2:15 PM EST: Just opened up the cam and I see a machine or some kind right out on the diamonds; sounds like an impact driver or something being used. They must have stopped all traffic. Can't stick around too long to see what happens.
/Mr Lynn
ChuckAllen, TX
Anyone else having issues with viewing the webcam? This morning (Dec. 11th) was fine but now (noon), there's an EarthCam logo on the screen. What gives??
Well, working fine now...
seems fine for me.
Been watching the Webcam this A.M. Lots of UP traffic both East and West...Couple of BNSF oil trains. Ther are now two crews working on the diamonds..you can hear their hammers..and somone's dog is barking.
Just saw a gondola train going west with many cars. Looks like it is full of snow.
must be some kind of sand. wonder where its going. never saw any trains just like that gondolas only.
Maybe Buffalo is shipping snow out west to refill Lake Mead?
Semper Vaporo
Pkgs.
One possibility for the gons. I see unit trains of gons here on the NS main line quite often. They contain steel slabs.
Tom
Pittsburgh, PA
Well, several years ago, the IC carried snow out of Chicago to the South. I do not know how much of it made it to New Orleans.
Johnny
rdettmer Just saw a gondola train going west with many cars. Looks like it is full of snow. must be some kind of sand. wonder where its going. never saw any trains just like that gondolas only.
Fracking sand. It's cheaper to let about a fourth of the sand blow out of the gons enroute than paying for tarps and trying/paying to ship them back to the pit.
Would that sand eventually cause problems when it packs into the ballast? There was a discussion here some time ago about coal dust fouling the ballast.
_____________
"A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner
Checking out the web site today - At least the warm weather melted all the snow. And the track crew is at it again.
UP to Proviso with a HLCX Redbird third in line. Escaped from the illinois Railway?
need some windshield wipers to see today.
rdettmer need some windshield wipers to see today.
Keep watching; you might get to see the wiper in operation from time to time.
rdettmer Just saw a gondola train going west with many cars. Looks like it is full of snow.
Just saw a mixed freight with three gons that looked 'full of snow' complete with chunks. Suspiciously regular chunks. I think those are white plastic covers.
Gons appeared to be painted a sort of silvery (and faded?) light teal color in today's rainy light, if that helps ID them
Those sound like some of the gondolas operated by MHF Logistical Solutions (gray, white data, perhaps a red and black logo). These have white FRP covers, and are used for the transportation of contaminated (pollutants, low-level radiation, etc.), or "dirty" dirt. Some of these MHFX cars were recently relettered GACX.
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)
The MOW crews are at the diamonds again. There is some kid of track laying equipment on the southern UP track. It's making a lot of noise!!
Any idea as to what it is for?
northwesterner The MOW crews are at the diamonds again. There is some kid of track laying equipment on the southern UP track. It's making a lot of noise!! Any idea as to what it is for?
They appear to be working the "rock and roll" diamond issue which has seen a lot of attention recently. Yesterday it seemed the problem was less noticeable but still there as a westbound manifest went through. I would guess that they are working ballast issues there today. That's quite an assortment of track machines and UP white trucks on the job today.
ChuckCobleigh northwesterner The MOW crews are at the diamonds again. There is some kid of track laying equipment on the southern UP track. It's making a lot of noise!! Any idea as to what it is for? They appear to be working the "rock and roll" diamond issue which has seen a lot of attention recently. Yesterday it seemed the problem was less noticeable but still there as a westbound manifest went through. I would guess that they are working ballast issues there today. That's quite an assortment of track machines and UP white trucks on the job today.
With the number of men I have seen on the ground looking under the equipment - something is not working as intended.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
BaltACD ChuckCobleigh northwesterner The MOW crews are at the diamonds again. There is some kid of track laying equipment on the southern UP track. It's making a lot of noise!! Any idea as to what it is for? They appear to be working the "rock and roll" diamond issue which has seen a lot of attention recently. Yesterday it seemed the problem was less noticeable but still there as a westbound manifest went through. I would guess that they are working ballast issues there today. That's quite an assortment of track machines and UP white trucks on the job today. With the number of men I have seen on the ground looking under the equipment - something is not working as intended.
24 degrees in Rochelle might have something to do with that, Balt. Very cold weather does nasty things with oil, steel, rubber, and people.
cefinkjr BaltACD ChuckCobleigh northwesterner The MOW crews are at the diamonds again. There is some kid of track laying equipment on the southern UP track. It's making a lot of noise!! Any idea as to what it is for? They appear to be working the "rock and roll" diamond issue which has seen a lot of attention recently. Yesterday it seemed the problem was less noticeable but still there as a westbound manifest went through. I would guess that they are working ballast issues there today. That's quite an assortment of track machines and UP white trucks on the job today. With the number of men I have seen on the ground looking under the equipment - something is not working as intended. 24 degrees in Rochelle might have something to do with that, Balt. Very cold weather does nasty things with oil, steel, rubber, and people.
Not for today's MofW planners - it's July all the time in their world.
looks like they fixed the rough spot on the diamonds yesterday saw train go full speed today and no rock and roll.
looks like they are tamping the other rails today
Major equipment working on the diamonds this morning!
Jim in Costa Rica
Modeling freelance Northern California late 1930s
rdettmer looks like they fixed the rough spot on the diamonds yesterday saw train go full speed today and no rock and roll. looks like they are tamping the other rails today
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