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Chatterbox Spring 2017

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Posted by tree68 on Saturday, March 25, 2017 8:11 PM

Took a road trip down to Oswego and the local railroad museum.  It's a modest affair.  This weekend's event commemorates the last day of the New York, Ontario and Western (variously the O&W, Old and Weary, and Old Woman, among others) sixty years ago.

Helped the club president (a friend) answering a few guest's questions.  Always glad to do what I can...

LarryWhistling
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Posted by JoeKoh on Tuesday, March 28, 2017 4:17 AM

Morning

Driver and I went to Fostoria and Marion yesterday.Our friend is being qualified to run on the local on the C&O.CSX would like to run stone trains from Carey to Collingwood(Cleveland) without changing crews.We saw our buddy at  "Onion" and coming into the quarry too.In Marion we saw the locals running and helping other trains.Ns had a monster frieght go north with DPU's on the back.Went back to Fostoria and saw an Ns L 70 local come back long hood forward.Went to supper with our friend.No more early quits for those at CSX.Today going to let my driver sleep in day.

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 Wednesday, March 29, 2017 5:04 AM

good morning

Driver goes with the driver's ed instructor the next few days.Chores to do around here.Cool but sunshine today.We'll take it.

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 29, 2017 6:43 AM

Spring seems to be here.  Good syruping weather, with the occasional threat of wintry weather, but nothing significant.  This morning dawned to clear skies, if a bit chilly.

Lots of projects - better get to work.

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 Wednesday, March 29, 2017 1:12 PM

 

Lotsa rain and snizzle, snow coming Friday night. Anybody with a yard with something that still can grow is relieved. On the other hand, Uncle Pete seems snakebit with a bunch of small incidents popping up; many not of their own creation.Embarrassed

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 diningcar on Wednesday, March 29, 2017 2:31 PM

Much needed rain in Lawrence, KS overnight and today - 3 plus inches. Farmers and ranchers with the prized blue stem grass in much better mood now.

 

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Posted by Deggesty on Wednesday, March 29, 2017 4:25 PM

I left the Crossroads of the West yesterday morning on # 6--about an hour late, and arrived in  Chicago this afternoon five minutes early--we would have arrived fiteen-twenty minutes early if we had not had to wait to be lined up to back in--this seems to be the standard procedure now. Carl, were you and Pat backed in when you returned? Instead of being more than two hours late as we were when I arrived on #22/422 last fall (over the former C&EI; dinner at nine CT)), I was able to get a decent dinner time tonight.

Yesterday, I saw somethingin Grand Junction that I did not recall seeing before: the stored engines all had "UPY" with the engine numbers on them. I did not notice such in Denver--but I saw a ATSF engine in pink paint there. Coming into Chicago this afternoon, I saw several VRE cars in the caoch yard.

Altogether, it is a good trip so far, even though I had to ask my attendant to turn my mattress around (in room C) so I could sleepwith my right sight out--and I will make the same request tongiht, since I will be room E (A,C,&E are all like that; B&D fit me right well)  to Washington

I will go down to Charlottesville, Va. tomorrow, and then down to Bristol, Tenn., by Dog on Friday. Saturday will be college reunion time.

Carl, I fear that we will not be able to link up since I will arrive back in Chicago Sunday morning, 9 April, and leave that evening. How was it in a roomette? I ate breakfast and lunch today with a couple from Racine who also had a roomette. They agreed that it is tight in the room.

Last fall, I was unable to get on line in  the first class lounges in both Washington and Chicago; I had no trouble this afternoon.

Johnny

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Posted by JoeKoh on Wednesday, March 29, 2017 5:24 PM

Johnny

BNsf has let the warbonnets red paint fade to pink.Instructor said Matt did a good job today.Hoping Mamma gets back soon.Paper police reports say too many cars in our area have their deer finders on.While running errands in town we saw a weed sprayer truck go on the ND&W.He was allowed to go all the way to Napoleon.Hopefully they didn't get stuck in the swamp.

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, March 29, 2017 7:22 PM

Hi, Johnny!

The backing in may have been caused by the derailment outside Union Station a coule of days ago.  It looks like it occurred over a good deal of the western half of the plant, and may have precluded your going directly in off the BNSF.  

I couldn't tell you what our train did, as we got off at Naperville, saving ourselves an hour or more in getting home (our next-door neighbor picked us up).

