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Chatterbox Summer 2017

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  • From: Flint or Grand Rapids, Mi or Elkhart, It Depends on the day
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Posted by BOB WITHORN on Thursday, August 31, 2017 6:59 AM

[quote user="Mookie"]

 

 
BaltACD

 

 
BOB WITHORN
Reminded my self why I don't like nailing down shingles. Today I can't move anything.

 

Isn't that why they invented nail guns?

 

 

 

And roofing companies....

 

 

The roofing company would charge more to show up the it was worth.  It's just a hores run-in in a pasture. Besides, it gave my daughter, the horse owner/farm owner a new appreciation for what I know how do.  Still don't like roofing, the knees, back and etc., keep reminding me that it's not something for a guy bin his 60's.

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Posted by BOB WITHORN on Thursday, August 31, 2017 6:54 AM

[quote user="BaltACD"]

 

 
BOB WITHORN
Reminded my self why I don't like nailing down shingles. Today I can't move anything.

 

Isn't that why they invented nail guns?

 

Yes.  I was using one and it was only 20 packs of shingles!  Ever notice that there aren't any old roofers or movers?  

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Posted by Mookie on Wednesday, August 30, 2017 5:05 PM

Heard from Houston Ed this morning.  All safe and sound and dry, in their home.

I will let him give any details he cares to share.  

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by JoeKoh on Wednesday, August 30, 2017 2:30 PM

afternoon

Muggy here in Nw Ohio.Matt was closed due to fog this morning.Ns had a westbound train on the main and another one coming into the siding when I left work.The local had some cars uptown too.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 Deggesty on Tuesday, August 29, 2017 8:47 PM

One summer when I was working on my college's Building and Ground Crew, I was painting the eaves of a building--standing on a scaffold board that was laid across two window jacks, about 20 feet off the ground. Once when I bent over to get more paint on my brush I looked away from the building before straightening up; without anything close at hand for reference, I had to straighten up very, very slowly. Always after, I looked at the building when bending over and straightening up. To paint the outside edge of the gutter, I would hold on to a rafter with one hand and lean out to see what I was doing. It is well that there was no such thing as OSHA back then.

Johnny

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Posted by Electroliner 1935 on Tuesday, August 29, 2017 8:13 PM

Back in the 70's, I was resposible for a large microwave system that covered Northern Illinois and extended south to Pana IL. While it was not my job, I chose to climb a 160 ft guyed tower. MW towers have to be very stable at the dish locations so that the signal beam is focused on it's distant mate. The tower had a triangle cross section made up of three four ft faces. It had a ladder on one face on the inside. So I climbed into the core of the tower and climbed up. Piece of cake. If I slip, all I'd have to do is stretch an arm or leg out and I stop. But when I got to the top, I had an experience that I will always remember. There is no reference at the top, you are up 160 ft and the ground is way below. The tower is strong, as it is designed to stay up with a half inch of ice load and survive a 125 mph wind. But I looked up and the clouds were moving. The sensation was that the tower was moving and for a moment, I grabbed the tower and thought what do I do if this thing crashes. But then, I realilzed what was happening and I was fine. It like when you are on a stopped train and one next to you starts moving, you feel like your train is moving. But I have no desire to climb any thing higher. 

Watched one of our tower crews installing a MW reflector on a coal generating station's 500' stack. They had a winch line from a truck to a pully at the top of the stack and when they were done, one of the men rode the winch line down like it was a zip line. Except he was not connected to the line, just had a pulley and gloves for control. Tower workers don't seem to have any fear. 

They look somewhat like these that are on a mountain top.

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Posted by tree68 on Tuesday, August 29, 2017 7:00 PM

BaltACD
Suspect he has a select clientale of 1 to 2 dozen stations that he performs the bulb maintenance upon.  Few families can thrive on $40K a year.  Suspect he may be doing one a week across the mid-west. 

