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Chatterbox Spring 2018

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Posted by Mookie on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 6:23 PM

And news you can't use, from home:  Stapleton NE (Closest to North Platte NE and named by UP - Pop about 305) - has had 6 earthquakes in the last week.  

I will let you make of that what you would.  Just remember, we ain't California....

No mountains; no seashores; no Disneyland/world; but now we have earthquakes!

Oh Boy!

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by tree68 on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 2:50 PM

mudchicken
Even dumpsters have set sail and are on the move.

Video on FB of a port-a-potty scooting down a street.  At least it was upright.

Mother Nature still schizophrenic here - snow still in the forecast, and temps are not rising to seasonal levels yet.

LarryWhistling
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Posted by JoeKoh on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 2:39 PM

afternoon

Ns had a westbound and cars uptown when I left work.Paper had pictures of yesterdays fender benders because of the snow/ice we got.More for tomorrow.Chores to do here.Got an invatation for a meal at Matt's school for an honor's banquet.Tomorrow he fills out the paperwork for his job.

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 mudchicken on Tuesday, April 17, 2018 5:53 PM

Chinook winds kicked in this morning with 50-75+ MPH gusts, trucks blowing over on the freeway, range fires plus a house caught fire at Castle Rock and took four more with it before the fire department could control it. Need water (any flavor) before this gets anymore nuts than it already is.

Wind is playing havoc with the light rail and commuter rail catenary. Hanging light fixtures up here on the 11th floor are swaying about 2". Even dumpsters have set sail and are on the move.

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 JoeKoh on Tuesday, April 17, 2018 3:17 PM

afternoon

Ns had some cars uptown after work.Most of what fell this morning is gone.Might get better next week.

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 Monday, April 16, 2018 11:46 PM

Still precipitating here, but it can't make up its mind.  On my drive home from the TV station tonight it was mist with snowflakes mixed in.

The ice is gone off the trees, etc, but what's on driveways, etc, isn't coming off until it melts.

The wind event was not as bad as expected.  There were numerous power outages, however.

LarryWhistling
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Posted by Deggesty on Monday, April 16, 2018 7:41 PM

Our high today was about 70--our low in the morning is expected to be close to freezing. Some areas near here had winds up to about 80 mph (not so high in the big city).

About two inches of snow is expected in the city tomorrow.

Johnny

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Posted by JoeKoh on Monday, April 16, 2018 6:18 PM

evening

Snow flurries here so far.People are cleaning up from Mother Natures rant on Lake Erie yesterday.Ns was clear when I left work.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 Monday, April 16, 2018 7:59 AM

During the big Ice Storm of 1998 here a local TV station lost power at their transmitter (along with the rest of the area).

When power was restored to the tower the heaters on the antenna elements kicked in.  I almost think they closed a nearby road because of the ice falling from the 500 foot level...

LarryWhistling
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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Monday, April 16, 2018 7:04 AM

My part of the Chicago area was just starting to get a little bit of accumulation when I left for work this morning.  I've heard that it's worse in the north suburbs.  Train was on time at Oak Lawn and a bit early into CUS.

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 Paul of Covington on Monday, April 16, 2018 4:03 AM

Mookie
But don't walk in the street, either

   Yeah, I learned real quick to stay on the sidewalk away from the buildings.

_____________ 

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

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Posted by Mookie on Monday, April 16, 2018 3:10 AM

Paul of Covington
giant icicles

Paul of Covington
Those things could kill somebody.

Paul - stats say about 15 people per year.  But don't walk in the street, either - stats are worse on that!

Moo....

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by Paul of Covington on Monday, April 16, 2018 1:39 AM

  No snow here.

  Sorry about that.

tree68

... the ~100' tower shed some of the ice that's been accumulating on pretty much everything here due to the freezing rain.  Nothing came down that would hurt anyone, but it got my attention.

 

    I remember in Feb 1965, I was walking on the sidewalk in downtown Utica and noticed the giant icicles high up on the buildings, but didn't think much about them one way or another.  Then a big chunk of them fell near by.   As you said, "it got my attention."   Those things could kill somebody.

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Posted by tree68 on Sunday, April 15, 2018 11:31 PM

Murphy Siding
 What do you do at the TV station?......... Are you the weatherman by chance?

