Purloined from my Facebook page:
My first train-hunting outing for 2015 is in the books. Gas used in the car: zero. Walking: about three miles total, in two counties. Trains ridden: three. Fare paid: zero (a retirement perk!).
I boarded an eastbound scoot in Elmhurst and rode in to Oak Park (my original thought was to grab lunch at Five Guys, but it was a bit early). Standing on the center track at the station was a westbound freight from CSX for Proviso. I was able to get very close to some of the cars while it was sitting there, getting a few former numbers, and coming closer to solving a nearly-20-year-old mystery about a series of cars and where they came from. This research took me most of the time I was there, until the westbound scoot came; I took that to Elmhurst. Lunch was courtesy of the 7-Eleven by the tracks. I took it back to the station, where I ate, solved a couple of Sudoku puzzles, wrote the letter--three pages' worth--and waited for trains to go by. I was a little disappointed in the volume, but the three hours I spent there had a few good moments.
My log for today at Elmhurst:
1110, Track 3: Eastbound scoot (the one I came in on).1115, Track 1: Westbound scoot.1133, Track 2: Eastbound WEPX coal train, DPU on hind end.1210, Track 3: Westbound scoot.1222, Track 3: Westbound auto racks (some loaded, some empty), DPU.1225, Track 2: Westbound stack train.1244, Track 1: Eastbound manifest.1310, Track 3: Westbound scoot.1316, Track 1: Eastbound scoot.1402, Track 2: Westbound intermodal, from yard.1413, Track 3: Westbound scoot, which I boarded.
And now, Chapter 2, before I could get away from the tracks at Lombard:
At about 1418, we met the eastbound scoot as he was departing Villa Park. The notice on the PA said that he was delayed six to 12 minutes due to “heavy passenger loading”.
As we were leaving Villa Park, we passed up an intermodal train sitting on Track 2—the same one I reported in Elmhurst at 1402. I figured he’d follow us out of Lombard, probably on Track 3. And sure enough, before I got to the corner, he came by, having crossed over to Track 3. I went to the drug store (milk is a good drug, right?), and came out to a westbound frac-sand train on Track 2 (he’d had to wait for the other train to get off Track 2). While he was still going by, another train blew past on track 3, westbound—empty ComEd coal cars, mostly. This all took place within 20 minutes of my getting off the train in Lombard.
I was mighty tired when I hot home, so I didn't do much about the cars I'd seen--I have a couple of hours to work on it before Pat gets home from choir practice...we'll see what I can get done. Meanwhile, the letter has been printed out and assembled with other vital things, and perhaps I can do another three-mile walk tomorrow!
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)
mookie
could be repaying bnsf hours.unless some place down south needs some special feed from out west.Capitol limited tooted as I walked in to work this morning.Still waiting on a thaw.Matt will be home soon.Need to get chores done.
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").
Lunch trackside sitting in the sun - it was wonderful.
Joe - Saw a WB CSX grain train! 3 CSX units with mostly all CSX cars. Are you missing one or are they sightseeing?
She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw
rvos1979 Deggesty A. Randy, what is this regeneration with a diesel? At the moment, the only regeneration I can think of is regenerating ion exchange resins so they can continue to remove unwanted ions from your water (one of my classmates and I played with some ion exchange resins back when we were college freshmen--sixty years ago, and the semiconductor industry uses the resins to obtain ultra-pure water). John: under all new diesel vehicles is what is called a Diesel Particulate Filter, this traps all the soot created in the combustion process. When back pressure sensors indicate that this filter has caught enough soot, it signals the engine to begin the process of regeneration, by increasing the exhaust temperature to around 1500 degrees or so. The intense heat, plus special materials in the filter, changes the soot into ash, which takes up less space in the filter. After a period of time (Cummins specified a quarter million miles), the filter has to be removed and cleaned at a repair shop. The regeneration process usually involves dumping raw fuel into the exhaust system after the turbocharger, either while running down the road or by speeding up the engine when parked. Hope this makes it a little clearer for you, and everyone else..........
Mookie Hang on! Warm up on the way - or so they keep telling us!
Hang on! Warm up on the way - or so they keep telling us!
Yeah - up to +19F this afternoon - some 40 degrees warmer than when I went to bed.
Looked for the comet last night. Never did spot it.
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...
afternoon
Ns has a westbound in the siding and cars are ready for the local to pick up.Going to take Matt uptown to get our ears lowered.A good hat makes up for a bad barber so they say.Chores and confirmation class as well tonight.
Chatterbox WInter--when it is so cold that your teeth chatter.
Johnny
Tree- Maybe it's time to use the hair dryer on the anemometer again. We're just palin smoking here. It's 30+ degrees warmer than it was at daybreak. Heck- we're clear up to 17 above.
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
JoeKohGoing to be a balmy -6 overnight.
