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Chatterbox Fall 2017

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Posted by BaltACD on Thursday, October 26, 2017 9:27 PM

Wikipedia

A final nail in Reddy’s coffin was the general fall from grace of fictional and animated characters as corporate spokespersons. Modern corporations have tended to favour abstract logos and wordmarks and celebrity endorsers to represent their brands.[24]

In 1979, 140 American utility companies continued to license the Reddy Kilowatt trademark from RCI.[9] By the late 90s, only “a handful” of licensees remained worldwide[25] including Oklahoma Gas & ElectricKenya Power and Lighting Company and the Southeast Queensland Electricity Board. Deborah Dunagan, Chief Operating Officer of RCI, now based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, insisted that Reddy was still a “natural communicator for the information age.”[26]

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by ChuckCobleigh on Friday, October 27, 2017 1:56 AM

I'd have to guess that Reddy is sitting around the old toons home with Speedy Alka-Seltzer and Bucky Beaver reminiscing about the old days.

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Posted by BOB WITHORN on Friday, October 27, 2017 6:55 AM
MURPHY, (Engineers have a very recognizable perspective on things that I can relate to.) Absolutely!! Son is a Mech. Eng. w/ Chassis dynamics specialty and his wife is a Electrical Eng. both at the same company designing all wheel drive systems. Makes for some interesting conversations. I get it, but most just look and find something else to do. Engineering is a fantastic way to make a living in my opinion. That's why I'm a sales guy??? Oops, guess I should have stayed in college instead of going to work for dad.
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Posted by BOB WITHORN on Friday, October 27, 2017 7:02 AM
Balt, If you get a chance, go to youtube and SCOOBY921. My son put up his videos of track time at GRATAN Raceway in his Porsche Cayman GTS.
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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Friday, October 27, 2017 7:16 AM

Carl will vouch for this, we didn't have Reddy Kilowatt but we did have Little Bill.  He was Commonwealth Edison's spokesbird and looked like an inverted light bulb (threads pointing up).

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Posted by MikeF90 on Friday, October 27, 2017 3:19 PM

BaltACD
Wikipedia: A final nail in Reddy’s coffin was the general fall from grace of fictional and animated characters as corporate spokespersons. Modern corporations have tended to favour abstract logos and wordmarks and celebrity endorsers to represent their brands.

Yah, celebrity endorsers can still bite you in the corporate rear after a well publicized 'misbehavior'. In this ultra-PC world, fictional/animated characters are retired lest they offend some micro-demographic. Angry

In the 'failure at the worst possible time dept', during the ~100 degree height of our recent heat wave my only working room fan just died.  As somewhat expected, most local brick & mortar stores were completely empty of them and (I predict) will be for 18 months to please the JIT inventory gods. Fortunately I found the one SoCal store that had a few.

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Posted by JoeKoh on Friday, October 27, 2017 6:50 PM

evening

Ns had a westbound train in the siding when I left work.Took our gift cards from our anniversary and went to supper.The ND&W had a healthy cut of cars coming back into Defiance.We took the long way back home along rt 2.We looked at NS' yard in Swanton.They had a coal train each way parked in the yard.The westbound had 4 BNSF pumpkins on it.Going to be cold and rainy tomorrow.We are having crockpot chili here at home.Going to watch the ballgame.

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 BaltACD on Friday, October 27, 2017 8:00 PM

BOB WITHORN
Balt, If you get a chance, go to youtube and SCOOBY921. My son put up his videos of track time at GRATAN Raceway in his Porsche Cayman GTS.

Nice video editing software - comparative lap times and the best lap 'bug' are interesting.  With Revs & Shifts showing the data must, in part, be sourced from the OBD2 port.

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Posted by JoeKoh on Saturday, October 28, 2017 11:10 AM

afternoon

Well the ND&W was playing catch up today.The de-rail project at Fc is done.They brought 2 trains into town.They took 1 train back west with about 25 cars.Sounded like they were getting ready to take another west.Mother nature sent us some snizzle so I came home.Csx sent a few trains as well.Csx also has MOW in the siding at FC.Going to get warmed 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 JoeKoh on Sunday, October 29, 2017 12:09 PM

afternoon

CSX tie gang has arrived in Defiance.They are working on track 2.Trains are going by on track 1.Still cool and damp out.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 Norm48327 on Sunday, October 29, 2017 12:27 PM

Joe,

A few years ago I watched and photographed a tie gang in action. It is like a well choreographed balet. Each operator does his job so the next guy has everything in place. It was both entertaining and educational to watch.

