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Chatterbox Winter 2016-2017

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Posted by CShaveRR on Saturday, January 21, 2017 3:48 PM

Paul, I wish I knew some back roads to use to get back in there where the South Shore and the Lake Michigan & Indiana take care of the mill and the Bailly generating plant.  Yes, there would be coil cars aplenty (unless something came out this past year I'm probably up to date on those), but I'd be more interested in the flat cars (long and short, bulkheads or not) that hang around there...whose they were before, and before that, and originally.  Those LMIC cars have to have a pretty interesting history.

Yes, you can see trains from the high point of the Dune Succession Trail in the West  Beach area.  But you can't do a thing with them...

We got a good hike in, with no television or radio reports (or computer screens) to annoy us, and it was very quiet out there until we got over the last row of dunes and could hear the lake lapping the shore.

Saw a first on a train of crude-oil tank cars on IAIS on the way to Indiana:  a buffer car (to separate the tank cars from the motive power) owned by the oil company for whom the train was operated.  This was an Airslide covered hopper, possibly ballasted with a load that will never be unloaded (those cars have been rendered pretty much obsolete by more efficient designs).

No new 2017-built freight cars this trip, but we got a number of new dates for series we already knew about, and saw our first examples of some secondhand series that have been around for a while.  It's great to have the information, but frustrating to know how long it took to get it (for example, those particular Airslide buffers have been around for at least three years now).

Larry, I'm sure you're right about the domino effect on operations that day.  It would take a major effort to keep something like that from happening (probably changing routes after the train has passed the first advance-approach signal...that might not even be possible).

Interesting note:  we use Interstate 294 to get around Chicago when going to Indiana or Michigan.  There's one spot where the IHB main line comes pretty close to the highway.  We don't usually see anything moving at this spot.  But yesterday, we witnessed a meet--one train in each direction--when we were headed out, and another train (dirty dirt?) was there when we returned past there.

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 Mookie on Sunday, January 22, 2017 6:34 AM

Peeked in on the marches yesterday.  Living here in fly over country, we just don't realize how many people share this country with us!  Wow.  But the most impressive thing I heard and keep missing the details on, is that there was a march in Antarctica?  I'm not sure how you would pull something like that off?  Tongue Tied

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by CShaveRR on Sunday, January 22, 2017 7:51 AM

Snowshoes?

The leaders create a path for the rest.

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 JoeKoh on Sunday, January 22, 2017 10:48 AM

afternoon

Csx had some interesting moves this morning.Had a bad car at omni outside the fence.324 was it's usual monster size.Csx even moved more power to Garrett.Going to get some lunch.

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 Sunday, January 22, 2017 11:31 AM

CShaveRR

Snowshoes?

The leaders create a path for the rest.

 

I finally went and looked - they were on a ship.  Little let down, since I, too, thought they should march a little in the snow, just for effect....

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Sunday, January 22, 2017 1:35 PM

Mookie

Peeked in on the marches yesterday.  Living here in fly over country, we just don't realize how many people share this country with us!  Wow.  But the most impressive thing I heard and keep missing the details on, is that there was a march in Antarctica?  I'm not sure how you would pull something like that off?  Tongue Tied

 

That was probably one of the lesser attended marches.

-Signed, Mr. Obvious.Geeked

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Posted by Norm48327 on Sunday, January 22, 2017 2:51 PM

Murphy Siding
That was probably one of the lesser attended marches.

But it was formal. They all were wearing tuxedos.

Norm


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Posted by ChuckCobleigh on Sunday, January 22, 2017 4:52 PM

Norm48327

 

 
Murphy Siding
That was probably one of the lesser attended marches.

 

But it was formal. They all were wearing tuxedos. 

And then they headed to Madagascar!

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Sunday, January 22, 2017 5:27 PM

.....in Antarctica, no one can hear you chant.....

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

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Posted by BaltACD on Sunday, January 22, 2017 9:13 PM

Murphy Siding
.....in Antarctica, no one can hear you chant.....

but they can smell the penguin guano

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Monday, January 23, 2017 8:57 AM

CShaveRR


Interesting note:  we use Interstate 294 to get around Chicago when going to Indiana or Michigan.  There's one spot where the IHB main line comes pretty close to the highway.  We don't usually see anything moving at this spot.  But yesterday, we witnessed a meet--one train in each direction--when we were headed out, and another train (dirty dirt?) was there when we returned past there.

 
Carl,
   The spot you are thinking of is probably just north of 95th Street where the IHB swings due north toward Toyota Park.  Most eastbound trains stop short of Chicago Ridge crossing waiting for Southwest Service trains to clear.  There is also a long siding north of that point that extends north past 87th Street.
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, January 23, 2017 12:16 PM

Looks like we're going to get a taste of the storm that hit the northeast.  Nothing severe, but a fair amount of wet, heavy snow.  Yuk.  Postponing a business trip from Tuesday to Wednesday.

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
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Posted by BOB WITHORN on Monday, January 23, 2017 5:23 PM
It was still spring like here in Flint. That would be very early spring like.
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Posted by mudchicken on Monday, January 23, 2017 5:58 PM

50 degrees today and we can see the snow coming over the mountains (courtesy of the Pineapple Exress moisture that left California drowned)

A layer of Ice + A layer of snow + alayer of Ice + more snow = Avalanche(s)

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 Monday, January 23, 2017 6:21 PM

evening

work busy.More rain to come to Nw Ohio.Saw an eastbound oil train on Ns when I left work.Wonder if the  CSX Y101 here in town got the bad boxcar from the omni siding today.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 Monday, January 23, 2017 6:46 PM

mudchicken
A layer of Ice + A layer of snow + alayer of Ice + more snow = Avalanche(s)

yeah! And since you are higher elevation than we are, we will have it all roll down on us!  Bring de dog for a visit and all will be forgiven!

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by CShaveRR on Monday, January 23, 2017 9:02 PM

CSSHEGEWISCH
   The spot you are thinking of is probably just north of 95th Street where the IHB swings due north toward Toyota Park.  Most eastbound trains stop short of Chicago Ridge crossing waiting for Southwest Service trains to clear.  There is also a long siding north of that point that extends north past 87th Street.

That's the spot, all right.  I rode over it a few times when I had enough whiskers for that transfer run and was able to escape the towers for a while.  Is there a place east (south) of there where trains are likely to be staged for Blue Island?  I didn't expect to beat him to Wireton that day.

 

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 Tuesday, January 24, 2017 6:51 AM

Wonderful morning!  The local TV station's closing list should just say "Stay Home!"

Ham radio net has folks reporting +28F and rain - never a good thing.  My driveway is nice and shiny... 

 

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 edblysard on Tuesday, January 24, 2017 7:50 AM

Wow, cause its gonna be like, 80 degrees F this afternoon here.....

23 17 46 11

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Posted by BOB WITHORN on Tuesday, January 24, 2017 8:42 AM

edblysard

Wow, cause its gonna be like, 80 degrees F this afternoon here.....

 

 I seem to remember that we had 80 deg. sometime last summer. We won't get 1/2 that temp today and it's raining.  Really would rather have it in the 20's here - at least I'd know what coat to where.

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Tuesday, January 24, 2017 12:30 PM

tree68

Ham radio net has folks reporting +28F and rain - never a good thing.  My driveway is nice and shiny... 

Guess its time for the radio stations to bring out that old song  " Slipping and sliding "

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Posted by mudchicken on Tuesday, January 24, 2017 2:05 PM

Mookie
  Bring de dog for a visit and all will be forgiven!

He's not old enough in dog-years to even get his driver's "temps" yet. De orange cat might have issues with de dawg getting out whilst he stays. (It takes two to "joust".)

BossHen currently out looking for a critter-sitter.

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 Tuesday, January 24, 2017 3:57 PM

afternoon

work not busy. There are cars for the  NS local to pick up.Young person decided to run from Police here in town.They are down the road right now.They used the life flight chopper and airplane too.Have chores and projects to do.

stayin 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 CNW 6000 on Wednesday, January 25, 2017 12:58 PM

Finally back to regular winter here with snow and cold.  That ice/freezing rain crap can stay somewhere else.  I've seen more DPUs on CN this year than ever before and on lots of the different trains thru here - manifest and IM (plus the usual setups on unit trains).

Dan

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Posted by JoeKoh on Wednesday, January 25, 2017 3:09 PM

afternoon

Ns had some cars set out for us at work.Young man from yesterday was wanted for many violations.Picked up many more and was caught last night.Chores to do here at home.Matt took the top spot in his pizza fundraisier so we'll have alot to deliver later.

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 samfp1943 on Wednesday, January 25, 2017 3:14 PM

CNW 6000

Finally back to regular winter here with snow and cold.  That ice/freezing rain crap can stay somewhere else.  I've seen more DPUs on CN this year than ever before and on lots of the different trains thru here - manifest and IM (plus the usual setups on unit trains).

 

 

  I feel for you folks Nort of this area....current Temp here is around 60 and that is pretty close to the high..Nights are in the 30deg area. Snow band is North of I-70 and spotty. Clear shy and no clouds. A great Fall day!  Not much traffic moving through here.  Last night and this morning were a couple of Auto Rack Trains (South or Westbounds).

Note to Jeff Hergert...Seems that Cargill Feed Grain train has been through (S or Wbnd on Ellinor sub) a couple of time in the last week. Last week it had several tank cars tied on to the back. Today, no tank cars were on it.  Amaxing how well those 'tarps' seem to hold up! Huh?

 

 


 

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Posted by JoeKoh on Thursday, January 26, 2017 2:31 PM

afternoon

colder here in Nw Ohio.Mother nature is giving us little spritzles.Ns' main was clear when I left work. Still have some cars in the siding.Maybe for us? Not sure.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 CNW 6000 on Friday, January 27, 2017 2:28 PM

samfp1943
I feel for you folks Nort of this area....current Temp here is around 60 and that is pretty close to the high..Nights are in the 30deg area. Snow band is North of I-70 and spotty. Clear shy and no clouds. A great Fall day!  Not much traffic moving through here.  Last night and this morning were a couple of Auto Rack Trains (South or Westbounds).

Note to Jeff Hergert...Seems that Cargill Feed Grain train has been through (S or Wbnd on Ellinor sub) a couple of time in the last week. Last week it had several tank cars tied on to the back. Today, no tank cars were on it.  Amaxing how well those 'tarps' seem to hold up! Huh?

 

The cold isn't that bad, honestly.  Not like a few winters ago when there was air temps of -40 F.  THAT was cold.  

I've been lurking a bit around here...but decided to drop back in to see who's around.  Looks like most of the usual suspects are doing the usual things.  Hope all have been well otherwise.

Dan

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Posted by JoeKoh on Friday, January 27, 2017 5:17 PM

Welcome back Dan.You know Mookie is always lurking around.Ns was busy as I left work.Dispatcher had a a coal train check their cars.Taxes are done too.Chores to do here.Matt wants more driving practice 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 Mookie on Friday, January 27, 2017 5:59 PM

Mookie broke her lurk a while back and had to get a new one....Mischief

 

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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