Finally got the Christmas cards out, and several gift packages ordered from a "made in Michigan" place not far from the old hometown. They won't guarantee delivery by Christmas, but that's my fault, not theirs. So they'll be holiday gifts instead.
One gift left to buy, but the store I want to buy it at doesn't have an outlet here, so I have to wait until I get to Utica.
Last three days of the Polar Express. I'm engineer two days, and conductor the other.
It's amazing how many people I've talked to who have ridden PE this year. Unfortunately, I never see them on the train because I'm in the cab, far from the madding crowd...
Weatherguessers threatening us with freezing drizzle tonight. Might lead to a few ditch-seekers (or pole-seekers, the usual MO this year). If I can stay home, that would be just fine.
Time to start organizing for the weekend.
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...
evening
ns had an eastbound in the siding.They had quite a few cars of brand new green tractors.The local was uptown working as well.Went into Defiance.The new viaduct warning signs were working on clinton street.Csx had a green signal for a westbound but we weren't able to see the train.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").
Frankie (our vehicle) is also in the hospital. There was some previously-unseen damage from his encounter with the deer this past June. It was uncovered by our trusty mechanic--who, as soon as he saw it, stopped work immediately until our insurance people could have a look. This was two days ago; the adjustor should be out sometime today. Meantime, we're in a rental unit, which is also covered by insurance.(We took advantage of the situation to inform our mechanic that since the car was tuned up earlier this month the radio has been playing too sharp. There was about five seconds of silent panic on his part, followed by "How do you know?", before Pat cracked up. He did, too, finally...lately he's been saying, "Aww, you guys..." to us a lot.)
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)
Morning all: Snow on the ground, mostly a dusting; about an 1 and 1/4" out in the yard. Not a lot of traffic stiring, BNSF pretty quiet, one westbound about 4 AM. Guess they are getting their crews lined out to handle the holiday traffic?
Norris & Mookie-I got that' Monster Truck' wanna mash ignorant drivers thing out of my system a long time ago... Too many years on the Road. Can't count the number of times I've been told I was #1, or flashed an invitation to an 'Italian Wine and Cheese party'.... (an exagerated arm/ finger optional signal, mostly an East Coast Thingy.) Ask Randy V. or IGN, I am sure they can fill you in on the pertinent details.
Everybody be Safe, Too close to Christmas for a WHOOPS !
I believe society would not relish the idea of me owning a BIG SUV or monster truck. The temptation would be too great.... "I'm sorry officer, I don't know what came over me. The light turned green, and the traffic in front of me just wasn't moving fast enouhg. Besides, haven't you always wanted to squash some cars with a monster truck?".
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
Millie had her "dr" appt yesterday. Had some minor things fixed and a good oil/lube. Rushed her in because we have some snow this morning. Not going to be a lot, but any snow brings ice and travel better done in your favorite easy chair.
Listening to scanner (police/fire) and lot of people just defying gravity and needing to be picked up off the ground and others trying to see what the underside of their vehicle looks like!
We were sitting in the dealer's showroom while waiting for Millie. I saw a huge SUV - that if we bought it, I would need a block and tackle to get in and out. Driver said the interior was spectacular, but it is something I would never know. I guess I would have to tell him how nice the exterior was! Tires look good. License plate is clean!
Wonder where they hide the out-riggers? Obviously - optional equipment, which no one puts on.
She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw
Ns had some empty cars uptown. work still busy.Time for bed.
Joe
It's raining. But there's a little more snow in the forecast, so the odds of a white Christmas are pretty good.
Working on my Christmas Cards. Some changes in the list since last year, so I've got to "check it twice."
Getting rested up for the final weekend of Polar Express, too.
