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Chatterbox Winter 2016-2017

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Posted by Electroliner 1935 on Sunday, February 26, 2017 5:56 PM

adrianspeeder
Only difference is now I ride along on what I fix.  

A real motivator to get it right the first time. I am always amazed at the safety record of the airlines and flying. 

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Posted by mudchicken on Sunday, February 26, 2017 7:11 PM

Adrian: Looks like you could park all of your used truck collection in one of those rascals with room left over. Saw the mock-up at Long Beach when they first started building those.

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 tree68 on Sunday, February 26, 2017 7:38 PM

mudchicken

Adrian: Looks like you could park all of your used truck collection in one of those rascals with room left over. Saw the mock-up at Long Beach when they first started building those.

During an air show at the nearby military base, I had the opportunity to get into a B17.  As big as they look in the movies, things were pretty tight for this 6'5" guy.

But the tie in here was a comment by a crewmember from a C5A "Galaxy," who noted that they had carried a B17 in their aircraft at one time...

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
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There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Monday, February 27, 2017 7:20 AM

At least it wasn't a B-24.  Seriously, though, by today's standards, a B-17 is not a very large plane and more than a little cramped.  I hope that you didn't try to shoehorn yourself into the ball turret, you would have never made it.  Dad's ball turret gunner was rather small, and even then he couldn't wear his chute in the turret.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by tree68 on Monday, February 27, 2017 8:02 AM

CSSHEGEWISCH

At least it wasn't a B-24.  Seriously, though, by today's standards, a B-17 is not a very large plane and more than a little cramped.  I hope that you didn't try to shoehorn yourself into the ball turret, you would have never made it.  Dad's ball turret gunner was rather small, and even then he couldn't wear his chute in the turret.

Nope - even the nose was a real challenge...

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, February 27, 2017 10:07 AM

Same guys designed the seats in today's airliners. Suitable only for smurfs, hobbits and little kids.

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 Norm48327 on Monday, February 27, 2017 11:44 AM

MC,

We refer to airliners as flying cattle cars, and passengers as self-loading freight. Not many of us who have flown private would willingly choose the airlines.

Norm


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Posted by BaltACD on Monday, February 27, 2017 2:32 PM

mudchicken
Same guys designed the seats in today's airliners. Suitable only for smurfs, hobbits and little kids.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/columnist/cox/2017/02/26/airplane-seats-safety/98350854/

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by JoeKoh on Monday, February 27, 2017 5:57 PM

evening

work is busy.Saw the Ns local moving cars uptown when I left.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 adrianspeeder on Tuesday, February 28, 2017 4:03 AM

mudchicken

Adrian: Looks like you could park all of your used truck collection in one of those rascals with room left over. Saw the mock-up at Long Beach when they first started building those.

 

It might!  Weight wise for sure, but we do volume out at 8 Suburbans. 

As for C5's, yes they have a twice as long cargo compartment, but their reliability is a little sketchy.  We say in the 17 community, "Size doesn't matter if you can't get it up."

 

Adrianspeeder

 

USAF TSgt C-17 Aircraft Maintenance Flying Crew Chief & Flightline Avionics Craftsman

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Tuesday, February 28, 2017 6:54 AM

adrianspeeder

As for C5's, yes they have a twice as long cargo compartment, but their reliability is a little sketchy.  We say in the 17 community, "Size doesn't matter if you can't get it up."

 

Adrianspeeder

 

Sounds like an updated version of the B-17 vs B-24 argument that we sons of those crewmen delightfully commemorate.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by blue streak 1 on Tuesday, February 28, 2017 1:01 PM

Question.    Is big brother watching you on your cell phone ?   Passed a sign on side of road.  Paraphrasing ---Flashed --- put that cell phone down. Don't use it and drive. 

The scary thing.    Had an antenna and only flashed some cars.  Waited until no cars and slowed and tried a phone number and then it flashed me. 

