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Chatterbox Winter 2017-2018

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Posted by Mookie on Tuesday, January 30, 2018 4:38 PM

tree68
sunflower seeds.

mouse?

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by mudchicken on Tuesday, January 30, 2018 5:02 PM

squirrel.

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 Tuesday, January 30, 2018 5:18 PM

mookie
mouse?

mudchicken
squirrel. 

Wrong cartoon.

More likely mouse than squirrel.  Some seed gets spilled where I store it (in a metal trash can) on the back porch, and that wouldn't be a long haul.

The squirrels don't usually venture to the porch, generally going from the "woods" out back direct to the feeder.

OTOH, back when I stored the seed in a plastic trash can (in the same location), it got chewed into, and I don't think that was mice...

We may never know...

LarryWhistling
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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Wednesday, January 31, 2018 6:52 AM

Most plastics found around the house are soft enough for any rodent to chew his way through.  Mice are a possibility although I would think that squirrels or chipmunks are more likely.

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 Wednesday, January 31, 2018 2:59 PM

tree68

When the engine first fired up, something came flying out of the exhaust.  On closer inspection, it was sunflower seeds.

Apparently, some varmint or bird wanted their own private stash.  

Will you have sun flowers growing in the yard next summer ?  Varmit probably was squirrels.  Had to place all my "goodies" into metal trash cans plastic lined !

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Posted by JoeKoh on Wednesday, January 31, 2018 4:40 PM

evening

Made deliveries after work.Ns had the local working.Csx in Defiance sent an eastbound auto parts/auto rack train.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 tree68 on Wednesday, January 31, 2018 4:48 PM

blue streak 1
Will you have sun flowers growing in the yard next summer ?

They do sprout from time to time.  If they're not in a bad spot, I'll let them go.  Otherwise, they get mowed.

The bigger issue is the deepening mat of seeds and hulls under the feeders.  The grass grows through it, making it hard to rake out...

LarryWhistling
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Posted by Deggesty on Wednesday, January 31, 2018 4:52 PM

Import a flock of quail--they are good at cleaning such spills up. I enjoyed watching the quail families at such groundskeeping work when I was independent.

Johnny

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Posted by mudchicken on Wednesday, January 31, 2018 5:15 PM

Raccoons and squirrels known to eat holes in plastic garbage cans here. Understand the issue with spilled feeder volunteers in the yard come spring.

 

Boris? Is that you?

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 Thursday, February 1, 2018 2:16 PM

mudchicken
Boris? Is that you?

Plotting beeg trouble for moose and squirrel, no doubt!

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Posted by JoeKoh on Thursday, February 1, 2018 2:37 PM

afternoon

Ns had a lone boxcar uptown.Chores to do.Tomorrow is Friday.Also groundhog day.They don't show up around here unless they want lead for dinner.

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, February 3, 2018 10:13 AM

Happy Saturday

Well not so much for CSX.Had a car with a bad coupler they had to deal with.Went to the store and helped get groceries.Projects to work on.Mother nature sending us some snow for tomorrow.

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, February 3, 2018 9:48 PM

Started the day at "Super Science Saturday" at our local community college.  Our amateur radio folks had a display that I helped out with.  Left that to go dashing through the snow to daughter's house for granddaughters third birthday party.  In the hour and a half the truck was parked at the college, it collected three inches of snow - which makes for pretty lousy visibility on the road.  

But, about 20 miles south, I drove out of it and it was smooth sailing the rest of the way.  No snow at all on the way home.

Daughter found a toybox/bookcase on Pinterest, which Papa gladly built for granddaughter.  Even embellished it with some fancy moulding!

Now I've got to put together two presentations for some upcoming fire training.  No rest...

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
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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 Miningman on Sunday, February 4, 2018 3:57 PM

Just a passing observation from this Canucklehead in the Great white North:

The Pats are good at football!

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Posted by tree68 on Sunday, February 4, 2018 4:28 PM

Miningman

Just a passing observation from this Canucklehead in the Great white North:

The Pats are good at football!

I suspect the Pats may become to football what the Yankees are to baseball - "Who ya rootin' for?" "Whoever is playing against the Yankees..."

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 Sunday, February 4, 2018 7:39 PM

Snow and blowing here in Nw Ohio.Didn't see anyone in the ditches.Just before work NS sent an eastbound with a sd 70"Spartan cab" in the lead.More work tomorrow.

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 Sunday, February 4, 2018 8:55 PM

Snowing off and on here - currently "off."  More coming soon by the looks of the radar.

Some areas have gotten a pretty good amount of the white stuff.  NWS has asked for reports.  Unfortunately, I haven't taken any measurements, so won't be sending in a report.

Walked to the store this morning to get the Sunday paper, after clearing the drive way.  During the walk it was snowing the usual lake effect stuff - big, fluffy flakes.  There was just enough wind that there was a snowball being created on the driveway, rolling along with the breeze.  Kinda cool...

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 Mookie on Sunday, February 4, 2018 10:06 PM

Tree - we had a whole lotta wind and just enough snow, I could have maybe found a marble or two on the driveway.  That's about it.  Just cold, cold, cold! 

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by NorthWest on Monday, February 5, 2018 2:10 PM

UP sent an 80-odd car 100% empty chassis on spine car train south on the Brooklyn Sub today. It felt kind of odd.

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Posted by JoeKoh on Monday, February 5, 2018 3:39 PM

afternoon

Ns had a frieght in the siding when I left work.Picked up some new wiper blades for the truck.Mother nature is sending more snow.How much depends on which station you listen to.Working on a plan for a friend at work.She is going to go work in the mailroom.Chores to do here.

