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Chatterbox Fall 2018

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Posted by JoeKoh on Thursday, November 8, 2018 4:54 PM

evening

Ns had a westbound stack train with plenty of power go west.Then a frieght in the siding went west as well.The local was uptown when I left work too.Matt took care of some leaves today.Hope the volleyball team won.

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, November 7, 2018 6:07 PM

evening

Westbound sand hopper train was stil in the siding when I got off of work.There were also cars uptown for the local.Ran errands here at home.Going to get chilly soon according to the guessers.They are even saying that one four letter word as well.

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 CShaveRR on Wednesday, November 7, 2018 11:31 AM

I saw a sheet-load of trains yesterday afternoon (really!) while we were tending the Peck House. In fact, I had to write the last one on the other side of the sheet. I thought it was an interesting day. When we were heading from home to the Peck House, there was an eastbound train sitting at Finley Road, waiting to be allowed into the "terminal". He figured into things that happened for a while afterwards. But here's the story.

1255--A westbound stack train blocked the crossing at Grace Street as we were trying to get to the Peck House after going to the bank. He was on Track 3.

1303--An eastbound scoot came through, staying on Track 1. 

1320--The westbound scoot (on time) came through on Track 3; seven cars.

1324--A manifest train came west, powered by three locomotives, the second of which was a unit from the Kansas City Southern system. It came in on Track 2, but had to cross to Track 3 (that freight at Finley Road, remember)? One of the cars on this train was a brand-new woodchip gondola, contents covered by a tarpaulin. Not only was the car new to me, and the series (110 cars) not yet listed, but they were built by a new company hat had just set up in Trenton, Nova Scotia.

1339--An eastbound manifest train, with a UP and a Norfolk Southern unit on the point and another Union Pacific unit in the middle of the train. This was on Track 1. This train, by contrast, had a lot of ancient gondolas from the Tie Yard of Omaha, including series I hadn't seen before (these will also keep me busy for a while!).

1343--My view of the previous train was blocked by a westbound intermodal train--again on track 2, crossing over to 3. 

1354--Another westbound manifest train, with no fewer than six locomotive units on the point. He was on Track 3 all the way. 

1404--This hour's eastbound scoot, on Track 1. He had six coaches.

1409--A westbound intermodal train...four locomotives, and the first tub had an "ArroWedge" container on the upper level to reduce wind drag. Again, he had come in on Track 2, and had to cross over to Track 3.

1427--The westbound scoot, on Track 3. He had eight coaches.

1443--I heard the next train coming well before he got close--I haven't heard anything struggling as hard as this one in many years. It reminded me of Chicago & North Western days when there never seemed to be enough power to go around. It was an intermodal train with just one locomotive unit, eastbound on Track 2. Yep...that's the guy that we saw sitting there at Finley Road two hours earlier. 

1454--There was a westbound intermodal train on Track 2 (he must have crossed over to 2 from 3). Five locomotive units, and another ArroWedge container. He was moving pretty well. The gates didn't go up after he went through, because...

1456--An eastbound coal train, on Track 1. This one had an interesting mix of coal cars, all secondhand but from several different series. I got some cars with a reporting mark I'd never seen before (BBLX), and several series of MQRX cars that I have to research as well.

1501--A train made up exclusively of auto-rack cars went west on Track 3. The power was three units, a UP followed by two CSX engines. 

1504--The eastbound scoot (7 coaches) came by, crossing over from Track 1 to Track 3. (It's a safe bet that he would have caught up with the coal train before they got past Elmhurst, and Track 3 seemed to open up for him just in time.)

1514--An eastbound manifest, on Track 2, moving somewhat slowly. Before he got completely by me, we got...

1518--Another eastbound manifest, moving faster, on Track 1. 

1528--The westbound scoot, on Track 3. Had he been on time, we would have seen all three tracks occupied at once. As it was, this probably happened around the curve, at Villa Park.

 

That was it--the next eastbound scoot was at 1605, on Track 1, and that was the one we had to flip the sheet for. And since I didn't commit the first train to the sheet (I was driving), we wound up with a sheet-load plus two--19 trains in a little over three hours. Three sheets of notes on equipment, very little of which I could cross off. So I think I'll stay home today...unless I don't!

