CShaveRRThis weekend I'll go with her on her chase...trying to find good colors for three new sweaters that she expects to need later this winter. I try to be as helpful as possibe on these trips (I am pretty good at matching or coordinating colors for her), and they usually can be accomplished with trips along the "scenic route"
Having a great mate is so rewarding. Love this Carl.
Feeling a little crazy today, but wow, what fun we had!This afternoon we dropped in at our church to deliver a sweater that Pat had made for herself, but was too large for her--but probably not for our pastor. He was delighted with the color and the fit, so it's his now.As we were talking with him and his secretary (she now wants one, too!), I heard a train horn surprisingly well. I walked out of the office to the nearest available window with a view. It was a lovely manifest freight, headed east. To go home (the original plan) we'd have to go west. But Pat, bless her heart, wasn't too far behind me and she knew immediately what was going to happen when I turned east. The train cleared Grace Street crossing before I got there, but my plan was to use the lowered gates to make my turn and go further east. We caught up to the cars in Villa Park, at which time we saw not one, but two westbound stack trains. Not good enough...we continued east to Elmhurst, where the train had just cleared West Road as we were within sight of it. I made another right and continued east, catching up to the cars again. We were able to get onto the street (Park) while the train was still there, running interference for us as we went as far east along the tracks as we could. By this time the train had stopped, probably to attend to a hand-throw switch in the yard. I turned around and headed back west, with Pat taking dictation for me as I made notes on the interesting equipment I saw. Since he was still stopped, I parked (legally) where I could and grabbed the pad and pen to go out for myself. I was taken slightly aback as the westbound scoot came in and blocked my view for a minute, but was able to stay there and get close-up information on some cars. I didn't know what was going to be on the train I saw when I left, but the trip netted me a few good sightings, including a new date for a series that had already been reported, a new series of 375 cars not yet reported in my circle of friends (built last September), and a few other sightings that warrant notes in my own files.As I said, it was a crazy idea to try and pull that one off, but the results were worth it...to me for the information gleaned and to Pat, who just loves it when I'm feeling the thrill of the chase. (There may have been times when her eyes were rolling faster than the train's wheels, but I did nothing illegal the entire trip, I promise!)This weekend I'll go with her on her chase...trying to find good colors for three new sweaters that she expects to need later this winter. I try to be as helpful as possibe on these trips (I am pretty good at matching or coordinating colors for her), and they usually can be accomplished with trips along the "scenic route" (known in other places as the UP West Line).
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)
afternoon
Major snowmelt day today.Matt was delayed 2 hrs this morning.Ns had a westbound frieght in the siding after work.Chores to do.Tomorrow is 1/2 day 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").
Heard the southbound through train in town today, as well as the local coming out after the first had cleared where they had to go. Didn't get far enough over in time to see either one, but when I swung over that way discovered that McD's was going to miss the lunch rush. Seems someone called in a bomb threat (per local news).
At least it's a nice day - temps in the high thirties and mostly sunny during my shopping trip.
Headed back into town tonight for an amateur radio meeting.
Larry 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...
Ns had cars in the siding.Also sent a westbound after work today.Ran errands in town.Chores to do here at home.
She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw
Ns sent a sand hopper train west when I got off of work.The bakers in California must be distant cousins from the Old Country.I have cousins in Ohio I haven't met yet.Did perk my curiosity like a chocolate cream mousse pie would Mookie.Chores to do here.
Chuck do have cousins that live out that way.Uncle Hank and his family lived out there.As for me no surprise I haven't met a cookie I didn't like.Ns was busy today.Crews were getting ready to wire in the new signals along the NYC main.Chores to do here.
mudchicken Into SoCal terrorizing Chuck's backyard. Promply hit In-N-Out upon arrival.
Into SoCal terrorizing Chuck's backyard. Promply hit In-N-Out upon arrival.
If the BossHen is tagging along, you may want to consider taking her to Lorna's at 3945 Governor (southest corner of Governor and Genessee, north of CA-52 and east of I-5). Good Italian food at very reasonable prices - taken my wife there for many a date. Note: Lorna's is closed Monday.
Mookie I'm not sure. I spend most of my time trying to decide what he is saying. You know, Cryptic Chicken...
I'm not sure. I spend most of my time trying to decide what he is saying. You know, Cryptic Chicken...
Mookie Chuck: he's the one that doesn't hum.....
Chuck: he's the one that doesn't hum.....
'Cause he knows the lyrics?
mudchickenInto SoCal terrorizing Chuck's backyard.
You and the darned hummingbirds!
Mookie#5 will probably stop there each way and never get to their destination!
Naaah, Uber Eats and other locals will meet #5 with all the takeout orders made via the train's Internet connection. And it will be the best of both worlds.
I vote for adapting one of those curl-up baby-bottle warmers so it goes inside a comparatively deep Thinsulated cup holder that snaps onto the RCO, and then connects to get heater power from the battery.
And I think I have seen long insulated straws too, so you can get your Tina Turner coffee with both hands doing something useful. (Or otherwise when not on duty...)
We used to have an engineer (rest his soul) who liked to "plant" his hitches. We now sometimes refer to such a coupling with his name...
Just completed our annual safety training refresher for the fire department. I set it up, so it's a bit trying. The weather held off, and all of the presenters showed up, so aside from being an exhausting project, it was good. Now I don't have to worry about it until this time next year.
I need a nap.
#5 will probably stop there each way and never get to their destination!
Hopefully, we can put you on #5 to Denver next year when In-N-Out opens their first restaurants in Colorado. They are building a commisary/distribution warehouse on the east side of Colorado Springs right now.
mudchickenPromply hit In-N-Out upon arrival.
Did you hear the collective gasp from both of us? I am so jealous I can't even write....
Having seen what a locomotive knuckle and pilot does to a hi-rail welders truck when the train got out of its limits, I'm getting concerned. BeltPacks have cup-holders? The old CTC dispatcher machines had the switches and lights mounted on vertical boards so the DS could not spill his/her coffee in there.
BaltACDThought the car welder coupling's were a alarm clock for the engineer,Wink
5 cars...4...3..far enough "wait...WHAT?!"
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
zugmann tree68 I still can't talk our mechanical folks into putting cupholders in the RS18u's and the Fs... We had an engineer that had a little tray that clamped to the top of the control stand of an EMD gp38. I've been getting a dash-9 lately, and those have cupholders. The standard cabs - I usually just try to sit it in front of the gauges. It usually vibrates off a lot, or falls if a conductor attempts to weld cars together.. hopefully I'm not offending anyone with this post.
tree68 I still can't talk our mechanical folks into putting cupholders in the RS18u's and the Fs...
We had an engineer that had a little tray that clamped to the top of the control stand of an EMD gp38. I've been getting a dash-9 lately, and those have cupholders.
The standard cabs - I usually just try to sit it in front of the gauges. It usually vibrates off a lot, or falls if a conductor attempts to weld cars together..
hopefully I'm not offending anyone with this post.
Thought the car welder coupling's were a alarm clock for the engineer,
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
tree68I still can't talk our mechanical folks into putting cupholders in the RS18u's and the Fs...
zugmannMaybe because in the former I have a place to put the cup (usually)?
I still can't talk our mechanical folks into putting cupholders in the RS18u's and the Fs...
Murphy SidingAll you need now is the T-shirt with an arrow that says "I'm with stupid".
Or this one.
East wind in force today.Mother Nature might be sending ice for tomorrow.Saw some good items on CSX and Ns today as well.Things to work on here at home.
joe
zugmann I already have a hat.
I already have a hat.
zugmann Deggesty Use a sippy cup?Laugh I'm sure some on here think I should use one regardless.
Deggesty Use a sippy cup?Laugh
I'm sure some on here think I should use one regardless.
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