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Chatterbox Fall 2017

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Posted by JoeKoh on Wednesday, September 27, 2017 2:37 PM

afternoon

Ns was clear when I left work.Going to meet nephew and pick up our shirts.He complained that he had to drive to the north side of Van Wert.I told him to enjoy the traffic lights.

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 Wednesday, September 27, 2017 7:53 PM

More bad news for Denver RTD. The State PUC just put the kabosch on opening the commuter rail lines for normal operation. The professional railroaders questioned the toy train transit people over what they were trying to do at grade crossings and that getting FRA approval on un-proven (in the US) technology would be an uphill fight. Looks like the old head railroaders were right.

http://www.denverpost.com/2017/09/27/state-rejects-commuter-rail-safety-plan/  ... on the other hand, I think we are seeing the second coming of the old crossing watchmen. (the shanties for the crossing flagmen will be coming next?)

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 ChuckCobleigh on Wednesday, September 27, 2017 10:12 PM

mudchicken
. on the other hand, I think we are seeing the second coming of the old crossing watchmen. (the shanties for the crossing flagmen will be coming next?)

Loved the picture and the old-style sign, which reminded me of the old riddle: "Railroad crossing, look out for the cars, I can spell 'that' without any Rs.  Can you?"

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Posted by Deggesty on Thursday, September 28, 2017 8:01 AM

CShaveRR

I'm glad you could keep cool, Johnny!  I had to venture out a couple of times today at the museum (I found something pressing to do across the street when a log manifest came past!), and pretty well baked.

Today was the seventh day of record-breaking--got up to 92 here, when the old record was 90.  Tomorrow promises to be closer to the normal highs in the lower 70s.

Johnny, what have you been avoiding on these routes that make you late?  I know we can do it on the regular routes, but we usually don't get advance notice like that!  Wink

 

Carl, if you had read Newswire, you would have seen some information on the route  dance that the UP had for the CZ (trackwork on the route through the Rockies). As it was, the only information I received from Amtrak was that I would leave Chicago 1:35 later, and arrive here 3:30 later. As it was, we left on the adjusted time, and arrived in Denver at 8:53 yesterday morning. My advance Newswire information indicated that we would leave Denver at 12:35; we left at 12:53. I did not note how long we waited at Gore for #6, and I went to bed before we reached Glenwood Springs. We arrive here at 4:30 this morning instead of at 3:35. 

As well as I could tell from piles of concrete ties along the way, the work was west of Gore.

Johnny

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Posted by Deggesty on Thursday, September 28, 2017 8:03 AM

Oh, yes, there was snow here last week; Katie said that the temperature was in the forties. It's 52 right now.

Johnny

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Posted by JoeKoh on Thursday, September 28, 2017 6:36 PM

evening

Ns had a westbound coal train in the siding when I left work.I ran errands in town and a CSX had an eastbound coming into Defiance.Also took care of yardwork when I got home.The guy that mowed our park area left a strap in our yard.Told the head maintenence guy about it.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, September 28, 2017 8:10 PM

Had a good day on the railroad.  I was simply serving as instructor to an experience engineer who needs to qualify on our railroad.  He's got a couple of rough spots, and isn't used to our "hills," but he did very well.

He even got to run the locomotive he donated to us.  On the down side - it blew a fuel line just before we got back into the station...

LarryWhistling
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Posted by JoeKoh on Friday, September 29, 2017 2:37 PM

afternoon

Ns still had a coal train in the siding when I left work.Looked like an eastbound was going by when I left.Have deliveries to make.

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 Saturday, September 30, 2017 10:17 AM

good morning

Was able to get over to Fc and watch for a bit.The ND&W brought 15 cars from Ns and sent out 10 back to NS and 5 to CSX.Csx sent 2 trains by.Track inspector also put a speed restriction on track 2.Need to get ready to go to G+G's house.

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, September 30, 2017 7:05 PM

Wheeeee!  All sorts of testing done today.  I just love being management...

LarryWhistling
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Posted by JoeKoh on Sunday, October 1, 2017 11:19 AM

afternoon

Csx was working at west Defiance again today.Track boss and dispatcher were getting along better.Matt is off to event with church group.

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 Monday, October 2, 2017 7:25 AM

Tornadic twisty thingies out east on the prairie, snow in the high country (I-70 shut down because of multiple collisions & spinouts) plus rain and wind here. Fall in the rockies.Don't like the weather? - It'll change every few minutes.