Norm


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Posted by BaltACD on Sunday, October 29, 2017 12:50 PM

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by tree68 on Sunday, October 29, 2017 1:58 PM

I know I've posted this before, but my one take-away from watching a C&O tie gang in Milford in the early sixties was how they took the old ties out.

Two big saws cut the ties into thirds.  The two arms pushed out the outer portions, while another device picked up the middle part and kicked it out.  Every now and then I'll see old ties along a ROW that exhibit that.

I also remember them dumping some ballast by chaining open the hopper door and throwing a tie in front of the rear truck as they pushed the car along...

LarryWhistling
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Posted by blue streak 1 on Sunday, October 29, 2017 8:37 PM

Often wondered if that magnet would mess up any part of signal   systems 

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Posted by Paul of Covington on Sunday, October 29, 2017 9:06 PM

tree68
Two big saws cut the ties into thirds. The two arms pushed out the outer portions, while another device picked up the middle part and kicked it out. Every now and then I'll see old ties along a ROW that exhibit that.

   Could it be that this method was used where there wasn't enough clearance to simply pull the whole tie out to one side?   It seems like doing it the hard way to me.

   (edit:)   It just occurred to me that they would still have to get the new tie in in one piece, so lack of clearance wouldn't have been the issue.   Never mind.

_____________ 

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Posted by tree68 on Sunday, October 29, 2017 9:18 PM

blue streak 1

Often wondered if that magnet would mess up any part of signal   systems 

I would opine not as it applies to block occupancy and crossing protection.  Those both function via a shunt (cars and locomotives) between the rails.  

Even inductive systems (for cab signals) would not be affected.

If there's some sort of track mounted transducer, maybe, but I'm sure that would be considered.

LarryWhistling
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Posted by tree68 on Monday, October 30, 2017 3:32 AM

Scanner busy with pump details, so thought I'd ought to check my basement.  Went to the fire station to grab a pump - 4" of water in the basement.  Haven't had that happen in years, like since last time we got a lot of rain in very short order.  Storm total right now is over 3", and it's not letting up soon...

LarryWhistling
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Posted by CShaveRR on Monday, October 30, 2017 12:31 PM

tree68
I also remember them dumping some ballast by chaining open the hopper door and throwing a tie in front of the rear truck as they pushed the car along...

I, too, remember that.  The tie was actually chained to the body of the car so it could be pulled along just ahead of the rear truck (and not get caught underneath the wheels).  Once they opened the hopper doors it wasn't easy to control the flow of the ballast from an ordinary hopper car.  But when I saw this being done it was on a new spur, with no ballast originally under the ties.  So after the car was emptied, it was a matter of jacking and tamping, and what initially looked like too much ballast turned out to be just about right.

Carl

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Posted by JoeKoh on Monday, October 30, 2017 2:34 PM

afternoon

Ns had a train in the siding.They also had empties to pick up uptown.Mother nature looks like it might snow.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 blue streak 1 on Monday, October 30, 2017 2:38 PM

Snow in north Georgia.   Even just an October dusting caught many unprepared.  probably some bumper car amusement rides ? 31 degrees south of ATL with  heavy frost and some freezing.

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Posted by JoeKoh on Tuesday, October 31, 2017 2:50 PM

afternoon

Ns had an eastbound empty coke hopper train.Also the locals empties were out as I left work as well.Saw a rear ender fender bender as well on the way home.No one was hurt.They were waiting for the police to come and fill out the reports.Guys truck bumper didn't look bad.The car behind had more plastic on the road.Guy at work told me about bad ties at NS.Seems their supplier didn't give them enough treatment.Wonder how many ties will need replaced.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 Tuesday, October 31, 2017 5:12 PM

SoapBox NO Bang Head NO Grumpy NO - we are not ready for snow!  

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Posted by tree68 on Tuesday, October 31, 2017 5:23 PM

Mookie
NO NO NO - we are not ready for snow!  

Clearly the drivers on the Interstate here weren't either - and it didn't actually snow.  Just sleet and rain.  Quite a few of them still managed to find ditches and guardrails...

It was a good, old lake effect band.  Sun at my house...

LarryWhistling
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Posted by Mookie on Tuesday, October 31, 2017 6:53 PM

We were forecast 0% chance of moisture and got a wide swath of big snowflakes for about an hour.  Nothing stuck; was pretty.  Still....

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Tuesday, October 31, 2017 11:07 PM

   Just about the quietest Halloween ever, about 60 kids. Must be the 36 degree temperature. Kids these days! We would have just dressed up as eskimos and kept running to keep warm. Anybody want a Kit Kat bar?

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Posted by Miningman on Tuesday, October 31, 2017 11:58 PM

I had 79, down from last years 124. Heavy snowfall over last 2 days and -12C temperature, felt bad for the urchins but they got through!

Never forget one kid, dressed in white robes and green leaf laurel around his head....I said "Oh look it's Socrates"....he answered with some disdain..."No I am Plato"

Well, excussssee me!

 

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Posted by tree68 on Wednesday, November 1, 2017 6:57 AM

Murphy Siding
Anybody want a Kit Kat bar?

How about a Krackle or Mr. Goodbar?  I'll keep the Special Dark for myself...

Discovered it was after dark and I hadn't turned the porch light on yet, which may have diminished my numbers slightly - had all of five.  I have a few other places I can unload some of the extra candy.

LarryWhistling
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Come ride the rails with me!
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Posted by Murphy Siding on Wednesday, November 1, 2017 7:15 AM

Miningman

I had 79, down from last years 124. Heavy snowfall over last 2 days and -12C temperature, felt bad for the urchins but they got through!

Never forget one kid, dressed in white robes and green leaf laurel around his head....I said "Oh look it's Socrates"....he answered with some disdain..."No I am Plato"

Well, excussssee me!

 

 

I would have guessed John Belushi.

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Wednesday, November 1, 2017 7:16 AM

tree68
 
Murphy Siding
Anybody want a Kit Kat bar?

 

How about a Krackle or Mr. Goodbar?  I'll keep the Special Dark for myself...

Discovered it was after dark and I hadn't turned the porch light on yet, which may have diminished my numbers slightly - had all of five.  I have a few other places I can unload some of the extra candy.

 

You could unload some of it at my house. Dinner I'll pass on the dark chocolate.

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

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Posted by samfp1943 on Wednesday, November 1, 2017 7:54 AM

Murphy Siding

 

 
tree68
 
Murphy Siding
Anybody want a Kit Kat bar?

 

How about a Krackle or Mr. Goodbar?  I'll keep the Special Dark for myself...

Discovered it was after dark and I hadn't turned the porch light on yet, which may have diminished my numbers slightly - had all of five.  I have a few other places I can unload some of the extra candy.

 

 

 

You could unload some of it at my house. Dinner I'll pass on the dark chocolate.

 

 

BOY! The times they are a changin'! Bow  Halloween Night, and the temp was about 32 deg. The little, crumsnatching, thugletts were out early, escorted of course by groups of adults (watchful, but standing back. Hmm  ]

   Had our last goblin about 1930, wind was kicking up, and apparently the 'escorts' had retreated to their vehicular warmth.  The wife had laid in a pretty good supply of packaged candy (WAAAY, too much!GrumpyMischief  ) 

    So now what? I cannot eat that stuff, and the 'grands' are generally, are already 'over sugared' anyway...Dinner... Maybe will fill Christmas stockings???Smile, Wink & Grin I guess Warren had given as many off as possible to be with their kids on Halloween. Only traffic last night was a couple of long, JBH stackers, and they were not letting any 'grass' grow under them[ gave that high speed switch, a work out!  Even the usual 'early train' has not come through'.. Happy October 1st, To ALL !   Whistling

 

 

 

 


 

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