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Chatterbox Summer 2018

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Posted by tree68 on Saturday, June 30, 2018 8:44 AM

The sauna opens here this afternoon through mid week.  Nice now - 70-ish in the Central Adirondacks.  At least the rain that was headed this way fizzled out, which will help keep the humidity down some.

Gonna stock the fridge on our old ALCO (those Canadians know how to equip a locomotive) with plenty of appropriate beverages.

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Saturday, June 30, 2018 6:53 AM

Might it have been cheaper to scrap the trailer?

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 Shadow the Cats owner on Friday, June 29, 2018 5:24 PM

Well I know my husband's got some stories to tell about reefer trailers being shutdown by other drivers on super hot weekends.  He says he was at a trailer wash out when a driver pulled in with a loaded trailer that someone had shut the reefer off for 5 days on a load of beef after he quit the company under load.  Even the local rendering plant refused to accept the meat on the trailer when it was found.  The washout boys he says were puking and it took 4 times to get the stench out of the trailer.  They were using acid rinsing then bleaching the trailer each time.  

 

Oh yeah crap like that happens.  

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Posted by mudchicken on Friday, June 29, 2018 4:56 PM

rvos1979
 
CSSHEGEWISCH

Looks like we're going to be stuck with Texas weather for the next couple of days, temps in the 90's with humidity to match.  I don't think that anybody is going to be doing too much of anything.

 

Well, everybody was complaining that it wasn't hot enough, so I brought the Texas and Alabama weather back north with me this week......

And the first one to complain that it's too hot will get a ride back to Texas. In the trailer........

 

UM - You didn't pick up the Alabama weather. Maybe just stirred it up.

(Got stuck on I-20, west of Talladega, with an overturned trailer on I-20 over the Coosa River ...put an end to my day, but I couldn't go anywhere for 3+ hours and cold not get off the freeway. So humid, the water just hung in the air looking like a swarm of white gnats. Storm that did -in the trailer toppled trees and knocked over road signs)

Mud in Moody

Happily escaping back to Denver tomorrow from B'ham. Wet blanket to scorched earth.

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 Deggesty on Friday, June 29, 2018 4:47 PM

I do not know if this story is true or not; it was told me several years ago by an OTR driver. A certain driver picked up a load of frozen dough--and somehow his refrigerator was not turned on. When he reached its destination, the trailer sides and top were bulging--and his company buried the trailer without unloading it.

Johnny

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Posted by rvos1979 on Friday, June 29, 2018 4:32 PM

Deggesty

Is your trailer refrigerated or is it dry?Smile

Dry, very dry.........

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 Deggesty on Friday, June 29, 2018 4:28 PM

rvos1979

 

 
CSSHEGEWISCH

Looks like we're going to be stuck with Texas weather for the next couple of days, temps in the 90's with humidity to match.  I don't think that anybody is going to be doing too much of anything.

 

Well, everybody was complaining that it wasn't hot enough, so I brought the Texas and Alabama weather back north with me this week......

And the first one to complain that it's too hot will get a ride back to Texas. In the trailer........

 

Is your trailer refrigerated or is it dry?Smile

Johnny

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Posted by rvos1979 on Friday, June 29, 2018 4:19 PM

CSSHEGEWISCH

Looks like we're going to be stuck with Texas weather for the next couple of days, temps in the 90's with humidity to match.  I don't think that anybody is going to be doing too much of anything.

Well, everybody was complaining that it wasn't hot enough, so I brought the Texas and Alabama weather back north with me this week......

And the first one to complain that it's too hot will get a ride back to Texas. In the trailer........

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 JoeKoh on Friday, June 29, 2018 3:19 PM

afternoon

Triple H day alert.Ns had a westbound going in the siding when I left work.Looked like an eastbound was coming into town as well.At home doing chores.Working 1/2 day tomorrow before it gets too hot.Matt gets to do dishes on Saturday and Sunday.Going to get back to work.

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 Friday, June 29, 2018 7:40 AM

Looks like we're going to be stuck with Texas weather for the next couple of days, temps in the 90's with humidity to match.  I don't think that anybody is going to be doing too much of anything.

