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Posted by Murphy Siding on Saturday, October 25, 2014 11:05 AM

Mookie

Driver went fishing; I went napping!  We both enjoyed our time in the park!  Thumbs Up

Lots of Burning Bushes in our fair city altho most of them now look like the fire is dying.  During the spring and summer, they are just green bushes, but in the fall, they really stand out.  This year there are more fall plants in people's yards.  They are really going all out in the natural decorating.  Yards are just beautiful right now. 

The fact that it was 75-80 across most of the state (Oct 24, mind you) just made it all that much better. 

Life is good!

 

   Yes!  Burning bushes, that's what I want in my yard.  Right now, they are just gorgeous.  In our yard we have ash, maples, evergreens, an apple tree, and a couple of stupid locust trees.  A burning bush would add some more color.  That, and I'd like to try to get a magnolia to grow.  They are rare here, but doable.

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Posted by ChuckCobleigh on Friday, October 24, 2014 10:11 PM

mudchicken
Also, the interior designers in the A-tribe keep shrinking the floorspace and workspace into ever smaller square footage.

That's called "dirty densing" where I toiled before going over the wall finally.

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Posted by Mookie on Friday, October 24, 2014 8:15 PM

Sir Chicken - it is too bad you can't follow my prescription for moving:  Pack everything you want to move in a small paper sack and set it by the back door.  Then as you leave, set fire to the small paper sack in the driveway!  Moving is a joy, then!  (That is hard-core downsizing!)   Mischief

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by mudchicken on Friday, October 24, 2014 7:46 PM

Super AngryIt is now one week from official bug-out day as we trade our 8th floor offices for 11th floor digs some 1.4 miles to the south. (I hope the big egoes still like the view after the first few fire drillsMischief)...Also, the interior designers in the A-tribe keep shrinking the floorspace and workspace into ever smaller square footage. I Super Angry moving.

 
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 jeffhergert on Friday, October 24, 2014 6:50 PM

I was going through my track bulletins today.  The UP, and I assume others, continue the tradition of issuing the "last" order/bulletin to mark the retirement of some employee.  I've also seen ones for the death of the President of the US and some for railroad company presidents.

Today there was one for the death of Steve Culbertson, retired Manager of Train Dispatchers, who also had been a dispatcher for the UP and the Katy.  I recognized the name right away.  He was the dispatcher featured in the 1986 Trains article on dispatching the Katy, "The South End Desk."  That article is one of my favorites of all time. 

RIP Mr. Culbertson.

Jeff

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Posted by Mookie on Friday, October 24, 2014 5:43 PM

Driver went fishing; I went napping!  We both enjoyed our time in the park!  Thumbs Up

Lots of Burning Bushes in our fair city altho most of them now look like the fire is dying.  During the spring and summer, they are just green bushes, but in the fall, they really stand out.  This year there are more fall plants in people's yards.  They are really going all out in the natural decorating.  Yards are just beautiful right now. 

The fact that it was 75-80 across most of the state (Oct 24, mind you) just made it all that much better. 

Life is good!

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by JoeKoh on Friday, October 24, 2014 5:24 PM

evening

Ns had a westbound tanker train with UP power when I left work.They were putting the finishing touches on the road when I left too.Went into town here and CSX ran 5 eastbounds while Matt and I cleaned up a yard.Those trees still have about 75 percent of the leaves left.Mine here at home are half done.Tomorrow it's time to get our eyes checked.Might go see more csx after that.

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 Anonymous on Friday, October 24, 2014 4:27 PM

YAY.....Its FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fUNSBvNur4

 

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Posted by tree68 on Thursday, October 23, 2014 3:33 PM

On our railroad, all of the leaves seem to end up on the tracks (except those clogging up the drainage).  Makes life very slippery...

LarryWhistling
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Posted by Mookie on Thursday, October 23, 2014 3:05 PM

Joe - our hard working landlord came over yesterday and blew all our leaves into a pile and put them in 2 oversized garbage cans. He had the whole property leaf-free when he left.  As he drove down the street, the leaves all blew in on a south wind and put ithe property back just the way it looked before the cleanup. I think the word futile in the dictionary would have his name in the definition     

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by JoeKoh on Thursday, October 23, 2014 2:26 PM

afternoon

ns had a stack train waiting to go west.I thought I could see the local working uptown too.Still driving around to get to work.They are suppossed to be done by tomorrow.Nice day getting outside to move some leaves around.

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 Deggesty on Wednesday, October 22, 2014 7:59 PM

The Man with the Rake!

Johnny

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Posted by tree68 on Wednesday, October 22, 2014 7:56 PM

Mookie
I think it must have water issues ...

On my way to the "Punkin Patch" last Friday, the DS had warned me to watch for water near the tracks.  I found water running across/through the ballast, but no structural issues.

The cause of the problem was leaf "dams" forming in the shallow gully alongside the tracks.  A few minutes with a potato rake took care of the leaves, with the water now following the path it's supposed to follow.  Crisis averted!

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 Mookie on Wednesday, October 22, 2014 5:40 PM

Got a rare trip to trackside on a beautiful albeit warm day.  For October, which has been known for more snow than warmth. 

Joe - Loram or someone was doing ballast work - but it was around a corner from us and we couldn't see who it was.  That south track always seem to need attention.  I think it must have water issues (underground).  We have a lot of saline wetlands nearby.

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by JoeKoh on Wednesday, October 22, 2014 3:46 PM

ps in other news Hulcher will be busy along road 115 in Paulding county re-railing some ND&W cars.Scheduled to do on Friday.

