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Chatterbox Winter 2017-2018

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Posted by zugmann on Saturday, February 10, 2018 1:49 PM

Deggesty
Use a sippy cup?Laugh

 

I'm sure some on here think I should use one regardless.

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

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Posted by Deggesty on Saturday, February 10, 2018 1:45 PM

zugmann

 

 
Deggesty
Of course, it's a lot easier to drink coffee when the container is handy. But when you have to wait until the engine comes by....

 

And it's a remote engine.  Those aren't exactly smooth.  My coffee would be all over the back bulkhead.

 

Use a sippy cup?Laugh

Johnny

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Posted by zugmann on Saturday, February 10, 2018 1:31 PM

Deggesty
Of course, it's a lot easier to drink coffee when the container is handy. But when you have to wait until the engine comes by....

And it's a remote engine.  Those aren't exactly smooth.  My coffee would be all over the back bulkhead.

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

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Posted by Deggesty on Saturday, February 10, 2018 1:24 PM

zugmann

So I ordered a box of coffee.  But the UPS trailer was delayed so it got pushed back a day or two.  Lousy trains - delaying my coffee.

 

Then I got to thinking of the infamous coffee thread we had.  Even something as innocent as that was completely derailed (pardon the pun).  I have to roll my eyes at this site from time to time.  Then I thought some more - and I drink more coffee when I'm set up as an engineer than when I am on the ground slinging cars in the yard with a RCO box.  Maybe because in the former I have a place to put the cup (usually)?

 

Of course, it's a lot easier to drink coffee when the container is handy. But when you have to wait until the engine comes by.... 

Johnny

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Posted by zugmann on Saturday, February 10, 2018 1:17 PM

So I ordered a box of coffee.  But the UPS trailer was delayed so it got pushed back a day or two.  Lousy trains - delaying my coffee.

 

Then I got to thinking of the infamous coffee thread we had.  Even something as innocent as that was completely derailed (pardon the pun).  I have to roll my eyes at this site from time to time.  Then I thought some more - and I drink more coffee when I'm set up as an engineer than when I am on the ground slinging cars in the yard with a RCO box.  Maybe because in the former I have a place to put the cup (usually)?

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

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Posted by Mookie on Friday, February 9, 2018 9:36 PM

I have very fond memories of OK vs NE (Switzer vs Osborne)  That was a great football era.  Would raise the interest of even the most disinterested observer.  Maybe we can go back to that just a little with our new coach and his supporters.  Beware Lincoln on game days!

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by BaltACD on Friday, February 9, 2018 8:40 PM

jeffhergert
 
Mookie

Jeff - we have a new AD and President along with Coach Frost.  All are just what Nebraska has been looking for since Coach Osborne.  Finally someone got it right.  Give us a couple of years - maybe not even that long.  I think sanity has finally returned to the state - and then look out Iowa! 

I just remember that game a few years ago where Iowa had a good lead.  However, Iowa being Iowa and only able to play about half a game, let Nebraska come back and beat them.  After the game Nebraska fired the coach, who had (IIRC) a so-so record.  When someone asked why they were firing him after the come back against Iowa, the AD (or whomever) said, "Yeah, but we were playing Iowa."  Along the lines that they should never have been down at any point in the game.

Now in Iowa in that same situation, the coach probably would've gotten a raise.  Heck, even though he lost he probably got a raise.  UofI foot ball coach=highest paid state employee.

Jeff 

If either was in the SEC they would be fired again! and again! and again!

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by jeffhergert on Friday, February 9, 2018 8:36 PM

Mookie

Jeff - we have a new AD and President along with Coach Frost.  All are just what Nebraska has been looking for since Coach Osborne.  Finally someone got it right.  Give us a couple of years - maybe not even that long.  I think sanity has finally returned to the state - and then look out Iowa!

 

I just remember that game a few years ago where Iowa had a good lead.  However, Iowa being Iowa and only able to play about half a game, let Nebraska come back and beat them.  After the game Nebraska fired the coach, who had (IIRC) a so-so record.  When someone asked why they were firing him after the come back against Iowa, the AD (or whomever) said, "Yeah, but we were playing Iowa."  Along the lines that they should never have been down at any point in the game.

Now in Iowa in that same situation, the coach probably would've gotten a raise.  Heck, even though he lost he probably got a raise.  UofI foot ball coach=highest paid state employee.

Jeff 

Jeff 

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Posted by Miningman on Friday, February 9, 2018 6:23 PM

Wanswheel and Agent Kid--- Thanks for the Curling shout outs.

