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Chatterbox Summer 2016

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Posted by tree68 on Sunday, July 10, 2016 9:26 PM

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.  

LarryWhistling
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Posted by Mookie on Sunday, July 10, 2016 9:15 PM

NorthWest

Probably expected-the bathtub gondolas lack the inherent strength of a steel hopper. With a center sill they do well in typical railroading forces but any atypical force in a wreck can easily bend them to the point of no repair.

 

I wondered about that.  They don't look all that damaged and look like a good hammer would straighten them out ala auto bodies.  I noticed they were stacking the wheels in a pile, the sills in a pile, the concrete ties, etc.  Lots of piles. I assume they will put them in rail cars and ship them to I don't know where. Uncle Buffett own any salvage yards?

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Posted by NorthWest on Sunday, July 10, 2016 8:19 PM

Probably expected-the bathtub gondolas lack the inherent strength of a steel hopper. With a center sill they do well in typical railroading forces but any atypical force in a wreck can easily bend them to the point of no repair.

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Posted by Mookie on Sunday, July 10, 2016 6:45 PM

Joe - we were watching Hulcher clean up the last two coal gons from our derailment about a month ago.  They were using a cutting torch (flames were impressive) and piling them in heaps of pieces.  Furx and Tilex probably are not amused.  Grumpy

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Posted by JoeKoh on Sunday, July 10, 2016 5:07 PM

evening

muggies are back.Csx has a mess on the Toledo sub at Tontagony Ohio.Five cars jumped the tracks.Reports have the cpl signals surviving.

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 8, 2016 4:54 PM

still muggy here in Nw Ohio.A little work in the morning.Got a wedding tomorrow night.Deshler has their fireworks tomorrow night too.Best place to view? The trainpark.

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 Mookie on Friday, July 8, 2016 10:17 AM

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

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by Lord Atmo on Friday, July 8, 2016 9:50 AM

Hot, muggy, stormy, and rainy here. It's a nice balance at least.

 

Saw an SD60 working the local. Very surprising, but definitely enjoyable. Since the upgrades, Altoona has been a more lively place. 

Your friendly neighborhood CNW fan.

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Posted by tree68 on Thursday, July 7, 2016 7:26 PM

Hot and muggy here, too.  At least lunch (on a deck next to the St Lawrence River) was nice.

They keep threatening (teasing) that it's gonna rain, but so far that hasn't happened.

LarryWhistling
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Posted by JoeKoh on Thursday, July 7, 2016 5:10 PM

hot and muggy.Ns had a stack train when I left work.Time to eat supper and cool 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 Wednesday, July 6, 2016 6:00 PM

evening

work busy.Ns had an autorack train going west when I got off.They also had tonka toys getting ready for a new crossing uptown.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 Paul of Covington on Tuesday, July 5, 2016 5:39 PM

tree68

Gotta love big business...

Then there was the fellow who got a bill from a company he did business with for $0.00.  He ignored it, as any of us probably would.  Then he started getting dunning letters, each nastier than the last, threatening him with all sorts of negative outcomes if he didn't pay the balance due.

So he wrote them a check for $0.00 and the matter was settled...

   I remember reading that many years ago.   That's the kind of thing I suspect would happen when you give computers complete control.

_____________ 

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

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Posted by tree68 on Tuesday, July 5, 2016 4:53 PM

Gotta love big business...

Then there was the fellow who got a bill from a company he did business with for $0.00.  He ignored it, as any of us probably would.  Then he started getting dunning letters, each nastier than the last, threatening him with all sorts of negative outcomes if he didn't pay the balance due.

So he wrote them a check for $0.00 and the matter was settled...

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 Tuesday, July 5, 2016 4:38 PM

afternoon

Csx had some good stuff today.ND&W went across the diamond and put cars in the siding for CSX.Get to deal with the "big company" that handles our doctors office.Say we owe a bill.Well the cancelled check and account show otherwise.Time to get a new doctor.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 Deggesty on Tuesday, July 5, 2016 10:25 AM

blue streak 1

Deggestry ---  Any smoke or fire damage nearby from the canyon fire ?

 

  You are refering to the fire in Weber Canyon, which was started yesterday "by a spark from a train"? I do not know of any smoke or damage down here. According to this morning's paper, the fire is 5-10 percent contained, and may take two to four days to contain.

Johnny

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Tuesday, July 5, 2016 5:37 AM

Deggestry ---  Any smoke or fire damage nearby from the canyon fire ?

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Posted by JoeKoh on Monday, July 4, 2016 10:18 PM

evening

Didn't see any dogs tonight at the fireworks.However someones drone might have got too close to the action.Taking a vacation day with Mamma 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 tree68 on Monday, July 4, 2016 11:48 AM

CShaveRR
...but I still felt sorry for our neighbors, who probably had to remain inside and comfort their little, very skittish, dogs.

Then there was the couple with their two dogs at the fireworks last night - the dogs were very ho-hum about it all...  Meanwhile, a few feet away, a fellow spent most of the display comforting his German Shepherd...

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
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Posted by CShaveRR on Monday, July 4, 2016 10:31 AM

Had to make an emergency road trip again yesterday afternoon and evening.  My sister and her husband were on Amtrak trying to get home from Gallup to Holland.  The train was late, and the crew said there would be no way to make the connection.  Of course, Amtrak offered them a hotel voucher, but that's not helpful when they had guests coming today.

So we told them to get off the train in Naperville, and we'd pick them up, take them around Chicago, and get them to Michigan City, where our niece could pick them up and bring them back home (niece and her family were staying in their house anyway).  So the road trip had everything to do with trains, but not in a way that I could benefit from it.

