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Chatterbox Fall 2017

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Posted by rvos1979 on Sunday, October 22, 2017 8:04 PM

Norm48327

Hey Joe,

When I get out of the metro area I get to see the Deere working the fields harvesting beans, wheat or corn. It's an introduction to fall and winter weather for sure. It's the time of year we have to adjust to mother nature's whims.

Stay as warm and dry as nature will let you and I will try to do the same.

The trick is avoiding the deer till I get to farm country. Our county is loaded with opportunities to hit them. So far I have been lucky in avoiding them.

A guy near Topeka, KS, wasn't as lucky in avoiding the Deere, after the dust settled, the combine was upside down in the riverbed.  Sad thing was that it was another farmer's grain semi that hit the combine.  I have the pictures on my Facebook page for those who are on it...........

Camping out next to the CP main line in Winona, MN, tonight, unload at Fastenal in the morning, then to Lakeville MN for a load to Louisiana...........

Randy Vos

"Ever have one of those days where you couldn't hit the ground with your hat??" - Waylon Jennings

"May the Lord take a liking to you and blow you up, real good" - SCTV

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Posted by erikem on Monday, October 23, 2017 12:36 AM

CShaveRR

We have the "s" word in our forecast for a week from tomorrow.  It will be the sloppy stuff, with a high in the mid-40s.

High temp at work (Poway) Monday is supposed to hit 100F, wouldn't mind a few inches of the "s" stuff o the roof to cool things down a bit. Good news is that forecast for the winds call for gusts on the order of 25MPH which should help keep the fire danger down a bit (remember 2003 and 2007 all too well).

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Posted by mudchicken on Monday, October 23, 2017 7:35 AM

Volunteering Saturday was an adventure with a gaggle of Cub Scouts at the railroad museum. Trying to expose them to what engineers (non-hoggers) do. (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, etc.)- now with that done, maybe we can work on the parentsSigh and a generation of clueless buttonpushers.

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 Monday, October 23, 2017 7:42 AM

mudchicken
Volunteering Saturday was an adventure with a gaggle of Cub Scouts at the railroad museum.

This past weekend was the Boy Scout "Jamboree on the Air" on amateur radio.  I didn't work any of the Scout stations, but heard one or two where hams were letting the scouts get on the air.  It's amazing how tongue-tied the youngsters can get when you put a microphone in front of them...

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date
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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 Norm48327 on Monday, October 23, 2017 12:53 PM

mudchicken

Volunteering Saturday was an adventure with a gaggle of Cub Scouts at the railroad museum. Trying to expose them to what engineers (non-hoggers) do. (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, etc.)- now with that done, maybe we can work on the parentsSigh and a generation of clueless buttonpushers.

MC,

Given the age of your audience I'd venture your every word was wasted breath. I's likely most of them were too young to understand and their parents didn't give a rat's as log as a train didn't cause them a brief delay. Wink

Thanks to an aviation forum I know a now retired signal engineer who worked out of Argentine. He was mildly surprised a middle aged railfan could understand his explanations.

Norm


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Posted by JoeKoh on Monday, October 23, 2017 2:37 PM

evening

Rain here in Nw Ohio.The local was uptown for Ns.Chores to do.As for now our young lad here at home wants to be the engineer on bridge projects and such.Will try to keep him on that path.

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 MikeF90 on Monday, October 23, 2017 3:19 PM

erikem
High temp at work (Poway) Monday is supposed to hit 100F, wouldn't mind a few inches of the "s" stuff o the roof to cool things down a bit. Good news is that forecast for the winds call for gusts on the order of 25MPH which should help keep the fire danger down a bit (remember 2003 and 2007 all too well).

Up the Interstate here near LAX airport the temp just hit 100 degrees F (!!Devil), extremely unusual for this area and time of year. Alien Humidity is just 7%. Apparently no Santa Ana winds to wreak havoc in the brushy zones. Going to put off my yard work for a few days and check out the seldom needed but reliable air conditioning at Denny's.

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Monday, October 23, 2017 3:30 PM

CShaveRR

We have the "s" word in our forecast for a week from tomorrow.  It will be the sloppy stuff, with a high in the mid-40s.

 

You guys are going to get some of that Sunshine too? Whistling

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

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Posted by Norm48327 on Monday, October 23, 2017 4:41 PM

Norris,

You live in the upper US and should be accustomed to local weather. Chilly today, hot tamale fits the best weather description of SD and MI. Don't like today's weather? Stick around; tomorrows will be worse.