I was at a party on Sunday evening and talking to a young lady who was a couple years ahead of my daughter in school (her sister was in my daughter's class). Polar came up, and she said they had ridden. When we figured out when, it turned out I'd been one of the engineers that night...
ns was clear when I left work.Still busy.working on chores.
ns was shuffling trains around.The local was in town too.work still busy.need to get chores done.
tree68 Sam - December 15 is the cut-off for comments. I emailed mine in last night after a final revision. We probably won't hear of a decision until well after the first of the year. And depending on that decision, there could be lawsuits if it doesn't go the way the "trail advocates" think it will. We can take some encouragement from recent events on the Catskill Mountain RR, where some very well attended events this fall showed the community what the railroad can bring into town. Here's hoping that those reviewing the future of the Adirondack Division see and understand what happened there and that it carries on to their decision about the corridor.
Sam - December 15 is the cut-off for comments. I emailed mine in last night after a final revision.
We probably won't hear of a decision until well after the first of the year. And depending on that decision, there could be lawsuits if it doesn't go the way the "trail advocates" think it will.
We can take some encouragement from recent events on the Catskill Mountain RR, where some very well attended events this fall showed the community what the railroad can bring into town. Here's hoping that those reviewing the future of the Adirondack Division see and understand what happened there and that it carries on to their decision about the corridor.
OK, Thanks, Larry( tree68) :
Waiting for that Positive Outcome!
It hardly feels like December around here except for the short days. It got into the upper 40's on Saturday and grazed 50 degrees on Sunday. The only things that reminded me of winter were my grandson's hockey game on Saturday afternoon and watching his sister in her Christmas ice show on Sunday (she had a solo and two group numbers).
Hmm - 41 degrees, lightning in the area, rain and just west of us snow. Happy December?
The sun came out and was able to see some trains.Csx had a railgrinder on track 1 too.Matt is with cousins looking at zoo lights.Tomorrow it's back to the shop to work work work.
Hello, Larry (tree68) ; Excuse me but I think I remember your saying that the 15th of December was the big Committee Meeting regarding the future of ASR (?).
I hope that it goes well for the Adirondack Scenic , and the "Trail Folks" do not get their wishes...
Please keep us posted on the outcome!
Regards;
Tree: Will have to compare notes. Doing the same thing on Sunday nights, but I'm not assigned to the train, more of a gofer. I don't get to see much, but hear DRGW 491 (K37 2-8-2) loafing and being restrained as it runs in circles dragging a light consist of coaches and a caboose.
Two inches of very light snow here in Denver. (twelve hour late)
Another story from Thursday night:
I was engineer on the "south" locomotive, which leads the train back from the North Pole. It's really a challenging job - we hold the train at 15-20 MPH so the "big guy" can have time to visit with all the kids. Given that the territory is far from flat, it's not as easy as it sounds - on the brakes, release, on the brakes, release, oops, here's an upgrade.... On the trip to the North Pole there some pusher work to do, too, but that's a track speed - almost all throttle.
But, back to our story. There is only about a six foot window in which to stop this very long train so the end vestibules fit on the platform. So there's no "transit stops." We creep in.
On Thursday night, as we're arriving at the station, CSX, which has just made a pickup or drop at the Suzie Q yard across from us, is just pulling out. Even at 5 MPH, I was passing them, ever so slowly.
My "fireman" calls my attention to the conductor on the CSX loco - who is hanging out the window, looking at the GP9 I'm running, as well as the train behind me. He had kind of an awed look on his face.
We all wondered later if it was a matter of never having seen a Geep of that vintage running, or perhaps seeing the cars, decorated inside with plenty of "twinkle lights" we were bringing in.
It was cause for a good chuckle.
morning
damp and chilly here.Matts concert went well last night.Off to G+G's house to help out. I will be on KP duty.Might go see some csx tomorrow.
Don'cha love railroad humor!
Oh, yeah - as we were wrapping things up for the evening a train came through Utica - different sounding horn, so I took a look - and saw the NS Virginian unit leading a regular NS unit eastbound. It's the only heritage unit I've been able to catch a glimpse of.
When I stay in Utica, I'll often tune a radio into the CSX road channel. There's a defect detector just west of Utica, and CPs on on either side of the station, so I can hear what's going through (if I'm awake). Sometimes I'll get lucky and get a room with a view of the line, too.