No, although I am the county Skywarn coordinator.  I'm also an amateur radio operator ("ham"), and worked at a weather equipment technician in my USAF days.  For a good part of that career I helped launch UFOs - errrr - weather balloons.

The TV station is our local PBS station.  One of their big fund-raisers each year is the annual merchandise auction.  Last night I worked in front of the camera as a representative of the scenic railroad, which donated a number of rides.

The rest of the nights I'll be volunteering as a studio camera operator.  I've been doing so for probably 30 years. 

It was a little spooky leaving the station last night.  As I walked out to the parking lot, the ~100' tower shed some of the ice that's been accumulating on pretty much everything here due to the freezing rain.  Nothing came down that would hurt anyone, but it got my attention.

LarryWhistling
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Posted by rvos1979 on Sunday, April 15, 2018 7:08 PM

Got about three to four inches of concrete since last night, decided to stay home today so conditions would improve. Glad I did, because my sister can't shovel due to her recovering from carpal tunnel surgery. Parents went camping this weekend at a local campground and wound up staying an extra day because they can't get out of the camping spot, due to the snow and sleet. Going to complain to the city tomorrow, they never plowed our street until late afternoon, even though the other street was cleared by mid morning, and we are the ambulance and truck entrance to the hospital.........

Randy Vos

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Sunday, April 15, 2018 5:09 PM

tree68

 

 
Murphy Siding
...300 mph winds,...

 

Going in circles, I presume.

Still miserable here - rain, sleet, freezing rain, maybe some snow, high winds tonight and tomorrow.  

Headed for the TV station tonight, but not until second shift, when I'll be in front of the camera instead of behind it.  No big thing - been doing it for 40 years.  I suspect I may be busy doing several jobs if folks have backed out due to the weather.

 

   OK, so I exaggerated a little bit. It just seemed like 300 mph. It was probably closer to 250 tops!

     What do you do at the TV station?......... Are you the weatherman by chance?Hmm

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

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Posted by tree68 on Sunday, April 15, 2018 4:39 PM

Murphy Siding
...300 mph winds,...

Going in circles, I presume.

Still miserable here - rain, sleet, freezing rain, maybe some snow, high winds tonight and tomorrow.  

Headed for the TV station tonight, but not until second shift, when I'll be in front of the camera instead of behind it.  No big thing - been doing it for 40 years.  I suspect I may be busy doing several jobs if folks have backed out due to the weather.

LarryWhistling
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Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
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Posted by Deggesty on Sunday, April 15, 2018 4:13 PM

Yes, MC, I was on my way home yesterday--and arrived in time for lunch this morning. When I woke yesterday, somewhere east of Parks, Nebraska, I saw that there had been quite a bit of snow in the night. We were stopped for a while (I know not where) because of high winds, and then moved on. After breakfast, we advanced to Parks, Nebraska, where we stayed until the DS let us go--after our crews were relieved by Denver-Grand Junction people (along with BNSF pilots--who arrived on a 4-engine light engine), 

When we arrived in Denver, #6 was also newly arrived. I went to sleep before we reached the Little Ten, and woke up about Green River. We did not make up any time to speak of (if at all) until we left Provo, and we came in at 11;10 this morning. The station, which closes at 5:30 in the morning, was till open so boarding passengers could check baggage, and detraining passengers could get their checked baggage.

Sad to say, my good friend who has gotten my tickets for me, taken me to trains and brought me to the station is retiring at the end of the month. Such is life.

Johnny

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Sunday, April 15, 2018 4:00 PM

     I'm looking on the internet for a good recipe to serve and eat crow. We got about 14" of snow on top of maybe an inch of rain and 300 mph winds, breaking some weather records. I guess even the squirrely weatherman gets one right now and then.

     If I hear that south central Nebraska only got a dusting of snow I'll be writing my congressman!

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Posted by JoeKoh on Sunday, April 15, 2018 2:51 PM

afternoon

No snow over here yet.The creeks and ditches are pretty full.Went by Csx and they have placed ties along track 2.Haven't heard when they are coming to do that job.Back to 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 rvos1979 on Sunday, April 15, 2018 1:30 PM

Just heard that the roof over the pool of a hotel in Green Bay collapsed this morning, and is being evacuated. They have had between one and two feet of wet snow since Friday.........

