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Chatterbox Spring 2017

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Posted by JoeKoh on Sunday, May 14, 2017 9:04 AM

Morning

Happy Mothers Day to all the mom's out there.Friend was early out of Garrett with a q 166. Saw a couple other stack trains.Saw produce trains both ways while in town too.Need to give more hugs this week.Just the way things go at times.

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, May 15, 2017 2:30 PM

afternoon

Ns had an eastbound and the local uptown when I left work.Nice sunshine 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 tree68 on Monday, May 15, 2017 7:00 PM

I was out with neighboring fire departments placing sandbags last night.  Despite observations of those who have been watching it closely who said the lake was down, we still did a lot of wading over normally dry ground to place those sandbags.

There have been several groups filling the sandbags.  Those of us filling them manually (using cut-off traffic cones) find that three heaping spades full is about right.  We've got some Air Guard troops filling them with a machine now - they tend to overfill them.  Then there was a group that we figure was only putting two spades full in each. 

As we passed them hand-to-hand, it was easy to figure out which was which...

We easily placed 1500 sandbags last night - and I'd estimate that over 20,000 have been filled in the past week or so.  With no relief in sight.

LarryWhistling
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Posted by Norm48327 on Monday, May 15, 2017 8:43 PM

Larry,

Being a native Michigander you know we have water to spare and are willing to send it downriver. If the "river" I live near (basically nothing more than a creek by western standards) floods, Michigan is in deep doo-doo.

Norm


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Posted by tree68 on Tuesday, May 16, 2017 7:02 AM

Norm48327

Larry,

Being a native Michigander you know we have water to spare and are willing to send it downriver. If the "river" I live near (basically nothing more than a creek by western standards) floods, Michigan is in deep doo-doo.

That'd probably be either the Huron or the Clinton.  The Huron is barely a stream until one gets down below Kent Park (but at one time provided considerable water power for mills, and even electricity).  I don't think I ever saw it get out of hand.

LarryWhistling
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Posted by BOB WITHORN on Tuesday, May 16, 2017 8:25 AM
Getting ready to bale hay in the next couple weeks. The last time I did that was 1967 when I was 15 years old. Funny how life goes in circles. Never figured on going back to a farm after I escaped all those years ago. Shoot, there's even a dog now, (last one was in 1972), go figure.
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Posted by JoeKoh on Tuesday, May 16, 2017 2:36 PM

afternoon

Ns was clear when I left work.Most farmers around here make round bales now.Don't have the help to stack the square ones.Need to go give hugs.Other chores after that.

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, May 16, 2017 4:14 PM

JoeKoh
Don't have the help to stack the square ones.

Some farmers are using square bales here - the extra large economy size.  No stacking them by hand, either.  

The big square bales tend to be stacked in the field - sometimes 6 high - usually with a tarp over them to at least keep some rain out of them.  The round bales are often wrapped, either individually (marshmallows) or in a line (big white worms).

A lot of the hay grown here heads down to PA for use in mushroom farms (old mines).

LarryWhistling
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Posted by BOB WITHORN on Wednesday, May 17, 2017 2:01 PM

[quote user="tree68"]

 

 
JoeKoh
Don't have the help to stack the square ones.

 

Some farmers are using square bales here - the extra large economy size.  No stacking them by hand, either.  

The big square bales tend to be stacked in the field - sometimes 6 high - usually with a tarp over them to at least keep some rain out of them.  The round bales are often wrapped, either individually (marshmallows) or in a line (big white worms).

A lot of the hay grown here heads down to PA for use in mushroom farms (old mines).

 

Those large square bales can get a bit heavy  -  1500 - 2000 pounds. The large round ones 800 - 1200 pounds.  The old regular square ones, 40 - 60 lbs. You can put 25 smalls in one jumbo.

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Posted by JoeKoh on Wednesday, May 17, 2017 2:26 PM

afternoon

Ns had a coal train to go east in the siding.Wind from the south is warming things up.Need to go to town for errands.

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 Norm48327 on Wednesday, May 17, 2017 2:27 PM

Bob,

Not trying to be contrary but in Shiawassee County I've seen lots of round bales under white covers. Gotta keep the rain out as they can spontaneously combust under the right conditions. Drive up to Elsie and look over the large dairy farm there.

Norm


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Posted by BOB WITHORN on Wednesday, May 17, 2017 4:33 PM

Norm,

Dairy farms can typically store out side covered up, cows are not as finicky on what they eat.  For horses they need a higher nutritional value so stables will store indoors. I grew up with milk cows, pigs and sheep. Cows, if it's green they're happy - sheep are to dumb to know and pigs, they eat anything. Used to get day old bread from the old Schaefers bakery in downtown Detroit, now part of I-75, including donut rejects in 55 gal drums. Pigs have a sweet tooth!!!

