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Chatterbox summer 2015

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  • From: Southeast Missouri
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Posted by The Butler on Friday, September 11, 2015 10:51 AM

Murphy Siding

    I have to risk my life twice a day through a roundabout.  To me, it's a mixture of the Keystone Cops movies and a figure 8 demo derby, except now everyone has a cell phone stuck to their face while blindly wizzing around the curve.   Personally, I want to see a motorcycle cop parked in those tall, decorative, native grasses that so completely camouflage the darned thing- a cop working on a commision! Grumpy

 

This traffic circle is in Des Plaines, Illinois.  It's name is Cumberland Circle, growing up and learning to drive there, the locals called it "Suicide Circle."

All traffic stops at a Stop sign before entering.

 

METRA's UP Northwest line can be seen in the lower left.

N 42.05371 W 87.91029

 

James


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Posted by tree68 on Friday, September 11, 2015 11:34 AM

The Butler
All traffic stops at a Stop sign before entering.

At least that's how it's supposed to work...

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
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Posted by mudchicken on Friday, September 11, 2015 12:09 PM

tree68
 
The Butler
All traffic stops at a Stop sign before entering.

 

At least that's how it's supposed to work...

 

LaughLaughLaugh.....and then there's reality with the lowest common denominator gumming up best laid plans, exercising their right to be stoopid.

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 Friday, September 11, 2015 12:17 PM

Problem I see with a lot of single lane traffic circles (I'm not fond of the roundabout name), is that it becomes 2 lanes.  As someone is exiting off one leg, the next car whips out around them, and chaos ensues.  The worst circle I ever saw was in Latham, NY.  That was nothing but chaos.

 

They've talked about doing aeither that braided diamond thing, or a SPUI (single-point urban interchange) near here.  The traffic trying to make left turns onto the major highway causes the backup (ill-timed, or non-timed lights don't help, either).  So far, nothing has been done. 

 

PS. anyone else having issues with the mobile version of this site?  I get a security certificate warning, then it redirects my browser to the google play store.  I scanned my phone for viruses and malware, and cleared out all the data, but it happens again as soon as I visit the mobile site.

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 The Butler on Friday, September 11, 2015 12:57 PM

tree68

 

 
The Butler
All traffic stops at a Stop sign before entering.

 

At least that's how it's supposed to work...

 

Yes

James


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Posted by Murphy Siding on Friday, September 11, 2015 1:41 PM

     A friend of mine was on tour of London on a double-decker bus.  As they approached one of those big roundy-rounds that you always see in old movies about London, the busdriver yelled "pick a number between and ten".  Someone hollared "7".  So the busdriver did 7 laps around. Pirate

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

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Posted by JoeKoh on Friday, September 11, 2015 4:53 PM

evening

rain here in Nw Ohio.Ns was clear when I got off work.busy weekend ahead.

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 The Butler on Saturday, September 12, 2015 11:49 AM

Sunny and 63 degrees with a 15 mph NNW breeze in Southeast Missouri.  The weather has turned very Fall like, almost overnight. 

I don't mind, though, because this afternoon my bride and I will be standing outside as we say our vows.  Our concern was having a 85+ degree day.  Wedding dresses and black tuxedos do not fair well in that kind of heat.  Wink

James


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Posted by Deggesty on Saturday, September 12, 2015 12:26 PM

The Butler

Sunny and 63 degrees with a 15 mph NNW breeze in Southeast Missouri.  The weather has turned very Fall like, almost overnight. 

I don't mind, though, because this afternoon my bride and I will be standing outside as we say our vows.  Our concern was having a 85+ degree day.  Wedding dresses and black tuxedos do not fair well in that kind of heat.  Wink

 

Congratulations, James!Bow May the two of you have a long, wonderful life together!

Any train travel in the trip I presume the two of you are taking?

Johnny

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Posted by Mookie on Saturday, September 12, 2015 2:15 PM

James:  Congratulations and best wishes to you and your bride.  A beautiful day to have a wedding!

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by tree68 on Saturday, September 12, 2015 7:48 PM

A half inch of rain (so far) and +61F here.  A little cooler than I'd like (but mostly seasonal), and we need the rain...

Day One of train show is over.  The railroad donated a couple of family packages for rides on our local trips.  At the end of the day, two young ladies came to the booth to thank us for donating - they'd won a door prize and were very excited to have picked out one of our packages.

Unfortunately, mom and dad didn't come over until I'd changed out of my uniform, so no picture.  The parents were excited about the ride as well.

Now to rest up for tomorrow.

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 JoeKoh on Sunday, September 13, 2015 7:19 AM

Church and Sunday school today.Afterwards going to see how our friend is progressing on CSX.Like this preview of fall mother nature is giving us.

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 Sunday, September 13, 2015 11:13 AM

Friend was moving right along today on his train.He had q 010(csx UPS train) behind him.Csx had a slight boo boo in the yard on Friday.Things are mixed up.Saw a couple  cars  that were set off in some sidings.The local will be busy on Monday.

