Trains.com

Chatterbox winter 2015-2016

21203 views
547 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    May 2005
  • From: S.E. South Dakota
  • 13,569 posts
Posted by Murphy Siding on Friday, February 19, 2016 12:44 PM

Larry-  THat's not a bird feeder.  That's a fox feeder.

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

  • Member since
    January 2002
  • From: Cedar Rapids, IA
  • 4,213 posts
Posted by blhanel on Friday, February 19, 2016 2:11 PM

Recorded a wind gust of 50.8 MPH about 45 minutes ago- finally, something I can submit as a weather spotter.  Carl, if you see my hat flying by, try to catch it please...

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois
  • 13,681 posts
Posted by CShaveRR on Friday, February 19, 2016 3:29 PM

I haven't seen a tin hat fly by yet, Brian...did you check the webcam?

I was watching the skies, though--it was sunny to start, but it's mighty gray out there now, and I'm glad I had a jacket over my hoodie.  It still says 55 out, with 30-mph steady winds (it got up to 63 earlier).  There are a lot of power outages in our area, and I think I deected a couple of blinks here.  

The train-watching trip was a bust (except for my Five Guys fix in Oak Park).  Next to nothing happening on the Overland Route at this end.  I did see some new Cryo-Trans reefers.  

Speaking of new cars, they stopped painting (or applying) the black "consolidated stencil" boxes on them.  Apparently the brake valves don't need to be cleaned and tested any more, and most roller-bearing journals don't need lubrication any more. All that was left was the build date, and that is now just stencilled on the side of the car...it blends in with the rest of the paint too easily, and will probably disappear more quickly under grime and/or graffiti.  I've seen it done this way on some cars built in December...I know there are some 2016-built freight cars out there, but I'm still waiting to see my first one.

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)

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,319 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Friday, February 19, 2016 4:56 PM

No tin hats over here in Nw Ohio yet.Ns was clear when I left work.Mamma took Matt to go get supper.Work a bit tomorrow but will get out and enjoy the early spring.Had robins gathered in the swampland enjoying supper.Might have to get the mower out early.

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").

 

  • Member since
    September 2010
  • 2,515 posts
Posted by Electroliner 1935 on Friday, February 19, 2016 5:20 PM

Rochelle Web Cam audio has a lot of wind noise today.

 

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Friday, February 19, 2016 6:52 PM

Electroliner 1935

Rochelle Web Cam audio has a lot of wind noise today.

6 PM National new reported severly high winds in Chicago - over 100 flights canceled account the winds - a number of incidents at construction areas.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,022 posts
Posted by tree68 on Friday, February 19, 2016 7:18 PM

BaltACD
6 PM National new reported severly high winds in Chicago - over 100 flights canceled account the winds - a number of incidents at construction areas.

We've got a high wind advisory here in the wilds of northern New York...

Fortunately, it's been fairly mild and a lot of the ice has melted off the trees.

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...

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Georgia USA SW of Atlanta
  • 11,919 posts
Posted by blue streak 1 on Friday, February 19, 2016 7:53 PM

wromg thread

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,319 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Saturday, February 20, 2016 4:55 PM

evening

beautiful day today.Ns had a jam this morning when I went to work.It was cleared up when I left.Csx was testing  crews again here in Defiance.They also had a bad set of gates in town too.Going to relax.

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").

 

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois
  • 13,681 posts
Posted by CShaveRR on Saturday, February 20, 2016 5:02 PM

Not really...the wind affected everything and everybody.  As I was out there watching trains, I suddenly said to myself "Hold the phone"!  And if I hadn't, I would have had to go down on the tracks several hundred feet to retrieve it.

Seriously, the strong wind blew a power pole over onto CTA's Green Line in Oak Park, perhaps three hours after I'd left the area, disrupting service on that end of the line.  It also shut down some Pink Line service, though I can't figure that one out.

It was much better out there today.  I was out trackside again, getting lunch with my wife while we walked our errands for today and let the car stay home.  In that hour, we had five trains...two scoots, an auto-rack train, a stacker, and a manifest.

