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Chatterbox Winter 2018-2019

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Posted by Deggesty on Thursday, February 28, 2019 8:34 PM

Raandy, be careful about taking weather from Louisiana up north; some of the Illinois weather may slip down in the the place of what you took, and Paul, who lives just north of Lake Pontchartrain, would be unhappy.

Johnny

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Posted by JoeKoh on Friday, March 1, 2019 2:23 PM

afternoon

Ns was clear when I left work.Mother nature is going to open up the freezer again next week.Can someone tell her it's March?

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 narig01 on Friday, March 1, 2019 2:24 PM

Johnny it may be too late, looked at the forecast for next week here in SW Arkansas,  In the twenties overnite temps next week. 

       I guess that's what I get for talking about warm weather earlier.

Rgds IGN

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Posted by narig01 on Friday, March 1, 2019 2:34 PM

PS The northern part of the state may get 1-2 inches of snow.  

The news https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2019/mar/01/blast-winter-air-and-cold-temps-hit-parts-arkansas/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=midday-3-1-19&utm_content=midday-3-1-19+CID_b1c2eb2d31f452bed117f62782af4fff&utm_source=Email%20Marketing%20Platform&utm_term=READ%20MORE

 

Brrrr

Also I had to go back and fix the previous, I misspelled Johnny's name. Sorry bout that.

Rgds IGN

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Posted by JoeKoh on Saturday, March 2, 2019 2:49 PM

afternoon

Had some sunshine but that north wind Brrrrr.Coworkers team won today.They will play tomorrow at 11 am.If they win that game they go to Columbus.Csx was crowded.Saw an extra autorack train turn south at Galetea.Ns had an eastbound oil train at East Mortimer.Saw q 090 at Holgate.Had a big load of power poles.Matt needs to go do dishes.

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 Paul of Covington on Saturday, March 2, 2019 4:33 PM

Deggesty

Raandy, be careful about taking weather from Louisiana up north; some of the Illinois weather may slip down in the the place of what you took, and Paul, who lives just north of Lake Pontchartrain, would be unhappy.

 

   Actually I wouldn't mind a little of that.   The last couple of weeks we've had several days in the low 80's, and a bunch of flowers are in bloom, but we might be flirting with a light freeze in about three days.

_____________ 

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

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Posted by Miningman on Sunday, March 3, 2019 2:05 AM

You want me to heat this up?

This is Alberta and Saskatchewan right now. 

https://youtu.be/HfXQGlF7YtI

 

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Posted by JoeKoh on Sunday, March 3, 2019 6:27 AM

morning

Getting ready to go back for co-workers game today.Csx is also doing more crew changes at North Baltimore than Willard.Get to hear the dispatcher play 20 questions with the trains.Blocks up the Deshler area nicely at times.Calling for snow and cold but the real cold will be the next couple of days.

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, March 3, 2019 6:52 AM

JoeKoh
Blocks up the Deshler area nicely at times.

Yeah - Deshler's been quite the zoo lately.

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, March 3, 2019 1:53 PM

afternoon

Co-workers team punched the ticket for Columbus.Got to see conductor friend take q 150 out of North Baltimore.Was able to secure some good salads for a cookout coming up in Deshler.Snow squalls this afternoon.Matt needs to do dishes.Back to work for me 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 Paul of Covington on Sunday, March 3, 2019 3:03 PM

Miningman

You want me to heat this up?

This is Alberta and Saskatchewan right now. 

https://youtu.be/HfXQGlF7YtI

 

    I still think the best way to enjoy your kind of weather is by looking at it through a picture window from a nice warm cabin.

_____________ 

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

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Sunday, March 3, 2019 3:59 PM

Tornados are scattered all over middle and south Georgia.  So far closest about 40 miles south of us.  Columbus ga and into Alabama a different story.  Total count will probably take several days.  At least 30 different locations but how many were same tornados not known yet.  Probably will effect some RR lines.  Saw on TV what appeared to be the bottom frame of a mobile home.  Axel only part of home still attached. 

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Posted by Miningman on Sunday, March 3, 2019 4:16 PM

Paul of Covington-- You are absolutely correct but a cabin is a bit of a stretch. We have regular homes. I watch and enjoy from my patio doors, overlooking the backyard, from the kitchen, enjoying my morning coffee. Even my dog limits her time to 2 minutes tops. Vehicle has auto start, nice and toasty when I get in, and kept in garage that has propane heat. You have to limit your outside time, frostbite in minutes.

