blhanel I plan on spending more time designing and building an Arduino-controlled signaling system for the layout (my career was spent doing software and systems engineering for an avionics company).
You're as nutty as I am! After 30+ years in System Software, most recently in Database Management Systems support, I spend about 50 hours a week playing with MS-Access. Never did have a real good handle on the difference between work and play but I'm pretty sure this is play; the project involves realistic railroad traffic management.
ChuckAllen, TX
CShaveRR(wish I knew how to use a computer-based protractor!)
Wasn't all that complicated. Print off satellite image of diamond, print off image of protractor, measure away. I wouldn't have bothered with printing off the protractor, but I couldn't find my physical version...
Where's Tama? The topo on Acme Mapper might still show the diamond...
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...
Did someone mention Tama?
http://cnwvets.org/Ed%20Henry%20and%20Merrill%20Price%20-%20Tama.htm
Only place in Iowa where two double track main lines crossed. Until the Milwaukee started tearing out sections and making some of it's line single track. It was about the time of the tower's demise when the MILW started using the CNW between Tama and Clinton. I was lucky enough to visit the tower when it was active. I even got to line up the interlocking plant for a CNW train.
Today little remains of the MILW. Some sections of roadbed and line poles, some becoming hidden by Ma Nature that you have to look close. Even the CNW has changed quite a bit. It's amazing to see the area today compared to 1980 and before.
Jeff
Two UP trains just met at the diamonds; the WB is intermodal; I could not tell what the EB was. At least the snow that was on the lens early this morning is gone.
Johnny
I just watched a west bound coal train on the UP. The second locomotive was a patched CNW unit. It is good to see the old colors.
James
This happened on the morning of 3 January.
Was watching for trains yesterday morning and watched two figures walking along the UP track coming from the west, the snow and brighteness couldn't tell that they were wearing 'Yellow Vests". They walked around the diamonds for a bit then a EB Stack came through and they were right at the diamonds and narrowly missed the lead engine. Then the engine stopped just beyond the diamonds, and they climbed onboard, and dissapeared through the door on the right from of the engine. Then I saw they were wearing 'Yellow Vests', and the train continued. All I can assume was 'Track Inspectors'.
I saw the same thing, but prior to that time I saw what I think was the same engine/train come from the west and the engine stopped, occupying the 1st diamond completely... A BNSF train might have made it past on the near track, but it would have been close. I wondered at first if maybe they had missed the signal and I watched to see if anyone got out and ran back to protect a reverse move, but no one did. Yet the train began to back and I expected it to possibly stop at the signal bridge, but it didn't, It, instead, backed completely out of view.
I checked on Google Earth and I think possibly it was backed into the yard that is about a mile and a half west of the diamonds and someone was already at the rear to protect the move into the yard.
When the event that you related occurred I assumed it was the flagmen (Conductor and Trainee?) reboarding after closing the switch behind the train after it left the yard.
At least that is what I made of it.
Semper Vaporo
Pkgs.
MKT Dave This happened on the morning of 3 January. Was watching for trains yesterday morning and watched two figures walking along the UP track coming from the west, the snow and brighteness couldn't tell that they were wearing 'Yellow Vests". They walked around the diamonds for a bit then a EB Stack came through and they were right at the diamonds and narrowly missed the lead engine. Then the engine stopped just beyond the diamonds, and they climbed onboard, and dissapeared through the door on the right from of the engine. Then I saw they were wearing 'Yellow Vests', and the train continued. All I can assume was 'Track Inspectors'.
On the UP, those wearing yellow or yellow/lime green vests/coats are train and engine service people. Maintenance, Signal and certain Mechanical Dept people wear orange.
TE&Y with less than a year's service in addition to the vest are required to wear an orange hat/cap. I have a couple of orange hats. I wonder if I'd be mistaken for a new guy?
rdamonWill they need some supervision from BNSF and UP to remove the rest?