Curling and Mining go hand in hand, every single Mining community has a curling rink. Been at it since 1970, was skip or vice in great places such as the (old) Granite Club in Toronto and in Burlington, played in a hundred different rinks all over the land and in many Bonspiels. Up here where I am now, 5 years ago, we went undefeated, never lost a single game all season. Love getting into disputes over the rules and making a big fuss, so much fun. Get the icemaster out with the rule book and get the other team all discombobulated. Like using my old corn broom too, makes a mess and screws 'em up. Inevitably after a bad 'pik' the opposing teams rock will take a sudden 90deg turn and pffft. 

Then they start hootin and hollerin that my broom is illegal, because these newer clowns have never seen a cornbroom, all they have are those new high tech gizmos. Then the rule book comes out and the rinkmaster rules in my favour....and tells 'em in no uncertain terms it's up to them to insure the sheet is cleaned by them when they are up. Works best if the guy has a thick Scottish accent and crazy thick eyebrows. Now I got 'em because they are off concentration and are mad at me. Another victory. 

Course, it's a bit costly because the rules also state the winning team buys a round. 

I'm a hard guy...."Hard!...Hard!..Haaaaaarrrrd! Haaaaaaaarrrrrrd!

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Posted by JoeKoh on Friday, February 9, 2018 4:22 PM

evening

Well mother nature is done for now.2 more rounds to come.Matt was closed today.Going to see if we can get down to Lima tomorrow.Tomorrow night Iowa plays in Columbus.Free rail cam at Fostoria on you tube this weekend.

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, February 9, 2018 3:53 PM

AgentKid
Miningman
Curling 

It's -5ºF after the secomd of two blizzards this week.

As long time readers here know, I am a serious Curling fan who had to give up playing several seasons ago after a shoulder/upper arm injury sidelined me.

To add a little RR content. The first community investment almost all Canadian settlements in Western Canada made after their founding was a Curling Rink. These rinks needed Curling Stones, 16 per sheet. These were shipped out from Central Canadian dealers by train. The bean counters from the original western lines CPR, CNoR, and GTP loved this, because they were essentialy shipping rocks at Express rates!

Over 90% of all the Curling Stones ever made in the world continue to exist. As many of the original towns ceased to exist and the rinks abandoned, these same dealers that sold them originaly bought them back and resold them again. As curling became popular in the USA, many of these stones ended up in both large and small US city clubs. It can be both interesting and emotional to flip these stones over, and see the names of the original clubs from long gone Canadian settlements.

On a more personal note, my Dad claimed the most physical 20 minutes of work he ever did on the CPR was caused by Curling Stones. He was only two weeks on the job in June 1948, as a relief agent at either Olds or Innisfail, on the Calgary-Edmonton line, he couldn't remember which. Men with two weeks service didn't tell dispatchers that they were going to have to scrap a plan and reissue orders.

There were two passenger trains, one an all stops local that was about to stop at his station, a first class passenger train, a through freight, and a wayfreight, that were all set to pass each other at Dad's station and the siding north of his. What the Dispatcher didn't know, and Dad didn't know, and the crews of the first class passenger and the two freight trains didn't know, but the crew of the all stops local did know, was they were about to unload Curling Stones coming back from Calgary after being refurbished. Four sheets worth.

Curling stones weigh 44 pounds each and are shipped two at a time in wooden boxes called frames. The local Cruling Rink had four sheets, which meant there were 32 88+ lbs. boxes. The objective was to get these boxes off the train, and get the train out of town, so Dad could OS it before the Dispatcher called him to find out what the **** was going on. Dad, the baggageman, several of the trainmen, and the conductor assisted with the unloading, all the while dreading the Dispatchers phone starting to ring in the office. Dad called to OS the train before the Dispatcher called him. He said he fortunately never had another experince like it.

Bruce

In a similar vein, I worked the Midnight Operators position at Salem, IL.  Salem was a regular passenger and mail stop for the Metropolitan Special (Trains 11 & 12).  I would show up to work at 10:30 PM and immediately look in the freight room to see what Mail the Post Office had dropped off and then to read the tags and separate it to go East on #12 or West on #11.  #12 was scheduled to arrive at approximately 11:40 PM.  Normally there were only 15-20 sacks to sort and it was no big deal to get the baggage cart loaded and in position for #12's arrival. 

However, there was some monthly hunting magazine that was published, printed and distributed through the Salem Post Office.  When the magazine was distributed I would come in at 10:30 PM and find several hundred 'slugs' of the hunting magazine ready to be sorted (slugs are small postal bags that are used for printed materials and are supposed to be weight limited to 70 pounds).  Needless to say, when it was hunting magazine night I had work my .ss off to get the slugs sorted and loaded on the baggage cart for #12 and then with the help of the Mail Clerks on #12's RPO get the slugs loaded on board for their further handling.  More slugs went East on #12 than went West on #11.  Nothing was finer than to sort slugs on a hot July night in Southern Illinois.Devil  Number 11 insured that there wasn't a 'early quit' as the train's scheduled arrival time was about 06:10 AM - and it was frequently a little late.  

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by AgentKid on Friday, February 9, 2018 1:48 PM

Miningman
Curling

It's -5ºF after the secomd of two blizzards this week.

As long time readers here know, I am a serious Curling fan who had to give up playing several seasons ago after a shoulder/upper arm injury sidelined me.

To add a little RR content. The first community investment almost all Canadian settlements in Western Canada made after their founding was a Curling Rink. These rinks needed Curling Stones, 16 per sheet. These were shipped out from Central Canadian dealers by train. The bean counters from the original western lines CPR, CNoR, and GTP loved this, because they were essentialy shipping rocks at Express rates!

Over 90% of all the Curling Stones ever made in the world continue to exist. As many of the original towns ceased to exist and the rinks abandoned, these same dealers that sold them originaly bought them back and resold them again. As curling became popular in the USA, many of these stones ended up in both large and small US city clubs. It can be both interesting and emotional to flip these stones over, and see the names of the original clubs from long gone Canadian settlements.

On a more personal note, my Dad claimed the most physical 20 minutes of work he ever did on the CPR was caused by Curling Stones. He was only two weeks on the job in June 1948, as a relief agent at either Olds or Innisfail, on the Calgary-Edmonton line, he couldn't remember which. Men with two weeks service didn't tell dispatchers that they were going to have to scrap a plan and reissue orders.

There were two passenger trains, one an all stops local that was about to stop at his station, a first class passenger train, a through freight, and a wayfreight, that were all set to pass each other at Dad's station and the siding north of his. What the Dispatcher didn't know, and Dad didn't know, and the crews of the first class passenger and the two freight trains didn't know, but the crew of the all stops local did know, was they were about to unload Curling Stones coming back from Calgary after being refurbished. Four sheets worth.

Curling stones weigh 44 pounds each and are shipped two at a time in wooden boxes called frames. The local Cruling Rink had four sheets, which meant there were 32 88+ lbs. boxes. The objective was to get these boxes off the train, and get the train out of town, so Dad could OS it before the Dispatcher called him to find out what the **** was going on. Dad, the baggageman, several of the trainmen, and the conductor assisted with the unloading, all the while dreading the Dispatchers phone starting to ring in the office. Dad called to OS the train before the Dispatcher called him. He said he fortunately never had another experince like it.

Bruce

 

So shovel the coal, let this rattler roll.

"A Train is a Place Going Somewhere"  CP Rail Public Timetable

"O. S. Irricana"

. . . __ . ______

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Posted by mudchicken on Thursday, February 8, 2018 10:28 PM

They still have to deal with the tree-nuts and big snarling ground rhodentsMischief

Hoping to see the ferocious tree-sloths and tree-nuts encounter each other in March Madness....and the tree-nuts sent packing.

It's beginning to look like this may be a really long year. Just got off the phone with the seventh reported case of the locals screwing up and expropriating railroad R/W without the railroad's knowledge or consent. A certain Cls. 1 in Colorado is apparently now the owner of a three bedroom house at the end of an abandoned line they still own the underlying title to. Huh?Huh?Huh? In this case, a county GIS tech and assessor need a trip out behind the woodshed followed by a drive-by slapping of a title company and a real estate agent...Super Angry

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 Mookie on Thursday, February 8, 2018 10:17 PM

Jeff - we have a new AD and President along with Coach Frost.  All are just what Nebraska has been looking for since Coach Osborne.  Finally someone got it right.  Give us a couple of years - maybe not even that long.  I think sanity has finally returned to the state - and then look out Iowa!

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by jeffhergert on Thursday, February 8, 2018 5:53 PM

Mookie

They're selling spring game football tix here in Nebraska.  I am so excited about the new coaching change!  We are going to kick some ball in the next few years!  Go Huskers!  

Wonder if they will play spring ball in snowdrifts....

 

If I was a Nebraska football coach, I'd be afraid of playing Iowa.  Win or lose, Nebraska still seems to fire their coach after the game.Laugh

Jeff 

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Posted by tree68 on Thursday, February 8, 2018 5:40 PM

Paul of Covington
That's gotta be downright painful.   I don't know how Canadians survive.

Surely you jest!  We have people around here who bide their time all summer so they can do outdoor sports during the winter!  

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 Miningman on Thursday, February 8, 2018 5:32 PM

Paul of Covington-- "That's gotta be downright painful.   I don't know how Canadians survive."

Curling, Timmies, Hockey, Poutine, Remote Start, Fireplaces, Honey Bunny to curl up with at home, Increase in "indoor activities" besides the Forum and Model Railroading 

.....oh, and Snow Machine poker runs are da bomb!

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Posted by JoeKoh on Thursday, February 8, 2018 2:38 PM

afternoon

Went with plan "D" for co worker. Weather a factor.Might get 1-100 inches of snow tomorrow.She is going to do mail starting on Monday.Ns had a westbound stack train,cars in the siding and the local was uptown too.Going to check the latest update for totals.

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 Paul of Covington on Thursday, February 8, 2018 1:53 PM

tree68
-12F this morning, but it's sunny.

   That's gotta be downright painful.   I don't know how Canadians survive.

_____________ 

  "A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner

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Posted by Mookie on Thursday, February 8, 2018 1:15 PM

They're selling spring game football tix here in Nebraska.  I am so excited about the new coaching change!  We are going to kick some ball in the next few years!  Go Huskers!  

Wonder if they will play spring ball in snowdrifts....

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by mudchicken on Thursday, February 8, 2018 10:57 AM

63 degrees here and we're still looking for winter.

BOB WITHORN
I'm done. I want spring!!
 

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 CSSHEGEWISCH on Thursday, February 8, 2018 10:00 AM

BOB WITHORN

I'm done. I want spring!!

 
Pitchers and catchers report next week.  Spring is coming.
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 Thursday, February 8, 2018 8:28 AM

-12F this morning, but it's sunny.

Lake effect snow in the forecast, but not until later this afternoon.  Time for a trip to town.

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 BOB WITHORN on Thursday, February 8, 2018 7:29 AM
I'm done. I want spring!!
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Posted by Mookie on Wednesday, February 7, 2018 6:08 PM

JoeKoh
Might just watch from home

 Thumbs Up

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by tree68 on Wednesday, February 7, 2018 3:38 PM

It continues to snow here, although it might let up soon.  All the schools around here closed because of the forecast.

I'll headed out in an hour and a half to take another measurement of the snow.

Getting stuff ready for the training session I am cooridinating on Sunday.  I'm also doing two of the presentations and have a bunch of handouts to prepare.

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 Wednesday, February 7, 2018 2:42 PM

afternoon

Local was uptown when I left work.We are under a winter storm watch for Thursday night/into Friday.Weekend weather doesn't look too well either.Might just watch from 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 CSSHEGEWISCH on Wednesday, February 7, 2018 7:18 AM

My ride to work today was delayed because Metra remembers how to serve its customers.  The trip was running on the opposite track due to a freight train tying up the track just outside of Landers.  This has happened in the past and is no big deal in and of itself since riders get enough advance notice to safely cross over to the other platform.  However, at Ashburn, said freight train blocked passengers from crossing to the other platform.  My train was held until the freight cleared the platform to allow passengers to cross over to board their train.

Wonder what EHH would have thought of thisWhistling

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 blue streak 1 on Tuesday, February 6, 2018 10:54 PM

Electroliner 1935

Has Denver figured out how to make grade crossing signals operate reliably? Other systems seem to be able to do it routinely. Why can't Denver. Hope the contract has penalties for whomever is responsible. Los Angeles seems to get it done. 

 

 
Quick answer---NO !  This is an example of politicians writing a law without know what they were doing.  Listening to IT geeks who  believe their own hype is dangerous.  Plus geeks do not understand what is really hapening on almost any project.  So far the PTC mandate applied to crossing signals is not feasible.  FRA has not been any help either.  It appears that maybe the GPS cannot updated precisely enough and / or fast enough to operate the crossing signals within specs.
 
MC might jump in here but maybe only a differential GPS broadcast and / or high resolution GPS equipment will get the signals to operate properly.  Cannot imagine requiring this type crossing signal activations in the boonies,  Could easily double or triple present estimated PTC costs.  Talk about putting all your eggs in one basket.
 
MC question.  Does the "A" & "G" lines have as back up a regular CTC ABS lineside signal system ?  Or cab signals not connected to PTC ?   MAS ?

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