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)

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: At the Crossroads of the West
  • 11,013 posts
Posted by Deggesty on Saturday, February 20, 2016 5:11 PM

Did someone in Lincoln (not to name any name) give the winds a great push to get them out of the area?Smile

Johnny

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: US
  • 13,488 posts
Posted by Mookie on Saturday, February 20, 2016 6:41 PM

Deggesty

Did someone in Lincoln (not to name any name) give the winds a great push to get them out of the area?Smile

 

Shy

Captain Kangaroo always said "share"....

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: At the Crossroads of the West
  • 11,013 posts
Posted by Deggesty on Saturday, February 20, 2016 7:33 PM

Mookie

 

 
Deggesty

Did someone in Lincoln (not to name any name) give the winds a great push to get them out of the area?Smile

 

 

 

Shy

 

Captain Kangaroo always said "share"....

 

LaughLaugh Perfect!

Johnny

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,022 posts
Posted by tree68 on Saturday, February 20, 2016 7:42 PM

Deggesty

Did someone in Lincoln (not to name any name) give the winds a great push to get them out of the area?Smile 

Must be the swishing of the tail from the other thread....

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...

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: US
  • 13,488 posts
Posted by Mookie on Saturday, February 20, 2016 7:48 PM

tree68
Must be the swishing of the tail from the other thread....

 Were it that easy!  My mind is running rampant....

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Denver / La Junta
  • 10,820 posts
Posted by mudchicken on Monday, February 22, 2016 8:20 AM

Glenwood Canyon FINALLY opened (if you can call it that) last night.

I-70 is still a one lane road with pilot cars that closes for 8 hours a day. The scaling of unstable rock off the canyon walls goes on. UP is being very careful on their side of the canyon. The offending boulders reside well off railroad property.

Our break from winter ends tonight. 4" of white stuff due tonight.

Need to do something about the feline furry alarm clock going off at 4am...ZzzZzzZzz

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
  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: US
  • 13,488 posts
Posted by Mookie on Monday, February 22, 2016 8:35 AM

mudchicken
Need to do something about the feline furry alarm clock going off at 4am...

What is it about 4 am - Driver always manages to either sneeze, cough, drop something or somehow wake me every morning @ that time.  My best sleep time, too.  Bang Head

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: At the Crossroads of the West
  • 11,013 posts
Posted by Deggesty on Monday, February 22, 2016 10:39 AM

Thanks for the update on the Canyon, MC. Is the rock on the railroad side as unstable as that on the highway side?

The street in front was wet when I ate breakfast about two hours ago; it is dry now. The weather was good yesterday; I did not need an overcoat when I went to church, and I certainly did not need one when I was coming home. 

Johnny

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,022 posts
Posted by tree68 on Monday, February 22, 2016 11:36 AM

mudchicken
Need to do something about the feline furry alarm clock going off at 4am...

Had that problem with a Siamese we had at one point.  As cruel as it sounds, one bounce off the wall (the cat was on the bed when she pulled this - and a little earlier each morning) cured the issue.

Any more, I tend to wake at the "shallow" end of my REM cycles - about every hour and a half.  I can tell if I'm tired - I'll stay asleep for three hours, more or less...

Nice and sunny today - if chilly.  The holes we cut in the ice yesterday for ice rescue training have probably frozen over 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...

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,319 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Monday, February 22, 2016 4:34 PM

evening

work busy.Ns was clear when I left work.Nice today.Mother nature sending us something wed/thursday.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").

 

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Denver / La Junta
  • 10,820 posts
Posted by mudchicken on Monday, February 22, 2016 6:08 PM

Deggesty

Thanks for the update on the Canyon, MC. Is the rock on the railroad side as unstable as that on the highway side?

The street in front was wet when I ate breakfast about two hours ago; it is dry now. The weather was good yesterday; I did not need an overcoat when I went to church, and I certainly did not need one when I was coming home. 