Probably depends on how well they feel they can control the walls during demolition. A tip out collapse would definitely foul the tracks, on both sides.
Looks like there may be room on the UP side. It appears there is a siding on the BNSF side.
rdamonIt appears there is a siding on the BNSF side.
Scroll left. The siding has been paved over. Doesn't mean it isn't a concern, but unless the Del Monte building is replaced by a rail served industry, I'd bet the siding will be coming out, too.
If you follow the 'siding' it is severed at Lincoln Highway road crossing. BNSF owner ship of the track may end at the clearance point of the switch to the BNSF Main track.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Looks like the peice of track was dragged down closer to the switch. The crossing is in place on the 2007 street view image.
That was the train crew from the stack train. They had to flag the diamond, as they could not get a clear signal after using the re-clear box.
jeffhergert MKT Dave This happened on the morning of 3 January. Was watching for trains yesterday morning and watched two figures walking along the UP track coming from the west, the snow and brighteness couldn't tell that they were wearing 'Yellow Vests". They walked around the diamonds for a bit then a EB Stack came through and they were right at the diamonds and narrowly missed the lead engine. Then the engine stopped just beyond the diamonds, and they climbed onboard, and dissapeared through the door on the right from of the engine. Then I saw they were wearing 'Yellow Vests', and the train continued. All I can assume was 'Track Inspectors'. On the UP, those wearing yellow or yellow/lime green vests/coats are train and engine service people. Maintenance, Signal and certain Mechanical Dept people wear orange. TE&Y with less than a year's service in addition to the vest are required to wear an orange hat/cap. I have a couple of orange hats. I wonder if I'd be mistaken for a new guy? Jeff
Looks like both RR's are putting away their toys after Christmas. Yesterday morning BNSF ran a big WB train of nothing but empty well cars. Just now UP ran a big EB train of empty well cars and TOFC spine cars.
Bruce
So shovel the coal, let this rattler roll.
"A Train is a Place Going Somewhere" CP Rail Public Timetable
"O. S. Irricana"
. . . __ . ______
Full train of John Deere tractors just came through.
Only green thing in sight!
rdamon Full train of John Deere tractors just came through. Only green thing in sight!
Then a light movement on the neighboring UP track
Rochelle is a picture this morning of what I hated most about the weather when I lived in the northeastern U.S. (PA, DE, NY, OH, IN, WV). The snow itself didn't bother me too much but the following slush and dirt (they put cinders on the roads in those days) was really depressing. A good rain would finally wash all that away and then here comes more snow to start the cycle all over again. Ugh!!
Looks like they are covering up the slushy mess today with a nice future slush mess.
rdamon Looks like they are covering up the slushy mess today with a nice future slush mess.
Eastbound BNSF IM, with a DPU on the tail just now. Temp's all the way up to -2F...
A city near here used to use crushed limestone instead of sand or cinders in the winter. Problem was, it would harden up like concrete and they'd have to scrap it off the streets in the spring.
So i try to access the webcam and get the message "plug in needed> I don't have a clue what this means. Any help is appreciated.
trackpenny So i try to access the webcam and get the message "plug in needed> I don't have a clue what this means. Any help is appreciated.
Where's Mr. Gorbachev when you need him? That wall's still standing!
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)
Looks like maybe some welding on the diamond at the moment.
lots of work on the diamond today, there is a highrailer parked directly on the diamond.
And the a BNSF mixed freight passed. If you look closely you can see the man that hopped off the train near the bottom left corner.
cold place but those trains warm up those rails been in minus degrees lately on web cam
A WB BNSF intermodal train just cleared the diamond at 16:25. However, the tail end DPU unit's bell was stuck in the on position. How long can something like that go on before something gives? I presume there is some sort of circuit breaker that will flip at some point.
I have been around DPU units for 45 years and am surprised I have never heard of such a thing happening before. Given there is electricty involved though, it was bound to happen.
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