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Chatterbox Summer 2016

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Posted by Lord Atmo on Saturday, July 16, 2016 8:45 PM

Mookie

Lord Atmo!  Long time, no see.  Welcome back.

 

 

Thanks! I've been busy since I started working full time and such. But boy have I ever been out catching trains! It's good to be back Smile

Your friendly neighborhood CNW fan.

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Posted by CShaveRR on Saturday, July 16, 2016 5:20 PM

JoeKoh

...In St.Joe Indiana csx had a bad car set out in a siding. Turns out to be a flat car with trash containers on it. Not sure when the car will be moved.

Probably not too long after the locals get wind of it.

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, July 16, 2016 4:37 PM

evening

Matt wanted to look at the wabash.We stopped in Bryan Ohio on the way.The Bryan local was ready to go west to Elkhart Indiana.A crew came so we waited just west of Bryan to see him.All units(gp60,gp38-2 gp38-2 high hood and gp38-2) were long hood forward.We did some signal searching and found a couple trains too.On the way back in St.Joe Indiana csx had a bad car set out in a siding.Turns out to be a flat car with trash containers on it.Not sure when the car will be moved.Hope everyone else has a great day.

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, July 15, 2016 6:10 PM

evening

Ns was clear when I left work.Dropped of pictures at Stacey's Aunt and Uncles house.Going to enjoy this weekend.

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, July 15, 2016 4:02 PM

Larry, I'd have gladly given you the sprinkles we're getting...I was twenty-percented into the building while watching trains earlier today.  

Otherwise the weather and the train-watching were fine.  I got on the scoot in Lombard, off at Bellwood (where I walked as much of a good train as I could), on to Oak Park for lunch (no trains), then back to Elmhurst (for trains, rains, and letter-writing), and finally back to Lombard where I was waiting for a freight that I thought would be closely following our scoot (before it came, though, we got two more eastbounds).

Trains Associate Editor David Lassen was in Lombard, ready to shoot all comers at the Elizabeth Street curve; I was able to briefly chat with him before running to catch my train.  Hope his day was as successful as mine.

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 tree68 on Thursday, July 14, 2016 7:34 PM

We had not one, but two opportunities to get some rain this morning, but both petered out over the lake.  So we're still awful dry - near drought conditions.

Speaking of that, I better go out and water the flowers.

Off to the railroad tomorrow.

LarryWhistling
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Posted by JoeKoh on Thursday, July 14, 2016 7:26 PM

evening

Ns was clear when I left work.Ran errands in Defiance.Csx sent a stack train westbound.Tomorrow is Friday.

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 Thursday, July 14, 2016 9:32 AM

Bob, Pat is a Grand Rapids native, and we know that area well (she was closer into the city, and went to GR Union back in the day...the south end of Bristol was a short distance from their house, which was sold away from the family only this year).  

For me, it was not U.S. 131, but U.S. 31--I'm from Grand Haven, and we spent a bit of time in Muskegon on this last trip.  Pat and I both went to GVSU back when it was GVSC.

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 BOB WITHORN on Thursday, July 14, 2016 6:08 AM

Carl,

So, you were in the US131 / I96 area. We just sold the house which was off Bristol and 3 mile, west of 131 along south side of 96, about mile 29.  Are you ex G/R ? 

Bob

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Posted by tree68 on Thursday, July 14, 2016 1:22 AM

Well, the concert is over.  Dave Mason and the Doobie Brothers were great.  When Journey hit the stage, it was immediately obvious who most of the attendees had come to see (I was there for the Doobie Brothers, Dave Mason was a bonus.  Journey was just part of the package.).

There were times when you couldn't hear the band because of everyone (else) singing along.  I would have left after the Doobie Brothers, but my daughter drove, and bought the tickets, too.

The facility where the concert was held is new, and they are definitely working out the kinks.  They have a policy that chairs cannot be more than 9" off the ground (beach chairs, essentially), but obviously most of the attendees didn't get the word, so we could barely see the stage itself, much less the performers.  Good thing they had big screens up.  But that made it like watching the concert on TV.

They've got issues getting everyone back on the buses after an event, too.

 

I wrote them a letter with my concerns... 

