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Chatterbox 3 . 0

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Posted by The Butler on Wednesday, July 23, 2014 1:35 PM

Mookie, I said in my post that I wasn't complaining.  Crying 

I had never watched the web camera before but I find myself being drawn to it every day.  Smile

James


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Posted by Mookie on Wednesday, July 23, 2014 2:08 PM

James - I was actually touched by your saying that you don't have any trains in your area.  For people that can't go out and watch actual trains, this is perfect.  And even tho I only have to drive a few blocks to see lots of them, I can sit here in my comfy chair, adjust the temp to what I like and enjoy all the sounds and trains.  Plus I don't have to watch hours of blocking the tracks for bad order set outs.  I like trains, but the side of a coal train for 45 min does get a little yawney. 

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Posted by Mookie on Wednesday, July 23, 2014 2:09 PM

Murphy Siding

      Reminds me of a radio commercial:  A cleaning company offers free estimates.  A woman calls about the free estimates, and asks if the company can do any better than that. Clown

This is great!!!

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Posted by JoeKoh on Wednesday, July 23, 2014 5:39 PM

evening

humidty gone which makes the weather great.Ns had a westbound moving when I left work.Nothing in the siding and no cars uptown.Matt will be coming home soon from his lake adventure in Michigan.More chores here to do.

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 CShaveRR on Wednesday, July 23, 2014 9:13 PM

SJ, I wouldn't have complained about the focus if I didn't feel that it was within someone's power to tweak.  And it was...mine!  I get a much clearer picture when I cut the size down away from full-screen.  I haven't been able to visit it often enough to catch a train and see whether I can now find locomotive numbers.  

Next thing you know I'm going to want a screen-capture function, but that would mean that I'm spending altogether too much time staring at it.

Today was National Hot Dog Day.  And I missed it.  I guess I know what's for lunch tomorrow!  I'll have to decide which of two places with a view of the tracks I want to go to.  

But first I have to fast in the morning--the good doctor wants a sample of my finest blood to stare at for a while or analyze.  However, I apparently passed my annual (right!) physical. 

Joe, we're seriously considering coming your way sometime in the first half of next month.  An old friend of ours will be discussing coverlets at Sauder Village.  We'll have to see how our calendar looks before we decide when.  Earlier in the month, we'll be going the opposite direction, to visit my sister and brother-in-law while they travel on the Mississippi River on a rented houseboat (sort of a post-retirement vacation for my sister).  They'll be up in the Winona/Red Wing area, and we'll maybe have a few trains to watch for. 

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 The Butler on Thursday, July 24, 2014 3:15 AM

      Mookie, the nearest active main line is a half hour drive.  It is the De Soto Sub. on the UP.  I don't know how active that line is, the few times I have been near it, I haven't seen much.  It is a far cry from living three miles from METRA's/UP's Northwest line in suburban Chicago.

      Carl, I really enjoy your recounting of your trips and what you've seen.  For someone who is tied down by a forty-eight hour a week job, your stories allow me to feel as if I were on the trip, also.

James


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Posted by Mookie on Thursday, July 24, 2014 6:18 PM

Saw a BNSF tanker unit train go by on the webcam.  Attached NS Unit was doing mosquito abatement. (cof) 

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Posted by tree68 on Thursday, July 24, 2014 10:35 PM

Mookie
Attached NS Unit was doing mosquito abatement.

NS is still running ALCO's?

There's a reason ALCO Diesels are called "honorary steam locomotives..."

Decent day on the railroad.  Not only did we haul passengers as usual, but we did a little switching.  The new guy who worked with us today is coming along pretty well (we have several "new guys").

Met a guy on the train who writes for Trains.  Maybe I'll get a mention!

Antique fire trucks on Saturday, then back to the railroad on Sunday.


LarryWhistling
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Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
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Posted by Mookie on Friday, July 25, 2014 7:41 AM

tree68

Met a guy on the train who writes for Trains.  Maybe I'll get a mention!

Hey, I write on the forum so I will mention you....  TREE!

There you go!  Shy

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Posted by samfp1943 on Friday, July 25, 2014 8:29 AM

Mookie

Saw a BNSF tanker unit train go by on the webcam.  Attached NS Unit was doing mosquito abatement. (cof) 

Mookie:

        Funny you should mention the NS units on the BNSF..  Got caught at the crossing North of town yesterday,    Eastbound JB Hunt Stacker (at speed)  and a Westbound Oil Tank Train at "Their Speed' It was unusual ( NO BNSF Power )   Two NS Units,only,  and then before they cleared the crossing another COFC/TOFC cruised by Eastbound, with 5 GE's ( It had several Triple Crown Trailers up on Flats. ). The Triple Crown moves around here are usually Northbound from Alliance (Tx) over on the Ark City Sub.. Generally, they  ave NS power on them, funny, but the few that I have seen, the BNSF power does not lead(?).. .. Guess They operate so much foreign power these days,  If they start and run they put them where ever they can on the head end.  