 

When we baled, there was only the standard 16" x 18" x 36" bale, none of the jumbos or rounds. Baled about 100 acres at around 65 bales or so per acre in the 1960's. Guess who got to stack the wagons. Man, I was in great shape by the end of the summer.

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Posted by Deggesty on Wednesday, May 17, 2017 4:51 PM

Sixty-five years ago, I would occasionally sell a bale of hay where I worked. If you needed new shoes (and nails) for your horse or mule, a new point for your plow, a sack of Portland cement, a peck of cornmeal, a pack of cigarettes, a cut or plug of tobacco, canned goods, dried beans, overalls, school notebook paper, a sack  (100 pounds) of flour, a sack of cow feed, yard goods for your wife, and so on, I could help you.

Johnny

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Posted by BOB WITHORN on Thursday, May 18, 2017 6:08 AM

[quote user="Deggesty"]

Sixty-five years ago, I would occasionally sell a bale of hay where I worked. If you needed new shoes (and nails) for your horse or mule, a new point for your plow, a sack of Portland cement, a peck of cornmeal, a pack of cigarettes, a cut or plug of tobacco, canned goods, dried beans, overalls, school notebook paper, a sack  (100 pounds) of flour, a sack of cow feed, yard goods for your wife, and so on, I could help you.

 

Johnny,

 

A General Store, I miss those. Sears came close but not the same. In the 50's into the 60's my grandmother, (farm boss), would take us to one to get jeans, T shirts, socks, leather boots and gloves and pick up cat food, dog food, baling twine, maybe a pitch fork and thermos. I think it was in Armada, Mi. Oh, by the way, it's ArmAda, long a not short like the Nisson truck thing.

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Thursday, May 18, 2017 7:13 AM

BOB WITHORN

 

 

When we baled, there was only the standard 16" x 18" x 36" bale, none of the jumbos or rounds. Baled about 100 acres at around 65 bales or so per acre in the 1960's. Guess who got to stack the wagons. Man, I was in great shape by the end of the summer.

 

I remember those days from high school. I was one of the guys on the ground walking alongside the hay trailer. You'd pick up each bale, bounce it on your knee and throw it up on the trailer bed about chest high. Guys on the trailer would then stack it up there. It was also hand unloaded from the trailer into the old barn and restacked again. With all the sweat and the dust, your clothes could stand up on their own when you took them off. I was skinny as a rail and I got paid $10 a day, plus the farmer's wife fed us lunch and supper.

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Posted by tree68 on Thursday, May 18, 2017 10:39 AM

Murphy Siding
I got paid $10 a day,

We got a buck an hour - other farmers paid a penny a bale.  I was actually on vacation - the $19 I made seemed like gold.

Sometimes we loaded directly off the baler - easy.  Other times we had to load off the ground.  Trying to get a bale up 4 layers high on the wagon was a chore.

Unloaded to an elevator - I never had the "opportunity" to work in the mow.  Thank goodness...

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, May 18, 2017 12:01 PM

[quote user="tree68"]

 

 
Murphy Siding
I got paid $10 a day,

 

We got a buck an hour - other farmers paid a penny a bale.  I was actually on vacation - the $19 I made seemed like gold.

Sometimes we loaded directly off the baler - easy.  Other times we had to load off the ground.  Trying to get a bale up 4 layers high on the wagon was a chore.

Unloaded to an elevator - I never had the "opportunity" to work in the mow.  Thank goodness...

 

Tree, you missed so much not going up there. We NORMALLY baled directly to the wagon and I was ok until the wagon was just about full. It took all I had to hook the last few bales off the baler and lift them up, stack them under myself, repeat until loaded. Really a challange when we turned just as a bale was ready to come off, dead lift a 50 lb bale straight up with one arm!!  When we finished the field, I got the pleasure of going up in the mow to catch the bales 'thrown' up from the conveyor by the hired hands so I could stack them all over again.   I was also the one that got to cut the field then rake it over twice before we ever started baling.  Darn hard work but very fond memories of the farm in Romeo, Mi.

 

 

ADD on:   My brother and I got $25.00/week, for 12 hours/day and 7 days/week. Do not understand how he got the same, all he did was help unload the wagons onto the conveyor.  Grandma's favorite, and I'm the middle child I guess.

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Posted by JoeKoh on Thursday, May 18, 2017 4:12 PM

evening

Coal train still in the siding.Local was uptown moving cars again.Came home and mowed the swamp.Felt a few sprinkles but the rain for now is to our south.Glad tomorrow is Friday.Saturday Matt and I are going to help nephew put finishing touches on his property.First great niece graduates high school this year.Where does the time 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 Mookie on Thursday, May 18, 2017 4:36 PM

Saw Hunt train - a few containers w/explosive marked on side.  What might this be?