We got home at about 10:30 last night, our way illuminated by the rockets' red glare.  One bomb bursted in air so close to the Interstate that I could feel the concussion in my gut.  The festivities became a bit more subdued after we returned to Illinois, but I still felt sorry for our neighbors, who probably had to remain inside and comfort their little, very skittish, dogs.

Carl

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CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

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Posted by Norm48327 on Monday, July 4, 2016 8:03 AM

Larry,

There is no way in h*** I'm going to join the Lemming migration on holidays. Too many squirrels on the road, and I'm not refering to the four-legged kind.

Norm


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Posted by Mookie on Monday, July 4, 2016 7:22 AM

mudchicken

Mooks: parked the truck or trailer a tad too close? Engineer may have been venting at some of the finer citizenry... 

 

This was my thinking.  Driver thought it was people that had to get across the tracks to the church side.  Flashing signals, no gates.  But people Xing to get to the church side, to me, wouldn't stop the train totally.  

But a car/truck parked on the tracks in a line of other cars, or at least on part of the track (yes, they would think that a perfect parking place, since it was "open"....)would probably bring the whole train to a dead stop!  

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by tree68 on Monday, July 4, 2016 7:19 AM

Took in the fireworks on the River last night - the town was packed.  I'd bet it took well over an hour to get everyone out of the village.  I didn't wait to see.

I currently run the Monday edition of an amateur radio net locally - lots of folks to check in the AM, despite some problems with the computer access some use.  But we got through it.

Need to put some gas in the truck - probably should have done it last night on the way home from the railroad, but...  And we had a great weekend on the railroad.  I don't know that the trains were officially "sold out," but they were full, and a lot of folks made the paddle down the river, too.  We pick them up and take them back to the station where they meet with the outfitter for a ride back to where they launched.

Today will be travel day - everyone headed back to whence they came.  I'll stick to the back roads so won't see many of them.  Might cook out later, but that'll be the extent of the festivities.

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, July 4, 2016 6:58 AM

morning

Csx was buisier than I expected yesterday.Q 507 got to watch north of the diamond as other trains went by.Going to enjoy the extra day 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 mudchicken on Sunday, July 3, 2016 11:00 PM

Mooks: parked the truck or trailer a tad too close? Engineer may have been venting at some of the finer citizenry... 

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, July 3, 2016 9:58 AM

While you are waiting for trains:  watch for the guy that drove 3 blocks up to our crossing with 6 sets of tracks, pulls out onto the first set of tracks, makes a U-turn on the tracks to head back the way he came.  He had 2 full residential blocks to turn around in, or where we sit, which is light industry.  Duh 1

Container train, moving slowly out of town on the Amtrak line - the only one that isn't a silent zone.  Church next to tracks having a food/clothing give away.  We couldn't see the reason, but the train had to come to a complete stop and sound the crossing whistle about 8-9 times.  Parking is at a premium during the give away.  But I will let you draw your own conclusions.  (maybe someone brought a white elephant to the sale and was Xing the tracks?)  Duh 2

Oops - Sign

 

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by JoeKoh on Sunday, July 3, 2016 12:47 AM

morning

Just got home from Deshler.The toledo side was quite busy tonight.Q 248 had to use the wyes to turn the power around.Also q 507 had heavy equipment going south on multi axle flat cars.Csx also sent an eastbound work train with tonka toys.Time for bed.

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 Mookie on Saturday, July 2, 2016 4:23 PM

Ho Ho Ho!  Christmas in July!  We never go trackside on Sat, so today I decided I wanted to go.  We were there from about 10:45 to 1:30p  I am not going to belabor how many head ends vs DPU's, but we did see 36 BNSF locomotives of all types, plus one NS.  All but 2 were on trains, either freight or coal, except the two engines that were on the wye.  

And the place we normally sit fairly close to, was being worked on and ballast was being put under the rails.  This was getting bad with coupler jump right in that area.  I am glad to see them working on it.  

After high 90 degree days in June, it was around 64 degrees, with rain and just a wonderful, fun day.  Rain and Trains; can't beat that with a stick!

I am pleased!  

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Saturday, July 2, 2016 5:25 AM

Mookie
 
zugmann
Next trip I had a brand spanking new Tier 4 leader.  Those engines are even taller than previous ones.  Pretty soon they will dwarf the doublestacks.

In another thread I asked if the locomotive builders were taking advantage of the larger clearance "plates" (as created for double-stacks), perhaps even building some locomotives that couldn't fit the smaller clearance plates.  That would be to change the internal designs or arrangements, such as taller engines from longer cylinder strokes, etc.  Apparently not quite that much. 
"This Fascinating Railroad Business" (title of 1943 book by Robert Selph Henry of the AAR)
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Posted by CShaveRR on Friday, July 1, 2016 10:35 PM

Norris, I heard about those quarry rides from a couple of the kindly ladies at the quilt store.  They seem to be well received by the townspeople.  Might be worth coming out for one of these times.

Good thing I have all of a long weekend to get caught up on things, now that we're home!  

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 Mookie on Friday, July 1, 2016 3:27 PM

zugmann
Next trip I had a brand spanking new Tier 4 leader.  Those engines are even taller than previous ones.  Pretty soon they will dwarf the doublestacks.

So if I am reading you right Zug, that's why I commented to The Driver that some of the newer engines seemed a whole lot "bigger"?  We are pretty close to the ground and they seem to sometimes seem larger than normal.  

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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