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 The Butler on Sunday, September 13, 2015 12:39 PM

Deggesty

  

Congratulations, James!Bow May the two of you have a long, wonderful life together!

 

Any train travel in the trip I presume the two of you are taking?

 

 Thank you, no train travel foreseen.  She has never ridden on a train.  That is something I do plan on changing.  Smile

James


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Posted by The Butler on Sunday, September 13, 2015 12:41 PM

Mookie

James:  Congratulations and best wishes to you and your bride.  A beautiful day to have a wedding!

 

Thank you, Ms. Mookie.  It was a beautiful day.  A good time was had by all.

James


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Posted by JoeKoh on Monday, September 14, 2015 4:26 PM

evening

work not so busy.Local was uptown when I left work.Chores to do here at home.

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 tree68 on Monday, September 14, 2015 6:11 PM

Now that the weekend is finally winding down (yes, it is Monday)...

James, let me "pile on" here.  All the best to both of you.

While it's not the ice box, the 'fridge door spent some time open this past weekend, along with the sprinkler system.  From the high 70's and 80's last week, we got down to the low 50's in some areas - sweatshirt weather (in March, it'll be t-shirt weather, but that's another story).

We got just short of two and a half inches of rain in 24 hours on Saturday.  That giant slurping sound you heard was the ground soaking it all up.  

The train show had decent attendance - though not as good as we thought it would be given the foul weather.  I managed a cameo on the local cable network's news.

As for the temperatures - the prognosticators are promising high seventies for the rest of the week...

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 CSSHEGEWISCH on Tuesday, September 15, 2015 6:54 AM

Prognosticating in public, I'm shocked!!

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by CShaveRR on Tuesday, September 15, 2015 8:52 AM

James, let me add our congratulations to you and your wife!  If a honeymoon or subsequent trip brings you to Chicagoland, we can help make it memorable!

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)

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Posted by JoeKoh on Tuesday, September 15, 2015 4:43 PM

evening

Well was going to work outside in the yard,but Mamma's tire found a nail in the road.All fixed.Ns local was back when we left work.Got Matt's school picture CD back already.He's finishing up homework.Other chores to do.James wishing you and your bride many happy years.

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, September 16, 2015 4:01 PM

Ns had some tonka toys out on the main when I left work.Worked outside.Time to get cleaned up.Supper and need 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 tree68 on Wednesday, September 16, 2015 4:12 PM

Beeeautiful day today - sunny, warm.  Got more projects done, although there are plenty to go.  

Finished priming the old steel roof yesterday.  Now it's time for the finish coat, which will closely match the steel I put on the rest of the house over the past few years.  That may wait until next week.

About time to grab some supper and head for an amateur radio meeting.

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 JoeKoh on Thursday, September 17, 2015 3:23 PM

afternoon

Ns was clear when I left work.Errands ran.Need to do chores here at home.

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 Friday, September 18, 2015 5:05 PM

evening

some rain in Nw Ohio today.Ns was clear when I left work.Going in tomorrow for a bit.Cooling off and highs in the 70's according to the guessers for next week.Fall is coming.

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 Saturday, September 19, 2015 12:15 PM

afternoon

Ns had a westbound in the siding when I left work.Ma nature gave our yard a good watering today.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 The Butler on Sunday, September 20, 2015 1:40 AM

James


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Posted by JoeKoh on Monday, September 21, 2015 4:26 PM

evening

Ns local left some cars uptown when I got off work. Nice breeze when doing yard work today.Getting stuff around for Saturday.It's the annual model train show in Fostoria.Matt is looking to make deals.

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 tree68 on Monday, September 21, 2015 8:27 PM

Decent weekend on the railroad - fair number of passengers, and got some other work done, too!

My current project, painting that part of my roof that needed it, is about 3/4 done (although a second coat may happen).  Need to work on the metal chimney - it's faux brick, and I need to paint the mortar in...  The paint I have on hand, which I purchased a while back, is slightly darker than the rest of the roof (also steel), but it looks a whole lot better than the rusted green it was...

Had a meeting tonight and ended up on another committee.  It won't be a lot of work, but when there is work for it, I'll be busy...

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 blue streak 1 on Tuesday, September 22, 2015 2:08 PM

Oh  for the want of a passenger train.  Had to schedule a trip Friday to Nashville, Tn.  Left at 1345 hrs and at 1640 had traveled all of 80 miles all on interstate highway.  North of Atlanta terrible traffic with no accidents.   Then more problems in Chattanooga as well.  So for 297 miles with all but 5 miles interstate travel time took 7:53 with 2 short pit stops. ( normally only one stop at normal highway speeds which can only make at o-dark-thirty.  normal 4:30 travel time. Return trip only 5:53  

If we could have traveled by train would have been an easy pickup at the far end train station.  even the slow CSX line would have been faster than the drive with no aggravation, nap, and even just Amtrak fast food.

.

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Wednesday, September 23, 2015 7:15 AM

A regional jet route probably already has that market covered.  If memory serves me right, the last service on that route was a coach-only remnant of the "Georgian" which was discontinued on April 30, 1971.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul

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