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 jeffhergert on Monday, February 5, 2018 4:33 PM

Got home this morning about 3am.  Cold, but no precipitation of any kind.  Woke up about 11am with about 4 inches of snow on the ground and more falling.  It's over with as I write this with a total around 6 inches.  Now the sun's out.

Last night I came home on a 2 1/2 mile long manifest.  Got out to the crew change and the inbound engineer said the second unit died coming into town, but he didn't know why.  By the time I went back to see if I could restart it, it had dumped it's water.  Luckily I had 5 engines on the head end, although two (a CSX and a CP) weren't usable.  The last one in the consist was usable, a CSX unit.  Of course, since the paperwork only had the first and second engine on line, the North Platte diesel ramp didn't bother to hook the MU cable between the rest of the units.  At least the foriegn units have MU cables attached at both ends.  The bad part is those cables are stiff enough in warm weather.  When the temp is about 5 degrees (F) they are a real PITA.  I had to have my conductor help with one (the CP) because the receptacle was up high and it was too much to hold the spring loaded cap open while trying to twist the frozen MU cable to line up with the receptacle.

The inbound told also told us how they went around another 2 1/2 mile manifest that was broke down at Grand Island.  (I asked them if there were any cars left in the yard at North Platte.) They said it had 3 crossings blocked and I told them it had been there since 6am, it being 8pm when we changed out.  It was having air problems and it looked like they were finally going to split the train into two sections.  A little over half the train was scheduled to set out at Boone anyway.  Whether they eventually did this I don't know.  

Jeff 

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Posted by Electroliner 1935 on Monday, February 5, 2018 6:07 PM

jeffhergert
Last night I came home on a 2 1/2 mile long manifest.  Got out to the crew change and the inbound engineer said the second unit died coming into town, but he didn't know why.  By the time I went back to see if I could restart it, it had dumped it's water.  Luckily I had 5 engines on the head end, although two (a CSX and a CP) weren't usable.  The last one in the consist was usable, a CSX unit.  Of course, since the paperwork only had the first and second engine on line, the North Platte diesel ramp didn't bother to hook the MU cable between the rest of the units.  At least the foriegn units have MU cables attached at both ends.  The bad part is those cables are stiff enough in warm weather.  When the temp is about 5 degrees (F) they are a real PITA.  I had to have my conductor help with one (the CP) because the receptacle was up high and it was too much to hold the spring loaded cap open while trying to twist the frozen MU cable to line up with the receptacle.

And many railfans think all you Engineers have to do is sit in the warm cab and enjoy the ride. There are good days when every thing goes right but oh, those bad one's don't pay you enough. Trust you had good weather gear. 

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Posted by BaltACD on Monday, February 5, 2018 7:05 PM

Electroliner 1935
And many railfans think all you Engineers have to do is sit in the warm cab and enjoy the ride. There are good days when every thing goes right but oh, those bad one's don't pay you enough. Trust you had good weather gear. 

The days when everything goes right are the rare exception in the real world of Class 1 railroading.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by zugmann on Monday, February 5, 2018 7:24 PM

jeffhergert
it was too much to hold the spring loaded cap open while trying to twist the frozen MU cable to line up with the receptacle.

You don't use your reverser for that?  One of the first things old heads taught me.

 

My favorite are the old conrail engines with the MU under the anticlimber.  Talk abotu a pain.  Sometimes it's easier to hook them up/unhook them with the power uncoupled.

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 tree68 on Monday, February 5, 2018 8:51 PM

I'll see your MU cable (yes, I have hooked them up) and raise you an HEP cable.  Some slip right in, others need a mallet...

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 jeffhergert on Monday, February 5, 2018 9:06 PM

zugmann

 

 
jeffhergert
it was too much to hold the spring loaded cap open while trying to twist the frozen MU cable to line up with the receptacle.

 

You don't use your reverser for that?  One of the first things old heads taught me.

 

My favorite are the old conrail engines with the MU under the anticlimber.  Talk abotu a pain.  Sometimes it's easier to hook them up/unhook them with the power uncoupled.

 

No, no one's ever mentioned using the reverser for that here.  We both actually couldn't get the CSX MU cable to go into the CP receptacle.  Fortunately, the CP also had MU cables and we used theirs instead.  It was nice that both CSX and CP had them chained to the ends of their locomotives.  For us, it seems finding an MU cable when you need one is an adventure in itself.  I do see plenty of them (usually figure they're bad order) laying here and there. 

Jeff

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Posted by Deggesty on Monday, February 5, 2018 9:07 PM

tree68

I'll see your MU cable (yes, I have hooked them up) and raise you an HEP cable.  Some slip right in, others need a mallet...

 

Croquet mallet?

Johnny

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Posted by Mookie on Monday, February 5, 2018 9:57 PM

Deggesty
Croquet mallet?

Mallet Steam Engine...

Must be bedtime....

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Tuesday, February 6, 2018 8:53 AM

Mookie
 
Deggesty
Croquet mallet?

 

Mallet Steam Engine...

 

Must be bedtime....

 

That was my first thought too, and I'm wide awake. (Technically)Zzz

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

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Posted by tree68 on Tuesday, February 6, 2018 8:58 AM

Mookie
Mallet Steam Engine...

Those plugs can be pretty stubborn, but I'm not sure we'd need to go that far...

A croquet mallet, on the other hand...

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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