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Chatterbox Summer 2017

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Posted by CShaveRR on Friday, September 15, 2017 9:38 PM

Probably too flattened for that.  But I'd suggest that this might be inadvisable in fire-ant or killer-bee territory.

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 zugmann on Saturday, September 16, 2017 5:19 AM

tree68

If the wheels slip, do you get cotton candy?

 

You get glazed rails.

 

And so much slippage.

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 zugmann on Saturday, September 16, 2017 5:26 AM

Zug thought of the day:

 

It's neat to see a NSSX scrap hopper with two cutlevers per side.  So no matter which side you are on, you can pop open the knuckle.

...

But neither cut lever was able to pop open the knuckle.  Twice the fail.

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 JoeKoh on Saturday, September 16, 2017 8:18 AM

good morning

Yesterday Ns had 1 each way as I left work.The eastbound frieght was pulling hard.Csx was quiet as we took mamma's vehicle for an oil change.Doing chores today.Next week is the trainshow in Fostoria.Going to get back at 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 Murphy Siding on Sunday, September 17, 2017 11:02 PM

zugmann

Zug thought of the day:

 

It's neat to see a NSSX scrap hopper with two cutlevers per side.  So no matter which side you are on, you can pop open the knuckle.

...

But neither cut lever was able to pop open the knuckle.  Twice the fail.

 

Maybe they should scrap those hoppers.  Mischief

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Sunday, September 17, 2017 11:06 PM

We drove 380 miles yesterday to attend a niece's wedding and 380 miles home today. Don't you love family time? The bride's sister has 14 month old twins that were the ring bearers- an idea that is not as good as it sounds. Great uncle did his part by holding 2 cranky, screaming twins for most of the evening. Our youngest is 19 so I'd forgoten why a lot of wild animals eat their young. I bored them both to sleep after a couple of hours. I'm now the 'twin whisperer'.

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

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Posted by tree68 on Monday, September 18, 2017 1:52 PM

Murphy Siding

We drove 380 miles yesterday...

It wasn't for a wedding, or 380 miles, but I did take a road trip today I would have preferred not to take.

Got home from working the railroad yesterday and discovered I was missing a ring of keys, which included my house key and post office box key, among others.  I have spares of both, and could have replaced the others, but still...

So, off for a four hour round trip.  Fortunately, of all the places I could have lost the key ring, it was essentially in the second place I looked, and one of the spots I had considered as a possibility.  And that was in one of the coaches, not out on the railroad.

So, now I'm home and can get to the projects I'd hoped to work on today, albeit much earlier in the day, and when it was cooler...

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
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 Randy Stahl on Monday, September 18, 2017 2:13 PM

I'll be in Warren Ohio next week buying locomotives. Anyone want to hang out and annoy some strippers ? (Shining bright lights in thier eyes usually does it)

Randy

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Posted by Mookie on Monday, September 18, 2017 3:18 PM

tree68
I was missing a ring of keys,

Oh, so much material here:  old age comes to mind; I just can't remember why.

Round trip uphill both ways.  

It was during a heat wave - snowstorm, take your pick.

Another reason to put off doing a project I really don't want to tackle.

And I can giggle - because that is what Mookies do....Clown

 

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by JoeKoh on Monday, September 18, 2017 3:26 PM

afternoon

Going to Larry's Randy??? Been known to be a good DD.We will be in Fostoria for the annual train show Saturday.Ns had a westbound and the local was uptown when I got off work.Chores to do here.Have meeting with historical society in Deshler 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 Randy Stahl on Monday, September 18, 2017 3:28 PM

Yes, going to Larry's. I assume DD means drunk and disorderly. If that the case I might just really enjoy it !!

 

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Posted by Mookie on Monday, September 18, 2017 3:34 PM

Randy!!!!     Blindfold

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by Randy Stahl on Monday, September 18, 2017 3:36 PM

Mookie

Randy!!!!     Blindfold

 

Yes, just like old times...

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Posted by CShaveRR on Monday, September 18, 2017 4:39 PM

At least Larry didn't leave his keys in the lock of a misaligned switch, as was done on the NS a few years back (can't think of the name of the city in the Carolinas [the aforementioned old age has sticken me], but if someone else does it will bring back instant recall!).

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 BaltACD on Monday, September 18, 2017 4:56 PM

CShaveRR
At least Larry didn't leave his keys in the lock of a misaligned switch, as was done on the NS a few years back (can't think of the name of the city in the Carolinas [the aforementioned old age has sticken me], but if someone else does it will bring back instant recall!).

Graniteville, SC

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by Norm48327 on Monday, September 18, 2017 6:10 PM

Carl,

You ain't old yet. When you have earned the right to say 'Get off my lawn' you are old.

An old fart said that. Wink

Norm


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Posted by Miningman on Monday, September 18, 2017 8:13 PM

I do check in on this thread here and there, from time to time, and it finally dawned on me ...it's all CODE...like the Underground resistance would receive during WWII over short wave from Britian.  

Will now attempt a response.

"John has a long moustache"

Repeat "John has a long moustache"

"The dice are on the table"

Repeat " The dice are on the table"

 

 

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Posted by CShaveRR on Monday, September 18, 2017 8:51 PM

But Norm, we do say that!

Or at least we've been known to...

Tomorrow I'm hoping to see a few noteworthy freight trains during our weekly stint as museum docents.  I took a well-deserved break today, after getting out my second report on freight car sightings in a week.  It only took a trip to dinner in LaGrange to grab enough material for a report, becoming aware of over 1000 new freight cars being built.  I saw a couple of brand-new BNSF covered hopper cars, and in looking up their series (which contains 660 cars), I found another new series from a different builder that has or will have 420 cars. 

The high point, though, was seeing three or four new double-stack well cars for the Utah Central Railway--there will be 200 of those, in UCRY series 57000-57199!  Then, in looking for more information on those, I found that UCRY is also getting 50 Auto-Max rack cars (plain white...try not to think about FEMA or shackles!), and 230 new high-roof 50-foot box cars.  As far as I know, these are all the first new equipment UCRY has owned...they also have a bunch of secondhand Center-beam flat cars.

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, September 18, 2017 9:03 PM

Miningman
...it's all CODE...

Or that joke that's making the rounds about the prison inmates who had heard all the jokes, so they numbered them.  Someone would call out "47!" and everyone would get a good chuckle.  Then a new guy called out "99!" to rip-roaring laughter.  When he asked why the huge response, he was told "we haven't heard that one before..."

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 Tuesday, September 19, 2017 6:22 AM

Uh-oh -- Caught by Mike Yuhas and 4 others of the Trains Tribe. No Wrinnie this time at Indy.

Have to behave for two more days.

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, September 19, 2017 2:27 PM

afternoon

Mother nature sent us some rain.Time to get changed and go to our meeting.

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 Tuesday, September 19, 2017 4:51 PM

I have ridden the first leg of my fall trip, arriving in Chicago about five minutes early this afternoon. I'm sorry Mookie, but I slept right through Lincoln (and Omaha).

The trip across Wyoming was uneventful, though I did see three pronghorns near Speer. I did not sight any jackalopes anywhere, though.

In Hanna, I noticed three ancient gondolas on a sidetrack--one Rio Grande and two UP; Flopsy and Mopsy were guarding the ends of the siding; I expect Cottontail was also on duty, but Peter was probably in Mr. MacGregor's garden.

As we went into Denver, I noticed that some tracks that branched off the main had flop-over derails, and others had split-rail derails on both tracks.

Carl, I will be back through a week from today, coming in on the Late Shore Limited, and leaving on the Zepher at 3:35 in the afternoon. Amtrak has not given me any times between here and Denver, but has told me that we will leave Denver at 12:35 the next afternoon, and get me home at 3:35 Wednesday morning. I have no idea as to what time I will go through Lincoln.

Johnny

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Posted by CShaveRR on Tuesday, September 19, 2017 11:45 PM

Johnny, our typical Tuesday these days has us docenting at the Peck House Museum all afternoon, so it's unlikely that we'd be able to get in for you this trip.  Sad

This afternoon we were there, and I got a little bit of work done.  But I also, for the first time in quite a while, made a tally of the trains going through.  Things were rather routine, right up until the end of the day at 4:00 p.m.:

1305--Track 3, an eastbound scoot.
1325--Track 3, a westbound scoot.
1330--Track 2, an eastbound stack train...long, and pulled by only one unit!
1345--Track 3, a westbound intermodal train.
1400--Track 3, a westbound stack train...four units.
1405--Track 1, an eastbound scoot.
1424--Track 3, a westbound scoot.
1430--Track 2, a westbound WPSX train of empty hoppers and gons--two units on the point, one DP on the hind end.
1436--Track 3, a westbound intermodal train, 3 units.
1450--Track 2, a westbound stack train, 3 units.
1514--Track 1, an eastbound scoot, moving slowly (it was later announced that the train was delayed by "track construction").
1524--Track 3, a westbound scoot.
1550--a westbound manifest, Track 2.
1605--Track 1 to 3, an eastbound scoot.
1607--Track 1 to 2, a westbound frac-sand train, two units on the point and two DP units on the hind end. This train crept up while the manifest was headed west, but had to wait for the scoot to cross over in front of him.

 

So this was 15 trains total, in roughly three hours. Of course I was disappointed that there weren't more, but one train every 12 minutes or so is not too shabby!

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 Wednesday, September 20, 2017 2:23 PM

afternoon

Summerlike here in Nw Ohio.Matt was closed today due to fog.Matt had a surprise visit from former neighbors.They couldn't stay too long.Ns local was uptown when I left work.Off to mow 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 Randy Stahl on Wednesday, September 20, 2017 3:49 PM

I bought 4 C40-8 engines today. Interestingly enough the last engine I looked at was coupled to the MM&A 5018... creepy...

 

I spent many nights on 5018 running on the Moosehead sub

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Posted by Mookie on Wednesday, September 20, 2017 4:50 PM

Randy - can you give us a mfg date on any of those engines and what one used engine price range would be?

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by tree68 on Wednesday, September 20, 2017 5:09 PM

Mookie has some space in her back yard..... Devil

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 Randy Stahl on Wednesday, September 20, 2017 5:11 PM

Built in 1988.

 

The average price for a locomotive of this type is 205,000.00.

I want to go home now, I don't travel well anymore..

 

Randy

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Posted by Mookie on Wednesday, September 20, 2017 6:08 PM

tree68

Mookie has some space in her back yard..... Devil

 

I have $50.00 left over in the household $ - wonder what size locomotives I could buy...Hmm

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by Randy Stahl on Wednesday, September 20, 2017 8:39 PM

Wrong forum. check the MR forum next door...

 

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