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Chatterbox 2.0

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Posted by CShaveRR on Saturday, April 19, 2014 3:10 PM

I'm back, after a miserable Thursday and a recovering Friday.  Today we managed to get me out into the sunny weather on the bike, and after lunch and shopping was finished, I lingered trackside for about an hour (Pat went home by herself, with the groceries).  Nothing exciting happened while I was waiting for a train (one set of scoots was behind schedule due to an earlier medical emergency at Ogilvie), but I was able to update my paper-trail while Pat got some time on the computer.

I see that Union Pacific has managed to make our brutal winter look like a walk in the park, with the latest quarter's earnings.  My 401K should appreciate it!

Now to catch up on putting more of the organized information into the computer. 

Carl

Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)

CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

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Posted by tree68 on Saturday, April 19, 2014 1:55 PM

Attended a great fire seminar today, presented by a nationally know speaker who hails from the Cincinnati area.  I've been to his presentations before, and this one lived up to expectations.

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

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Posted by Norm48327 on Friday, April 18, 2014 1:44 PM

Friend of mine in Connecticut has honey bees. Bears are constantly trying to get through the electric fence to get some honey.

Norm


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Posted by tree68 on Friday, April 18, 2014 9:26 AM

Facebook post today by a friend who works for a shortline...

I was working today at the Mill pulling a long string of cars by me. This one car goes by me and is making the most horrifying noises possible. I look down, "All the wheels are turning and there's no smoke or anything. What the heck?" The car gets about a hundred feet past me and this big black thing falls off it, hits the ground, and makes this super loud THUD. By this time I'm freaking out because it looks and sounds like a wheel just fell off the car. While I'm standing there speechless, the black thing gets up and walks away into the woods. Long story short, that's how I almost got mauled by a bear today.

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...

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Posted by tree68 on Friday, April 18, 2014 9:22 AM

Still a lot of flooding along the Black River - roads closed, etc.  Emergency services still busy over that way.

Got through the county firefighters dinner/meeting last night.  Attendance was way down, mostly due to the flooding issue.

Other than that, it's shaping up to be a decent day and a decent weekend!

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...

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Posted by The Butler on Friday, April 18, 2014 9:16 AM

Partly cloudy and a high temperature of 69 is what is called for today here in Missouri's Lead Belt.  Which is approximately eighty miles south of Saint Louis.

I talked with my dad the other day and he told me about Chicago's cable car system.  He said it was the largest in the world at the turn of the last century.  He, also, described how he built a "working model" of the cable car.  The difference is the model uses a chain instead of a cable because his favorite medium does not have a cable system.  His favorite medium is LEGO blocks.  Big Smile

He told me he will display it, along with his model of Chicago's "L" at the LEGO Convention in June.

James


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Posted by JoeKoh on Thursday, April 17, 2014 8:47 PM

evening

well Ns was working in archbold when we left work. We caught up with them as they were putting things away in Bryan.Matt wanted to look at a model rr club in Montpelier.We always thought of joining one but the spare time is few and far between.Maw nature might give us some rain tomorrow so it will be a chore day.Plus a bench work day for our layout.We have a friend who is a sperry guy that looks at CSX.(when they can give him the track time!!) Time for bed

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").

 

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Posted by tree68 on Thursday, April 17, 2014 8:57 AM

mudchicken
Where CN's Geometry Car ("geometizer") goes, frazzled track crews are sure to follow....racing to get the slow orders off.

We get visits from one of the FRA cars pretty much every year.  They're smart enough to test "for the record" on the way out (we're a dead-end line) so they don't get trapped if they find a major fault.

Our track guy usually rides along, so he knows exactly what's up if/when they find something.

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...

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Posted by mudchicken on Thursday, April 17, 2014 8:40 AM

Where CN's Geometry Car ("geometizer") goes, frazzled track crews are sure to follow....racing to get the slow orders off.

Dump the bug quickly Carl. As for me, I'm recovering from a serious case of roadbutt. I'll stay put in town for a while. (Found a 100 year old set of oops-es (sp?) at Tolleston that I now get to sort out.) Never saw a CF&E train around there the whole time, although they quickly blotted out any sign of CSX ownership.

Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
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Posted by CShaveRR on Thursday, April 17, 2014 8:28 AM

Well, of course Pat does most of the talking...doesn't she always?

We went to the orientation yesterday evening, and were given a book with the high points of the tours in it.  Plenty of maps...I'll just have to take the walk out there myself and refamiliarize myself with the park.

But that will have to wait...every time I did anything yesterday--the bike trip with the banking deposits, the trip in the morning with the seniors, picking up our food from Market Day, and that orientation session, I wound up feeling wiped out.  When I started shivering while at my computer, I knew something was wrong.  I have probably the highest fever I've had since before I retired.  So I won't be doing much of anything today.

Carl

Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)

CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

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Posted by Deggesty on Thursday, April 17, 2014 6:38 AM
Well, my options as to type face and size and ability to make paragraphs are gone again this morning.------And, Mookie, I think you would be a good traveling companion, but I know Driver would have a few words to say about that. ----I also have lost my smilies.

Johnny

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Posted by Mookie on Thursday, April 17, 2014 6:08 AM

Johnny - do you have a traveling companion or are you doing a solo? 

I am enjoying traveling with you, albeit by my puter!

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by Deggesty on Wednesday, April 16, 2014 8:30 PM

Carl, it's too bad that very few, if any, would have an interest in railroading. I did not remember that Pat did all the talking when you and she gave Ricki and me a tour of the park four years ago.

I had a pleasant trip, despite the unseasonably cool weather, this morning as I went across Mobile Bay from near Fort Morgan to Dauphin Island. A large contingent of gulls flew around the ferry almost all the way; they began gathering at the dock at the east end of the run while the ferry was coming in, and they gradually dispersed as we approached Dauphin Island. I also saw five brown pelicans, but I did not see one with its beak holding more than its belican.

You may note that I have my favorite typeface back and the paragraphs I created stay separate. Apparently something was lost in the wireless connection I had last night and it was found in the wired connection I have tonight. 


Johnny

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Posted by CShaveRR on Wednesday, April 16, 2014 4:58 PM

Yes, Dan, the RDC looked very much like that.  When I saw it, the red marker lights were lit.

I had to climb in...you'd think the Chatterbox could get a Dutch door instead of a high-up window, but nooooo...

Little news today.  I was only two days late with my latest sightings report to the freight-car freaks; it went out yesterday.  Not 15 minutes later, I received an e-mail with lots of information that could have rounded out a few sightings (but probably wouldn't be done before tomorrow).  

I'm thinking of putting it all aside for a little while, though--I have two books in the editing queue:  one exciting sci-fi novel by Pat's brother, and a book about UP box cars in service now, by a fellow freak.  My own book will, I hope, soon be in production...until I get the last draft, it's out of my hands.

Tonight, Pat and I go to the LHS to learn how to guide tours at Lilacia Park for next month's Lilac Festival. Pat's done it before; I just want to have the capability.  I can tell 'em all about the railroad across the street, which actually predated the park by a few decades.

Carl

Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)

CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

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Posted by jeffhergert on Wednesday, April 16, 2014 4:46 PM

CNW 6000
jeffhergert

That may be the same CN inspection car that worked east over the Iowa Interstate from Council Bluffs.

Did it look like this? Testing - 1, 2...

Yes it did.

BTW, due to track work, we've been detouring over the CN in western Iowa.  The third, and I think final week of it began today.  The weeks haven't been consecutive, there has been a bout a week or so break between the episodes.  (That's because of the track gang work cycles.)  The first week we detoured eastward from Council Bluffs to Arion, IA.  They planned on 6 to 8 per day, but only ran one or two (and those were usually empty grain or ethanol trains that came up from KC) eastbound.  I read that they wanted to run a loaded coal train, but the CN refused it. 

The second week we ran westbound, Arion to Council Bluffs.  They have been running a few more trains per day westward, since the coal trains going west are empty.  I detoured one trip on that second week.  This third week is also westbound and there's a good chance I'll detour tomorrow, from the way the marks look right now.  It's nice to see a change of scenery once in a while, even if most of it is parallel to our regular route.

Jeff   

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Posted by CNW 6000 on Wednesday, April 16, 2014 2:57 PM
jeffhergert

That may be the same CN inspection car that worked east over the Iowa Interstate from Council Bluffs.

Did it look like this? Testing - 1, 2...

Dan

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Posted by JoeKoh on Wednesday, April 16, 2014 2:46 PM

afternoon

yep Mookie Matt is excited.He is able to get hands on experience in building a layout.Need to get uptown and do some errands.Ns had some cars ready to switch uptown when I left work.

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").

 

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Posted by CNW 6000 on Wednesday, April 16, 2014 2:30 PM
I plant when the wife says "Plant!" cuz I like to sleep in the house. Less drama and much warmer that way. Of course...I asked that, when we were discussing the "vegetation beds", she maintain the pretty stuff and I would play with the power tools to make them and keep them clean. Came back from Florida last Friday and found that winter had apparently snuck into our luggage some how. Had 6" of rain and 3" of snow upon return! Heading off to see what CN's up to this afternoon.

Dan

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Posted by tree68 on Wednesday, April 16, 2014 12:43 PM

Mookie
You don't plant until 5/15. 

Dad always planted the petunias Memorial Day weekend.  I try to do the same.

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...

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Posted by Deggesty on Wednesday, April 16, 2014 7:21 AM
Addendum: Yesterday, I saw my first train since I detrained in New Orlsans last Wednesday--traffic had to stop while a train slowly moved across the highway just east of Perry, Florida. NEW PARAGRAPH While going down to Weeki Wachee Monday, I noticed that new signals are being put in on the former SAL main down central Florida.

Johnny

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Posted by Deggesty on Wednesday, April 16, 2014 7:12 AM
It's chilly in Pensacola this morning--continuing the cold weather the Panhandle of Florida (and the Gulf Coast on west, as well) is having. When I arrived yesterday afternoon, I told the lady at the hotel desk that Pensacola is not supposed to be this chilly in April, and she agreed with me. I just stepped out on my balcony, and did not stay long. New paragraph; my laptop is not putting paragraph breaks in, even though I tell it to. I plan to attend an early service in Shreveport Sunday morning; I hope I will not wish for my overcoat. New paragraph; Breakfast this morning was much like that Sunday (same chain of hotels). I had spent Friday night, as well as Saturday night, in that hotel, but my Saturday breakfast was far superior to Sunday's--in company with old friends, 50 year+ graduates, and science and math graduates, as well as better food (and free!). I'm trying a double line space; perhaps this will work. I ran into the heaviest traffic so far yesterday from Appalachicola on to Pensacola; I wonder what it will be like when people really start going to the beaches. There were some beautiful vistas of the Gulf here and there, for US 98 runs right along the Gulf for quite a distance. On to Mobile, via Dauphin Island, today.

Johnny

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Posted by Mookie on Wednesday, April 16, 2014 7:08 AM

Blue - we looked like a lightly frosted cupcake here after the last "moisture".  Had a super nice rain during the day, but then changed to ice overnite and a sprinkle of snow on that with 19 above.  A real SUV destroyer. 

Our last frost date now is said to be in April sometime.  I know better.  You don't plant until 5/15. 

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Wednesday, April 16, 2014 4:58 AM

Up early this morning.

This non professionalism that has been mentioned  found a counter example here yesterday.  Started having computer internet problems couple days ago and finally called it in to ATT.  From time called in to technician  arriving phone went out completely.as well.  Winter weather had dropped some limbs down on drop wire stretching it till it had an intermittent pull apart..  This home is old and tech replaced drop, network interface, and lead into interior home run panel that I've installed.  Could not believe the excellent quality of work  Tech had to put in another 11 hour day. Did work for telephone company in my college youth and saw he was good. 

