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Chatterbox Spring 2017

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Wednesday, June 14, 2017 7:25 AM

BaltACD
 

My Granddaughter will be 5 tomorrow - where does the time go?

 
That's a very good question, my granddaughter turned 16 last month, and her brother turns 13 on Sunday.  It doesn't seem like that long ago when I took the day off from work when they were born.
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 JoeKoh on Wednesday, June 14, 2017 12:02 PM

afternoon

Went out with the birthday boy.Csx had some interesting moves.Q 369 had a Ringling bros. circus car going west. We also saw the J 715 switch GM and get out of town. Then we saw csx mow equipment get loaded and moved by TRUCKS!!!.Going to take Matt out for supper 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 CShaveRR on Wednesday, June 14, 2017 4:12 PM

Better guard your fries, Joe!  

Yummm!

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 Thursday, June 15, 2017 4:52 PM

evening

Ns had a frieght with everything Carl would like this morning when I got to work.When I got off they sent a westbound with more frieght cars.Ran errands in town.Glad tomorrow is Friday.

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 Thursday, June 15, 2017 5:57 PM

Spent the day at the NYS Fire Chiefs Association Expo.  Took in one class, got some good information, and spent some money - mostly on good stuff (like t-shirts for the local grandkids).

Going back tomorrow.

For tonight - I've got to see if I can get a new digital radio programmed up and on the air.

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 zugmann on Thursday, June 15, 2017 9:33 PM

I got myself officially PTC qualified this week.  Now only if we had PTC lines to run. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

 

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


  

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Friday, June 16, 2017 7:25 AM

zugmann

I got myself officially PTC qualified this week.  Now only if we had PTC lines to run. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

 

 

Any indications of when that may happen? If the wait is too long do you have to get requalified?

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

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Posted by BaltACD on Friday, June 16, 2017 8:21 AM

zugmann
I got myself officially PTC qualified this week.  Now only if we had PTC lines to run. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Has NS implemented PTC on any subdivisions?  When I retired CSX had it in effect on 28 subdivisions - both signalled, with CTC and without as well as Dark Track Warrant territory.  Needless to say since I have been retired I have lost track of what, if any, additional territories have had PTC implemented.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by JoeKoh on Friday, June 16, 2017 2:36 PM

afternoon

Sticky outside.Mother nature looking dark to our west.Ns sent a 6 unit power move west when I got off work.Looked at the progress of the pipeline next door to my work.Haven't gone under NS as far as I could tell yet.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 Deggesty on Friday, June 16, 2017 2:45 PM

Joe, you keep talking about chores. Do you feed the stock, milk the cows, bring wood and coal in, and fill the kerosene tanks? Oh yes, and slop the hogs?Smile

Johnny

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Posted by mudchicken on Friday, June 16, 2017 5:18 PM

(I'm kinda jealous here - He mows & bales a swamp while I'm throwing $$$$ in mega-water bills trying to keep the grass here alive and some other color than brown. Duncan does like his green grass to play in.)

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 Mookie on Friday, June 16, 2017 6:21 PM

mudchicken
Duncan does like his green grass to play in.)

Mail him to me - he can have the whole front yard, which is always green!  I will tell the landlord Duncan is rolling and fertilizing the lawn....

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by diningcar on Friday, June 16, 2017 6:27 PM

I suggest that there is no shortage of fertilizer in CO. 

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Posted by Norm48327 on Friday, June 16, 2017 6:43 PM

MC,

You could revert to "Californian" and accept the brown lawn. I don't think Duncan would mind. Wink

Norm


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Posted by zugmann on Friday, June 16, 2017 8:38 PM

BaltACD
Has NS implemented PTC on any subdivisions? When I retired CSX had it in effect on 28 subdivisions - both signalled, with CTC and without as well as Dark Track Warrant territory. Needless to say since I have been retired I have lost track of what, if any, additional territories have had PTC implemented.

I hear the one line near us is supposed to be getting it by year's end... but I guess it'll happen when it happens.

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


  

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any

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Posted by mudchicken on Saturday, June 17, 2017 9:18 AM

diningcar

I suggest that there is no shortage of fertilizer in CO. 

 

Careful there.....minefield swept regularly.