Piker. Just got back from town. Thermometer in truck shows -13F, home weather station shows -6F, and the sensor on the anemometer shows -18F.
On the plus side, there's not a star in the sky, so I may see if I can spot comet Lovejoy.
One reason for the trip to town was sunflower seed - now that the weather is calm but cold, the birds are really packing it in.
MC no dancing in the street for me.Some students in Columbus decided to set some furniture on fire.Coaches have 3 quality quaterbacks to choose from next year.(what a problem to have) Ns was working uptown when I left.Need to get Matt on his homework.I need to do some chores as well.Going to be a balmy -6 overnight.
joe
There are 128 NCCA Division 1 football teams - 7 rounds of playoffs get you down to one remaining. Start playing off seeded teams at Thanksvgiving and you will have your winner at this time of year and no complaining about anyone being left out.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
The initial arrangement for the Division 1A championship is too narrow and takes all the fun out. They should expand it to eight slots filled by the various conference champs only plus wild cards as appropriate.
It's ok - they were up against a tough team. But they will be back as will Baylor, my other favorite team. Two very up and coming teams that are really fun to watch.
Methinks Joe is dancing in the street about now. The nuts beat the quacks in the Cheerio's/Oreo's Bowl. (sorry Mooks)
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
NO Joe - you will leave some poor ducks w/o a parent.....
I know you are Ohio - but I still have to go with Oregon! I do like them!
Matt was closed today.Ns had some cars to get.Trains were using the siding from time to time today.Finished cleaning up what mother nature and the snowplows left.Getting ready to see how our boys do in Jerry's stadium tonight.Hope our 12 guage is on target for the duck hunt.
Not much train-watching at all lately...life isn't getting dull, though, with my becoming a data moderator on a freight-car-photography site (can't take pictures worth anything, but what the heck...)I've been purging a lot of things for the new year (annoying Facebook "friends", etc.). One of the things I completely cleaned out was the "messages" file on this Forum. Its inbox had been sitting at 99 messages for ages, and I found a lot of people I haven't heard from from ages. Another things I found were a lot of conversations with myself...these folks apparently have removed themselves from the Forum completely. I figure that "99" number was the default for a flooded inbox. Anyway, now it's empty, and I can see when (or if) new messages arrive.
Murphy Siding Here's a claim not just anyone can make- We took down our Christmas tree today, raked the living room carpet, and used the vacuum to make the whole house smell like a pine tree.
Here's a claim not just anyone can make- We took down our Christmas tree today, raked the living room carpet, and used the vacuum to make the whole house smell like a pine tree.
Many years ago my uncle was a Marine. He wasn't able to get home for Christmas, but would be home a week or two later. To say that our Christmas tree was "tired" by the time he made it would be an understatement.
The lake effect bands have been wandering around. We had sunshine most of the day, then some snow, then peace and quiet again. Now the band is over us again. It's all supposed to quit overnight.
I would suspect that "town" will be very busy tomorrow if things do clear up. A lot of folks have been snowbound for several days now, and if they aren't low on supplies they're simply going to want to get out of the house...
evening
did go out today.took older brother out to watch trains.Ns was trying to clear up the wabash line.The Indiana Northeastern was waiting to get into Montpelier as well.Mamma had a big pot of chilli waiting for us when we got home.Tomorrow night it's more snow.
Its 36 degrees with a cold rain falling...the freezing rain has stayed to the north of us...stahing nice and warm inside.
Mookie Tree: snow fort & snow balls?
Tree: snow fort & snow balls?
Only about 8 inches at the house. Down on Tug Hill they're talking feet.
Deggesty Thanks, Randy. The process sounds to me more like degradation than regeneration.
Thanks, Randy. The process sounds to me more like degradation than regeneration.
RandyVos' description was interesting as well ( to me a little scarey). Implementation of new technology, in the trucking industry, can be a thorney process...Learning Curves being what they are, and all. My guess is that they will be 'maintenance hogs'. Until the new gets worn off, and the field maintenance abilities pick up. Invariably they are going to break in the most inoportune place and time.
I am wondering if this regenerative exhaust system breaks, can the truck still be driven?
If it is problematic with trucks, can it also be problematic with much larger railroad locomotives, reqiring a shut donn of the afflicted unit?
Weather around here is supposed to go down to about 13deg tonight, light wind so far. No snow or other uglyness in forcast til about this coming Tuesday evening...Everyone stay safe and warm...
This is new technology, I am sure it was 'tested', but will it stand up day after day in real world situations?
Matt had a 2 hour delay today.
Ns had a freight to go west.Noticed a sand hopper.It was gray had bn markings but you could still see "frisco" in the middle of the car.They had a sante fe hopper to keep it company.Work decided they didn't need any extra help tomorrow.That's ok it's only going to be a balmy high of 9 anyway.Time to do some chores.
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