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Chatterbox Summer 2016

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Posted by JoeKoh on Tuesday, August 2, 2016 6:01 PM

evening

work busy.westbound grain train when I left.Chores to do.Cannonball do look both ways as a switch track goes into our warehouse before we get inside the building.Ns does ocassionally park MOW equipment from time to time.

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 Wednesday, August 3, 2016 2:33 PM

GRMS 2 is a Plasser built (ie - "Prussian Nightmare") geometry car in captive service to CSX. Built on a standard Plasser carbody (track motor vehicle in their parlance), GRMS means Gage Restraint Measuring System (not an UMLER Code, it is only CSX's M/W unit number.) Onboard CSX-1 and CSX-2 they have a way of hydraulically loading the rail to cause and measure gage and rail cant/rollover issues in the rail tie interface system. Most Class 1 railroads have some version of these cars (hardly all in a Plasser carbody) and shortlines rent the same type thing. The grand-daddy of all of these is AAR/TTC110, a cut down ex-SP SD45x built at the test track in Pueblo in the late 1980's...(Saw it go in at Avondale CO as an SP SD-45x (9504? IIRC) and then come out looking like a 5-axle slug (C- trucks to Blomberg B's and an extra axle where the fuel tank used to be)  ... radical railroad chop shop kit-bashing at 1:1 scale )

 

https://www.plassertheurer.com/en/machines-systems/measuring-work.html

http://www.plasseramerican.com/en/machines-systems/measuring-work-grms.html

 

(What's inside a Plasser carbody is kinda like Forrest Gump's Chocolate Box, no two applications are ever the same, the guts are usually different )

 

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 JoeKoh on Wednesday, August 3, 2016 5:08 PM

evening

still warm here in Nw Ohio.We have a time to set up stuff for mission festival.Ns was clear when I left work.

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 Wednesday, August 3, 2016 6:58 PM

Mother Nature is messing with us.  Backing out of the garage, I noticed our maple is starting to turn.  Then I dove to work through thick corn fog.

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

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Posted by tree68 on Wednesday, August 3, 2016 7:47 PM

Murphy Siding

Mother Nature is messing with us.  Backing out of the garage, I noticed our maple is starting to turn.  Then I dove to work through thick corn fog.

It's been so dry here that trees are starting to go dormant.  Fall colors may be non-existant here - the leaves may just fall off.

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
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Posted by Mookie on Wednesday, August 3, 2016 9:03 PM

Murphy:  Does your maple tree need a shot of iron?  

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Wednesday, August 3, 2016 9:44 PM

Mookie

Murphy:  Does your maple tree need a shot of iron?  

 

How do you tell?  It may need a hug.

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Posted by Uncle Jake on Wednesday, August 3, 2016 10:33 PM
My brother had a ringside seat to an uninstrumented physics experiment this morning at a crossing about a mile from my home. Poor visibility (house w/ trees) led the driver of a semi hauling hay to believe he could make it across. (I guess) The hypothesis was proven to be incorrect, as usual. Nobody seriously hurt, the train wasn't moving very fast. Tractor and lead trailer were totaled, pup is probably OK. Hay no longer baled though. Lead locomotive sustained mostly cosmetic damage. Not sure I can upload pictures with my "smart" (canned laughter) phone.
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Posted by Mookie on Wednesday, August 3, 2016 10:45 PM

Murphy - my totally unprofessional guesstimate is that it is stressed.  My folks had a silver maple in front yard and it was always getting an iron shot and feeding and trimming from the local nursery doctor - and is now the biggest tree on the block!  Godzilla!  Beautiful, but with all that attention, who would want a tree that should be on a lot by itself?  

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by tree68 on Thursday, August 4, 2016 9:53 AM

There - made my hotel reservations for the trip to Michigan.  Several important activities planned - most specifically a visit to the Henry Ford to shoot pictures of an old piece of fire apparatus they have in storage there.

