It was Train-spotting Tuesday today. I was docenting at the Peck House, and, as is typical, nobody showed up during the afternoon. All I can say is, they missed a good day...
Here's what came through, and what we knew.
1304--Eastbound scoot, with five coaches. Surprisingly, it was on Track 3 the whole way.
1322--A westbound manifest freight, on Track 2. I wish I knew which one this was--has a string of auto racks on the point whenever I see it, and this time there were more further back as well.
1324--The westbound scoot, with seven coaches, was overtaking the manifest (he was on Track 3).
1338--An eastbound manifest, with a lot of CSX power, on Track 2.
1359--A westbound manifest, also on Track 2. That's keeping 'em out of each other's way!
1422--Westbound freight, all auto racks, on Track 2.
1432--The eastbound scoot, almost half an hour late, six coaches, track not noted. Reports I got cited "freight train interference" as the reason for the delay.
1440--The westbound scoot, eight coaches, on track 3. He was also about 20 minutes late, due to "police activity".
1450--A westbound intermodal train, surprisingly the first of the afternoon, on Track 3.
1511--Eastbound scoot, seven cars, track not noted. He was about 15 minutes late, again due to "freight train interference". It was probably one (or more) of the westbounds that had gone through here.
1523--A westbound intermodal train powered by five units and having an "ArroWedge" container on the first car--this purportedly reduces wind resistance. Track 2.
1529--Westbund scoot, Track 3. He's about ten minutes late, but I didn't see any information on why.
1536--Eastbound intermodal on Track 2. Mostly double-stacks.
1558--Another eastbound intermodal on Track 2. This one was struggling--he had only a single locomotive unit.
That was 14 trains in three hours--impressive, but hardly a record. I couldn't confirm, from my observation point, that Track 1 was used at all through here. Basically, that means that we had a two-track railroad between Elmhurst and Wheaton.
And that freight train interference to the west of us? I suspect that that can be laid on a two-track railroad as well. Between the yard at West Chicago and west of Geneva, the line consists of only two tracks instead of three. They are supposed to be working on building the third track on this stretch, but I haven't seen any evidence of it yet. When it does start happening, it will be interesting, as it will include a new span across the Fox River, which is a pretty long, tall bridge for the two existing tracks. The bridge's piers are capable of handling a third track, but even so, the steelwork will be impressive. (I think the Randall Road overpass also needs widening to accommodate three tracks.)
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)
Evening
Ns sent a westbound stack train when I got off of work.Mowed the swamp when I got home.Still a little wet in spots.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").
Joe - I think I've asked this before: Where is "Junkyard?"
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...
afternoon
Work left us out early today.Got to see the local backing into the switch for uptown.ran errands.Matt got his school schedule.We also paid his fees for the year.Need to fill out his forms but they want them on line this year.Glad tomorrow is Friday.
Larry
The "junkyard" was located at milepost 59.3 Custar road.I said was because the people have cleaned up the yard quite a bit.
Thanks, Joe - thought it was around there somewhere. About three miles out from the diamond.
Got off at regular time today.Ns local was uptown with cars.Truck is loaded with some things for Deshler tomorrow.We will get the rest tomorrow morning.Mother Nature might send some rain.We need to stop at in laws and take care of the dogs before we go.Tonight starts football here in Ohio.Need to get some chores done.
Good Morning
Had rain come through yesterday morning while in Deshler.The afternoon and evening were nice.Csx was busy trying to get trains where they needed to go.They sent a k 173 south at Deshler.They sent him thorugh the west siding and back onto the main at South Deshler.There was nothing else on the main.Q 142 came up to turn at Deshler to go to North Baltimore.He had a piece of metal banding caught in the front axle of his locomotive.The conductor was able to get it out before they went east.Matt has to work tonight.Back to work for me tomorrow.
A little rain this morning, but that didn't dampen the spirit of the runners in the 18.12 Challenge. I had the task of following the last runner on my bike and keeping control apprised of their location. Thirteen miles isn't bad, but at 3-4 MPH, it's a lot of time sitting on the bike seat...
