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Chatterbox Fall-2016

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Posted by BaltACD on Friday, November 25, 2016 8:22 PM

tree68

One of our volunteers brought his granddaughter into the cab for a ride today.  I won't say she wasn't impressed, but if she was, she certainly didn't express it...  Grandpa said she's pretty quiet.

Two sold out "Santa" trains today (and the Utica train was full, too), plus tonight's Polar Expresses, probably also sold out.  Lots of happy train riders!

Saturday is our fire department Craft Fair and Sale - I'll probably end up in the kitchen, cooking "refreshments."

Daughter's family's dog goes home on Sunday.  But she's been a welcome visitor. 

Sound of air brakes being applied can be terrifying to children.  From outside the cab the engineers job seems so relatively peaceful - with the noises inside the cab it is a whole different animal.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by tree68 on Friday, November 25, 2016 7:51 PM

One of our volunteers brought his granddaughter into the cab for a ride today.  I won't say she wasn't impressed, but if she was, she certainly didn't express it...  Grandpa said she's pretty quiet.

Two sold out "Santa" trains today (and the Utica train was full, too), plus tonight's Polar Expresses, probably also sold out.  Lots of happy train riders!

Saturday is our fire department Craft Fair and Sale - I'll probably end up in the kitchen, cooking "refreshments."

Daughter's family's dog goes home on Sunday.  But she's been a welcome visitor.

LarryWhistling
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Posted by JoeKoh on Friday, November 25, 2016 3:59 PM

evening

Ns ran a westbound oil train when I got off work.Had to go into town.Was settled down compared to the stories we heard about this morning.Home for the weekend.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").

 

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Thursday, November 24, 2016 8:54 PM

Mookie

Tree:  you sound like my late father - he said he always attracted old ladies, kids and dogs!  

 

Kids are attracted to me. Dogs, unfortunately are too (I'm not a dog person.) Now old ladies....I always seem to get the cashier that's flirting with me, and she's my mom's age.Sigh

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Posted by Mookie on Thursday, November 24, 2016 6:54 PM

Tree:  you sound like my late father - he said he always attracted old ladies, kids and dogs!  

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by tree68 on Thursday, November 24, 2016 3:26 PM

zugmann
Don't mix the two up.

Actually, the dog treats are made with ingredients from the grocery store - I even used some real maple syrup (didn't have any of the "cheap" stuff on hand).  

Oat flour, corn meal, peanut butter, syrup (the original recipe called for molasses), a couple of eggs, and some milk.  They'd be a little dry for our tastes, but dogs like 'em.

OTOH, I like apple pie too much to reach for the wrong "treat..."

LarryWhistling
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Posted by zugmann on Thursday, November 24, 2016 2:55 PM

tree68
Right now there are some dog treats in the oven, and later I've got a couple of apple pies to turn out

Don't mix the two up.

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

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Posted by zugmann on Thursday, November 24, 2016 2:54 PM

zardoz
The other great idea inProviso that year was to blow the switches clear using some kind of jet mounted to some ROW equipment. Worked great........until the jet-blown snow refroze to something much more difficult than mere snowdrifts.

We still have jet snowblowers around, but hey haven't brought it down to our yard in years.  A few years ago when we had a blizzard, they hired contractors with big wheel loaders to plow out the yard.  Besides taking out all the switch targets, it turned the remaining snow into well-packed ice.  Yard was a skating rink for a while. 

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

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Posted by tree68 on Thursday, November 24, 2016 2:51 PM

A dusting of snow this AM, some light sprinkles through the day.  Temperature got up to +38F today, now down to +34F.

The warmer temperatures (above freezing) were good news for the fire departments dispatched to a working fire at a lumber mill.  The news for the lumber mill wasn't as good - it was fully involved on the arrival of the first units.  Units are starting to clear, but I'd guess it's mostly on the ground by now.  Rural lumber mills aren't usually the most substantially built structures...

Finished Thanksgiving dinner - ate too much, but I'll survive, as usual.  Right now there are some dog treats in the oven, and later I've got a couple of apple pies to turn out.  One is going with me to the railroad tomorrow.  The other is for me...

LarryWhistling
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Posted by blue streak 1 on Thursday, November 24, 2016 2:44 PM

blue streak 1

Guess that the carload of rain dancer equipment got lost in the black hole of Chicago's Amtrak yard  ?

10% chance of rain showers here tonight ? ? ?

 

Yeah 10% allright a negative 10%.  Now maybe next  Tuesday ? ? ?

Just so you know have 3/10 inch in my  rain guage.  OH! its just dust.

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Posted by JoeKoh on Wednesday, November 23, 2016 6:16 PM

evening

Rain here in Nw Ohio.Ns was clear when I left work.CSX sounded busy when I got home.Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving.

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 Wednesday, November 23, 2016 1:52 PM

zardoz
...until the jet-blown snow refroze to something much more difficult than mere snowdrifts. 

Yeah - you have to get all of the snow (and water) out...

LarryWhistling
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Posted by zardoz on Wednesday, November 23, 2016 12:50 PM

Deggesty

 

 
tree68

 

 
blue streak 1
Maybe a bunch of idle unit train hopper cars can bring it down here and dump in Lake Lanier.

 

Supposedly they tried something like that back in 1977, after the big blizzard.  They loaded up empty coal hoppers in Buffalo with snow and sent them back south, figuring the snow would melt out.  The cold weather followed the cars back to coal country and a lot of folks were very unhappy...

 

 

 

As I recall, this did work in the late sixties when Chicago had more snow than they easily get rid of--the IC took it south and, so far as I know, it did work. I wonder what tariff the IC used.

 

 

C&NW did that as well to try and clear out Proviso yard, where the snow was so deep you could sometimes not be able to walk between the cars in the yard. 

The other great idea inProviso that year was to blow the switches clear using some kind of jet mounted to some ROW equipment. Worked great........until the jet-blown snow refroze to something much more difficult than mere snowdrifts. 

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Wednesday, November 23, 2016 12:46 PM

Guess that the carload of rain dancer equipment got lost in the black hole of Chicago's Amtrak yard  ?

10% chance of rain showers here tonight ? ? ?

 

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Posted by wanswheel on Wednesday, November 23, 2016 9:59 AM
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Posted by Deggesty on Tuesday, November 22, 2016 8:57 PM

tree68

 

 
blue streak 1
Maybe a bunch of idle unit train hopper cars can bring it down here and dump in Lake Lanier.

 

Supposedly they tried something like that back in 1977, after the big blizzard.  They loaded up empty coal hoppers in Buffalo with snow and sent them back south, figuring the snow would melt out.  The cold weather followed the cars back to coal country and a lot of folks were very unhappy...

 

As I recall, this did work in the late sixties when Chicago had more snow than they easily get rid of--the IC took it south and, so far as I know, it did work. I wonder what tariff the IC used.

Johnny

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Posted by tree68 on Tuesday, November 22, 2016 8:40 PM

blue streak 1
Maybe a bunch of idle unit train hopper cars can bring it down here and dump in Lake Lanier.

Supposedly they tried something like that back in 1977, after the big blizzard.  They loaded up empty coal hoppers in Buffalo with snow and sent them back south, figuring the snow would melt out.  The cold weather followed the cars back to coal country and a lot of folks were very unhappy...

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
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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 blue streak 1 on Tuesday, November 22, 2016 7:09 PM

tree68

If you want some snow, I'm sure Redfield, NY can spare some.  They got something like 53" in this weekend's storm...

Maybe a bunch of idle unit train hopper cars can bring it down here and dump in Lake Lanier.

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Tuesday, November 22, 2016 5:34 PM

It's rained all day and it's 34 degrees.  I can't wait to see what happens now that the sun is down.Grumpy

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Posted by tree68 on Tuesday, November 22, 2016 4:55 PM

If you want some snow, I'm sure Redfield, NY can spare some.  They got something like 53" in this weekend's storm...

I got 6-8" here at the house...

LarryWhistling
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Posted by JoeKoh on Tuesday, November 22, 2016 4:51 PM

rain on the border of Indiana/Illinois now.Going to move our way.Ns was clear when I left work.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 Tuesday, November 22, 2016 4:47 PM

blue streak 1

Well your Blackfoot medicine man / raindancer has not arrived yet.  Did you send him by Amtrak ? 

 

Nope!  Told you I only know medical drs.  They don't make rain.  However, someone read your post and imagine my delight - we got rain.  

I only said I could try twitching my nose - or ears - take your pick.  It is the only thing I can do that is a little different from most people.  Since you decided to drag an innocent 3rd party into the conversation, you get no sympathy from me.  

Hope you get rain someday.  All I can do for you.

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Tuesday, November 22, 2016 2:09 PM

Well your Blackfoot medicine man / raindancer has not arrived yet.  Did you send him by Amtrak ? 

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Posted by CShaveRR on Tuesday, November 22, 2016 9:50 AM

We're hoping for decent roads when we head over the river and by the tracks tomorrow.  The forecast is for rain and sleet tonight, followed by light rain tomorrow and a fine day Thursday.  Friday, when we return, there is rain in western Michigan, but no mention of it on this side/end of the pond.

Last I checked, the light rain here was going to be a little heavier along the Michigan shore--and Grand Rapids was supposed to be getting snow.  We're staying by the lake, thanks!

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 Monday, November 21, 2016 10:46 PM

BaltACD
Willard-Atlanta would most likely be routed through Cincinnati and Etowah, TN

I didn't know the exact routing, but something like that would make more sense.

On another note, there sure was a lot of lake effect snow around today.  My daughter had around 20", which I know because I had to travel through the mess to pick up their dog for the week while they travel to Maryland.

On the way down, I passed the scene that surprised me - no less than 4 semi's on their sides at the same location.  I figure they were running in convoy and the rest just followed the first into the median.  All were on their sides, and three of the four were in contact with each other...  Quite the scene.  Hopefully no one was hurt.

There were plenty of other semi's off the road (and evidence of some cars that went that route, too), but that was quite the sight.

Coming home a few hours later, the roads were almost bare.

LarryWhistling
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Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
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Posted by JoeKoh on Monday, November 21, 2016 5:28 PM

evening

work busy.Ns sent an east frieght and the local was uptown when I went to work.Matt has 1 more day before thanksgiving break.Chores to do here at home.

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 BaltACD on Monday, November 21, 2016 3:52 PM

tree68
BaltACD

Our discussion also included a possible Willard-Atlanta set.  Not sure that would run through NY, though.

Another highlight of the weekend was a tank train (didn't see the placards) with KCS power.

Willard-Atlanta would most likely be routed through Cincinnati and Etowah, TN

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by tree68 on Monday, November 21, 2016 1:55 PM

BaltACD
CSX is trying to build business on the Monteral to Atlanta pair of trains.  Right now business is sparce.

Our discussion also included a possible Willard-Atlanta set.  Not sure that would run through NY, though.

Another highlight of the weekend was a tank train (didn't see the placards) with KCS power.

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 BaltACD on Monday, November 21, 2016 12:56 PM

tree68

Whilst in Utica this past weekend, I again saw the strange sight of one locomotive eastbound with a three-bay well car and three containers.  

Apparently it's an attempt at a new market.  Why there's only one three well set in the train I have no idea.  Maybe they figure it'll get bigger if customers like the idea...

CSX is trying to build business on the Monteral to Atlanta pair of trains.  Right now business is sparce.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by tree68 on Monday, November 21, 2016 12:05 PM

Whilst in Utica this past weekend, I again saw the strange sight of one locomotive eastbound with a three-bay well car and three containers.  

Apparently it's an attempt at a new market.  Why there's only one three well set in the train I have no idea.  Maybe they figure it'll get bigger if customers like the idea...

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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