew.Had errands to run into town.Saw 3 oil trains and a coal train on CSX.Heard the dispatcher calling a q 500-18 and a s 500-19 trying to get them both to Garrett. Chores to do here at home.

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").

 

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: US
  • 13,488 posts
Posted by Mookie on Monday, May 19, 2014 7:35 PM

Furnace was running on Sunday.  Today 85.  Blankets off!

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,323 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Tuesday, May 20, 2014 2:39 PM

afternoon

sand train still in the siding at work.Ns had a stack train stopped for awhile today too.guessers say thunderboomers tonight.need to get chores done and check Matt's homework.

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").

 

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Denver / La Junta
  • 10,820 posts
Posted by mudchicken on Tuesday, May 20, 2014 4:45 PM

Hail balls! Get ready to duck every night cat!

(jawbreaker sized rascals - wild to watch 'em bounce off the eighth floor ledge!)

Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: US
  • 13,488 posts
Posted by Mookie on Tuesday, May 20, 2014 5:45 PM

Cat not a duck.  Millie in stone house.

Willy getting something right now. 

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Denver / La Junta
  • 10,820 posts
Posted by mudchicken on Tuesday, May 20, 2014 7:14 PM

Tell Willy he missed. Better luck next time I'm outside.Mischief

Off to continue my little war with the scrapman.

Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois
  • 13,681 posts
Posted by CShaveRR on Tuesday, May 20, 2014 7:46 PM

Sorry I couldn't enlist in your war there, MC--still scratching my head; no luck in retrieving the copy.  

We're beginning to get rain from a storm we were warned would be severe.  It has severely darkened the outside.  I finished my yard work just in time.  320 pounds of topsoil spread (could have used a half-ton!); perhaps 100 pounds of gravel and rock removed from back lawn (construction debris from last year).  Ran out of grass seed; hope this little shower doesn't wash it away.  Can-ful of twigs cleaned up as well, including some limbs that had spent the winter on the roof.  Gutters are also empty, and the rain barrel is ready for testing.  

Work has begun on the Lombard platform project; it looks like they're getting ready to relocate some cable to a PVC line between Tracks 2 and 3.  Frustrating, because the trains have to whistle themselves by...made me wish I wasn't working in my yard.

 

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)

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: US
  • 13,488 posts
Posted by Mookie on Tuesday, May 20, 2014 8:42 PM

BC - if you find night crawlers, e-mail them to me!  Fishing getting close!

SJ

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,323 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Wednesday, May 21, 2014 5:53 PM

had thunderboomers this morning.about floated to work.sand train replaced by a westbound frieght in the siding.Went uptown and bought some "Tinora" green paint. We are repainting some outdoor chairs.Will do the bottom side tomorrow.Time to get some chores done.Guessers are saying weather near "perfect" for coming weekend.

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").

 

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: US
  • 13,488 posts
Posted by Mookie on Wednesday, May 21, 2014 6:46 PM

Set the thermostat up for AC.  Just have to flip a switch. 

Wonderful only spring day today.  Very low humidity and low 80's.  North breeze blowing thru our north facing abode.  Opened both front and back doors and my south office window and enjoyed nature's AC.  Ah - no waiting for the thermostat to decide whether we need air or not.   Rest of week might be a little humid.  Blah!

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy