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Chatterbox Winter 2016-2017

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Posted by JoeKoh on Saturday, December 24, 2016 3:12 PM

That is bad anytime of year....

Csx isn't doing anyone any favors today.Train died in Defiance blocking crossings.Another one was stuck in Leipsic blocking the entire town.They were even blocking an NS train on the NKP to go west at the diamond.The locals around NW Ohio are getting very frustrated with CSX.Off to get ready for cousins Christmas play.

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 Saturday, December 24, 2016 3:54 PM

JoeKoh
That is bad anytime of year....

Csx isn't doing anyone any favors today.Train died in Defiance blocking crossings.Another one was stuck in Leipsic blocking the entire town.They were even blocking an NS train on the NKP to go west at the diamond.The locals around NW Ohio are getting very frustrated with CSX.Off to get ready for cousins Christmas play.

stay safe

Joe

With the size trains CSX is trying to push across the railroad - it is a good time to be RETIRED! and not have to listen to either the complaints of the crews or the locals.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by JoeKoh on Saturday, December 24, 2016 8:18 PM

Balt first and foremost congrats on the retirement.I am just a railfan.When we had our recent cold spell they ran a 3 mile long q 324 that needed to be split in two to get to Toledo after they switched Defiance.It's just a matter of time before the big officials get involved.

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 Saturday, December 24, 2016 9:12 PM

JoeKoh
Balt first and foremost congrats on the retirement.I am just a railfan.When we had our recent cold spell they ran a 3 mile long q 324 that needed to be split in two to get to Toledo after they switched Defiance.It's just a matter of time before the big officials get involved.

stay safe

joe

It is the 'big officials' that are pushing the monster trains.  I have known them personaly - at one time I respected them.  Not now.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by jeffhergert on Monday, December 26, 2016 3:22 AM

BaltACD

 

 
JoeKoh
Balt first and foremost congrats on the retirement.I am just a railfan.When we had our recent cold spell they ran a 3 mile long q 324 that needed to be split in two to get to Toledo after they switched Defiance.It's just a matter of time before the big officials get involved.

stay safe

joe

 

It is the 'big officials' that are pushing the monster trains.  I have known them personaly - at one time I respected them.  Not now.

 

The extreme cold we had last week caused them to stop running long manifests for the duration. One of the last 10K+ ft trains before it was decided to reduce lengths had air problems on the DP unit.  It took 7 crews to go over three crew districts. (The last district had two crews that never got the thing out of the terminal.  Those crews, once it was obvious the train wasn't going to leave, were cabbed to the away from home terminal.)  It was finally decided to reduce the train.  I don't know if they used an 8th crew on the left behind portion or if another train picked it up later.  Once it the weather became milder, the trains started growing again.

The local paper and radio station in my home terminal have started giving out the phone numbers for where to make a complaint about blocked crossings.

Jeff 

 

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Posted by tree68 on Monday, December 26, 2016 7:54 AM

Well, today is "Boxing Day," an occasion observed mostly in the British "colonies."

There are a number of theories on its origin, but one common theme seem to be rewarding your workers with a "box."  One suggestion is that since servants were attending to their masters on Christmas day they couldn't be home.  On the day after Christmas their masters would send them home with boxes with gifts and perhaps food.

In the States, the closest thing to "boxing" is putting that ugly sweater back into the box and taking it back to the store to exchange...

LarryWhistling
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Posted by Mookie on Monday, December 26, 2016 9:30 AM

Tree:  As a mother and grandmother that spent a lot of holidays cooking and getting the house ready, we should take part in the boxing day.  Just don't need another ugly sweater....

And with 57 degrees on Christmas here in polar country - have enough sweaters, too.  

 

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by Mookie on Monday, December 26, 2016 9:40 AM

Mookie

Tree:  As a mother and grandmother that spent a lot of holidays cooking and getting the house ready, we should take part in the boxing day.  Just don't need another ugly sweater....

And with 57 degrees on Christmas here in polar country - have enough sweaters, too.  

 

 

Think more toward Santa Baby by Eartha Kitt....

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by JoeKoh on Monday, December 26, 2016 12:44 PM

afternoon

Major snowmelt here in Nw Ohio.The defect detectors now also give the tempratures too.Matt's snow mountain is going fast.Saw some csx before the rain moved in.Q 015 had a bad unit and is pulling an 8000+ ft train.He couldn't borrow the y101's power because they were switching today.Tomorrow it's more errands in town.Need to go to places that are closed today.Was glad the garbage man came though.

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 Wednesday, December 28, 2016 12:51 PM

Returning home from the Peoria area this morning.  No trains in the entre sector, but I did see the neatest thing along the UP tracks between Pontiac and Dwight--a permanent speed restriction sign advising trains to reduce speed to 100 mph (for a curve)!

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 CSSHEGEWISCH on Wednesday, December 28, 2016 1:53 PM

That's like the speed restriction signs on BNSF between Seattle and Portland that show three speeds: F (freight), P (passenger) and T (Talgo).  I took note of these while riding the Coast Starlight this past summer.

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 Mookie on Wednesday, December 28, 2016 4:23 PM

CShaveRR

Returning home from the Peoria area this morning.  No trains in the entre sector, but I did see the neatest thing along the UP tracks between Pontiac and Dwight--a permanent speed restriction sign advising trains to reduce speed to 100 mph (for a curve)!

 

I am confused.  The fastest I had heard for years was 79 for passenger.  (pre-Amtrak)

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by Electroliner 1935 on Wednesday, December 28, 2016 5:15 PM

Mookie
I am confused.  The fastest I had heard for years was 79 for passenger.  (pre-Amtrak)

Its part of the High Speed project in Illinois to increase speeds between Joliet and Alton to 110 mph. Read about the project at:  http://www.idothsr.org/

The initial section, Dwight to Pontiac, opened in 2015 and the wait for additional 110 mph operation is bothersome. UP has installed new rail and conrete ties most of the way. Some new and longer sidings have been installed. A new double track bridge in Wilmington is in a bureaucratic maze, as are track reroutes in Springfield. And Illinois'es political financial stalemate isn't helping. The state is in deep caca and the Dems and Republicans can't agree on anything. Entering the second year without a budget. 

So the Lincoln Service trains run with two locomotives (like Michigans Wolverines because one P42 doesn't have the moxie to accelerate to 110 mph) for 110 mph operation for 18 miles and then its back to 79 mph and slower for the rest of the 257 mile trip. Different PTC systems mean locomotives are captive to each route. Michigan uses Amtrak's Advanced Civil Speed Enforcement System (ACSES) while in 2008, a team of Lockheed MartinWabtec, and Ansaldo STS USA Inc installed an ITCS subsystem on a 120-mile segment of UP track between Chicago and St. Louis. What CN is doing between Joliet and Chicago plus what TRRA is doing between Alton and Joliet toward PTC is unknown.  

 

 

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Posted by Mookie on Wednesday, December 28, 2016 5:36 PM

I am no longer confused.  Thank you!

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by mudchicken on Wednesday, December 28, 2016 5:45 PM

Mookie
 
CShaveRR

Returning home from the Peoria area this morning.  No trains in the entre sector, but I did see the neatest thing along the UP tracks between Pontiac and Dwight--a permanent speed restriction sign advising trains to reduce speed to 100 mph (for a curve)!

 

 

 

I am confused.  The fastest I had heard for years was 79 for passenger.  (pre-Amtrak)

 

 

Chicago to St. Louis has a Class 6 Exemption (up to 110 MPH) and eventually will shoot for 125 MPH (Class 7) which involves total relocation of the railroad in many places. 79 MPH max was the upper end of Class 4 Track and could only be exceeded with the addition of ATS or similar which would get you up to 90 MPH [Class 5] which used to be as fast as you could go. Classes 7 to 9 are a post - 1990's creation... Nobody has Class 9/ 220 mph capabilities yet in the US
Mookie
 
CShaveRR

Returning home from the Peoria area this morning.  No trains in the entre sector, but I did see the neatest thing along the UP tracks between Pontiac and Dwight--a permanent speed restriction sign advising trains to reduce speed to 100 mph (for a curve)!

 

 

 

I am confused.  The fastest I had heard for years was 79 for passenger.  (pre-Amtrak)

 

 

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 Thursday, December 29, 2016 8:12 PM

Evening

Just got home from MC's old stomping grounds in SW Ohio.Watched where NS and CSX cross the great Miami river in spots.Also saw where CSX goes over NS to get into some spots.We also visited and entertained Matt's cousins too.Going to catch up on zzz.

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, December 29, 2016 9:30 PM

mudchicken

 

 
Mookie
 
CShaveRR

Returning home from the Peoria area this morning.  No trains in the entre sector, but I did see the neatest thing along the UP tracks between Pontiac and Dwight--a permanent speed restriction sign advising trains to reduce speed to 100 mph (for a curve)!

 

 

 

I am confused.  The fastest I had heard for years was 79 for passenger.  (pre-Amtrak)

 

 

 

 

Chicago to St. Louis has a Class 6 Exemption (up to 110 MPH) and eventually will shoot for 125 MPH (Class 7) which involves total relocation of the railroad in many places. 79 MPH max was the upper end of Class 4 Track and could only be exceeded with the addition of ATS or similar which would get you up to 90 MPH [Class 5] which used to be as fast as you could go. Classes 7 to 9 are a post - 1990's creation... Nobody has Class 9/ 220 mph capabilities yet in the US

 
Mookie
 
CShaveRR

Returning home from the Peoria area this morning.  No trains in the entre sector, but I did see the neatest thing along the UP tracks between Pontiac and Dwight--a permanent speed restriction sign advising trains to reduce speed to 100 mph (for a curve)!

 

 

 

I am confused.  The fastest I had heard for years was 79 for passenger.  (pre-Amtrak)

 

 

 

 

How does the engineer know if he's on a class 3 track or a class 5 track?

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

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Posted by CShaveRR on Thursday, December 29, 2016 10:54 PM

He trusts his timetable to give him the maximum speed for the type of train he's operating.  He follows the maximum speeds provided in the timetable or general orders (in case the timetable doesn't have it).  You can bet that the 100-mph curve will be shown there.

Your typical operating employee doesn't know about track classifications or what he's riding over, per se...he's just given the speed restrictions for his track, which are generally lower than what the FRA classifications would allow.

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 Deggesty on Friday, December 30, 2016 8:04 AM

CShaveRR

He trusts his timetable to give him the maximum speed for the type of train he's operating.  He follows the maximum speeds provided in the timetable or general orders (in case the timetable doesn't have it).  You can bet that the 100-mph curve will be shown there.

Your typical operating employee doesn't know about track classifications or what he's riding over, per se...he's just given the speed restrictions for his track, which are generally lower than what the FRA classifications would allow.

 

In other words, "He knows the territory." He may not know why there is this restriction or that restriction; he knows that the restriction is there.

Johnny

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Friday, December 30, 2016 8:27 AM

It isn't just the timetable.  In the mid-1970's, Rock Island suburban train crews were issued five-page train orders covering the "temporary" speed restrictions between LaSalle Street Station and Joliet.  Crews would review the orders to see if there were any additional restrictions.

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 Friday, December 30, 2016 8:35 AM

Deggesty
In other words, "He knows the territory." He may not know why there is this restriction or that restriction; he knows that the restriction is there.

Our timetable has a line map with overall speeds shown.  Permanent speed restrictions are listed elsewhere (close clearances, etc) and temporary speed restrictions (or new permanent restrictions) are shown in bulletin orders.  A really short term restriction, or one that takes effect before another bulletin order can be issued, may simply be included on the Form D (track warrant).

LarryWhistling
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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 jeffhergert on Friday, December 30, 2016 9:44 AM

CSSHEGEWISCH

It isn't just the timetable.  In the mid-1970's, Rock Island suburban train crews were issued five-page train orders covering the "temporary" speed restrictions between LaSalle Street Station and Joliet.  Crews would review the orders to see if there were any additional restrictions.

 

I used to have some of those in my collection from a visit to LaSalle St Station many years ago.

Today, every train receives temporary speed restrictions and other temporary conditions (tracks out of service, etc.) in some form.  At our on duty point, we receive a track warrant for bulletins and a summary of track bulletins in effect for the route the dispatcher selected.  (The summary doesn't have each bulletin's OK time and dispatcher initials.  Using this summary, it allows them to be issued in order by location, mixing lines as needed from the bulletins, including the Form B work areas.  It makes it a lot easier keeping things in order.)

The individual temporary slows don't lower the entire track segments classification.  I have heard, and MC could enlighten us on this, that too many slows in a given area (and length of time before they are fixed) can cause the track catagory to be down graded.

Jeff 

PS. One of the engineers who trained me, also a railfan, showed me an Amtrak train order he had.  It was a temporary slow from the NE Corridor to "Reduce Speed to 100 MPH" at a specific location. 

   

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Posted by JoeKoh on Friday, December 30, 2016 11:40 AM

afternoon

snow,wind sun,more snow,wind,clouds,hey it's NW Ohio.Ran errands this morning.Was a report that someone's ditchfinder also found a fire hydrant too.Watched csx run it's y101 today.Buissness is good for the ND&W.Csx K 139 had a bad car so they had to set it out in the yard lead at west Defiance.Going to stay inside and warm back up.Guessers say tomorrow could be icy.

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 Saturday, December 31, 2016 5:31 AM

good morning

Wishing everyone a safe and happy new year.Happy birthday to our switchman in Houston.Going to stay home today.Might have company tonight.

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 Saturday, December 31, 2016 6:37 AM

Well, it hasn't been a bad year.  

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 Saturday, December 31, 2016 8:08 AM

Actually, a very good year in so many ways...

Happy birthday to the first person to welcome me on this forum and patiently work with me to answer all my questions (ie - yellow thingies)

Jen

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Posted by ATSFGuy on Saturday, December 31, 2016 1:15 PM

I believe tomorrow is BNSF's Birthday.  BN absorbed the Santa Fe on December 31, 1996 to become BNSF Railway. The Company began operating January 1, 1997 to present. 

This is what BNSF Railway page on wikipedia says.

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Posted by wanswheel on Saturday, December 31, 2016 3:47 PM

Excerpt from history of BNSF

http://www.bnsf.com/about-bnsf/our-railroad/company-history/overview/#/5/

To help manage and improve service, BN opened a Network Operations Center (NOC) in March 1995, ushering in a new age of railroading with the industry’s largest and most advanced real-time operations control center. In a room the size of a football field, train dispatchers, locomotive assignment desks, crew planners and operations managers electronically “see” and manage trains 24 hours a day.

While the NOC was still under construction, negotiations began on a merger agreement between BN and Santa Fe. The merger of the two on Sept. 22, 1995, created Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway, the largest rail network in North America at the time.

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Posted by Electroliner 1935 on Saturday, December 31, 2016 8:43 PM

Happy New Year to all, Wishing all your trains run well and you and your loved ones are here next New Years Eve.

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