Does anyone know if the polar vortex is going to continue all summer ?.  Had snow in north Georgia yesterday and outside temp here is 30.3F.  Had to bring in all plants yesterday.  Still have not cleaned all limbs from winter.  The harsh cold has caused many limbs to die and they just keep coming down.  Mookie, Carl, tree and others had more snow as well? 

CSX had to do some very heavy work on ROW here to upgrade line. Winter slow orders and our short siding was plugging the A&WP subdivision. Report later.  

  

 

 

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Posted by Modelcar on Tuesday, April 15, 2014 9:58 PM

By what you're saying, they have certainly improved the facilities.  I used to watch the activity there quite often, but haven't lately.  I shall get back in the habit to check it out more.

And yes, I've heard the people talking walking below on the sidewalk, and even some on motor scooters, etc....

I shall try the satellite views soon....and "chasing" the fast passenger units would be fun if its possible....

Quentin

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Posted by tree68 on Tuesday, April 15, 2014 8:28 PM

That video is definitely from a drone/quadcopter, although the information on YouTube is in Dutch...

As Madam La Mook will attest, it's a great site - they get a lot of traffic, rail-wise.  Best part is that you can leave it running "in the background" while you do other stuff, and the crossing bells will alert you to any upcoming traffic.

The new camera (#3) provides a good option for the evening, when the sun tends to be right in the #1 camera's view.  

I wish I understood the language, as all of the cameras have good sound, and you can often hear conversations pretty clearly.

Another interesting feature is the number of cyclists and scooters one sees there, which have their own lanes, to boot.

You can see the satellite view by plugging N 51.46890 E 5.63490 into your favorite map program.

You can even "chase" trains by watching "Railzone Helmond", which station is located at N 51.47534 E 5.66118.  The two locales aren't far apart, so if your computer and 'Net connection can handle it, watching both can be fun.  The satellite image on Acme Mapper doesn't reflect that area's current configuration, though.

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...

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Posted by Modelcar on Tuesday, April 15, 2014 8:00 PM

...Wow, what a neat video Larry.  Assuming it to be from a "drone" type "vehicle"...and if so, the operator knew what he was doing.  Sure does give us an overview of the area we mostly see from street level of the crossing, etc....{Actually from an upstairs level I suppose}.

Looks like a sprawling metropolitan area....and oh so flat....Wonder if this area is below sea-level....?  For as much traffic there seems to be on the rails there {and much of it hi speed}....I've never seen them do much work on the physical plant...Perhaps I've not been on often enough in this past yr. or so to see it....This is an interesting site...Put it in my favorites.

Quentin

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Posted by Mookie on Tuesday, April 15, 2014 6:24 PM

Paul - "Fast Joe".  Thumbs Up And if Jinx will post, we will let it.  Always need some nice postings in here. 

Tree:  I could write paragraphs on the video, but will hold my writings in case you know and have studied the area.  Suffice to say that the church cam is no longer there - miss it a lot.  When the video starts, the white building across the street is where they sell all kinds of carnival items.  Mardi Gras, carnival, all holidays that need special items.  And the new cam is across the crossing on the tavern on the corner - the white building over there.

The fire in 2013, I think, was where he circled Kofoto.  Lost a lot of equipment, but all replaced now. 

Joe - had to re-read your posting.  Thought you might be talking about work - then realized you were playing railroad owner. 

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by Paul of Covington on Tuesday, April 15, 2014 3:03 PM

   OK, Joe beat me to the fifteenth entry, so mine started the new page.

_____________ 

  "A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner

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Posted by Paul of Covington on Tuesday, April 15, 2014 2:58 PM

    Hah!   It happened again.   There are 14 entries on this page, but the forum started a new page.   It says the reply count is 135, so it's off by two.   Is this thread jinxed?

_____________ 

  "A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner

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Posted by JoeKoh on Tuesday, April 15, 2014 2:57 PM

afternoon

Hey ma nature april fools day was 2 weeks ago!! snow is mostly melted now.chores and errands to do.Need to do some more track planning.We are going to put in 22 degree curves and will have a yard.Been looking at some copies of MR magazine too for ideas.Time to get back at it.

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").

 

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