 

UPY is the normal reporting mark for locomotives in yard service on the UP.  Interesting that so many of them would be in storage, to the exclusion of others.

 

"Tight" is an understatement in a roomette.  Pat was a bit claustrophobic in the upper berth, so that was where I was.  No window up there...it was totally miraculous that I got up for La Junta and Mudchicken's visit.  I think we'll be coach travelers from now on...Pat looked at our credit-card statement, which was the first she realized how much the roomette cost, and the bedroom would have been 'way more than that.

We did enjoy some of the first-class amenities, like the complimentary meals (including a reasonable choice for the unscheduled dinner on the way home) and the Metropolitan Lounge at Los Angeles (good Internet there, too, and a ride right to the door of the car next to ours with our baggage, without having to go back into the concourse and the tunnel).  Our attendants (a regular and a trainee) did a great job, including leaving the upper berth down at our request during the full day we were on the road.

I'm still hard at work documenting the freight-car sightings I got on the return trip.  We had daylight through Topeka and Argentine (KC), which helped in that regard.  Often I don't know just how good my sightings are until I can check them out, and that's been true in spades this time!

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 NorthWest on Wednesday, March 29, 2017 7:52 PM

Today marks the 60th anniversary of the shutdown of the NYO&W.

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Posted by JoeKoh on Thursday, March 30, 2017 1:39 PM

afternoon

Ran errands this morning.Csx dispatcher was having signal problems at Indo(near St.Joe Indiana).Raining on and off.Went to give hugs this afternoon.The church was near work.Ns had a coal train in the siding and loads for uptown.Chores to finish up 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 mudchicken on Thursday, March 30, 2017 8:21 PM

Per chance, is that big fire on the Atlanta Freeway bridge caused by CSX or MARTA playing with matches under the bridge.???

Lotsa talk about fire under the I-85 bridge, but nothing on the source. What's burning and was it on steel wheels.??? (Or did the rubber tired bubbas do it?) An awful lot of fuel was spent.

 

EDIT - UPdate: Sounds like MARTA stored combustible plastic electrical conduit under the bridge. There's a reason why ya don't do dat.Dunce... If that was GDOT storing combustibles under there, shame on them for torching their own bridge.

 

 

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 Deggesty on Thursday, March 30, 2017 9:03 PM

I forgot to menti0on an interesting maneuver that took place yesterday after we left Glenwood Springs: we stopped after passing the east wye switch at Dotsero, backed past the west wye switch--and then took off as though nothing unusual had taken place. I did not have an opportunity to ask anyone why.

Today, we were passed by a coal train on Balt's former road, and I noticed some of the reporting marks --DHPX (the sucessor to Duke Power Company?) GGPX (Georgia Power Company?), and TILX. The train passed us, and we passed it and left it behind. 

Coming out of Washington, headed for Charlottesville, we stopped (at Virginia, I think) while a CSX train went on south. after a while, an Amtrak train came north--and then we went south, passing the CSX train.

I was quite annoyed in the Washington station this afternoon; I was unable to et on line while in the Acela Lounge, so I waited until I was in my hotel room inn Charlottesville. I had no trouble at all in Chicago yeserday (last fall, I was unable to get on line in either place.)

Johnny

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Posted by mudchicken on Thursday, March 30, 2017 9:36 PM

RE: Dotsero.... Pass anything at Radium? (Orestod/Bond/Range) The signal tribe is having a bear of a time up in there getting to the POTO's and the CTC plant gets balky. (switch problems with new PTC setup)

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 Deggesty on Friday, March 31, 2017 7:37 AM

mudchicken

RE: Dotsero.... Pass anything at Radium? (Orestod/Bond/Range) The signal tribe is having a bear of a time up in there getting to the POTO's and the CTC plant gets balky. (switch problems with new PTC setup)

 

No, I did not have my Geiger counter turned on, so I did not notice anything around Radium. You threw a new one--POTO--at me, and I failed to catch it. 

As to backing in at Chicago,  I will find out Sunday week morning if it applies to the Capitol, though if it was necessary because of the derailment, that should have been taken care of by then.

It is cold (45 Degrees) and wet in Charlottesville this morning. I hope it is dry in Bristol this weekend; the bus "station" there is closed when I arrive tonight and is not open on Sundays (when I come back north and east).