  For a while there were some FeroMex Units coming through on the T-con, but have not seen any of those in awhile.  Seems like the UP's Locomotives and The BNSF's do not seem to mix around here(?)

 Do not get to seem much of the UP's OKT sub (nee: RI RR) around here( They have a service point in North Wichita, There is a big Grain elevator between the BNSF's Yard and the UP's Service Facility and small yard...  They can exchange traffic there, and down at Wellington(Ks)...    Gonna be very hot around here today,  Stay Safe and cool ! Whistling

 

 


 

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Posted by CShaveRR on Friday, July 25, 2014 9:45 AM

I actually got out to play Hazel at the local platforms again yesterday.  Lombard commuters are pigs!

(The person who threw up on the stairs probably wasn't a commuter, though...that now-dry stuff was enough to finish me for the day.)

At any rate, a number of freights of all types came through.  Besides the usual stack trains and a couple of manifests, there were two empty coal-car trains (NORX gons from Michigan City and UP/CNW/CTRN hoppers from in the city), a frac-sand train (with a DPU!), an ethanol train, and (for the first time I can remember on this line) a crude-oil train.  This one had older tank cars that were typical of ethanol tanks, but the "1267" placards told the story.

The usual scoots went through, usually pretty close to on time.  Track 3 was out of service for much of the afternoon, so nearly everything from Metra was using Track 1.  The Annoying Metra Lady faithfully announced the change in track ad nauseam...except once.  One of the westbound scoots came in on Track 2, totally unannounced.  That requires everyone to board at the pedestrian crossing (the one they're going to eliminate with the new tunnel...wonder how that will work).  Later in the afternoon a surfacer, tamper, and sweeper came past eastbound on Track 3, after which everything was opened up.

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 Mookie on Friday, July 25, 2014 1:47 PM

Sam:  We are seeing a few more NS 2nd motors but did actually see one as lead awhile back.  I sat & stared @ it until it was around the corner, trying to figure out why it was lead motor.

We used to have a KCS go thru just about every day (may still but we haven't been down there @ the right time lately) & FeroMex every so often.  Been a long time for that,too.  We never see UP/BNSF together.  Actually caught a CP a few weeks back.  But we do have a daily UP short thru here doing local switching &  delivery to our yard for processing.

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Posted by CNW 6000 on Friday, July 25, 2014 3:37 PM

Mookie

tree68

Met a guy on the train who writes for Trains.  Maybe I'll get a mention!

Hey, I write on the forum so I will mention you....  TREE!

There you go!  Shy


Branching out again Mook or just couldn't leaf that one alone?
 
CN's been running fleets of trains thru here lately.  Guess they're making time for the slow order and delays from the CN vs. WSOR (CN won) crash in Slinger.

Dan

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Posted by JoeKoh on Friday, July 25, 2014 5:06 PM

evening

busy times here in nw ohio.when I left work Ns had an eastbound parked in the siding and empty cars ready to go uptown.Had to go into town at home.CSX's q 324 had to shuffle cars so they could drop off at Defiance.Q 508 will get to shuffle some more after the 324 is done.Also found out the tie and surface crew will be in town next week.Fun fun fun......

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 Mookie on Friday, July 25, 2014 6:21 PM

Groan...Hmm

Oh Dan - have you been reading Uncle Carl's punnies again? 

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Posted by Mookie on Friday, July 25, 2014 6:23 PM

Joe - Will you e pix of crew in town next week?  Please and thank you!

Mook

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Friday, July 25, 2014 7:54 PM

Do not know if CSX here is still melting down or is recovering?.  Past 2 mornings parade of freights both ways  that appear to be making a meet at each siding. Lasts 3 - 4 hours.  0430 - 0800 or so.  Also some freights are having a 3rd loco in consists all which are under power. 

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Posted by Mookie on Friday, July 25, 2014 8:31 PM

blue streak 1

Do not know if CSX here is still melting down or is recovering?.  Past 2 mornings parade of freights both ways  that appear to be making a meet at each siding. Lasts 3 - 4 hours.  0430 - 0800 or so.  Also some freights are having a 3rd loco in consists all which are under power. 

We were saturated with coal trains thru the winter.  Now we are seeing a lot of freight.  Since we are middle of the country, we get them thru here at really odd hours, but if you can be trackside, you will see a lot of commotion for about 3-4 hours.  Then quiet for a long segments except for some coal trains. .  Seems like the traffic has really changed. 