That would be my thought as well.  Hopefully, he's putting a lot of it into a retirement account - his knees won't last forever.

When I was working, I watched the contractor put up a 200' tower for our new public safety radio system.  I wanted to climb it (there is a ladder up the middle), but never got to it.

I climbed a 200' tower while I was in the military, but it had stairs up the middle - like climbing up the stairs of a 20 story building.  No big deal (we were strapped in, though).

LarryWhistling
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Posted by BaltACD on Tuesday, August 29, 2017 6:13 PM

Just watching the videos makes my stomach queasy, with a touch of vertigo!

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by ChuckCobleigh on Tuesday, August 29, 2017 6:05 PM

tree68
That video just popped up in FB again.  He gets $20,000 per...

When I was a young lad working for a local AM station, our top bulb burned out.  The boss offered $100 to anybody at the station who would climb the 163' tower to change it.  No takers.

There were several climbers who advertised in Broadcasting magazine and one was engaged.  I'm told it didn't take him long to scurry up with and replace the bulb.  It was reported that he didn't use any safety equipment, the absence of which would probably put an OSHA operative into a coma these days...just a sort of pouch on a belt to hold the big bulb going up and coming down.  He got his money and headed to the next job about as quickly.  

Still wasn't worth $100 for me to try.

Oh, and that was long enough ago that $100 was a nice chunk of change.

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Posted by BaltACD on Tuesday, August 29, 2017 4:39 PM

tree68
 
CSSHEGEWISCH
He definitely earns it. 

That video just popped up in FB again.  He gets $20,000 per...

Suspect he has a select clientale of 1 to 2 dozen stations that he performs the bulb maintenance upon.  Few families can thrive on $40K a year.  Suspect he may be doing one a week across the mid-west. 

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by tree68 on Tuesday, August 29, 2017 4:13 PM

CSSHEGEWISCH
He definitely earns it.

That video just popped up in FB again.  He gets $20,000 per...

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 JoeKoh on Tuesday, August 29, 2017 3:40 PM

afternoon

Ns had a couple cars uptown when I left work.Didn't hear anything on Csx while running errands in Defiance.Matt's first day of school went good.Need to fill out the paperwork.

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 CSSHEGEWISCH on Tuesday, August 29, 2017 12:06 PM

tree68

There's another video around of a fellow who is climbing what appears to be a 1500' tower - probably out on the plains.  I know that a couple of the broadcast stations in OKC have towers in that range.

They don't have elevators - it's a straight 1500' climb.

Apparently he does it twice a year to change the bulb at the top (and likely others on the tower).  As I recall, his paycheck is $10k for the job.  

Just think - if he does that somewhere once a month...

 
He definitely earns it.
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 Tuesday, August 29, 2017 10:27 AM

There's another video around of a fellow who is climbing what appears to be a 1500' tower - probably out on the plains.  I know that a couple of the broadcast stations in OKC have towers in that range.

They don't have elevators - it's a straight 1500' climb.

Apparently he does it twice a year to change the bulb at the top (and likely others on the tower).  As I recall, his paycheck is $10k for the job.  

Just think - if he does that somewhere once a month...

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 diningcar on Tuesday, August 29, 2017 9:47 AM

It would cure constipation!!!

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Posted by tree68 on Tuesday, August 29, 2017 9:44 AM

BaltACD

 

 
tree68
 
BOB WITHORN
Reminded my self why I don't like nailing down shingles. Today I can't move anything. 

One of our local amateur radio operators was doing some routine checks on a repeater yesterday when he discovered a significant issue - which turned out to be the antenna at the top of the 110 foot tower...

Now that he's got the necessary parts, etc, he's got to climb the tower again to put the antenna back up...

I know I'm not going to make it to the top of a 100' tower any more.

 

 

Yeah - I'm not doing that one, either...

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 Tuesday, August 29, 2017 9:34 AM

tree68
 
BOB WITHORN
Reminded my self why I don't like nailing down shingles. Today I can't move anything. 