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 Monday, October 2, 2017 11:15 AM

I think I have recovered from my last trip now--#5 arrived here at 4:29 Thursday morning (Amtrak had promised 3:35), which I think was doing well, considering that we stopped at Gore a long, long, time to wait for #6. I went to bed jsut before we reached Glenwood Springs, and woke a little before we reached Provo.

While I was in Utica, I received an email note from my college telling me that a celebration in honor of my history professor's ninetieth birthday is planned for two weeks from today--and so I will have an unexpected trip, passing through Lincoln in room H in car 0632 Friday morning week, and coming back through in room H in car 0532 the following Thursday morning. (I'll have bedrooms between Chicago and Bedlam-on-the-Potomac.)

Sad to say, I still have to travel by Dog between Charlottesville and Bristol--next spring I plan to get to Roanoke in civilized comfort before having to ride the Dog.

We are having fall weather now--rain yesterday, and about 30 degrees this morning.

Johnny

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Posted by Norm48327 on Monday, October 2, 2017 11:45 AM

mudchicken

Tornadic twisty thingies out east on the prairie, snow in the high country (I-70 shut down because of multiple collisions & spinouts) plus rain and wind here. Fall in the rockies.Don't like the weather? - It'll change every few minutes.

MC,

Colorado is not the only place that has that problem. It's pervasive in the northern climes.

That seems to be the story every year with the onset of inclement weather. People  get used to the dry roads of summer and forget all they ever learned about driving on snow or ice slickened roads. It seems to be a common failing of motorists.

Norm


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Posted by mudchicken on Monday, October 2, 2017 1:45 PM

It's the flying cars and sliding cars all in the same place that's fun. The population that's been here a while will adjust while the recently added hordes from California and Texan won't know how to deal with it. (Joe's "ditchfinders" are increasing rapidly)

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 Monday, October 2, 2017 2:33 PM

afternoon

Ns was clear when I left work.Co-worker is stuck in Las Vegas due to the increasing levels of stupidity of our land.She is ok but she wants to get back here to NW ohio ASAP.Got picture from frind on CSX.He got to be a conductor pilot on the Sperry trolley over by Cumberland.He is over there requalifying for that line too.Guessers say rain later this week.Hopefully is is done by Saturday.People want to visit the corn city.

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 Monday, October 2, 2017 6:26 PM

Top of the Wye = Wye Tail = Stem = __________________?

OK - All you railroaders (and well travelled others) ....Don't know if this is a another disertation on what Cabeese are also known as, but the track connected to the two legs of the wye is or can be called what? We just had a federal lawyer call it a "base track" (never, ever heard that one before)...any other names in common use out there? 

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 Monday, October 2, 2017 7:58 PM

mudchicken

Top of the Wye = Wye Tail = Stem = __________________?

OK - All you railroaders (and well travelled others) ....Don't know if this is a another disertation on what Cabeese are also known as, but the track connected to the two legs of the wye is or can be called what? We just had a federal lawyer call it a "base track" (never, ever heard that one before)...any other names in common use out there? 

 

I never heard any part of the wye in Reform, Alabama, given a particular name; it belonged to the GM&O (and I never saw the GM&O use it), and the AT&N used it to turn the engine (and any cars that had to go south). The operation was simply "turning the engine on the wye"--which was so simple that I could do it. The only instruction I had was when I first did it and the engineer started to tell me what each control was --until he saw that I knew what each was.

Johnny

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Posted by JoeKoh on Tuesday, October 3, 2017 2:31 PM

Hmm good question..

Ns was clear when I left work.Little warmer today.Co-worker was back at work today.Gave hug and said welcome back.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 tree68 on Tuesday, October 3, 2017 10:13 PM

Day two of 2,500 bales of hay on fire...

LarryWhistling
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Posted by Mookie on Wednesday, October 4, 2017 5:55 AM

tree68
Day two of 2,500 bales of hay on fire...

wow!  Do they know how it started?  

