Trains.com

Chatterbox Summer 2019

14154 views
254 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois
  • 13,681 posts
Posted by CShaveRR on Wednesday, September 18, 2019 4:46 PM

We did our flu shots yesterday, too.  Debating the shingles vaccine, but not yet.  

Today I cleared out about 30 square feet or more of weeds in our back yard.  I'm hoping for a miracle that will turn that into lawn. Right now it looks pretty green, but it isn't pretty.

That was this morning.  Then I went to cardiac rehab this afternoon, and did all right.  Pat and I bagged my harvest after we got back home.

I need a good train fix!  It's been nearly two weeks since I've made any meaningful observations.  I have another rehab session tomorrow morning (they're increasing my resistances almost imperceptibly).  Eventually I'll be increased from two sets per session to three (then four, down the road).  I can handle it.

What I was trying to say before the rehab got in the way is that we have our weekly session at the Peck Homstead tomorrow afternoon.  I certainly hope we get more freights (and not just intermodal!) through there than we did last week.  

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
    December 2001
  • From: Burlington, WI
  • 1,418 posts
Posted by rvos1979 on Wednesday, September 18, 2019 8:05 PM

BaltACD

Watched Tractor Pulls at the Ohio State Fair a couple of decades ago.

Was most impressed with what they were calling 'Super Stock Tractors'  Diesel farm tractors that had been 'breathed' on!  Turbo whine coupled with a black smoke exhaust jetting skyward for 100 feet or more.

The multi-engined Unlimiteds were fun - and then someones GMC blower would let go.

The Super stock class has split into two classes now, diesel and open. Open allows alcohol for fuel, and they usually make more power than diesels.........

My DVD library this week includes several volumes of the series 'Wild Rides, Wrecks, and Fire', which is basically what happens when things go wrong in the sport. With the Super Stock class making between 200 and 300 psi of boost, you can imagine what happens when something lets go. As one announcer is noted for saying, it's nothing that about forty thousand dollars won't fix........

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

  • Member since
    March 2016
  • From: Burbank IL (near Clearing)
  • 13,540 posts
Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Thursday, September 19, 2019 6:48 AM

I can only imagine how far the shrapnel flies when the engines or drive trains self-destruct.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Thursday, September 19, 2019 7:34 AM

CSSHEGEWISCH
I can only imagine how far the shrapnel flies when the engines or drive trains self-destruct.

Don't know about tractor pulling, but the NHRA and other drag racig organizations required the use of various kevlar blankets on their blown cars as protection against some of the shrapnel that exploding engines create.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,319 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Thursday, September 19, 2019 2:25 PM

afternoon

Ns sent an eastbound stack train when I got off work.Chores and errands 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").

 

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,021 posts
Posted by tree68 on Thursday, September 19, 2019 5:46 PM

CSSHEGEWISCH

I can only imagine how far the shrapnel flies when the engines or drive trains self-destruct.

Remember that red line around jet engines? As I understand it, that was where the compressor blades were, and if said fan came apart, in line with the plane was not the place to be...

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
    December 2001
  • From: Burlington, WI
  • 1,418 posts
Posted by rvos1979 on Thursday, September 19, 2019 9:21 PM

CSSHEGEWISCH

I can only imagine how far the shrapnel flies when the engines or drive trains self-destruct.

Not very far, actually. NTPA has extensive rules concerning engine and driveline shielding that protects both drivers and spectators. Some items are shared between sanctioning bodies (blower restraints and clutch/transmission blankets, for example), and others are unique to the sport, like cabling wrapped around the engine block between #1 and #2 cylinders of inline engines. This prevents the top half of the engine block from launching itself into the driver should the engine block fail in a run. NTPA even has their own specifications for roll cages for various classes........

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

  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Kenosha, WI
  • 6,567 posts
Posted by zardoz on Thursday, September 19, 2019 10:34 PM

CShaveRR
I need a good train fix!  It's been nearly two weeks since I've made any meaningful observations.

FWIW, UP pulled one of the hopper trains (not WEPX--a mix of reporting marks) that has been sitting on the outer loop at Pleasant Prairie ever since the plant stopped accepting coal. I was amazed at how much rust had formed on the wheels in such a relatively short time. Still one train's worth of actual WEPX hoppers sitting there on the inner loop.

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Georgia USA SW of Atlanta
  • 11,919 posts
Posted by blue streak 1 on Friday, September 20, 2019 12:30 PM

tree68

 Remember that red line around jet engines? As I understand it, that was where the compressor blades were, and if said fan came apart, in line with the plane was not the place to be...

 

Turbo props and recip engined airplanes also had some markings on some aircraft.  The Electra had  reinforced band around the fuselage in the prop plane.  What material reinforcement  have no idea.

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,319 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Friday, September 20, 2019 7:00 PM

evening

Took brother out tailgateing at the Butler library.Had some old fashioned chicken noodles and mashed potatoes.Ns ran some trains by.Had a cp run through with unit 8939.It had a Strathcona's label on the front.There was a train on the wabash side waiting for a northbound.I think the northbound got stuck at St.Joe due to Csx traffic.Didn't make the the southside residents of Butler too happy with the crossing being blocked.Need to get a shower.

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
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,021 posts
Posted by tree68 on Friday, September 20, 2019 11:33 PM

JoeKoh
Didn't make the the southside residents of Butler too happy with the crossing being blocked.

A fellow in Deshler today took matters in his own hands and drove up the ROW (on and over the tracks) from Marion Street to the rail park.  I'm sure the CSX crew blocking the crossing was looking on with amazement (as were we all).

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
    August 2008
  • From: Calgary AB. Canada
  • 2,298 posts
Posted by AgentKid on Saturday, September 21, 2019 12:51 AM

JoeKoh
Had a cp run through with unit 8939.It had a Strathcona's label on the front.

Hello Joe, and all the other Chatterbox contributers.

Here is a bit about Lord Strathcona's Horse from Wikipedia.

Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) (LdSH [RC]) is a regular armoured regiment of the Canadian Army. Currently based in Edmonton, Alberta, the regiment is part of 3rd Canadian Division's 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group. Members of the regiment are commonly called Strathconas or Strats as a short form. It was one of the last regiments in the British Empire to be created and raised by a private individual, Donald Alexander Smith, 1st Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal.

Donald Smith was a co-founder of the Canadian Pacific Railway.

Bruce

 

So shovel the coal, let this rattler roll.

"A Train is a Place Going Somewhere"  CP Rail Public Timetable

"O. S. Irricana"

. . . __ . ______

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois
  • 13,681 posts
Posted by CShaveRR on Saturday, September 21, 2019 11:34 PM

I just received my November issue of Trains, with a renewal-notice envelope inserted.  The label says something like my old subscription expired in May 2012.  The thing is, my subscription doesn't expire until I do--I bought a lifetime subscription back when they were still available for $75.00 (1967, I think).  I think I've gotten my money's worth, but it's a terrible notice to receive the day after I was diagnosed with returning cancer.

(No fears there--we have a plan of attack and a very high probability of success thereon.)

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
    September 2013
  • 6,199 posts
Posted by Miningman on Saturday, September 21, 2019 11:48 PM

I hope someone at Kalmbach reads that. 

The insert should have read:

'Thank you for your lifetime subscription in effect since 1967. It has been subscribers such as yourself that has contributed to our long term success. We all hope you enjoy Trains magazine for many many more years to come'.

Or something like that along those lines.

Very bad ju-ju, ominous and totally impersonal. Computer generated nonsense with no oversight. It's disappointing.

Wishing you the very best. 

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois
  • 13,681 posts
Posted by CShaveRR on Sunday, September 22, 2019 8:35 AM

I'm sending the form back with a note of my own.  I can write; you can imagine.


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)

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy