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Chatterbox Fall 2015

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Friday, November 20, 2015 7:23 AM

Whistling    Some odd white flakes are falling out of the sky this morning up here on the bank of deNile.  It can't be snow, it's only late November. 'Probably soap flakes?  Potato flakes?  Corn flakes?

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Posted by mudchicken on Friday, November 20, 2015 7:33 AM

Murphy Siding

Whistling    Some odd white flakes are falling out of the sky this morning up here on the bank of deNile.  It can't be snow, it's only late November. 'Probably soap flakes?  Potato flakes?  Corn flakes?

 

Natural confetti.....Won da moisture lottery, did'ja?

The large glowing orb will eventually return, hopefully by tomorrow.

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 Murphy Siding on Friday, November 20, 2015 8:51 AM

mudchicken
 
 

 

The large glowing orb will eventually return, hopefully by tomorrow.

 

  I wonder if there will still be any room in the lots at the auto body shops by tomorrow. When I ponder the herd mentality of our society, I wonder sometimes if cows would make better drivers. Hmm

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

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Posted by JoeKoh on Friday, November 20, 2015 5:21 PM

evening

Ns had an eastbound coming when I left work.Weather guessers are calling for mixed crap tomorrow.Mamma is at the store now.I am working in the am and don't plan to be anywhere else but home.Going to do chores before we unload the groceries.

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 Friday, November 20, 2015 9:40 PM

Time moves on. Yesterday, I was moved from the Skilled Nuring Section to the Assisted Living Section, which means that I will still get physical torture therapy (which is helping me, yet) three, instead of five, days a week--and will have a little more freedom (I may now stay out all night--if I sign out to be gone) and responsibility for my care. The therapists have really done wonders for me, especially when I have spoken of this or that problem which they can work to alleviate.

I have a two room apartment which we had to furnish (Katie did the work). There is not room for my desk from home, but Katie found a usable one in the University surplus. For some reason, even though I am on the facility's internet, I could not get on yesterday, but I am back in contact with the world today. Now, if I can my desktop computer connected (it does not have wireless capability), I will really be in business.

We had a little light snow this morning; it did not stick. I do not doubt that the ski resorts received much more. I do not know what influence MC has that he gets so much more snow on his side of the mountain.

 

Johnny

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Posted by Mookie on Friday, November 20, 2015 10:14 PM

Johnny:  So glad you are getting healthier!  I so enjoy your missives and hope you will continue them.

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Saturday, November 21, 2015 4:16 AM

CSX is having crewing problems again.  Thursday about 1600 our short siding had another 3 train meet with one longer than the siding.  Finally after all said and done second northbound BNSF Intermodal went on the law and barely fit on the siding and was unable to split for crossings due to its length. 

Result ?  Two blocked town crossings until 0630 Friday morning. One the only state highway thru town.  Then another BNSF down on the law Friday afternoon but only for several hours again blocking crossings.  City Pols upset but suggested calling CSX not going to be helpful but maybe FRA and STB.  Waiting to hear. 

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Posted by JoeKoh on Saturday, November 21, 2015 11:26 AM

home from work.

It is snizziling outside.Ns had an eastbound stacker when I left work.Working on stuff here inside.Mamma says chilli will be ready for our football game.Smells good.

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 CShaveRR on Saturday, November 21, 2015 11:28 AM

Chicagoland is getting a good supply of snow.  It's really quite sloppy out there--"heart-attack snow", one meteorologist called it.  I probably should be shoveling, but I was already out walking in it this morning, and I'd rather be sipping warm soup for lunch.

Trains are running...I missed a good one while doing the shopping this morning, and it met a stack train, which I also saw later.  Before I got home I heard another freight whistling past track workers.

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 Sunday, November 22, 2015 5:04 PM

icy this morning going to church.Sun and salt worked together to clear the roads.Csx q 389 decided to break a knuckle west of Defiance.Tied things up for a bit.Back to work tomorrow.

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 Sunday, November 22, 2015 5:09 PM

Murphy Siding
Some odd white flakes are falling out of the sky this morning up here on the bank of deNile. It can't be snow, it's only late November. 'Probably soap flakes? Potato flakes? Corn flakes?

 

If your corn flakes are white, you probably should toss them out.  Just sayin'.

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 Murphy Siding on Sunday, November 22, 2015 6:31 PM

zugmann

 

 
Murphy Siding
Some odd white flakes are falling out of the sky this morning up here on the bank of deNile. It can't be snow, it's only late November. 'Probably soap flakes? Potato flakes? Corn flakes?

 

 

If your corn flakes are white, you probably should toss them out.  Just sayin'.

 

 I'd like to toss it out- all 12" deep of it.Grumpy

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

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Posted by tree68 on Sunday, November 22, 2015 10:21 PM

Gee - saw a little of the white stuff on the way home from Polar Express, but nothing significant - and that's in the wake of a lake effect snow warning.

Speaking of Polar - three sold-out trains this weekend, out of six.  Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves immensely.  Saw a family at the hotel breakfast Sunday morning and spoke to the briefly, including mention that I was one of the engineers on their trip to the North Pole.  Ran into the father in the parking lot a short time later - he said his wife was upset that he didn't get a picture, so he took one then.  I'm in a lot of holiday albums...

Saw my first Amtrak "freight style" loco today on the Late Shore Limited.  It was third in the consist, and I don't know if it was even on line, but it was there...

Time to unpack and head for bed.

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
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There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

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Posted by CShaveRR on Sunday, November 22, 2015 10:43 PM

We wound up with about six inches of the stuff.  Shoveled our driveway clear Saturday before darkness set in...didn't get to the sidewalks.  Then the plow came and deposited a gift in our driveway apron.  Then the temperature dropped into the lower teens.  It was a little harder to do the apron again today, and clear the sidewalks and patio.  But I did that...and Pat fixed dinner.

As I said, we got about six inches...the O'Hare total was somewhere above 11, and some suburbs to the north reported 16!  We are on our way to the snowiest November on record.

By this time tomorrow, we should have our California guests, provided the airlines are caught up on repositioning planes after all of the cancellations I heard about.  I will take them to Portillo's when we get them out of the airport.  I'm pretty sure Linus will get to see snow this time.  We talked to Linda today...she sounds great, and everyone is looking forward to their being here.

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 zugmann on Sunday, November 22, 2015 11:38 PM

So I got my hogger's license recently (what an adventure that was). Worked as an engineer on the road for a week (ugh), then with some fancy bumpwork, I was able to go back to my little piece of the railroad world (with no hotels!).  I'm back demoted and running the RCO box for now (but I'm next in line to get promoted again, most likely). So I got to find all those muscles I forgot I had. Fun stuff.

 

We're not getting snow here.  I bought a snowblower.  So it won't snow for many years now.

 

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


  

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Monday, November 23, 2015 7:13 AM

     If you buy a snowblower and it never snows again, that's a good investment.

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Posted by tree68 on Monday, November 23, 2015 8:46 AM

zugmann
We're not getting snow here.  I bought a snowblower.  So it won't snow for many years now.

Famous last words...

Of course, if you ever move south, just load it up in the back of your pickup, and when someone asks you what it is, you know you're far enough south...

Nice and sunny here today, unfortunately, the temperatures are seasonal (ie, cold).  One of the projects this week is to get the outside Christmas decorations up.  Busy weekend coming up - at daughter's for turkey day, then three days of Polar Express again.  

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 Monday, November 23, 2015 4:41 PM

Angryevening

Ns had a wepx coal train in the siding when I left work.Need to get post offices attention.Why did it take 2 weeks for a bill to get to it's destination.I am not cut off or anything just a little Angry.Tomorrow is matts last day before turkey day.Mamma wants to do laundry.Better get these work clothes off.

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 Tuesday, November 24, 2015 4:36 PM

evening

NS had a westbound stack train when I left work. Worked on outside lights on the porch.Time to do other chores too.

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 Tuesday, November 24, 2015 9:11 PM

Three or four inches of snow overnight - started about midnight, right before we got called out for a structure fire in a neighboring district.  If you think I was tippy-toeing with that half million dollar fire truck, you'd be right...

It was some pretty heavy stuff, too.  Heavy enough that I shovelled just  enough of the driveway to get the truck out of the way so I could get the snowblower out (and put the lawn mower away).

Still, by mid-day, any surface that had been cleared of snow was completely melted off.

Put some new slippers on the back end of the truck today - the old ones were very tired, the result of a pothole at 70 MPH on I-75 two years ago in Detroit.  They were on the front then, and I drove home with a front end somewhat out of line.  I'm just happy I milked them for this long...

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 Wednesday, November 25, 2015 3:34 PM

evening

work not so busy.Ns was clear when I left.Stuff is in the mail.Chores and church service tonight.Turkey day tomorrow.Going to go get cleaned up.

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, November 27, 2015 3:02 PM

Rain here in NW Ohio.NS was clear when I left work.Tomorrow it's Thanksmas at sisters.Hope we don't see any blue light specials on our trip.I know there will be construction.I-75 has had construction somewhere for 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 CShaveRR on Friday, November 27, 2015 10:27 PM

Back home, after our Thanksgiving trip to the Land of No Trains.  Our house guests had to use separate transortation thanks to a messup by Hertz (we couldn't all fit in one car), so Pat and I could travel the scenic route, handle a little business, and so on without having to worry about the needs of our daughter and grandson.

Everyone was glad to see Linda looking, sounding, and feeling as well as she has been, and Linus was as charming and cute as a two-year-old could be.  The hectic schedule of the coming week is going to make Linda very tired, but I think she can handle it.  When we got back home today, they'd already been here for a while, and she was taking a nap.

Our trips down and back didn't net us much in the way of trains, despite the fact that we traveled along the busy lines in northwest Indiana.  However, we got some good data, and the things I didn't expect to need turned out to be the best sightings of all (previously-unreported new equipment).  On the other hand, I had high hoped when I walked a string of coal gons at Michigan City, gathering the prior owners and numbers off all I could...and I later found out that I had every last one of them.

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 Saturday, November 28, 2015 8:07 PM

evening

Home safe after our trip to Dayton.Good day for the Buckeyes,not so good for our rams.Nieces will be joing thier team in Columbus with the band.Three Mercer county schools will be in the final playoffs.Marion Local,Coldwater and Ft.Recovery will go.Tomorrow Matt sings with his Sunday school at church.

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, November 29, 2015 3:18 PM

Went out after church today.The ND&W is storing some cars in their yard in Defiance.Went west to check the progress of signals on the wabash at St.Joe.Looks like they are getting ready for more diamond replacement.There is a new signal at west spencerville but the wabash signal at the diamond is still alone for now.Also caught the CSX J716 that works sdi near Butler.The nyc tri-lights are still alone on the east side of the diamond in Butler Indiana as well.Work comes early tomorrow.

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 mudchicken on Sunday, November 29, 2015 8:49 PM

Snuck back into Denver in one piece. DiningCar and Mooks have got to be grumbling about the ice making life interesting. (Made it into Abilene KS only to have ice take out the wirelines overnight.)

(Mooks: Sorry about 'dem Husker roundballers. The cowards in Columbus still won't schedule the The Bearkitties....50+ years later and they still hold a grudge.)

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 Mookie on Sunday, November 29, 2015 9:55 PM

Sir Chicken - glad you both made it home safely.  Just our usual ice - every year we go thru this!  

I have given up on sports.  Chess anyone?

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by Paul of Covington on Sunday, November 29, 2015 11:00 PM

   You mean chess is not considered a sport?Hmm

    Here is some of our fall color to give you a break from the icy mood.   We don't get the spectacular fall leaves that you northerners get.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulofcov/23386634556/in/dateposted-public/

_____________ 

  "A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner

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Posted by tree68 on Sunday, November 29, 2015 11:19 PM

It was so warm in Utica Friday that we had to turn on the air conditioning in the cars for our Polar Express riders....

I fear Old Man Winter is holding back so he can really gang up on us....

We did have three days of great runs, though.  Lots of happy faces.  I was on board as conductor on Friday, and spent Saturday and Sunday in the locomotive.

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 Norm48327 on Monday, November 30, 2015 5:23 AM

Drove to Owosso yesterday and watched Pere Marquette 1225 pull their version of The Polar Express. Good to see the old girl in steam, and the crowd was huge.

Norm


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