Jen: IF he gets loose out of the yard, he's off meeting everybody he can find.

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 mudchicken on Saturday, June 17, 2017 9:20 AM

Norm48327

MC,

You could revert to "Californian" and accept the brown lawn. I don't think Duncan would mind. Wink

 

He'd be digging it up looking for where the fresh grass went.

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 samfp1943 on Saturday, June 17, 2017 10:10 AM

Happy Saturday, EVERYONE !  Father's Day tomorrow !  Since the subject seems to be Joe's Chores and MC's grass...Everything down here is WET! Two inches in the rain gauge on Friday night, the garden looks good, but the hot dry southern winds are blowing the blossoms off the tomato plants... I keep reading that rail traffic is picking up, Friday, was pretty busy, Early Eastbound stackers, two Export/Import cans and a couple of JBH & Co, with their compliment of TOFC on the end. They all seemed to have 4 or 5 units on the herad end. Westbound grain moves seem to have two on head-end, and 1 in DPU ( Returning for reloading?). I do not think they have put PTC on this sub as yet, at least there is no change aty the bungaloes or added antennas(?).  Note to (greyhounds), Ken, been seeing some new tennants on the TOFC trailers going East ( Amazon, and Amazon Prime, are recent additions)

 

 


 

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Posted by BaltACD on Saturday, June 17, 2017 10:36 AM

LeMans 24 hours of Endurance is underway

http://www.radiolemans.co/

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by tree68 on Saturday, June 17, 2017 1:38 PM

BaltACD
LeMans 24 hours of Endurance is underway

I think we had a driver who thought they were there today - except they weren't, and the other car had the right of way (the driver in question had stop signs and a flashing red light).

Fortunately, no one was hurt enough to go to the hospital.

Curiously, both cars were the same make and model...

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 Saturday, June 17, 2017 9:27 PM

My chores are similar to Joe's, with a little more lawn and a few more trees and shrubs.  No swamp area at the moment, but I have to endure the sound of trains passing about a half-mile away, and resist the urge to drop everything and go in that direction.  As it is, I could only get the lawn about half-done yesterday, plus a bit of pruning and prep work for the other half.  And it's raining now, tomorrow's Father's Day (see below), and I'll have to see about the weather next week.

Today Pat and I went in a sligtly different direction to attempt to catch NKP 765 on its Joliet Rocket trips.  There were two round trips, hence four times the 2-8-4 passed through our chosen spot, Blue Island (chosen because there would be plenty of other trains to take up the slack while waiting).

Well, we left too late to catch the first pass, then had to make a stop so we missed the second one, too.  We decided to go to lunch at that point, after which we returned to Blue Island about a half-hour ahead of the third pass.  It didn't occur to me before we got there that there were no longer turning facilities at either end, and, as it turns out, passes One and Three were done with a Metra unit leading, and the 765 bringing up the rear in reverse.   So that's what I got to see...couldn't stay for the return from Joliet because of a prior commitment closer to home.  

Naturally, while adjusting my phone, I screwed things up, and got a time-lapse video about a second long.  No great loss--the train was in shadow anyway.  I'm thinking of going out again tomorrow, and catching the second arrival/departure at Joliet (unless someone can suggest why that wouldn't be a good idea).  As a father, this is my Father's Day gift to myself (both daughters are in California at the moment).

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, June 18, 2017 6:25 AM

good morning

Happy Fathers Day

Matt and I rolled our birthdays and Father's day together.We went to Marion for trains and slideshow at the end of the day.Looks like NS has a diamond problem on their side.The C&O was very busy and had about 10 trains come by while we were there.We also met our former pastor and his family.Today is catch up here at home.Going to be cooler this week.Which is fine because we are on vacation.

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 blue streak 1 on Sunday, June 18, 2017 6:44 AM

tree68
 
BaltACD
LeMans 24 hours of Endurance is underway

We have the same problem here.  When the Atlanta speedway has a race the drivers going to race and especially afterwards think they are part of the race.  State trooper told us that they are completely busy on the drivers going over 100 or reckless aggressive. 

 

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Posted by tree68 on Sunday, June 18, 2017 8:00 AM

blue streak 1
State trooper told us that they are completely busy on the drivers going over 100 or reckless aggressive. 

Normally meek/rational driver, headed down the highway, "I'm [insert race driver here] and the race is on!"

Yeah - I can definitely see that happening.

Good income for the municipalities, though...

Indifferent

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 ChuckCobleigh on Sunday, June 18, 2017 1:22 PM

tree68
Normally meek/rational driver, headed down the highway, "I'm [insert race driver here] and the race is on!"

Yeah - I can definitely see that happening.

Good income for the municipalities, though...

Not just highways but parking lots as well.  Last week I watched some F1 racing on the tube and then got to see many people emulating going around a hairpin turn in the same manner in a local Costco parking lot.  

What made it funny is they were heading to the gas station where they were going to wait a while to get to the pumps anyway.

Our HOV lane on the I-15 route south from Escondido sometimes attracts speeders (90+) who think they are safe from the Chips, except there are numerous on-ramps that the law likes to use to pick off the speeders who can't see them until it is way too late, i.e., they've already been painted by radar.  (When the first stretch of the HOV lanes was opened, the Chips were out in force to write carpool violator tickets but ended up writing more speeding tickets.

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Posted by CShaveRR on Sunday, June 18, 2017 5:06 PM

How I spent my Father's Day afternoon...

...wishing I were in California with both of my daughters.

...driving to Joliet and trying to find a place to park near the stations (old and current).  

...seeing the Joliet Rocket being pulled into the station by a Metra Winnebago.

...saying hi to Trains correspondent Hayley Enoch before the train pulled away from the platform to cross over and clear the diamonds.  

...trying to shoot the train as it came over the diamonds again and pulled up to the platform.

...getting a chance to talk with Ms. Enoch again, complimenting her on her World War II-era costume (which she created!), and getting a shot of her in it.

...trying to get a good video of the train as it departed for Chicago for the last time this weekend--that's hard to do whilst driving by oneself, and probably not legal.  The videos were lousy, but the sound was worth it.

...Now, to get everything else done that needs doing...yard work, equipment documentation, talking to daughters (if they call!)...

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, June 19, 2017 7:49 AM

ChuckCobleigh
 (When the first stretch of the HOV lanes was opened, the Chips were out in force to write carpool violator tickets but ended up writing more speeding tickets.

We had an area of military housing ("801" - built and run by contractors, but managed by the military) near me for a while.  I'm sure there are those who figured it was the GIs who were doing the speeding on the state highway, but it was the locals who seemed to get caught...

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 BaltACD on Monday, June 19, 2017 8:32 AM

tree68
ChuckCobleigh

We had an area of military housing ("801" - built and run by contractors, but managed by the military) near me for a while.  I'm sure there are those who figured it was the GIs who were doing the speeding on the state highway, but it was the locals who seemed to get caught...

In areas of 'crack downs' the locals are virtually never the 'Angels' they believe they are.

In the imortal words of Pogo, "We have met the enemy and he is us."

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by rvos1979 on Monday, June 19, 2017 6:26 PM

tree68

 

 
blue streak 1
State trooper told us that they are completely busy on the drivers going over 100 or reckless aggressive. 

 

Normally meek/rational driver, headed down the highway, "I'm [insert race driver here] and the race is on!"

Yeah - I can definitely see that happening.

Good income for the municipalities, though...

Indifferent

 

The semi tractor i have now has a collision avoidance radar mounted on the front bumper, and the readout on the dash will tell me how fast the car in front of me is going.  I've seen it hit 90 a few times on the interstate  (My truck is governed at 63)..........

Randy Vos

"Ever have one of those days where you couldn't hit the ground with your hat??" - Waylon Jennings

"May the Lord take a liking to you and blow you up, real good" - SCTV

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Posted by BaltACD on Monday, June 19, 2017 6:48 PM

rvos1979
tree68
blue streak 1

Normally meek/rational driver, headed down the highway, "I'm [insert race driver here] and the race is on!"

Yeah - I can definitely see that happening.

Good income for the municipalities, though...

Indifferent

The semi tractor i have now has a collision avoidance radar mounted on the front bumper, and the readout on the dash will tell me how fast the car in front of me is going.  I've seen it hit 90 a few times on the interstate  (My truck is governed at 63)..........

Trust you are in the slow lane!

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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