 

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Posted by Paul of Covington on Tuesday, February 28, 2017 1:43 PM

blue streak 1

Question.    Is big brother watching you on your cell phone ?   Passed a sign on side of road.  Paraphrasing ---Flashed --- put that cell phone down. Don't use it and drive. 

The scary thing.    Had an antenna and only flashed some cars.  Waited until no cars and slowed and tried a phone number and then it flashed me. 

 

   I kinda like the idea, but someone looking at a cellphone probably won't even notice it.

_____________ 

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

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Posted by JoeKoh on Tuesday, February 28, 2017 2:45 PM

afternoon

Ns was back uptown when I left work.Heard the shipment of girl scout cookies came in.Wonder when Matt's couisin will deliver or will we drive out to thier place.Hope everyone is enjoying Fat Tuesday.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 tree68 on Tuesday, February 28, 2017 4:09 PM

Regular whirlwind today - FRA this morning, ISO this afternoon, and hazmat tonight....

(Yes, that FRA)

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 blue streak 1 on Tuesday, February 28, 2017 8:46 PM

Paul of Covington
 
blue streak 1

Question.    Is big brother watching you on your cell phone ?   Passed a sign on side of road.  Paraphrasing ---Flashed --- put that cell phone down. Don't use it and drive. 

The scary thing.    Had an antenna and only flashed some cars.  Waited until no cars and slowed and tried a phone number and then it flashed me. 

 

 

 

   I kinda like the idea, but someone looking at a cellphone probably won't even notice it. 

No but that Peachtree City cop that had a car pulled over down the road just might have ? 

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Posted by JoeKoh on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 2:33 PM

afternoon

well March came in like a lion.Under a high wind advisory right now.People at work last night got an extened lunch.(tornado shelter in the breakroom).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 tree68 on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 3:07 PM

JoeKoh
Well, March came in like a lion.

Looks like the same thing here.  We probably won't see the severe stuff (although last weekend's wind events here might disagree), but March certainly isn't arriving with placid weather around here...

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 Wednesday, March 1, 2017 9:35 PM

Temperature dropped all day here, from around 50 in the morning to near freezing right now.  We got over an inch of rain last night, but the really nasty stuff skirted us to the south and east.  Now there are snow crystals out there.

I was not allowed to sleep in too late this morning, on this, my first weekday of 2017 without radiation.  I'll do better tomorrow morning, I hope.  I need a good freight-train fix, but might not be up to it, with cold weather; we shall see.

I've been working on a bunch of DTTX flat cars from at least two series of three-unit drawbar-connected cars built by the National Steel Car Corporation.  Most of the original series (48-foot wells) no longer exist...the cars have been renumbered into three single-unit wells apiece, with couplers replacing the drawbars.  But not only that--some of the cars had their wells shortened to 40 feet, while most of the rest of them had the wells lengthened to 53 feet.  Each of the new series has gaps in it, where cars of the other size would have gone.  And not only that--each of the wells has an identification number, unique to itself (but not shown on the cars), which is somewhat helpful in determining which of the original cars have been retired, but add a whole layer to the tables I'm trying to form.

By this time next week we should be in California, doing what we can to help Linda and her family get through their latest challenges.  Lookig forward to the train trip out there, but steeling ourselves for the challenges that will face us.

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, March 2, 2017 12:23 AM

CShaveRR
Temperature dropped all day here, from around 50 in the morning to near freezing right now.

Just finishing up a meeting about 8PM last night when our tones dropped for a mutual aid fire.  New home - doesn't even show up on the current Google satellite images - but was fully involved when we arrived to assist about 20 minutes into the incident.  There may be one wall still standing - I never got that close to it, as I was assisting with the tanker shuttle.  Safe to say they lost everything.

All during the incident we had to deal with winds - 30+ MPH at times.  The temps stayed above +40F, but the wind chill dropped down to about freezing.  No fun.

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 BOB WITHORN on Thursday, March 2, 2017 6:23 AM
In the teens this AM with an inch of snow/ice. Roads mostly ice covered on US23 Fenton to Flint, Mi area. It's good to have a 7000# pickup.
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Posted by tree68 on Thursday, March 2, 2017 7:10 AM

After a high of +64.2F at 11:32 yesterday morning, the temperature went into free-fall.  +18F and still falling...fall.Aftger Ol' Ma Nature sure slammed the door on us with this one.  At least it's the last blast, or so we can hope...

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, March 2, 2017 8:50 AM

tree68
At least it's the last blast, or so we can hope...

March is a surprise month for us.  Some of our biggest and deepest snows come during that time.  Cold not usually a factor, altho 25 this morning was a little fur-raising.  

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by tree68 on Thursday, March 2, 2017 9:13 AM

Mookie
March is a surprise month for us.

Indeed.  We hold our annual spring chicken BBQ each year around St Patty's day - we've been out on grass fires on that day, and had to shovel snow to set up the pit to cook the chicken.  You just never know...

This year grass fires seem more likely, but one never knows...

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 Deggesty on Thursday, March 2, 2017 10:29 AM

I know "St. Paddy," as the Irish call him; who is "St. Patty?"

We have had ups and downs; last week the daytime temperatures were in the forties; Sunday, it was barely above freezing--this Sunday is promised to be much warmer.

Johnny

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Posted by MikeF90 on Thursday, March 2, 2017 1:50 PM

Deggesty
I know "St. Paddy," as the Irish call him; who is "St. Patty?"

The patron saint of ground beef or possibly smartphones.

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Posted by BaltACD on Thursday, March 2, 2017 2:30 PM

Thought he was the parton saint of the 'patty melt'! Dinner

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by JoeKoh on Thursday, March 2, 2017 3:12 PM

afternoon

Ns had a coal train in the siding and another train waiting when I left work.(Might have been the local).Sunshine then snow squalls.Matt is off tomorrow due to teachers needing service.Will be going to G+G house.Don't know if they will let him practice driving or not.Back 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").

 

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Posted by jeffhergert on Thursday, March 2, 2017 3:25 PM

tree68

 

 
mudchicken

Adrian: Looks like you could park all of your used truck collection in one of those rascals with room left over. Saw the mock-up at Long Beach when they first started building those.

 

During an air show at the nearby military base, I had the opportunity to get into a B17.  As big as they look in the movies, things were pretty tight for this 6'5" guy.

But the tie in here was a comment by a crewmember from a C5A "Galaxy," who noted that they had carried a B17 in their aircraft at one time...

 

In looking in the pictures in my books and the exploits therein, the planes (and the men that flew them) seemed larger than life.  I remember the first time I stood next to a B-17 at the Strategic Aerospace Musuem (formerly at Offutt AFB, now relocated west of Omaha.) and how small it actually was.  The same with other planes.  The new musuem location has a B17, B29, B36, B47 and B52 plus a few others in one building.  It's a bit cramped and the planes seem smaller, but the men who flew them still seem larger than life to me.

I noticed the same thing thing the first time I saw the UP 844 and UP 3985.  In pictures they seem huge.  In real life, especially the UP 3985, not so much.  Yes they are big, but they don't seem to be as big.

On another note.  I received my April issue of Trains today.  I've only read a couple of items in the front and already have the itch to cancel my subscription.  I'm going to wait a bit to read the rest to give some time for the feeling to go away.

Jeff 

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Posted by BaltACD on Thursday, March 2, 2017 4:00 PM

Several years ago I attended a dinner that was held at the 'Combat Air Museum' at Topeka, KS.  While they didn't have the bombers mentioned, they did have a number of various era's fighters.  The are small - the WW 1 era one are almost toy like - I am surprised they had enough power to get the men with balls enough to fly them off the ground.  They did have a Lockheed Constellation - it is sure a long way between the ground and the cockpit.

How to fly a B-17

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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