Johnny

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Posted by mudchicken on Friday, March 31, 2017 8:55 AM

POTO = Power Operated Turn Out (power switch)

Radium and Osterod tend to be where passing meets happen.

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 Friday, March 31, 2017 4:14 PM

Damp and chilly here in NW Ohio today.Doing chores here at home.Guessers say sun to come out tomorrow.Hope we don't get fooled.

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 Saturday, April 1, 2017 4:51 PM

No rail travel yesterday, today, or tomorrow. I did enjoy the college reunion this morning and early afternoon--seeing a few people I had not seen since they graduated 60 years ago as well as some regulars. Tomorrow, back to Charlottesville on a carrier that promises "leg room"--the promise MUST be in comparison to what you have when traveling by air.

Johnny

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Posted by JoeKoh on Saturday, April 1, 2017 6:45 PM

Sunshine finally today.Variety of power today on CSX.North Baltimore yard was quite busy as well.Csx sent 5500"Spirit of Cincinnati" on the point of a train as well.More sunshine tomorrow say the guessers.Back to work on Monday.

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, April 1, 2017 8:20 PM

Helped with the testing for a group of amateur radio operators today.  Most were upgrading from Technician to General, one was a newby testing for Technician.  Everybody passed.

A couple of the new "Generals" tried for Amateur Extra, but didn't make it.  It's actually kinda complex, with a fair amount of math.  Not many can take it "cold" and pass.   Now they've got something to work toward.

I'm an Extra myself.

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...

  • Member since
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Posted by JoeKoh on Sunday, April 2, 2017 3:17 PM

afternoon

More sunshine today.Went along the wabash today.Went to a train show and looked around.Nothing we really needed to buy.There is still one wabash signal at"Mode".Back to work 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 JoeKoh on Monday, April 3, 2017 2:44 PM

afternoon

Ns had a coal train in the siding,the local uptown and an eastbound coming into town when I left work.Chores to do here at home.Cincinnati looks dry for now they might get the ballgame in.

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 Monday, April 3, 2017 4:08 PM

From the depths of Penn Station--Acela #2166 just arrived 1:15 late, after being held in Newark 56 minutes and held in Secaucus Jct. for a few minutes. I did not understand any explanation that was broadcast.

Johnny

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Posted by Deggesty on Monday, April 3, 2017 4:18 PM

From the depths of Penn Station--Acela #2166 just arrived 1:15 late, after being held in Newark 56 minutes and held in Secaucus Jct. for a few minutes. I did not understand any explanation that was broadcast.

Out of Penn Station only 1:14 late. I asked the new conductor if the latest derailment is still giving problems, and he affirmed that this is the problem.

Johnny

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Posted by BaltACD on Tuesday, April 4, 2017 8:47 AM

Deggesty
From the depths of Penn Station--Acela #2166 just arrived 1:15 late, after being held in Newark 56 minutes and held in Secaucus Jct. for a few minutes. I did not understand any explanation that was broadcast.

Out of Penn Station only 1:14 late. I asked the new conductor if the latest derailment is still giving problems, and he affirmed that this is the problem.

This may have been your problem -

http://www.railwayage.com/index.php/safety/ny-penn-two-derailments-in-two-weeks.html?channel=60

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by JoeKoh on Tuesday, April 4, 2017 2:52 PM

afternoon

Coal train still in the siding.Ns sent a westbound stack train when I got off work.Csx had the NKP heritage unit(8100) take a stack train to North Baltimore.It will be going back to Chicago on q171.It will be trailing.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 JoeKoh on Wednesday, April 5, 2017 3:02 PM

afternoon

Ns just had some cars uptown today.The other siding and main lines were clear.Matt is on KP duty tonight for his church youth group.Need to get some things done before we go.

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 Thursday, April 6, 2017 3:35 PM

afternoon

wind howling and rain.Ns local was uptown switching 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 Thursday, April 6, 2017 4:47 PM

The wind's not howling, but it's definitely raining - .7" since 4 AM with no signs of letting up.  They're telling us up to two inches, on top of the two inches we got a couple of days ago.  Most streams are running banks-full, sometimes plus a little.

THEN - it might change over to snow...

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...

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,319 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Friday, April 7, 2017 2:41 PM

afternoon

Ns was clear when I left work.No snow as they guessers said but the ditches are full for sure.Have chores to do and errands to run.Driver will want to check out csx 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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