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 zugmann on Sunday, April 15, 2018 11:41 AM

tree68
Yet 200 or so miles south of here it was in the 80's yesterday...

It was.  40s today.

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 Sunday, April 15, 2018 10:55 AM

rvos1979
You know roads are bad when church is cancelled.........

Most churches around here cancelled today's services last night in light of the weather forecast.  We've been getting mostly sleet, with some freezing rain.  It's like walking on sugar...

Yet 200 or so miles south of here it was in the 80's yesterday...

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
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Posted by rvos1979 on Sunday, April 15, 2018 9:31 AM

Got about two inches of sleet overnight, roads are not good. Local news reported a barn fire near Racine last night, they were calling in tankers from as far away as Elkhorn because of poor road conditions and no onsite water.

You know roads are bad when church is cancelled.........

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 jeffhergert on Saturday, April 14, 2018 10:23 PM

blue streak 1

Posted on another site that UP offering hiring bonus to any furloughed CSX T&E person for Houston area.  Any truth ?

 

At the union meeting last week our General Chairman for the former CNW lines was there.  He did say they were trying to work out getting furloughed CSX people jobs in the Texas area.  Down south is where the UP is really hurting for people the most. 

The GC didn't really give any details about getting the CSX people jobs.  Other than CSX was the only major carrier with large numbers of furloughed people.  I got the impression that the GC meant that they were trying to get them hired on without having to resign their CSX seniority.  

Jeff 

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Posted by Mookie on Saturday, April 14, 2018 9:42 PM

Murphy Siding
Is it blizzarding on your rock yet? 

Weather rock sez snow maybe in the area.  Garbage can (a backup rock) sez enough snow to just barely cover the flat lid.  Don't need any more than that!

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by rvos1979 on Saturday, April 14, 2018 3:59 PM

zugmann
jeffhergert
UP has increased the hiring bonus to $20 thousand in some areas. Still not many takers in some places. We're starting to lose people with 10 or more years of service.

Hmmm.  20 thousand?   Tempting at times.  Our outfit has completely reworked all the jobs.  It's currently a freaking mess.  All the yard crews making tons of OT, crews doing all sorts of oddball stuff.  Maybe it'll eventually work out.  But the old way wasn't really broken.  Customers got serviced regularly, many jobs didn't make much OT.  Now?  Just sit back and watch the fun.  The hours are long, but the pay is lucrative.

Trucking industry isn't much better, customers are having a hard time moving loads now that the new electronic log regulations are in effect. Seen quite a few new drivers out here who have a hard time speaking english, if they can at all. And you don't have to look far to find the results of poor decision making, lots of it caused by too much reliance on GPS......

Managed to get home early this week on Thursday night, but had to do a quick run to Chicago and back Friday to cover a load for a driver who called in. Nice five hours of work, plus I had to go to Sam's Club anyway........

Tomorrow morning should be an interesting drive to work, I'm right on the edge of what could be a very sloppy mix predicted. Luckily I'm headed south towards Oklahoma.......

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 blue streak 1 on Friday, April 13, 2018 7:59 PM

Posted on another site that UP offering hiring bonus to any furloughed CSX T&E person for Houston area.  Any truth ?

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Posted by tree68 on Friday, April 13, 2018 5:56 PM

Cool on the book, MC.  

They're talking some ice here, and people are taking it seriously.  Think I'll run down and get some gas for the generator...

LarryWhistling
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Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
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Posted by mudchicken on Friday, April 13, 2018 5:49 PM

Johnny must be on his way - 6" of very wet snow overnight melted by noon. Starting to snow here again, sideways (2" of wet white coating on the windward side of signs and buildings), I-70 and I-76 closed east of town to the Colorado border, blizzard conditions... Not much snow, but the wind!

Had one of those religious historical moments today - Handled the original February 1871 field book of J. R. deRemer for the D&RG line between Denver and Colorado Springs - before the line was built. Notes were nothing short of impressive, given the surveying technology of the time. Awesome!

 

COWABUNGA!

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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