One of our local amateur radio operators was doing some routine checks on a repeater yesterday when he discovered a significant issue - which turned out to be the antenna at the top of the 110 foot tower...

Now that he's got the necessary parts, etc, he's got to climb the tower again to put the antenna back up...

I know I'm not going to make it to the top of a 100' tower any more.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by tree68 on Tuesday, August 29, 2017 7:34 AM

BOB WITHORN
Reminded my self why I don't like nailing down shingles. Today I can't move anything.

One of our local amateur radio operators was doing some routine checks on a repeater yesterday when he discovered a significant issue - which turned out to be the antenna at the top of the 110 foot tower...

Now that he's got the necessary parts, etc, he's got to climb the tower again to put the antenna back up...

I know I'm not going to make it to the top of a 100' tower any more.

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 Monday, August 28, 2017 9:32 PM

BOB WITHORN
Reminded my self why I don't like nailing down shingles. Today I can't move anything.

Too much laddercise?

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Posted by Mookie on Monday, August 28, 2017 6:06 PM

BaltACD

 

 
BOB WITHORN
Reminded my self why I don't like nailing down shingles. Today I can't move anything.

 

Isn't that why they invented nail guns?

 

And roofing companies....

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by BaltACD on Monday, August 28, 2017 5:51 PM

BOB WITHORN
Reminded my self why I don't like nailing down shingles. Today I can't move anything.

Isn't that why they invented nail guns?

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
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Posted by BOB WITHORN on Monday, August 28, 2017 4:46 PM
Reminded my self why I don't like nailing down shingles. Today I can't move anything.
  • Member since
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Posted by JoeKoh on Monday, August 28, 2017 2:41 PM

afternoon

Got to see the NS Veteran's unit lead a train today at break. The local was uptown working when I got off of work. Mother nature gave us a light shower today too.Still praying for those in Texas.Matt's school has an open house tonight.Tomorrow starts the school year.He has been asking nicely to borrow the truck to go to school.

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 Sunday, August 27, 2017 5:55 PM

Best wishes for BH.  

Helped with communications for a local foot race today - they run either a half marathon or 18.12 miles (War of 1812 - get it?).  There were some folks who probably shouldn't have done the half marathon, never mind the 18.12.  

My job was to trail the last runner on my mountain bike.  Fairly easy, but I still put 20 miles on the bike.  Two runners dropped out about 5 miles short of the end and I had to call for the "sag wagon" for them - not sure if any others threw in the towel.

We were able to use a ham radio tool that allowed those at the finish to track me, so I didn't have to call in reports on a regular basis - they knew where I was.

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 JoeKoh on Sunday, August 27, 2017 3:20 PM

afternoon

Hope Boss Hen heals quick.Praying for our switchman in Houston.Csx sent a couple trains by. Word is they have a 3 mile monster q 507 to take eventually down the Toledo sub.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 mudchicken on Sunday, August 27, 2017 2:14 PM

Orange cat has become a bit of a bully. The young scottie has let him have his way so far. Gato has managed not to tick off the scottie, so far. (bad news for the cat if he pushes his luck beyond jousts) Hopefully all sides behave while BossHen is healing.

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 Norm48327 on Sunday, August 27, 2017 11:09 AM

MC,

Sounds like you have a jealous cat on your hands. We had a tabby at the hangar for mouse patrol who disliked dogs so much she didn't care what size they were. If they came too close they were going to get a nose full of her claws. Nine pound tabbys rule the roost.

Norm


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Posted by mudchicken on Sunday, August 27, 2017 9:52 AM

and off her lap. Gato not happy about that at all.

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 CShaveRR on Sunday, August 27, 2017 8:26 AM

Just keep the furry ones out from underfoot, OK?

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 mudchicken on Saturday, August 26, 2017 7:32 PM

CS: Card has arrived, big smile from gimpy boss.

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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