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Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Saturday, July 26, 2014 9:16 AM

Mookie
[snipped - PDN] . . . Attached NS Unit was doing mosquito abatement. (cof) 

  Laugh  Now I have a 'plausible' ( Smile, Wink & Grin ) explanation for that kind of thing, both on and off the railroad.  Thanks !

- Paul North. 

"This Fascinating Railroad Business" (title of 1943 book by Robert Selph Henry of the AAR)
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Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Saturday, July 26, 2014 9:20 AM

Mookie
blue streak 1
[snipped - PDN] . . . Past 2 mornings parade of freights both ways  that appear to be making a meet at each siding. Lasts 3 - 4 hours.  0430 - 0800 or so. . . .
[snipped - PDN] . . . if you can be trackside, you will see a lot of commotion for about 3-4 hours.  Then quiet for a long segments except for some coal trains. .  Seems like the traffic has really changed. 

This time of year, it's likely the "breaks in the action" are caused by a daytime MOW work window taking a track out of service somewhere within a couple hundred miles on either side of you.

- Paul North.     

"This Fascinating Railroad Business" (title of 1943 book by Robert Selph Henry of the AAR)
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Posted by Mookie on Saturday, July 26, 2014 11:42 AM

Paul - I have to give credit to the Driver for the mosquito abatement.  Also when he first met me and I introduced him to train watching and my family, he told me my mother was just a teeny bit neurotic and as we were watching a coal train go by he knew she would never put that train together.  Puzzled I asked what he meant.  "It isn't in number order" was his reply. 

Went out this morning for "breakfast on the patio" (that's McD's @ trackside) Saw several tanker trains, (I forgot to look @ the placard!!) some freight and some coal.  Also saw 2 yard engines bringing in repaired cars from the Havelock Shops.  I didn't see any difference... Mischief

Also, since we park fairly close to a crossing with arms, I saw what looked like maybe a pigeon that was sick and just resting right under the gate arm.  Trains would go by along with street traffic and it didn't move.  I thought maybe it was already in rigor. That always bothers me when animals are sick & dying.  

Poked the driver and he said it really didn't look like a bird to him, so got binos and sure enough - I had been watching a piece of asphalt on some rocks - about the size of a pigeon. 

Eye dr appt is this Thursday! 

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Saturday, July 26, 2014 11:56 AM

     Was the piece of asphalt flapping it's wings in a bird-like fashion?

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

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Posted by Mookie on Saturday, July 26, 2014 12:19 PM

Murphy Siding

     Was the piece of asphalt flapping it's wings in a bird-like fashion?

No - dead/dying birds don't usually flap their wings.  They don't move at all if they can help it.  Do you have flapping asphalt in So Dak?  Or birds?  Shy

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Posted by mudchicken on Saturday, July 26, 2014 12:43 PM

Careful there Murph, Cat may be sending little gnomes with ball-pein hammers to pound on your head.

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 Mookie on Saturday, July 26, 2014 1:39 PM

Mischief

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Saturday, July 26, 2014 2:32 PM

Mookie

Murphy Siding

     Was the piece of asphalt flapping it's wings in a bird-like fashion?

No - dead/dying birds don't usually flap their wings.  They don't move at all if they can help it.  Do you have flapping asphalt in So Dak?  Or birds?  Shy

   I'm not much of a nature watcher, or an asphalt watcher for that matter.  Am I right to assume then, that dying pieces of asphalt tend to stay pretty stationary as well?

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Posted by Mookie on Saturday, July 26, 2014 3:06 PM

That would be a correct assumption.  I think this one was long past dead, but would need probably an expert to decide.  Bet we can find an expert on the forum - we have experts on all other subjects. 

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Posted by tree68 on Sunday, July 27, 2014 3:40 AM

They aren't listed in my Audubon guide to wildlife, so I'm not sure...

Awoken at oh-dark-thirty by weather advisory on fire radio (scanner).  Lots of lightning and thunder, plenty of big raindrops.  One nearby lightning strike took power down for a few seconds - glad I have a UPS on the computer!

Had good weather and good turnout at antique fire truck muster Saturday.  Lots of people got to see everything from big fire truck to little hose carts, and even my model collection...

Better get back to bed.  Have trains to run "tomorrow." (Mom always said it wasn't "tomorrow" until you went to bed and got up again.  I don't think getting up in the middle of the night qualifies.)

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date
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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 JoeKoh on Sunday, July 27, 2014 7:38 AM

morning

thunderboomers predicted today.yesterday q 368 had 9 engines and 2 were running.the lead unit (a bnsf) ran out of gas.So they did a refuel west of Defiance.Mookie was informed.Off to church.

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 Mookie on Sunday, July 27, 2014 11:52 AM

Thanks Joe!  You always send the best pix!  9 engines is pretty spectacular, especially when they run out of fuel right in front of your camera!  Thumbs Up

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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