We've had two mild winters and we're wondering what Mother Nature will send us in another month or so.

 

Norm


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Posted by tree68 on Monday, October 23, 2017 6:19 PM

Norm48327
Chilly today, hot tamale fits the best weather description of SD and MI. Don't like today's weather? Stick around; tomorrows will be worse.

Not much different in Northern NY.

One visitor to the Punkin Patch (an adult female) was wearing a lined jacket, mid-calf boots, and cut-off jeans in the "Daisy Duke" range...

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 CShaveRR on Monday, October 23, 2017 8:01 PM

Norris, I only wish the "s" stood for sunshine...instead, it's a four-letter word that I would prefer not to print out.

Our long-term forecast for this winter says that it will be about average.  To me, "average" in the past few years has been "unusual."  So there you go...we'll take it as it comes.  I'm wondering whether our leaf-sweeper can take care of light, fluffy stuff if needed.

We got another inch of rain overnight, and have had occasional showers since, with more promised tonight and a high tomorrow only in the 40s.  I've been wiped out by a cold since Saturday, and have had no urge to get out.  The gray weather and the departure of our dear old car haven't helped with the gloominess.  

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 blue streak 1 on Monday, October 23, 2017 11:15 PM

2-1/2 inches of rain here in 30 minutes.  Put Irma to shame.  Some clean up once basement dries out.

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Tuesday, October 24, 2017 7:02 AM

Got a fair amount of rain out our way, too.  Fortunately, the Oak Lawn station has large eaves so I can stay relatively dry until about a minute before train time.

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, October 24, 2017 7:14 AM

Raining cats and dogs here (according to my weather station).  Rain rates have been up over an inch an hour, which sets off an alarm on the console.

The temperature dropped a solid ten degrees in no time about 5 AM.  Very unusual to see +70F at oh-dark-thirty at the end of October here...  Down to +59F now.

Gotta take the fire department computer in for a look by someone smarter than me on those things - it's not working and will either get fixed (if it's easy/cheap) or replaced.  If it's replaced, I get to reload all the appropriate software...

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 Tuesday, October 24, 2017 3:15 PM

afternoon

Damp and chilly today in Nw Ohio.Ns had a stack train go west.Local has cars uptown.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 switch7frg on Tuesday, October 24, 2017 5:56 PM

Joe your young  lad has made a good choice for  his future. On another note does trains still run into and out of Dayton  east and north? We used to live in Dayton in the last century until 1969.  Have not been there since and heard the city is almost a shadow of its former self, is that so??

 

                                                Respectfully, Cannonball

Y6bs evergreen in my mind

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Posted by JoeKoh on Wednesday, October 25, 2017 3:15 PM

afternoon

Local was uptown when I got off work.We have a frost/maybe freeze for tonight.Cannonball yes Csx still runs on the Toledo sub through Dayton.NS has the Dayton district.They come together just south of Miamisburg Ohio near the old DP&L plant.Last I knew there locals from Moraine yard(NS) and Needmore rd(CSX).Have not ventured into the city limits to look around.The construction on I-75 seems to be done for now.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 Mookie on Wednesday, October 25, 2017 4:22 PM

JoeKoh
Needmore rd(CSX).

  A good, practical name!

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Wednesday, October 25, 2017 9:56 PM

JoeKoh

evening

Rain here in Nw Ohio.The local was uptown for Ns.Chores to do.As for now our young lad here at home wants to be the engineer on bridge projects and such.Will try to keep him on that path.

stay safe

Joe

 

I went to college to be an architectural draftsman. For whatever reason, that prepared me to be a very succesful lumber salesman. I now manage the lumber yard. If I had to do my life over again, I'd think I'd be a structural engineer. Something about that is very appealing to me. Engineers have a very recognizable perspective on things that I can relate to. I'd be designing those bridges as well.

      If I could offer any advice to your son, or to any young person like our 2 sons in college, that would be to try and find someone in your dream job and ask if you can shadow them for a week and ask questions...... If anyone wants to shadow a lumber yard guy for a week, look me up.

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

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Posted by ChuckCobleigh on Wednesday, October 25, 2017 10:29 PM

Mookie

 

 
JoeKoh
Needmore rd(CSX).

  A good, practical name!

And about a block or two east of the yard on Needmore Rd. is Dayton Tool Crib...wonderful place which made me wish I wasn't flying into town to play with radios on the air base.  A good thing, though, as it limited what I could pack back to SD.