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 JoeKoh on Thursday, June 28, 2018 6:08 PM

evening

Ns had a westbound in the siding when I left work.Had reports of a bad accident west of Defiance this afternoon.Mother nature going to warm us up.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 JoeKoh on Wednesday, June 27, 2018 5:09 PM

evening

Ns was clear when I left work.Matt is going to mow tomorrow in town.Mother Nature wants to warm us up this weekend.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 switch7frg on Wednesday, June 27, 2018 2:29 PM

Wink C A V U to you BOB.

Y6bs evergreen in my mind

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Posted by JoeKoh on Tuesday, June 26, 2018 4:43 PM

evening

Ns was pulling out of the siding eastbound when I got off of work.Matt is back home.Catching up on laundry.His work crew included people from Celina.He gets to play mailman 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 JoeKoh on Monday, June 25, 2018 4:32 PM

evening

Back to work today.Ns has an autorack train in the siding.Matt and friends are back in Ohio.Just need to get to this corner.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 BaltACD on Sunday, June 24, 2018 5:51 PM

Shadow the Cats owner
The division super for Cumberland right now is going I need the Checkbook and no one in Jacksonville better scream when I have to write this one.  Your the idiots that changed how we run the trains out of here and such.  Now we just bought this town new bridges.  I hope your happy because everyone in this town wants your heads on a pike right now.

And EHH from the grave is shouting - Yes Yes Yes - Right On - screw the suckers this is a great example of the precision I want.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by Shadow the Cats owner on Sunday, June 24, 2018 5:45 PM

The division super for Cumberland right now is going I need the Checkbook and no one in Jacksonville better scream when I have to write this one.  Your the idiots that changed how we run the trains out of here and such.  Now we just bought this town new bridges.  I hope your happy because everyone in this town wants your heads on a pike right now.

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Posted by BaltACD on Sunday, June 24, 2018 12:51 PM

samfp1943
        In about any way, one looks at this situation, CSX is now looking down the barrel of a 'public relations canon' pointed right at the railroad.      Not a pretty thing for a railroad struggling on many fronts.Whistling

The actions taken by CSX since the day EHH's control arrived on the property shout that the have no regard for the publics perception of company's actions.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by samfp1943 on Sunday, June 24, 2018 11:56 AM

mudchicken

4 lane freeway south of Wilmington got raised almost two feet. (after completion)... Delaware Hwy 332/ Marshallton Rd......Built 2011, raised and run off in 2016 for another $500K .... Some news reports just blamed a surveying mistake by the Hwy department, but it went a little deeper than that. (There also were a couple engineers who did not know the law and the difference between B/R base of rail and T/R top of rail......an additional 6+inches of oops (more like 7 5/8" if you wanna get picky))Dunce

 

  Just making an observation:  I've not been in Cumberland, Md. for a lot of years, but I do remember that the town and the railroad live in a sort of simbiotic relationship.   So for some small background here is a cut from a previously posted [Cumberland Times-News] article FTA :"...It was [06/22]@ 11:21 a.m., Thursday, when the Allegany County Emergency Operations Center began receiving 911 calls about a train that had hit the bridges.

Cumberland police closed the Fayette Street bridge — the only West Side bridge that was open to vehicular traffic until Thursday’s incident. The deteriorating Washington Street bridge and another on Cumberland Street had previously been closed..."

 Oops - Sign Apparently, the two bridges hit, had been questionable(?) for some time. The local detours caused by their condition were know to the community. Possibly, they were not open, and repaired for any number of reasons; money/time scheduling,etc(?).    An error at whatever level in the CSX organization, seems to have fortuituously, for the community? Has brought that situation to a head; for the community's civic authorities. Who gets the 'Bill"?  Dinner

   It now becomes a battle between the management of CSX, and the local governing authorities; to decide on how deep they will get into CSX's finances, or how long the court battle ( mano a mano- Lawyer vs.lawyer(?).  Bang Head

        In about any way, one looks at this situation, CSX is now looking down the barrel of a 'public relations canon' pointed right at the railroad.      Not a pretty thing for a railroad struggling on many fronts.Whistling

 

 

 


 

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Posted by mudchicken on Sunday, June 24, 2018 1:17 AM

4 lane freeway south of Wilmington got raised almost two feet. (after completion)... Delaware Hwy 332/ Marshallton Rd......Built 2011, raised and run off in 2016 for another $500K .... Some news reports just blamed a surveying mistake by the Hwy department, but it went a little deeper than that. (There also were a couple engineers who did not know the law and the difference between B/R base of rail and T/R top of rail......an additional 6+inches of oops (more like 7 5/8" if you wanna get picky))Dunce

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 zugmann on Saturday, June 23, 2018 11:37 PM

mudchicken
All you have to do is look at the Delaware DOT freeway bridge incident to see how clueless and arrogant the rubber tired tribe can be. (IIRC-Also CSX)

?