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Posted by Paul of Covington on Sunday, March 3, 2019 4:57 PM

Confused   I always thought you guys lived in igloos.

_____________ 

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

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Posted by Miningman on Sunday, March 3, 2019 6:06 PM

If all these Green New Deal folks get into power that's what will happen! Of course not them!

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Posted by mudchicken on Monday, March 4, 2019 12:00 AM
Single digits most of the day. Finally got to zero - guess we have no temperature to go along with the five inches of fresh powder. 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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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Monday, March 4, 2019 7:19 AM

A log cabin isn't always clearly visible as such from the outside.  I remember going to Sunday Mass in Grand Portage MN in 1976 in a log cabin church.  The church had white siding on the outside but the logs and mortar were quite visible on the inside.

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 Monday, March 4, 2019 2:52 PM

afternoon

Ns was clear after work.Ran errands after work.Going to do chores here at home.The sunshine is nice but BRRR.it's still cold.

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 Monday, March 4, 2019 8:35 PM

Today was a cold one--starting out well below zero, and not getting too far above ten degrees all day. And the wind was penetrating several layers while we were out for Physical Therapy and fabric shopping.

 
Last Friday I celebrated the end of my cold by taking a saunter to Elmhurst for some train-watching (it may have been a saunter too far because I may have relapsed a bit today). As it was the first of the month, I had payday errands to perform; they involved two banks in Elmhurst, so that was done, too. While I was there, I was able to see a freight car that had been built in January 2019. That was a personal goal met. The other goal met was that neither Pat nor I used the car at all that day. From home to the station and back, from one bank to the other, etc., I got a good 4.5 miles of walking in. I felt fine afterwards...immediately afterwards. It prompted a report to my friends the following day (only two pages...the smallest in a long while).
 
Sunday after church Pat wanted to eat in LaGrange, and I was happy to accommodate that, as it allows me to watch trains along a different main line, hence see different combinations of cars that may include stuff I haven't seen before. The very first car I saw was one from the same series from which I'd seen my 1/19 car (this one was built in 12/18). The same train also had six or seven stack cars that had been built in 2/19, so I'm back on firm footing with my sightings, and no longer feel terribly deprived. Now I'm working on renumbering tables for series containing several other cars from Friday's sightings...they were unfinished from previous sightings, for whatever reason, but we try not to allow that any more.
 
 
 
Tomorrow we'll be at the Peck House Museum for our regular Tuesday-afternoon stint. It's Railfan Tuesday, and it's colder'n heck out there. Come on in, and we can talk about whatever questions you might have about what goes by, the signal systems, or stuff like that.

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 JoeKoh on Tuesday, March 5, 2019 2:40 PM

afternoon

Ns local was uptown after work.Had some snow squalls and a stiff NW wind to go with it on the way home.Looks like the snow squalls followed us home.Chores to do.Going to stay inside and keep warm.

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 Tuesday, March 5, 2019 9:24 PM

No guests on Railfan Tuesday...but we won't close up shop as long as there is one railfan there watching things.   Here was our haul for this afternoon:

1255:  A westbound stack train, on Track 2.

1300:  Eastbound Metra scoot 48, five cars, crossing from Track 1 to Track 3.

1310:  An eastbound manifest, two units on the point and a DPU on the hind end.  Track 2.

1316:  The westbound local for West Chicago, two units, going the "wrong way" on Track 1.  Lots of auto racks on the head end.

1319:  Westbound Metra scoot, seven cars, Track 3.

1346:  A westbound intermodal on Track 2.  Two units.

1401:  Metra eastbound scoot 50, six cars, on Track 1.  He didn't cross over, because...

1402:  A westbound manifest, two units on the point and a mid-train DPU, Track 2.

1422:  A westbound scoot, eight coaches, Track 3.

1500:  Eastbound Metra scoot 52, seven cars, Track 1.

1520:  The next westbound scoot, six cars, Track 3.

1532:  A westbound intermodal train, three units on the point, Track 2.

1540:  An eastbound methanol train (three units, two buffer cars), Track 1.

1600:  Eastbound Metra 54, eight coaches, crossing over, Track 1 to Track 3.

1607:  An eastbound manifest, Track 1 (I was out of position to see the power).

A word about the tracks...if Track 2 seems to be overused, it's possibly because the train might be crossing from one track to another...any train making a crossover move is on Track 2 past me at this point, and the crossovers require no reduction in speed for any freight.

On one train today was a Canadian National centerbeam car, built 1/19.  