Our rain came earlier in the weekend--most of Friday and into Saturday morning, and we got close to half an inch again.Saturday Pat and I broke out of the house for shopping and lunch--we went for Chinese, but it was still trackside in Elmhurst. Before the food came, we had an outbound manifest freight. Naturally, I wanted to check it out, so I went out, saw that it was on Track 3 (the far track), and that a coal train was coming out on Track 2. Ugh! So I had to go through the tunnel to keep the manifest in sight. I was successful at that, and took copious notes. It was interesting to see how closely they matched speeds when passing me--occasionally one would be moving a little faster, then the other. Finally the coal train speeded up first, and got out of town. Then the manifest, which was obviously much longer, also opened up. It would have been interesting to see these two further west (at least as far as West Chicago)--the way I figure, the power could have been neck and neck!
Warm and muggy today.More for tomorrow.Ns had some cars uptown.Matt is at his open house.School starts tomorrow.Seems on Sunday a q 509 on Csx had to break away from their train and re-fuel at North Baltimore before continuing south.Was the fuel pad broken in Toledo?? Going to cool off.
Twenty degrees cooler than yesterday .... unfortunately it only lasts a day.
Our transit/ commuter rail bubbas here in Denver had ANOTHER setback here in Denver. The no-whistle zones have been suspended AGAIN. Had the toy trains people listened to the real railroaders around 4-10 years ago and not jumped feet first into an unproven technology, the problems they are seeing today would not have happened.
So much for letting bus people attempt to railroad.
mudchickenTwenty degrees cooler than yesterday...
We've got your heat - at least the heat index. They're talking over 100 today.
Supposed to go out on the track inspection train today, then tomorrow, now cancelled for the moment. Apparently CSX is having trouble getting it delivered to where we can use it...
It's chilly over here, too--in the sixties this morning. The air is still smoky.
MC, what have the people who do not understand railroading done now?
By the way, I expect to go through the Mile High City Saturday evening of next week (E in 633).
Johnny
johnny: Will try again depending on when you actually get here. (Last time was a little odd)
Ans: they are using a whole new gate predictor and signal technology that also was "supposed" to be PTC compliant. None of it had been used anywhere else. Radio report this morning was talking about gates coming down 4 1/2 minutes in advance of the train and then acting erratically after the train went by. The old head railroaders argued for using a proven technology first and then work-in what they really want in stages. The railroaders were over-ruled by the transit techies (wannabe's)and they dived-in whole hog. FUBAR + SNAFU = OMG ("come to jesus moment") here on the RTD A and G lines (commuter rail).
Instead of whining about the train horn noise, they ought to be questioning why some of the transit tribe is allowed in the decision making process... (and why they were so quick to dismiss the old head railroaders' line of thinking.)
evening
Ns had a pair of Bnsf locomotives taking a coal train west after work.Trimmed and mowed the swamp.Rain and cooler tomorrow according to the guessers.Need to give hugs after work tomorrow.
If anyone wishes to have some extra water, you're welcome to come to Wisconsin and take it........
Some areas got 11 inches last week, other areas are approaching or have surpassed that amount this week. Flooding where it has never happened before, at least in my memory. Just heard the Fond Du Lac area had at least one confirmed tornado, possibly more. And more rain and storms are forecast........
Could actually use some of what they got at the house, been kinda 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
Keeping an eye on that system, lest it show up here.
4 days without any rain here. Now can get the machette out and cut through to the back. How I hate illiagnes bushes.
The system fell apart before it got here. The rain we could use, the severe stuff not so much. Maybe the cold front will cool things off a bit.