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 JoeKoh on Saturday, June 23, 2018 11:10 PM

Good Morning

Partly Sunny/Cloudy rainy day in Deshler.The tonka toys of the tie gang are on flat cars.They are waiting for a pick up.Csx was having trouble getting a train over the hill at Botkins Ohio(South of Lima).They also asked the crew of 165 if they could go all the way to Chicago instead of changing at Garrett.Going to enjoy the last day of vacation.Work comes Monday.

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 Saturday, June 23, 2018 9:44 AM

Most states are guided by a suggested model clearance regulation that goes back to about 1958. Some states adopted it verbatim, some states modified the thing to match what they already had in some form or another. The bulk of the modified states are back east.

The model law and most freight railroad clearances are set at 22'-6". Add a reasonable 6" for normal surfacing operations and you get 23' which is what is commonly required for clearance over railroads.

For railroads considering catenary, FRA/DOT/FHWA set the magic number at 24'-6" for catenary over railroads with an industry agreement and DOT committee edict back in the mid-1980's. Add 6" for surfacing cushion and you get 25'. FRA wanted ALL new construction set at 25' where regenerative braking was even a modest consideration.

Highway department engineers, because they can't railroad, frequently don't get it. Nothing new to me; see it frequently where highways and railroads intersect. The extra expense of raising overhead crossings and running them (road approach grades) off sets off the rubber-tired bubba tribe like nothing else.

In one aspect, this is a "come to jesus" moment for the townies and the consultants in the CSX incident. But I don't think the CSX public works folks or the operating department wanted to prove their point quite this way. I have no idea of the local agreements on the existing bridge or how the state regulatory agency handles this one, but I suspect CSX just bought two bridges and is going to have a fight running off the aproaches on this older, non-compliant hump bridge.

All you have to do is look at the Delaware DOT freeway bridge incident to see how clueless and arrogant the rubber tired tribe can be. (IIRC-Also CSX)

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 BaltACD on Friday, June 22, 2018 10:10 PM

blue streak 1
23 foot clearances.  Now that sounds suspiciously like something going between the 20'2" present rail car heights and the 23 feet ?  Of course that might be 40 or more years in the future ?

Maybe some wires ?

mudchicken I believe is the authority in this area.  I believe the current requirement for 'new' or replacement construction is 25 feet.  The State of Maryland rebuilt I-70 bridges over some CSX owned tracks - form observations of the difference in elevations during the project 25 feet would visually appear to have been the height of the reconstructed bridges.  I can concieve of no possible way that the reconstructed bridges will ever see double stacks pass under them as the are a part of the track that MARC uses to service downtown Frederick, MD 

10 inches between a 20'2" high car and a 23 foot structure would not allow sufficient space for electric catenary.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Friday, June 22, 2018 9:57 PM

23 foot clearances.  Now that sounds suspiciously like something going between the 20'2" present rail car heights and the 23 feet ?  Of course that might be 40 or more years in the future ?

Maybe some wires ?

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Posted by zugmann on Friday, June 22, 2018 7:49 PM

MOW guys have their own philosophies, too.   I remember one time a MOW foreman having a fit because a crew was doing 10mph over a yard track that had a speed limit of 10.

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 mudchicken on Friday, June 22, 2018 7:42 PM

Thanks - the Zugs School of railroad "isms" will recess  for the weekend. (writing this all new-found knowledge down on the back pages of my Sokkia fieldbook)

 

Pop quiz on Monday.

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 zugmann on Friday, June 22, 2018 7:28 PM

mudchicken

Zugs: Is "bonk" one of those super secret technical terms from the operating department side of things?

 

Bonk falls between tap and slam.

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 mudchicken on Friday, June 22, 2018 7:25 PM

Zugs: Is "bonk" one of those super secret technical terms from the operating department side of things?

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 zugmann on Friday, June 22, 2018 6:00 PM

Murphy Siding
Do you just have the train creep along until it bonks into something slowly and then back up?

Pretty much.  Though you want to try to stop before you bonk.

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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