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 Murphy Siding on Tuesday, March 5, 2019 10:01 PM

Am I losing it if this made me smile?> yesterday was bitter cold (again). I was stopped at a busy intersection waiting for a very big fire engine to go through. As it turned the corner the driver poure  on the coals to accelerate. Probably due to the weather conditions, billows of black smoke poured out of twin stacks and reminded me of a steam locomotive. I'm so sick of winter.

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

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Posted by tree68 on Tuesday, March 5, 2019 10:07 PM

Murphy Siding
I was stopped at a busy intersection waiting for a very big fire engine to go through. As it turned the corner the driver poure  on the coals to accelerate. Probably due to the weather conditions, billows of black smoke poured out of twin stacks and reminded me of a steam locomotive.

Well, I don't think ALCO made any fire engines, so....

But a little turbo lag on one of these Diesels will smoke things up, especially if it's an older truck.

Our '93 pumper could leave a bit of a trail.  I haven't really noticed if the 2014 will.

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 BaltACD on Wednesday, March 6, 2019 7:24 AM

tree68
 
Murphy Siding
I was stopped at a busy intersection waiting for a very big fire engine to go through. As it turned the corner the driver poure  on the coals to accelerate. Probably due to the weather conditions, billows of black smoke poured out of twin stacks and reminded me of a steam locomotive. 

Well, I don't think ALCO made any fire engines, so....

But a little turbo lag on one of these Diesels will smoke things up, especially if it's an older truck.

Our '93 pumper could leave a bit of a trail.  I haven't really noticed if the 2014 will.

A fad among the younger generation is 'Rollng Coal'.  Having their diesel pick up trucks tuned so that the go 'over rich' with their fuel injector so that the exhaust is coal black when they 'step on it'.  Most current diesel engines are using Electronic Fuel Injection and there are easily obtainable products that allow people to electronically change many engine operating parameters within the engines ECU.

I have no doubt that some of the younger mechanics around the Fire House might dabble in playing with the ECU's of the fire engines.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by JoeKoh on Wednesday, March 6, 2019 2:27 PM

afternoon

Ns had an intermodal train start rolling west when I left work.Sunshine is nice but still cold.Going to do chores.

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 Wednesday, March 6, 2019 3:59 PM

tree68
Murphy Siding
I was stopped at a busy intersection waiting for a very big fire engine to go through. As it turned the corner the driver poure  on the coals to accelerate. Probably due to the weather conditions, billows of black smoke poured out of twin stacks and reminded me of a steam locomotive.

Well, I don't think ALCO made any fire engines, so....

But a little turbo lag on one of these Diesels will smoke things up, especially if it's an older truck.

Our '93 pumper could leave a bit of a trail.  I haven't really noticed if the 2014 will.

I got my 2018 Cummins to pour out the smoke, although it was unintentional........

Was puttering around in a customer's yard when the truck decided to go into regeneration mode. Batch #1 of raw fuel went into the exhaust, but I shut down the truck before it ignited. When I restarted the truck and left the customer, batch #2 of raw fuel went into the exhaust, and when I took off from a traffic signal going up a hill, everything ignited at once.  Was quite impressive from the driver's seat looking at it in the mirrors..........

Short day today, at LaPlace, LA, this afternoon, delivery fifteen miles away in the morning, then head to Port Hudson for a load home. Might be home Saturday this week, I can make it in two days, but only if conditions are right, and Chicago is hardly right on a 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 Wednesday, March 6, 2019 4:02 PM

BaltACD
I have no doubt that some of the younger mechanics around the Fire House might dabble in playing with the ECU's of the fire engines.

That's fine, but don't go around asking for donations when they blow the thing up.

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 BaltACD on Wednesday, March 6, 2019 5:06 PM

zugmann
 
BaltACD
I have no doubt that some of the younger mechanics around the Fire House might dabble in playing with the ECU's of the fire engines. 

That's fine, but don't go around asking for donations when they blow the thing up.

You will never know if they blew it up - unless the 'media' was on hand when it went.  

Railroads are doing the same things with their EFI locomotives.  CSX in 'derating' their ES44DC's to be ES40DC's did it by 'playing' with the engine control software.  I really wonder what horsepower could be obtained from a EVO if they 'optimized' the settings for MAX horsepower?

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by rvos1979 on Wednesday, March 6, 2019 6:01 PM

Just found out that Ed Blysard passed away this morning, one of his daughters posted on Facebook...........

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 Miningman on Wednesday, March 6, 2019 6:31 PM

So sorry and sad to hear.  

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