Although I'm still waiting for confirmation on that.

Deshler is looking iffy - as in if I can't shoot the pictures on Monday, I might be down.

Tuesday will be a visit to a fire museum in Ann Arbor.

Saturday and Sunday, of course, will be "Milford Memories."  No reunions this year, though.

Going to be a whirlwind trip - I have an event on Friday before I go, and have to be back on Wednesday night.  Wheeeee!

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 Thursday, August 4, 2016 12:22 PM

You're late Larry. There were a bunch of antique fire engines on display and in the parade in Frankenmuth last Saturday. I didn't go but I was told it was good.

Norm


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Posted by tree68 on Thursday, August 4, 2016 12:46 PM

Frankenmuth is a good muster.  One of these days.

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 Murphy Siding on Thursday, August 4, 2016 3:27 PM

Mookie

Murphy - my totally unprofessional guesstimate is that it is stressed.  My folks had a silver maple in front yard and it was always getting an iron shot and feeding and trimming from the local nursery doctor - and is now the biggest tree on the block!  Godzilla!  Beautiful, but with all that attention, who would want a tree that should be on a lot by itself?  

 

So, what are you thinking?  I should sprinkle the lawn with Once a day Multi-Vitamins with iron?  Or would it be better if I just sat down and had a talk with the tree to find out what's on it's mind? 

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

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Posted by ChuckCobleigh on Thursday, August 4, 2016 4:26 PM

Murphy Siding

 

 
Mookie

Murphy - my totally unprofessional guesstimate is that it is stressed.  My folks had a silver maple in front yard and it was always getting an iron shot and feeding and trimming from the local nursery doctor - and is now the biggest tree on the block!  Godzilla!  Beautiful, but with all that attention, who would want a tree that should be on a lot by itself?  

 

 

 

So, what are you thinking?  I should sprinkle the lawn with Once a day Multi-Vitamins with iron?  Or would it be better if I just sat down and had a talk with the tree to find out what's on it's mind? 

If the tree is stressed, maybe stop pouring coffee under the branches?

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Posted by tree68 on Thursday, August 4, 2016 4:37 PM

ChuckCobleigh
If the tree is stressed, maybe stop pouring coffee under the branches?

How do you massage a tree (this one notwithstanding)?

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, August 4, 2016 6:10 PM

evening

still busy at work.Ns was clear when I left.Still warm here in Nw Ohio.Maybe a chance of rain here tomorrow.Weekend busy with church festival and Deshler days.Larry a car show is scheduled for Sunday in Deshler.Tax free weekend for back to school sales here in Ohio.Our growing boy needs some new duds for school.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 Mookie on Thursday, August 4, 2016 7:49 PM

All you comedians:

Re the tree:  It is bored, you are not doing anything to help it, so it is leafing.  

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by CShaveRR on Thursday, August 4, 2016 7:50 PM

I've seen pictures of that kid--when he outgrows these, will he hand 'em down to you?

Hoping for a good day of train-watching in my playground next door tomorrow.  Pat may or may not join me.  It will be a sort of last hoorah before I have to settle down and get ready to be taken apart next week.

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, August 4, 2016 8:08 PM

Mookie
It is bored,

Ooh - that's not good - if it's an ash.  We're having problems with them up here (emerald ash borers).

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 Mookie on Thursday, August 4, 2016 9:31 PM

tree68
Ooh - that's not good - if it's an ash.  We're having problems with them up here (emerald ash borers).

Yeah, guess our state got the first box of them!  Let's see - we lost our Dutch Elms, our flowering pear didn't last and now the ash trees.  Is this what global warming will look like?  Bunch of bare sticks?

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by JoeKoh on Friday, August 5, 2016 4:58 PM

evening

yep we have ash tree troubles here too.Mother nature sent us a sprinkle today.Matt got his class supply list too today.Need to work on chores.Plenty to do 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 CShaveRR on Friday, August 5, 2016 5:15 PM

We had an ash tree removed about four years ago when some of our other trees were spruced up (sorry, wrong species).  One of our three maples in the backyard is showing signs of stress, possibly introduced when our addition was put in.  There are bare branches near the top.

My trip to northwestern Indiana was an experience--heading out too late in the morning, soming home too early in the afternoon put ne in some unusually heavy traffic both ways.  Pine Junction did not disappoint, in terms of train frequency.  However, I think CSX was about to wait the extra four hours for a new day to depart a train from CN's yard--it just happened to be strung out over what I heretofore thought was the only way out of there.  Amazingly enough, it's not, though I can't guarantee that I could find this route again.

My question now...if the surveillance camera caught me exiting the drive from the casino at Buffington Harbor, would anyone else believe that I'd just been train-watching?

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 Saturday, August 6, 2016 12:13 AM

Found some videos on facebook/youtube today of my crew working.  After all these years and it is still weird.  Nope, no links will be provided.

But did spend part of the day in a classic arcade.  Could easily spend a whole day just playing the 20 or so pinball tables they had.  Fun stuff. 

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 BaltACD on Saturday, August 6, 2016 3:28 AM

zugmann
Found some videos on facebook/youtube today of my crew working.  After all these years and it is still weird.  Nope, no links will be provided.

Wouldn't recognize you in the video's unless you were wearing 'The zugmann Super Powers cape' and switching cars with a single push of your hand!

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by zugmann on Saturday, August 6, 2016 11:37 AM

BaltACD
Wouldn't recognize you in the video's unless you were wearing 'The zugmann Super Powers cape' and switching cars with a single push of your hand!

"Be not afraid of greatness.  Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them."


William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night

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 blue streak 1 on Sunday, August 7, 2016 2:13 AM

Something is going on in my neck of the woods but don't hav time to determine.  CSX's  A&WP sub south of  Atlanta has become extremely busy.  Count other day of at least 4 trains per hour and tonight 3 so far in 40 minutes.  Work somewhere else detouring trains ? 

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Posted by JoeKoh on Sunday, August 7, 2016 4:37 AM

Good Morning

Matt and I took the pieces of the stage and choir steps over to the grove.Going to go set up chairs soon.Matt's couisins get to sing this morning.Went to Deshler.Csx sent q 511 south with a "Jersey Girl" as the 3rd unit.Saw some interestings cars as well.Q 368 had some tractors and Cats on it but it was too dark for pictures.Hope everyone has a good 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 blue streak 1 on Sunday, August 7, 2016 11:10 PM

Something new with rail grinding.  Was out mowing this morning and spied a south bound Loram rail grinder appproaching on CSX.  Was the standard power unit, water car, 3 grinding cars, water car, & another power unit. 

Immediately made sure was long way from the track.  Observed that is was a very new clean unit not using old locomotives.  After passing the standard Hi-rail car came along and then surprize another Loram 2 unit came along.  It appeared very new.  First car appeared to be some kind geometry car and second was another grinding unit that did spot work.  Both these units had internal water tanks.  Then another Hi-rail truck followed.

All this and the Lorams had to wait 30 minutes for 3 north bound trains to pass.  Second one was very long exceeding siding length but pulled by 2 heavy locos 3200 and 3300 number.

 

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Posted by BOB WITHORN on Monday, August 8, 2016 6:15 AM

CShaveRR, (My question now...if the surveillance camera caught me exiting the drive from the casino at Buffington Harbor, would anyone else believe that I'd just been train-watching?). Of course WE would all believe you, obviously the casino just happens to be on the property of a train watching site, who knew.

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Posted by Mookie on Monday, August 8, 2016 4:53 PM

Just sitting here listening to my police/fire scanner and yet another rollover with vehicle on top.  Maybe the car mfgs should consider an 8 wheeled vehicle - 4 normal and 4 on top....

No one seems to pay attention any way, so driving upside down shouldn't be any trick at all....

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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