We had 1.6 inches of rain overnight, and the temperatures are really cooler today (by a good 15 degrees). There's supposed to be a chance of more rain throughout the day, which shot a hole in my plans to go train-hunting.That was a good storm system, all right...there were some spectacular photos of the storms arriving on the east coast of Lake Michigan. Walking is still not good for my leg, but I got two miles in yesterday--that's more than on any day since our vacation. Had a good day with the trains at the Museum yesterday--14 went by in the three hours we were there, including three manifests. I'll be busy for a good while. Rumor has it that next year, we'll move to Thursday, which should mean a couple more trains while we're there.My biggest discovery is that most of the covered hoppers owned by the Saskatchewan government (SKNX, SKPX>CP) appear to have gone to a company called Mobil Grain, and are being relettered MGLX. This may have been a couple of years ago, but I saw my first one yesterday.
Are those bushes you speak of are as bad as kudzu ?? kudzu can grow very fast along the railroad right of way hiding a lot of signage. Sister lived in southern Ga. near the tracks and said flower garden disapered.
Y6bs evergreen in my mind
Ns had a train waiting to go west.We paced a csx eastbound when going into Defiance to mow.We saw a green for another eastbound but decided to come home.We also stopped and gave hugs.Carl those canadian grain hoppers are all going to leasers from what I have heard.Chores to do here at home.
Saw a different reporting mark today. Don't remember the letters - what struck me was that the number ended with a letter, ie, 1002R.
Can't help you with the reporting mark, Larry, but the "R" at the end of the number means that the car is restricted to on-line service (surprise, if it's not your line!) due to age or some structural anomaly (friction bearings would be a good one these days).
Joe, the cars were to be returned to their lessors...CN and CP. Many of the SKPX cars were, but few if any of the SKNX cars. Mobil Grain apparently leases some trackage and locomotives up in Saskatchewan as well as these cars (nearly 600 of the original 1000).
CShaveRRCan't help you with the reporting mark, Larry, but the "R" at the end of the number means that the car is restricted to on-line service (surprise, if it's not your line!) due to age or some structural anomaly (friction bearings would be a good one these days).
It was a couple of covered hoppers, as I recall. Wish I'd noted the initials. I was busy trying to get our train ready to go out.
But they were on CSX Q620 - right on the Chicago mainline in Utica.
Ns sent an eastbound and the local was uptown as well.The rain fizzled out on us as well.Going to do some chores.
I write this with help from my contributers. Been needing a right knee replacement that was tenative planned next Jan or FEB, Knee suddelnly went bad in mid July. Went my heart doctor last week to get knee replacement clearance. His EKG showed very little difference from previous EKGs. Some how he had just a hunch. He decided to schedule a heart cath as a precautionary. We had some skepticism that it was needed.
Went in Wedensday afternoon for the cath procedure. An immediate concern at the pre op preparation EKG suggested cath was immediately needed like yesterday . Heart cath found a 90% blockage that was only 17% two months earlier. The 20 - 25 minute original schedule turned to a 2 hour stint. Was awake whole time to help surgeon and have to say the mechanics of the procedure were fascinating. Surgeon did the ballon angioplasty (sp?) then installed a stent. Speculation is that I would have had a massive MI ( heart attack ) within a month. Talk about close calls. If hadn't needed the early knee replacement now the obits would have been the order of the day within weeks ? Had to stay ovenight at hospital and now already home today. The Cath was done thru right wrist. Cannot apply more than 5 pounds any direction on right arm for a week. Guess will catch up here and backlog of paper work.
Moral------- Listen to your doctor's hunches. OH-----Knee replacement now has to be postponed for 6 months ! Going to be hobbling around here big time with cane, roollator, and crutches !. Also now taking an anti-congulant on a strict 12 hour interval ! At least can mow our 2-1/2 acres on the John Deere zero turn ! .
blue streak 1 Was awake whole time to help surgeon and have to say the mechanics of the procedure were fascinating.
I had a diagnostic cath a few years ago after the doc didn't like the results of my nuclear stress test. I was awake, too, and since I understand EKG's it was fascinating to watch that in relation to what they were doing with the cath.
Afterwards, the doc said I was OK to run a marathon...
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