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)

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Posted by CShaveRR on Wednesday, November 7, 2018 11:20 AM

Ah, yes, that conflict of interest in Georgia has made the national news.  I hope the court decisions, the provisional ballots, etc., actually are enough to turn the tide toward fairness.

Pat and I voted early, and are satisfied with the results here in suburban Chicago.  It didn't take us too long to get through the process.

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)

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 7:04 PM

Our precicent had only 9 operating voting machines!  The back up line was :30 .  Noted there were 3 spare machines on the floor.  A few questions to an official after getting thru attempted obsification finally got the answer.  How many operational voting machines is set at the state level by the office of secretary of state.  Guess what office the present Secretary of state is running for in Georgia ? Your guess ! 

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Posted by JoeKoh on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 4:47 PM

Evening

Ns had some cars for uptown and a coal train in the siding when I left work.Voted and gave hugs today.Plenty of work at work.Matt's school decided to give them off Thursday for the volleyball state tournament game.He will be helping with yardwork and doing dishes Thursday night.Going to get supper.

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 BOB WITHORN on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 3:04 PM

Carl,  everyone else in Flint blames the water.

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Posted by BOB WITHORN on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 3:03 PM

Tree,  could be something there!!!

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Posted by BaltACD on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 2:46 PM

tree68
 
zugmann
Just think - you could have started your own coup d'état by not unlocking that door. 

I checked in a lunch time to make sure they were OK, facility-wise, and they were fretting about the large numbers of voters so far - almost afraid they'd run out of ballots...

There is no excuse for running out of ballots - the number of registered voters at a poling place is known - that number of ballots + a percentage for 'spoiled' ballots - wherein the voter marked one thing and realized it was in error and needed a fresh ballot to start all over again.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by tree68 on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 1:27 PM

zugmann
Just think - you could have started your own coup d'état by not unlocking that door.

I checked in a lunch time to make sure they were OK, facility-wise, and they were fretting about the large numbers of voters so far - almost afraid they'd run out of ballots...

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
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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 BaltACD on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 1:00 PM

Voted - in and out in 10 minutes.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by zugmann on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 12:42 PM

tree68
Voted first thing this morning (and first!) in no small part because I'm the guy who had to let the poll workers in to the polling place.

Just think - you could have started your own coup d'état by not unlocking that door.

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 CShaveRR on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 12:33 PM

BOB WITHORN
Recovering nicely from foot surgery last Friday the 2nd. Doing well enough I decided to move right into kidney stones, just in time for carpal tunnel surgery on the 19th. Other then that, it's just another boring day in Flint, Mi., the lead tainted water capital of North America.



Other than the kidney stones, you can't connect too much of that to the water.  It sounds like you can't catch a break!  Here's hoping you can stay up and about soon!

We had a scare with Linda yesterday, when she started having problems functioning.  Since she had brain radiation over the past couple of weeks, we worried that something was very wrong.  It turned out to be an inflammation that caused swelling of the meninges, which led to the mental manufestations.  A new steroid, and she's good to go--or as good as can be expected.

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)

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Posted by tree68 on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 9:32 AM

Voted first thing this morning (and first!) in no small part because I'm the guy who had to let the poll workers in to the polling place. 

Bob - Should I invest in suture thread?

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...

  • Member since
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  • From: Flint or Grand Rapids, Mi or Elkhart, It Depends on the day
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Posted by BOB WITHORN on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 8:09 AM
Recovering nicely from foot surgery last Friday the 2nd. Doing well enough I decided to move right into kidney stones, just in time for carpal tunnel surgery on the 19th. Other then that, it's just another boring day in Flint, Mi., the lead tainted water capital on North America.
  • Member since
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Posted by CShaveRR on Monday, November 5, 2018 9:51 PM

We're getting a soaking rain here tonight...might delay plans to rake/sweep leaves one of these days.  Temperatures are supposed to drop tomorrow, and they're using the S word in the forecasts for later this week.

Last weekend I saw a box car from the Huron Central Railway--HCRY.  These are mostle former HS cars (same numbers), but began life as Railbox cars.  I have nearly 300 of these to go through, one by one, to see where they came from.

We had a scare concerning daughter Linda today.  She suddenly lost most of her cognitive capabilities.  Turned out to be an inflammation of her meninges--no now lesions, thankfully.  A different steroid should solve that problem.

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)

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
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Posted by JoeKoh on Monday, November 5, 2018 4:57 PM

evening

Ns was clear when I left work.After work tomorrow need to vote and give hugs.Matt is off Thursday from school.His friends on the volleyball team are heading to Dayton for the state championships.Meanwhile on Friday 2 Mercer county schools need to play their playoff game in Sidney.(State football turf rules).Time for supper.

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, November 4, 2018 6:48 AM

I saw that unit (F unit) go through Deshler on the cam there, but there was rain on the camera and it was impossible to pick out any details.

Spent my budget at the train show in Syracuse - nothing spectacular, though, other than a fire truck into which lights had been mounted.

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...

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
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Posted by JoeKoh on Sunday, November 4, 2018 4:07 AM

good morning

Rain outside.Was a good day to clean up the yard yesterday.Went into town as well.Csx brought back a former NYC unit on s 370.It went west on q 389.Need to give hugs this 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").

 

  • Member since
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Posted by JoeKoh on Saturday, November 3, 2018 5:56 AM

good morning

Don't forget to "Fall back" on the clocks tonight.Also change those smoke detector batteries.Stuff inside to do then out to the yard.

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 Lightningdust on Friday, November 2, 2018 9:04 PM

Went from 70s to a rainstorm rivalling a hurricane.  Welcome to November.

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Posted by JoeKoh on Friday, November 2, 2018 4:52 PM

evening

Well Ns ran trains eastbound and westbound when I got off work today.The local just has some cars uptown.Tomorrow I'll work on the leaf collection out in the yard.

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 NorthWest on Friday, November 2, 2018 10:15 AM

Thanks! Hope this helps with the file effort.

PFPX seems to own a lot of the very old and very, very battered chip gons as well.

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Posted by CShaveRR on Friday, November 2, 2018 9:50 AM

Hi, Colin!

It should be PFPX 156701-156710.  Those were built in November 2017; they were joined by 156711-156730 this past February.  These are high-capacity gons for woodchips or other commodities of similar density.

This company (Calpac, L.L.C.) has also owned covered hopper cars (since 2001-2002) and large tank cars (since 2013).  I haven't seen any of these cars for myself yet.

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)

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Posted by mudchicken on Friday, November 2, 2018 12:48 AM

CShaveRR

So, what flavor are you donating?  Gator or Dew?

 

Jolt

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 NorthWest on Thursday, November 1, 2018 8:17 PM

Carl: I recently saw new  PFPX 156715, 156718 and 156720. I found a STB filing for PFPX 156700-710, but not these cars.

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Posted by JoeKoh on Thursday, November 1, 2018 4:47 PM

evening

Ditch filling rain falling in Nw ohio.Ns still has original train in the siding.Also an eastbound coal train on track 1.When I left work another eastbound frieght split both of them on track 2.Computers and engineers are still having problems talking to each other.They do not fully understand how us operators do things.Going to eat supper and get cleaned up.

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 Thursday, November 1, 2018 11:23 AM

Hey - Carl > Saw a bunch of new-looking 3 bay covered hoppers on the Deshler cam this morning.  IARX, 54000 series.  Came from the south, headed east.

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 tree68 on Wednesday, October 31, 2018 6:23 PM

Train vs wrecker last night just over the state line from you, Joe.  Wrecker lost, but apparently no one was hurt.

Trick or treating going slowly.  Big rush for about five minutes, now it's quiet again...

Good thing I've got the fire meeting tomorrow night - I can unload it there.

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...

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,319 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Wednesday, October 31, 2018 5:14 PM

evening

Ns train still there in the siding tonight.Heard a few reports.The ND&W derailed in Antwerp Ohio.Csx hit a tow truck near St.Joe Indiana(as the crew was moving a disabled car).Hulcher was called to Ns in New Haven.Work still busy.Computers aren't talking well to each other yet.Time for supper.

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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