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Posted by BOB WITHORN on Thursday, October 26, 2017 6:26 AM

[quote user="switch7frg"]

Joe your young  lad has made a good choice for  his future. On another note does trains still run into and out of Dayton  east and north? We used to live in Dayton in the last century until 1969.  Have not been there since and heard the city is almost a shadow of its former self, is that so??

 

                                                Respectfully, Cannonball

 

Cannonball,

 

Spent several days in downtown Dayton about a month ago at the 380th Bomb Group reunion looking down at the East/West line through town. Quite supprised by the number of trains, both CSX & NS.  They are doing a pretty good job of bringing the area back. 

 

Bob

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Posted by switch7frg on Thursday, October 26, 2017 11:04 AM

Smile Joe, thank you for the return post. As I recall there is still  two land marks still  there , the 4 stacks of DP&L and the Carrolon bell tower . All these are in south Dayton just north of Miamisburg. Am now returning from "memory lane"                

                           Respectfully, Cannonball

Y6bs evergreen in my mind

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Posted by switch7frg on Thursday, October 26, 2017 11:32 AM

Yes Bob, glad you had a great time at "Wright Pat". This what the place was designed for. Dayton sure has a lot of history on avaition. It all started at the old "Macook Field air station in the 1900s.                                                                                          Respectfully, Cannonball

Y6bs evergreen in my mind

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Posted by JoeKoh on Thursday, October 26, 2017 4:19 PM

afternoon

Errands done.Chores done.Ns Local was going around it's empty cars when I left work.Going to get cleaned up.

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 Electroliner 1935 on Thursday, October 26, 2017 5:20 PM

switch7frg
As I recall there is still  two land marks still  there , the 4 stacks of DP&L and the Carrolon bell tower

I remember the DP&L plant but my memory is that it is gone replaced by gas peaker units. Carillon bell tower is still there. Aee https://www.google.com/maps/place/Dayton,+OH/@39.7270946,-84.2102236,273m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x884080d5aedd1403:0xa640e392f20e4ce4!8m2!3d39.7589478!4d-84.1916069

About a mile North of the power plant is a junction (between S Edward C. Moses Blvd & W. Washington St under I-75) where the former lines of the PRR (from Indianapolis, the B&O (from Cincinnati) and the NYC (from Cincinnati) came together to enter Dayton Union Station.

The former PRR track now is just an industrial spur that ends at an industrial plant (Stratacache) about 6 miles west of the junction. Used to be a main line w/cab signals and the St Louis-New Youk fleet. Back in the fifties, I rode all three routes.

 

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Posted by mudchicken on Thursday, October 26, 2017 7:44 PM

(My memories are centered around the old Redi Kilowatt sign at the DP&L Power Plant and Memorial Hall downtown.)

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, October 26, 2017 8:21 PM

mudchicken
(My memories are centered around the old Redi Kilowatt sign at the DP&L Power Plant and Memorial Hall downtown.)

Poor old Redi Kilowatt, we don't see or hear much from him anymore.  There used to be a animated Redi Kilowatt visible when entering Akron, OH from the North on the RT 8 Expressway.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by Deggesty on Thursday, October 26, 2017 8:28 PM

Yes, I grew up with Reddy Kilowatt in South Carolina. At the time, I thought he was a Duke Power Company (the supplier of power to my home town) thing--and when I lived in west central Alabama, I discovered that the Alabama Power Company also used him. I do not recall seeing him at all since moving out here 43 years ago.

Johnny

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Posted by CShaveRR on Thursday, October 26, 2017 8:41 PM

Reddy (as he is spelled by Google) was used by hundreds of power companies worldwide, and I remember seeing him in Grand Rapids (that'd almost have to be Consumers Power).  He was brought to life in a lightning storm in 1928, and might still be in power somewhere.  I do remember him being on the sides of some utility-owned coal cars, but not in the last 50 years or so.  He was the star of some promotional cartoons, voiced by none other than Walter Tetley, who had a number of radio roles and also was the voice of Mr. Peabody's companion Sherman.

Nicest day in the past week, and I'm recovering from the cold that's been my closest companion since Saturday (can't blame Pat for keeping her distance sometimes!).  I'm hoping to be able to get up and do things tomorrow, but alas, it's going to be another cold one.

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 Thursday, October 26, 2017 8:57 PM

Detroit Edison also used Reddy Kilowatt - I suspect he was more of an industry trademark than any individual power company.

No health fallout from the weekend in the Pumpkin Patch - I don't think I picked up any ticks, and the weather was almost too warm, although the heater did get used in my shelter both mornings, as there was frost on the pumpkin, as they say.

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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