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
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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, July 13, 2016 7:00 PM

evening

Ns had an autorack train waiting to go west when I left work.Mother nature provided some showers and wind gusts.Blew over a dead ash tree in the park area.Matt and I cleaned up the small stuff.Neighbor will get the big stuff tomorrow.Hey Larry I would hope that the band still knows how to play"Long Train Runnin'".

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, July 12, 2016 9:34 PM

Tonight was the kickoff firemen's parade at the oldest continously running county fair in the country (199 years).  As president of the county firefighter's association, I was on the reviewing stand to take the salutes of the marching units.

A couple of the high school bands were pretty good.  That's tough this time of year as many of the potential marchers are working summer jobs, which really cuts into the available members.

Tomorrow, the Doobie Brothers in Syracuse!

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 CShaveRR on Tuesday, July 12, 2016 7:39 PM

Back on the road today.  Thanks to construction closures, I couldn't look for trains in my usual places.  But unusual places...can't believe our luck today!  For brunch, we had a Trackmobile spotting coil cars on the spur outside the restaurant.  For turning in Pat's quilt for the challenge at the Coopersville Farm Museum, we saw a Georgetown "Slot Machine" on the Coopersville & Marne Railroad's storage track, with lots of fresh ballast underneath it (that must have been an interesting process--that's not how "Slot Machines" work!).


And tonight, we have a hotel room in the Land of No Trains.  Except that we saw a train from our window!  Well, a yard move, anyway--two MMRR GP38s on the MS, toting about a dozen sand covered hoppers from the sand pit to the yard.  They might go out on tonight's train.

Tomorrow we are going to a meeting to brainstorm for a high-school class reunion next summer.  Celebrating 50 years.  Tonight Pat and I took a girl from my class to dinner.  She was the kind of girl nobody would have thought much about in school...shorthand and typing courses, not a joiner.  But she's really nice, and funny, as we have found out over the past few years.  (She's had a rougher life than we did, but the trials by fire have made her the ideal "free spirit".)

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, July 12, 2016 5:11 PM

evening

Ns was clear when I left work. Still warm here in NW ohio.Grass is getting crunchy. Some beans in the fields are too.Maybe some rain tomorrow.We'll see.

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 Monday, July 11, 2016 3:12 PM

evening

got the paperwork snafu(one of them done) hopefully.Ns local was in town when I left work.Didn't see any movement on the ND&W or CSX when we went into Defiance.going to chill.

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 Murphy Siding on Monday, July 11, 2016 2:55 PM

.     Had an interesting time at the lake between 3 and 5 am Sunday, as a thunderstorm rolled through that was production ready for a horror film.  We had thunder that would shake the ground and last 20 to 30 seconds.  It felt like an earthquake.  The lightning was borderline sureal. At one point I got up and turned on a porch light to see if the roar was hail or just rain.  It was rain- a solid wall of it.  Our son and his barking pig were in his camper.  They had all that fun and high winds rocking the camper.

     

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Posted by BOB WITHORN on Monday, July 11, 2016 2:15 PM

Tree,

Had a couple of friends with the Michigan State Police and they alway used - "eight you skate, nine you're mine".  One was a captain the other was just the size of a wall.

 

Bob

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Posted by Norm48327 on Monday, July 11, 2016 2:06 PM

NorthWest

 

 
tree68
You, or the tractor trailer? I've been told by a former state trooper that "nine is fine," so I keep it below that, which usually puts one within the flow of traffic. "

 

The tractor trailer... Frightening as they are supposed to be the proffesionals...

 

I'd rather drive along with them than some of the idiot four-wheelers.

Norm


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Posted by Paul of Covington on Monday, July 11, 2016 1:33 PM

Murphy Siding
Where I grew up- Rapid City, SD, for a lot of folks it was a badge of honor to be driving a vehicle that had major damage on at least one corner. "Check it out! My car is smashed to heck and it still runs!

    That reminds me:  one of my co-workers many, many years ago used to drive a car to work that had been "totaled" twice.

_____________ 

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

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Posted by NorthWest on Monday, July 11, 2016 12:17 PM

tree68
You, or the tractor trailer? I've been told by a former state trooper that "nine is fine," so I keep it below that, which usually puts one within the flow of traffic. "

The tractor trailer... Frightening as they are supposed to be the proffesionals...