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by BOB WITHORN on Wednesday, October 4, 2017 6:31 AM
Sounds like someone baled a little too soon. Mookie, SPONTANIOUS COMBUSTION is often the cause of hay catching on fire. When baled, hay will generate heat in its center from mold? growing in the moisture. If it is too 'wet' when baled you get too much mold and thus too much heat. Not unusual for the inside of the bales in hit 150+ deg. Problem comes either someone exposes the bale to oxygen or just the heat just rises too far, POOF, it burns and it is a real POOF. Hay needs to be baled at 12 % to 18 % moisture content, higher and you risk a fire. Used to do it by touch and feel, now use a electronic sensor. Larry, am I close???
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Posted by BOB WITHORN on Wednesday, October 4, 2017 6:37 AM
Hay BALT, Took the corvette out for some exercise on saturday. Five 20 minute sessions on Grattan Raceway, NE of Grand Rapids, Mi. Two mile road course, 11 turns - 5 off camber - 3 flat - a blind apex hairpin- etc. Probably gonna need new fronts to match the formerly new rears.
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Posted by tree68 on Wednesday, October 4, 2017 6:40 AM

Mookie

 

 
tree68
Day two of 2,500 bales of hay on fire...

 

wow!  Do they know how it started?  

Electrical.  Used to be the heifer barn.

LarryWhistling
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Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
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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 Wednesday, October 4, 2017 8:00 AM

BOB WITHORN
Hay BALT, Took the corvette out for some exercise on saturday. Five 20 minute sessions on Grattan Raceway, NE of Grand Rapids, Mi. Two mile road course, 11 turns - 5 off camber - 3 flat - a blind apex hairpin- etc. Probably gonna need new fronts to match the formerly new rears.

Congrats!  I have never been to Grattan, but my club conducts serveral events there every year.  Tires and brakes get used up on track days.  Years ago, I was a Instructor at a BMW Club day at Summit Point - found it amazing that most drivers, upon seeing triple digits on the speedo would start feather footing the throttle instead of pushing the car the 100 yards or so to the brakeing point.  

While you were there I was at Indianapolis Motor Speeday participating in the SCCA National Championship's - a very busy road course - unfortunately my engine quit operating after 4 laps in the race - I believe the issue to be electrical by haven't begun searching for the problem yet.

Looking at the results from our National Championships, Classes T1 & T2 contain 'minimally modified' Corvettes (the classes were once known as 'Showroom Stock') T1's were doing 150-155 through the speed trap on the front straight, T2's were through the trap at 140-145.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by ChuckCobleigh on Wednesday, October 4, 2017 8:17 AM

tree68

Day two of 2,500 bales of hay on fire...

Only thing worse than a hay fire is a used hay fire!

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Posted by Mookie on Wednesday, October 4, 2017 9:07 AM

ChuckCobleigh
used hay fire

lttle slow this morning.  Had to read it twice....

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by Deggesty on Wednesday, October 4, 2017 10:35 AM

It's not just baled hay that can burst into flame; unbaled hay can do the same if it is not dry, Back in the summer of 1968, one the the matters presented at a 4H camp was the matter of good ventilation in the hay loft, especially by providing an exhaust fan up there. I had the impression that the topic was primarily about unbaled hay.Still, you wanrt to bew sure that the hay is well cured before baling/storing it.

Last night, I received a note from Amtrak telling me that (no reason given) #6 will leave here next Thursday at 5:00 in the morning and not 3:30, and arrive in Chicago at 4:57 the next afternoon (no intermediate times given and no explanation given). I checked on the intermediate times, and the train is due in Lincoln at 5:27 Friday morning.

Johnny

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Posted by ChuckCobleigh on Wednesday, October 4, 2017 10:55 AM

Deggesty
Last night, I received a note from Amtrak telling me that (no reason given) #6 will leave here next Thursday at 5:00 in the morning and not 3:30, and arrive in Chicago at 4:57 the next afternoon (no intermediate times given and no explanation given). I checked on the intermediate times, and the train is due in Lincoln at 5:27 Friday morning.

Maybe has something to do with why #6 shows near Rock Springs (not Rock Ridge) Wyoming on the "Track a Train" map right now?  Last night, #5 was showing near Evanston WY late in the evening.

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Posted by Deggesty on Wednesday, October 4, 2017 11:11 AM

I don't know, Chuck. On 8/28, there was an item in Newswire about the detours caused by trackwork in Colorado (I think it was west of Gore)--and the detours were to end on 9 October--and I am leaving here on the 12th. As of now, there is no new Newswire story concerning any work. I cannot see any advantage when it comes to avoiding trackwork in operating an hour and a half later.

 

Johnny

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