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 JoeKoh on Wednesday, October 22, 2014 3:45 PM

afternoon

well Ns isn't doing Archbold any favors today.Stack train in the siding plus another train blocking the crossings in town.Still have to go around to get away from work.Worked on the yard.Need to get ready to take Matt to confirmation class.

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 zugmann on Wednesday, October 22, 2014 2:09 PM

mudchicken

 

 

 

 

get some sleep - looks like you'll be getting a call in about six hours or so to go out and do it again with a new best friend and some guy on da radio....

 

 

 

Benefit of being a trainee. 

 

I get to decide most of my schedule.  Heh.

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any

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Posted by mudchicken on Wednesday, October 22, 2014 2:02 PM

zugmann

18 hours on duty and we didn't make the yard. 

 

Join the railroad they said. ... it'll be fun they said. ...

 

get some sleep - looks like you'll be getting a call in about six hours or so to go out and do it again with a new best friend and some guy on da radio....

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 zugmann on Wednesday, October 22, 2014 10:17 AM

18 hours on duty and we didn't make the yard. 

 

Join the railroad they said. ... it'll be fun they said. ...

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any

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Posted by CNW 6000 on Tuesday, October 21, 2014 5:30 PM

Greetings from the Windy City.  Spent the last two days here in Chi-town for work.  I'll be glad to get rolling home tomorrow.  At least I can watch Metra and CTA Elevated Lines from the room.

Dan

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Posted by JoeKoh on Tuesday, October 21, 2014 2:36 PM

afternoon

ns had a stack train in the siding and an oil train to go east.Had another eastbound on the way when I drove in town.Ma nature gave us some more rain.More chores 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 Murphy Siding on Monday, October 20, 2014 9:27 PM

rvos1979
Walt: did you or your friends order 45,000 lbs of Leinenkugels, because I'm headed your way with it..........
 

 Yes!  Yes!  Pick me!  Pick me! BeerStick out tongue

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Posted by locomutt on Monday, October 20, 2014 9:25 PM

Not to the best of my knowledge, unless they're headed to the "Germantown" section of the city for a late Octoberfest.

Being Crazy,keeps you from going "INSANE" !! "The light at the end of the tunnel,has been turned off due to budget cuts" NOT AFRAID A Vet., and PROUD OF IT!!

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Posted by rvos1979 on Monday, October 20, 2014 9:08 PM
Walt: did you or your friends order 45,000 lbs of Leinenkugels, because I'm headed your way with it..........

Randy Vos

"Ever have one of those days where you couldn't hit the ground with your hat??" - Waylon Jennings

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Posted by Mookie on Monday, October 20, 2014 7:21 PM

tree68

The railroad supplies the hay and the pumpkins.  Most of the rest of it is donations from various volunteers over time.  The hay went to another Halloween celebration (at Remsen Station, with whom we frequently work), as did the leftover pumpkins.  The rest of the decorations are back in storage until next year.

I like to hit the seasonal Halloween stores right after Halloween, when they're trying to sell off what they've got left over at half price and better.  That's where a lot of the headstones came from.

We have to stick with non-powered items (unless they run on batteries), as neither of our sites have had power, and hauling a generator around is a pain (not to mention the sound).  I have a battery operated PA system which provides spooky sounds in the woods.  Between arrivals at the patch, I can (and do) serenade the woods with my favorite music from the MP3 player that holds the spooky sounds track.

 

Thumbs UpVery Cool.  You don't need elaborate to have fun! 

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by tree68 on Monday, October 20, 2014 5:49 PM

The railroad supplies the hay and the pumpkins.  Most of the rest of it is donations from various volunteers over time.  The hay went to another Halloween celebration (at Remsen Station, with whom we frequently work), as did the leftover pumpkins.  The rest of the decorations are back in storage until next year.

I like to hit the seasonal Halloween stores right after Halloween, when they're trying to sell off what they've got left over at half price and better.  That's where a lot of the headstones came from.

We have to stick with non-powered items (unless they run on batteries), as neither of our sites have had power, and hauling a generator around is a pain (not to mention the sound).  I have a battery operated PA system which provides spooky sounds in the woods.  Between arrivals at the patch, I can (and do) serenade the woods with my favorite music from the MP3 player that holds the spooky sounds track.

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 edblysard on Monday, October 20, 2014 5:40 PM

Murray
 
edblysard
The thing with Jackalopes is ya can’t barbeque them or chicken fry them, ya have to stew them…
 

 

 

Ed, there are two BIG critters that like to relax in the shade between the building that I work in, and the parking lot. 

As I am walking to my car in the afternoon, he sees me...he says "howdy" and I say "howdy" I go on my way.  They don't even run away....

 

When they get old, they get bold.....Wink

23 17 46 11

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Posted by Mookie on Monday, October 20, 2014 5:31 PM

Tree - who supplied the "family" and the hay bales?  Does that all come from the railroad family?

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by tree68 on Monday, October 20, 2014 3:54 PM

Deggesty
Is that you in the foreground? 

Nah - Gotta maintain my secret identity....

If I get the video I shot that day downloaded, edited, and posted, you might see me in that...

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 Monday, October 20, 2014 3:32 PM

tree68

So, this was my Sunday morning:The Pumpkin Patch

It all melted shortly thereafter, but it was still a cold day.  By 4PM, however, it was all history, with nothing left but some random stalks of straw scattered here and there.

Everyone seemed to have a good time.

The red building in the background was the tool house, to go together with the section house that was behind me.  After the NYC quit using it, it was rented by an employee ($60 a year...) who eventually bought it from the railroad shortly before NYC went under.  Just to the left of the Punkin Patch was a passing siding that came up in the late 1930's.

We were the guests of the current owner (third generation), and they were kind enough to give me a "tour" of the section house and some of the history of the site.

 

Is that you in the foreground?

Johnny

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