 

Johnny: The railroad is on the south side of the canyon and the highway primarilly the north. Both got creative on how to get through there. From what I'm hearing, one side has no advantage on the other. The original CB&Q/Colorado Railway (Blount & Sumner) and D&RG/Grand Valley (King, Deen and Weitbrec)  guys all were leery in there at the beginning. Rough neighborhood. The Union Pacific guys (UPC&W /Blickensderfer) and DNW&P (Merit & Argo / very late, but the beginning of the Dotsero cut-off idea) guys were just a little too late to gain in any advantage vs. the risk of squeezing through there, only to encounter the D&RG and the Colorado Midland.

 

 

 

At 5PM the HOWLIES hit Denver. Moisture must be close behind.

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
  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: At the Crossroads of the West
  • 11,013 posts
Posted by Deggesty on Monday, February 22, 2016 8:24 PM

Thanks, MC. I have been through there several times in both directions, and saw the slide fences, but did not know just how unstable it is. I can imagine that the surveyors were a bit uneasy.

Johnny

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,319 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Tuesday, February 23, 2016 4:37 PM

evening

Ns was clear when I left work.Need to do chores.

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").

 

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,022 posts
Posted by tree68 on Wednesday, February 24, 2016 6:52 AM

A little messy around here this morning - many schools on a two hour delay.

Got an errand to run, hopefully it'll quit later.

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...

  • Member since
    October 2014
  • From: Flint or Grand Rapids, Mi or Elkhart, It Depends on the day
  • 573 posts
Posted by BOB WITHORN on Wednesday, February 24, 2016 10:47 AM

About 4 hours into "THE STORM" here in Flint, Mi. and maybe there is an inch or so, but, as usual everyone forgot how to drive. Should be interesting when I head home to South Bend tomarrow afternoon. Bob

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Wednesday, February 24, 2016 10:55 AM

Observation -

In unpopulated areas everyone thinks they know how to drive in the snow - because they don't hit anything.

In populated areas no one know how to drive in the snow - beacuse they hit things and each other.

In unpopulated areas - there is nothing to hit. 

Drivers in both areas have the same problems - in unpopulated areas there is space available to recover from your mistake.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    October 2014
  • From: Flint or Grand Rapids, Mi or Elkhart, It Depends on the day
  • 573 posts
Posted by BOB WITHORN on Wednesday, February 24, 2016 11:03 AM

I just figure with 6500 pounds of pickup I win. Helps to have a couple of ounces of common sence too. On the 3 hour drives back and forth each week, I get passed by them and then they get passed by me. Difference is I get to keep going, they get to wait for the tow truck

Bob

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: At the Crossroads of the West
  • 11,013 posts
Posted by Deggesty on Wednesday, February 24, 2016 11:28 AM

BOB WITHORN

I just figure with 6500 pounds of pickup I win. Helps to have a couple of ounces of common sence too. On the 3 hour drives back and forth each week, I get passed by them and then they get passed by me. Difference is I get to keep going, they get to wait for the tow truck

Bob

 

Yes, Bob, that situation is worse than what I experienced driving through Bessemer, Alabama, in the sixties,where the traffic lights were set for 40 mph--with signs along the way informing drivers of the fact. It was pleasant to keep moving across intersections and passing the people who had ignored the signs, passed me--and had to stop.

Johnny

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Southeast Michigan
  • 2,983 posts
Posted by Norm48327 on Wednesday, February 24, 2016 11:37 AM

Well Bob,

You won't have to worry about me being on the road. The guy I purchased my car from put some Chinese tires on it and on snow they have all the traction of hockey pucks. I'm impatiently waiting for some new ones.

Norm


  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Wednesday, February 24, 2016 11:49 AM

Norm48327

Well Bob,

You won't have to worry about me being on the road. The guy I purchased my car from put some Chinese tires on it and on snow they have all the traction of hockey pucks. I'm impatiently waiting for some new ones.

Tire stores are open every day!

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy