Trains.com

Chatterbox Summer 2016

19893 views
369 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,319 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Friday, July 22, 2016 2:51 PM

work done.hot and sticky. Ns had a stacker go westbound.Guy at work told me about a burnt out tail-light.Some know how and 3 bucks it's fixed.Will test when Matt and Mamma get home.going to chill here at home.Guy arrested as a suspect in the kidnapping.Hope the girl was found unharmed.Stay cool.

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
    August 2005
  • From: At the Crossroads of the West
  • 11,013 posts
Posted by Deggesty on Thursday, July 21, 2016 7:00 PM

Thanks, MC. I was somewhat familiar with #1's prowess with the instruments. The histories of #3 and #16 that I had read did not mention their interest in determining boundaries. Knowing Mr Jefferson's interest in his properties, I am not surprised at all at his wish for accuracy.

As to base lines and meridians, I became familiar with the system when I was living in Wesson, Mississippi, and a good friend of  mine was engaged in the purchase of a plot of land in Lawrence County, and I spent some time in the courthouse in Monticello (soft C) reading the description of the property--of course, I do not remember the description.

I think it is the Salt Lake meridian here. Now, I am concerned with the location of my apartment and the dining room in this assisted living facility. 

Johnny

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Denver / La Junta
  • 10,820 posts
Posted by mudchicken on Thursday, July 21, 2016 6:20 PM

Deggesty

MC, it sounds as though you and the other surveyors were taking your lives in the quickness of your feet, avoiding the people who had no idea as to what you were doing (taking pictures?, perhaps). 

I knew that the Father of our Country was an accomplished surveyor; who were the other two who are immortalized there?

 

If Nike or Adidas were making steel toe boots, we might be wearing them. People have all kinds of odd ideas what a level/Transit/ Theodolite/Total Station does. EDMS and GPS garner even stranger responses. Some are comical and others are plain dumb. Our robotic total station had one homeless guy staring intently at it for at least 20 minutes like it was watching him. (We were having problems with it following tail lights, mirrors, road signs and reflective strips instead of our prism. The "wandering eye" quips lasted all afternoon.)

For the "3 surveyors and some other guy", TR (city kid with a big stick) was the odd man out. TJ was partially responsible for the public lands system (Section/Township/Range/ Principal Meridian [you are either in the Salt Lake or Uinta principal meridian, I'm over in the Sixth with Mooks, Carl in the Third, JoeKoh in the 1st and Tin-Shoes in the Fifth ] ) in the western US, largely outside the original meets and bounds states. (TN got cold feet and reverted to metes and bounds.) Abe was a deputy GLO surveyor, among other things, in IL before he got into law.

http://www.surveyhistory.org/abraham_lincoln_-_the_surveyor1.htm 

https://www.monticello.org/site/research-and-collections/surveying

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
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,319 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Thursday, July 21, 2016 4:42 PM

Ns was clear when I left work.Rain here in Nw Ohio.Folks still looking for a missing bike rider near Swanton.Scary stuff.Chores to do.Friday 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").

 

  • Member since
    October 2014
  • From: Flint or Grand Rapids, Mi or Elkhart, It Depends on the day
  • 573 posts
Posted by BOB WITHORN on Thursday, July 21, 2016 4:41 PM
TREE, Red pop is sweet but when you're 10 or 12 years old and Grama takes you with her to the gas station, Grape Nehi or Red Pop.
  • Member since
    October 2014
  • From: Flint or Grand Rapids, Mi or Elkhart, It Depends on the day
  • 573 posts
Posted by BOB WITHORN on Thursday, July 21, 2016 4:38 PM
MC, Barq's instead Faygo please. - Agreed, Just it was Faygo at the farm on 32 mile rd east of Romeo. The old days of an ICE CHEST, (the kind with the glass bottles sitting in ice cold water) in the corner of the Texaco gas station at 'Bumps Corners' (at the corner of 32 Mile and North Ave. aka: Groesbeck Hwy. There was any Barqs, Faygo, Nehi, Vernors or Coke.
  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: At the Crossroads of the West
  • 11,013 posts
Posted by Deggesty on Thursday, July 21, 2016 2:14 PM

MC, it sounds as though you and the other surveyors were taking your lives in the quickness of your feet, avoiding the people who had no idea as to what you were doing (taking pictures?, perhaps). 

I knew that the Father of our Country was an accomplished surveyor; who were the other two who are immortalized there?

Johnny

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,021 posts
Posted by tree68 on Thursday, July 21, 2016 12:22 PM

Ah, Faygo Redpop.  It's available around here.  I like it, but it is a tad sweet.

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 2001
  • From: Denver / La Junta
  • 10,820 posts
Posted by mudchicken on Thursday, July 21, 2016 12:16 PM

Barney Kroger (I assume who is Carl's foil in MI) doesn't seem to wanna stock the 2 liter bottles of Diet Vernors out west. I still consume the unleaded version once in a great while.....and ageed, the old familiar kick is not there. Barq's instead Faygo please.

Had to lend a hand with a field surveyor in central Denver yesterday working around Denver Health (ie Denver General Hospital) ...what a freak show, especially now with the cannabis laws the way they are. If the zombies on the sidewalks in 100 degree heat weren't bad enough, the ones behind the wheel make you have your head on a swivel. As ususal, 90% of the people have no idea what a surveyor does. (the three surveyors and that other guy on Mt. Rushmore shook their heads again.) 

There's somebody in an old brown Saturn that's lucky they don't have an orange flag in their earhole or a hardhat through the windshield.Mischief 

At the rate that they are wrecking beer trucks around here, maybe they can be the new obsession for the people worried about oil trains? (Rained cans of Miller Lite onto I-25 from the I-70 EB ramp yesterday)

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
    October 2014
  • From: Flint or Grand Rapids, Mi or Elkhart, It Depends on the day
  • 573 posts
Posted by BOB WITHORN on Thursday, July 21, 2016 8:13 AM
TREE, (Many folks tasting Vernors for the first time don't care for it,) My wife is a hardcore Vernors fan, me, I'm more Faygo Red or Orange POP or Nehi GRAPE. Bob
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,021 posts
Posted by tree68 on Thursday, July 21, 2016 7:36 AM

BOB WITHORN
TREE, There is something about Vernors Ginger Ale that sets it apart. There was, maybe still is, a 2 store tall wall mural, maybe 20 ft x 50 ft, in downtown Flint for Vernors showing the leprechauns / elves making Vernors. How about a Vernors float??

Vernors may be the only remaining "dark" ginger ale, although I don't think it's still got the kick it had when I was young.  

As I understand it, during prohibition, other ginger ales went "light" so as not to be associated with alcohol.  Vernors stayed the course, to our benefit today.

Of course, the Boston Cooler (which did originate in Detroit) is the nectar of the gods...

Many folks tasting Vernors for the first time don't care for it, having been raised on light ginger ales.  I've still got some "in stock" from my last trip to MI, but only because I really do need to cut back on how much pop I drink...

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 Thursday, July 21, 2016 7:00 AM
Carl, I truly wish you and your daughter the very best. Bob
  • Member since
    October 2014
  • From: Flint or Grand Rapids, Mi or Elkhart, It Depends on the day
  • 573 posts
Posted by BOB WITHORN on Thursday, July 21, 2016 6:56 AM
TREE, There is something about Vernors Ginger Ale that sets it apart. There was, maybe still is, a 2 store tall wall mural, maybe 20 ft x 50 ft, in downtown Flint for Vernors showing the leprechauns / elves making Vernors. How about a Vernors float??
  • Member since
    May 2005
  • From: S.E. South Dakota
  • 13,569 posts
Posted by Murphy Siding on Wednesday, July 20, 2016 10:26 PM

Mookie

 

 
JoeKoh

evening

warmer today.

stay safe

joe

 

 

 

Joe - there was a song back when - "The Heat Is On"....98 here today w/heat index of 108.  Well, ok, so that is a typical summer, but I get to whine about it every year.  Then this winter, more whine.  So this looks ok, compared to the bitter cold.  

 

 

It's not the heat.  It's the humidity.Whistling

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: US
  • 13,488 posts
Posted by Mookie on Wednesday, July 20, 2016 8:06 PM

Glenn Frey; the Eagles; yesssss! Vitamins for the ears!

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,021 posts
Posted by tree68 on Wednesday, July 20, 2016 7:52 PM

CShaveRR
Meijer stores are anything but grungy, for sure!

The flagship stores in this area are the Wegman's chain.  Pretty much better than anything else, period.  When I'm in MI, Meijer's is on the list when I'm looking for Vernor's...  The old hometown Kroger's isn't bad, though.

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
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Wednesday, July 20, 2016 6:55 PM

Mookie
JoeKoh

evening

warmer today.

stay safe

joe

Joe - there was a song back when - "The Heat Is On"....98 here today w/heat index of 108.  Well, ok, so that is a typical summer, but I get to whine about it every year.  Then this winter, more whine.  So this looks ok, compared to the bitter cold.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: US
  • 13,488 posts
Posted by Mookie on Wednesday, July 20, 2016 6:27 PM

JoeKoh

evening

warmer today.

stay safe

joe

 

Joe - there was a song back when - "The Heat Is On"....98 here today w/heat index of 108.  Well, ok, so that is a typical summer, but I get to whine about it every year.  Then this winter, more whine.  So this looks ok, compared to the bitter cold.  

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,319 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Wednesday, July 20, 2016 5:11 PM

evening

warmer today.Ns put a westbound autorack train in the siding when I left work.Need to get to 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
    June 2001
  • From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois
  • 13,681 posts
Posted by CShaveRR on Wednesday, July 20, 2016 5:06 PM

Meijer stores are anything but grungy, for sure!  I wish we had one closer; it would quickly become our regular shopping spot.  (We also avoid Walmart, for labor and esthetic reasons).
______________________

I know that one season is supposed to be like another for us retirees, but I've just had the rest of my summer pretty well shot.  This is after a June spent on the road (doesn't really qualify as "shot", because it was a great trip, but it was far from our accustomed and appreciated routine).  We have a weekend in Michigan that will start tomorrow, but come Monday, I'll be in and out of examination rooms, offices, etc., in anticipation of surgery to remove a cancerous prostate on August 10.  Post-op stuff will last well into September.  If anyone were to ask me "Boxers or briefs?", the answer might well be "Depends!" for some of that time.  Appointments are scheduled into September for various followups; how I feel (and how far out we venture) remains to be seen.

Daughter Linda is also starting a new chemo regimen after her miracle drug quit working (I think this happens from time to time).  The new one may require getting used to, but it should have fewer long-term negative effects than normal chemotherapy.

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
    October 2014
  • From: Flint or Grand Rapids, Mi or Elkhart, It Depends on the day
  • 573 posts
Posted by BOB WITHORN on Wednesday, July 20, 2016 3:41 PM
So that would be the BP station. A good friends mother worked at Alpine in the 60's and he and his brothers would stop there after school and often saw and talked with Mr. Meijer. There is a genuine difference between a Meijer store and Walmart. We go out of the way to avoid Walmart, just seem 'grungy' on the inside.
  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois
  • 13,681 posts
Posted by CShaveRR on Wednesday, July 20, 2016 9:55 AM

The gas station was on the north side of Leonard--still is, although it's now more of a convenience store than a service station.

Pat worked at the Meijer ("Thrifty Acres") on Alpine (at that time the biggest in the chain and the one Fred Meijer was most likely to pop into), until I liberated her and brought her to Illinois.

The Meijer in St. Charles is the one we're most likely to go to, when we're headed west (to Rochelle, for example).  Bolingbrook, the town where my daughter lives for the moment but is soon to be leaving, has two stores; we pass them both on our way to their place.  (Son-in-law has a fantastic new job in Peoria, site of their Alma Mater, and they want to be in the area for the start of the school year.)

For the record, I don't know how Meijer pays its employees now (as compared to the more notorious big-box store), but Pat was a union employee when she was there, and did pretty well, thank you.  And the merchandise quality, appearance, and everything else at Meijer is far better than you-know-whose.

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
    October 2014
  • From: Flint or Grand Rapids, Mi or Elkhart, It Depends on the day
  • 573 posts
Posted by BOB WITHORN on Wednesday, July 20, 2016 6:34 AM

The bank is there just with a new name and Post Office is next door to the north.if the gas station was west on the south side of Leonard it's no longer selling gas, I think it's a repair shop of some sort. Sandy's is 'THE' place to get REAL donuts, not made in some factory somewhere, frozen, shipped, thawed and presented as fresh. The nearest Meijer is on Alpine south of 3 mile now. Have teased my wife for years that each time we relocated she picked the house based on how far away from a Meijer store it was.

 

Edit:  You have Meijers stores by you now, Bloomingdale, Melrose Pk., Aurora, Berwyn, and they're all still privately owned by the Meijer family!!

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,021 posts
Posted by tree68 on Tuesday, July 19, 2016 9:48 PM

The computer at the fire station decided to update itself to Windows 10.  So far, no problems, but that one doesn't get used much.

This seems to be a trend with MS - not even asking permission to do an upgrade/update - just push it out.

Took part in a county fair parade in the next county, representing our firefighter support organization.  The parade is still a big deal in that community - the streets were lined with spectators.

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 Tuesday, July 19, 2016 9:13 PM

evening

Ns was clear when I left work.Meeting at Historical society was good.Csx had a parade of tonka toys and trains too.Triple h's are coming for sure.Need to get to 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").

 

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois
  • 13,681 posts
Posted by CShaveRR on Tuesday, July 19, 2016 7:19 PM

She heard plenty about it, as it was one of her dad's favorite places (and before anyone jumps to conclusions, her dad was a phys. ed. teacher and the pro at the local Elks' lodge).  Pat herself didn't partake.

Shopping used to be done at the Meijer store at Walker and Leonard, Tom's Standard station west of Walker/Bristol/Leonard was where their cars were filled up and serviced, the Union Bank north of Leonard between Walker and Bristol was their branch office of choice (I think there's still a post office branch nearby), and Hub's Pizza (not far from the gas station) was an infrequent but special treat.

And, of course, all of the roadways mentioned had "NW" after their names!

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
    October 2014
  • From: Flint or Grand Rapids, Mi or Elkhart, It Depends on the day
  • 573 posts
Posted by BOB WITHORN on Tuesday, July 19, 2016 5:51 AM

Carl,

So, does she remember SANDY's Donut shop on Leonard west of Covell ?

Bob

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,319 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Monday, July 18, 2016 4:25 PM

afternoon

work busy.Ns had an autorack train in the siding when I left work.Mother nature provided the alarm clock this morning.Could have used more rain but we'll take what we get.Time to 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").

 

  • Member since
    May 2013
  • 3,231 posts
Posted by NorthWest on Monday, July 18, 2016 11:30 AM

CShaveRR
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.

I don't know if you regularly follow the Trains blogs, but he's posted one about that day:

http://cs.trains.com/trn/b/staff/archive/2016/07/17/twenty-five-minutes-in-naperville.aspx

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,021 posts
Posted by tree68 on Sunday, July 17, 2016 7:53 PM

Decent weekend on the railroad - good weather and reasonable ridership.

We could use the rain, though.  If I run the mower through the back yard, it will be to even up the weeds...

Always fun to get fans on the trains - they have lots of questions and appreciate learning the history of the line.

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...

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