Anyhow, about 4 AM, one of several meets took place, almost at the station (the line was busy - sounded like they were nearly running on yellows). The engineer of one (a woman) reported to the other train that the other train looked good (ie, a roll-by inspection with no noted problems), with Rudolph on the rear.
The other engineer answered, a bit confused. After another exchange to clarify what was said, he replied "What's he doing back there?"
The things you hear on the radio...
There - another 1500 or so happy Polar Express riders!
I was one of the engineers Thursday night, and the second conductor Friday night. With 10 cars of passengers, one conductor just can't cover everything. Besides, I like working on the train sometimes so I can see all the ecstatic kids.
Saturday I'm back in uniform for an event at our local library (involving a showing of the movie), and Sunday, it's time for our FD Holiday Breakfast. I'll be staying out of the kitchen - I generally work the door. Santa arrives at 10 for the kiddies.
Time for bed.
Will that give you more time to chase trains around Chicagoland, Randy?Happy birthday, Young Feller!
Randy Vos
"Ever have one of those days where you couldn't hit the ground with your hat??" - Waylon Jennings
"May the Lord take a liking to you and blow you up, real good" - SCTV
saw the westbound capitol pass an eastbound stack train on Ns this morning.A westbound frieght passed an oil train in the siding when I left work.lot's of horses on the point.Tomorrow is friday.Tomorrow we will hear matt and friends sing at his school choir concert.Time to get some chores done.
Ramrod - We (I'm a volunteer firefighter and EMT) always give stuff like that a wide berth. If dispatch has even an inkling that power will be involved, they've usually already called the utility for us, although sometimes that can involve a substantial wait while they call in a crew during off hours.
Total measurable snowfall for the Nor'Easter came in at six and a quarter inches here at the house. After attending another Skywarn class, I've decided to try to keep snow measurements and send them in. While not a substantial snowfall (for around here), they like to get spot reports like that to verify what they have seen on the radar, etc.
Zug - My grandson can tell you exactly which Transformer that is...
Ms Mook - Our ambulance service has a "junior" program, and one can become an EMT at 18. Our general policy is no driving until 21, but some "kids" can handle it. On the other hand, there are some adults who shouldn't be behind the wheel of an emergency vehicle. They can't handle the adrenalin of a "lights and siren" response.
Ramrod - interesting story. If you were a teenager in '46, that makes you an elder statesman today! Can you imagine letting teenagers of today drive an ambulance?
Zug - clever, but no cigar!
ramrodI hope you are very cautious around poles that have been hit and have trasformers on them.
Yes, you should be.
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
tree68 There were several accidents in the area today involving poles, a number of which had transformers on them as well..
I hope you are very cautious around poles that have been hit and have trasformers on them. Sometimes the transformer looks OK but it;s hanging by a very inadequate wire. They are heavy and can do lots of dame to something or someone if it falls. Story: In 1946 I was a teenage paid ambulance driver for a volunteer FD. I could drive but could not have anything to do with anyone we carried. (Something about insurance rules) One rainy night we were sent to the scene of a collision between a car and a power pole that had a transformer on it. On arrival I was directed to park next to the pole to make it easier to transport the victim. There was no reason for this concern; the victim was quite dead. While we were waiting, the transformer fell, removing the front bumper of the ambulance and scaring every one at the scene out of their next years growth. Luckily, no one was hurt, although they would have been if the ambulance hadn't been parked where it was. Lesson learned: Wait until the power crew gives you clearance before you venture under a transformer.
I apoligize for wandering off topic, but I had to share.
We have a city owned ski hill on the edge of town. It's more of a ski bump actually. According to the Weather Service, a combination of cold winds blowing and the snowmaking equipment being in use somehow caused some cloud seeding to occur in that corner of town. This resulted in a part of a neighborhood getting about a hald inch of snow, when the Weather Service had predicted a 0% chance. It's certainly not lake effect snow. Can we call it bump effect snow?
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