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Posted by tree68 on Monday, July 11, 2016 12:05 PM

Murphy Siding

I prefer snickerdoodles, ... 

Made some snickerdoodles and took them to work once.  Discovered my boss liked snickerdoodles.  

Avoided a repeat to prevent appearances of bribery...

Nice here today - supposed to get toasty later in the week.  Still need rain - what we've gotten has been spotty at best.

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 mudchicken on Monday, July 11, 2016 11:56 AM

Murphy Siding

I prefer snickerdoodles, unless you happen to be real good at making the peanut butter cookies wit the chocolate star in the middle.

 

Cat keeps the chocolate, period.

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 Monday, July 11, 2016 11:51 AM

My cookie baking depends on having the right utensils...

A pair of sharp scissors to cut open the package!  

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by mudchicken on Monday, July 11, 2016 11:50 AM

100  degrees in Denver and 107 in La Junta yesterday. People are just beginning to emerge from their refrigerators and freezers.

Scorched Feathers  

(jousting matches between the cat and the scottie pup were even put on hold, too hot to play)

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 Monday, July 11, 2016 11:47 AM

I prefer snickerdoodles, unless you happen to be real good at making the peanut butter cookies wit the chocolate star in the middle.

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

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Posted by Mookie on Monday, July 11, 2016 11:38 AM

Murphy - I think you explained it all!  For that, you get a cookie.  

I will have it placed on your puter immediately!  Mischief

 

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Monday, July 11, 2016 8:56 AM

Mookie
   
 

 

 

Something else I have noticed:  our city seems to have at least 1-2 "on its side", "on its top" accidents every week or so, along with the rest of the t-bones and "tree/light pole jumped out at me".  Yet, as a passenger, I look at all the cars and see nary a wrinkle in any of them.  Do insurance companies just automatically total them?  And do the drivers just get a new replacement?  Just doesn't seem right since I would bet that most of them are caused by "inattention" - so you get a reward for this?  

 

The latest fad seems to be just to drive thru red lights.  Most of the time, don't even hesitate!  It is scary out there!

 

Why bother to slow down for red lights, when they didn't bother to buy insurance either?Mischief

     Where I grew up- Rapid City, SD, for a lot of folks it was a badge of honor to be driving a vehicle that had major damage on at least one corner.  "Check it out!  My car is smashed to heck and it still runs! Who needs insurance..or a license?"Dunce

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Posted by tree68 on Monday, July 11, 2016 7:40 AM

NorthWest
I was passed by a tractor trailer doing ten over yesterday!

You, or the tractor trailer?

I've been told by a former state trooper that "nine is fine," so I keep it below that, which usually puts one within the flow of traffic.

Then there's the folks who blow by you while you're running slightly over the limit, nonchalanty "removing your doors" in the process.  Oftimes you see them visiting with a trooper a ways down the road.  Which is why I always think to myself as they zoom by, "Thanks, trooper bait!"

 

 

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 NorthWest on Sunday, July 10, 2016 11:06 PM

Most of the autos that are scrapped after derailments (along with many other types of big-ticket items) are scrapped primarily for reasons of liability. It is cheaper for the railroads to replace the cars then to be sued by someone who can trace their car accident back to the railroad accident in a court of law, (whether true or not). This has apparently been done for decades.

Mookie
The latest fad seems to be just to drive thru red lights. Most of the time, don't even hesitate! It is scary out there!

I was passed by a tractor trailer doing ten over yesterday!

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Posted by Mookie on Sunday, July 10, 2016 10:26 PM

tree68

Autos involved in train wrecks are sometimes still nicely secured within the cars, even though the railcars are on their sides or tops. Presumably there is enough damage to what passes for a auto frame these days to simply total the car.

It doesn't take much warp in the frame/body to cause lots of other problems.  

 

Something else I have noticed:  our city seems to have at least 1-2 "on its side", "on its top" accidents every week or so, along with the rest of the t-bones and "tree/light pole jumped out at me".  Yet, as a passenger, I look at all the cars and see nary a wrinkle in any of them.  Do insurance companies just automatically total them?  And do the drivers just get a new replacement?  Just doesn't seem right since I would bet that most of them are caused by "inattention" - so you get a reward for this?  

The latest fad seems to be just to drive thru red lights.  Most of the time, don't even hesitate!  It is scary out there!

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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