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Thursday, May 18, 2017 4:40 PM

[quote user="BOB WITHORN"]

tree68

 

 
Murphy Siding
I got paid $10 a day,

 

We got a buck an hour - other farmers paid a penny a bale.  I was actually on vacation - the $19 I made seemed like gold.

Sometimes we loaded directly off the baler - easy.  Other times we had to load off the ground.  Trying to get a bale up 4 layers high on the wagon was a chore.

Unloaded to an elevator - I never had the "opportunity" to work in the mow.  Thank goodness...

 

Tree, you missed so much not going up there. We NORMALLY baled directly to the wagon and I was ok until the wagon was just about full. It took all I had to hook the last few bales off the baler and lift them up, stack them under myself, repeat until loaded. Really a challange when we turned just as a bale was ready to come off, dead lift a 50 lb bale straight up with one arm!!  When we finished the field, I got the pleasure of going up in the mow to catch the bales 'thrown' up from the conveyor by the hired hands so I could stack them all over again.   I was also the one that got to cut the field then rake it over twice before we ever started baling.  Darn hard work but very fond memories of the farm in Romeo, Mi.

 

 

ADD on:   My brother and I got $25.00/week, for 12 hours/day and 7 days/week. Do not understand how he got the same, all he did was help unload the wagons onto the conveyor.  Grandma's favorite, and I'm the middle child I guess.

 

We also had the thrill of being in western South Dakota that has rattlesnakes. We'd usually disturb a couple of rattlers every time we baled hay. The farmer was a tough guy. All you had to do was yell “snake!” He’d stop the tractor, grab his shovel and kill the rattler. Oddly, the man scared to death of mice.

 

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Thursday, May 18, 2017 4:41 PM

Mookie

Saw Hunt train - a few containers w/explosive marked on side.  What might this be?

 

Baked beans? Dinner Fireworks?

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Posted by Mookie on Thursday, May 18, 2017 5:52 PM

Murphy Siding
Baked beans? Fireworks?

phones, notebooks, wife?

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by Norm48327 on Thursday, May 18, 2017 6:07 PM

[quote user="Mookie"]

Saw Hunt train - a few containers w/explosive marked on side.  What might this be?

 [quote]
 
Given the Fourth of July is not too far in the future fireworks may be a good guess.

Norm


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Posted by BaltACD on Thursday, May 18, 2017 8:54 PM

Mookie
Saw Hunt train - a few containers w/explosive marked on side.  What might this be?

Cruise Missles headed to the ports to replensih the Navy's supply that was launched against Syria?

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Posted by Mookie on Thursday, May 18, 2017 9:19 PM

BaltACD
Cruise Missles headed to the ports to replensih the Navy's supply that was launched against Syria?

I was really thinking like Norm; can't wrap my mind around missles racing thru the middle of Nebraska heading to the west coast behind canned peaches...

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Posted by mudchicken on Thursday, May 18, 2017 9:29 PM

Think about pheasant season in the fall or Wyoming getting ready to invade Nebrasky (get the ammo consession for both sides)

 

 

 

 

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 Thursday, May 18, 2017 9:37 PM

Explosives can fall into any of six classes:

1.1  Explosives with a mass explosion hazard

1.2  Explosives with a projection hazard

1.3  Explosives with predominantly a fire hazard

1.4  Explosives with no significant blast hazard

1.5  Very insensitive explosives with a mass explosion hazard

1.6  Extremely insensitive articles

All use an orange "explosives" placard.  The number is what makes the difference.

LarryWhistling
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Posted by mudchicken on Thursday, May 18, 2017 9:54 PM

....carefull, the cat is gonna make me 1.6 placcard the Frod Exploder every time I get into Nebrasky.Confused

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 BaltACD on Thursday, May 18, 2017 9:59 PM

Mookie
BaltACD

I was really thinking like Norm; can't wrap my mind around missles racing thru the middle of Nebraska heading to the west coast behind canned peaches...

No matter if you can wrap your mind around it - there are large quantities of military ordinence that move by rail on a routine basis for a variety of military reasons.

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Posted by switch7frg on Thursday, May 18, 2017 10:06 PM

Big SmileBob do you remember those not so strenious days of cutting silagewith a tractor and blown into a side discharge gravity (v) shape buggy and hauled to the silo to theconvayer to fill the silo. The corn was still green and wet .That silage kept the livestock warm in the winter when fed to them.~~~~~ One other benefit was a gallon jug with a cob stuck in the neck to filter the juice as the silage   above was squeesed into the jug. The jugs were placed at levals by the silo doors.   From June toDecember  the juice fermented, it wasn't till Feb . the first  jug was "harvested" .   Somehow, the cold did not seem so bad as we watched  the train head for Circleville as we sipped the squeez. There seems to be something about a distant steamers whistle on a cold winter night. Days long gone by  as well for the Y6bs doublehead coal drag to Columbus.

Y6bs evergreen in my mind

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