mudchicken The canada geese are NOT getting the message to start heading south. Life is good in the Denver area (still green!) and its getting tough to avoid these guys hanging out in medians and traffic circles around here. Goose poop is becoming an issue again.
The canada geese are NOT getting the message to start heading south. Life is good in the Denver area (still green!) and its getting tough to avoid these guys hanging out in medians and traffic circles around here. Goose poop is becoming an issue again.
Our geese seem to be flocking up and getting ready to head south, although I have yet to see any "v's" overhead.
Was driving past a farm Sunday. They've got a couple of ponds close to the highway, and as I was passing some 200 or more geese were wheeling in on "final" to the pond. Quite the sight.
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...
mudchickenThe canada geese are NOT getting the message to start heading south. Life is good in the Denver area (still green!) and its getting tough to avoid these guys hanging out in medians and traffic circles around here. Goose poop is becoming an issue again.
On my golf course walk yesterday a small flock of Canada geese made an appearance; no small chicks so I don't think they were the locals who didn't fly north this past spring to the land of poutine. Both groups are smarter than the local tom wild turkeys - good for the latter there is absolutely no hunting allowed here.
My previous temperature report was too high - lows this week are supposed to be just below 50F. Hey, I know, no sympathy from the colder climes.
Links to my Google Maps ---> Sunset Route overview, SoCal metro, Yuma sub, Gila sub, SR east of Tucson, BNSF Northern Transcon and Southern Transcon *** Why you should support Ukraine! ***
afternoon
Ns local left some cars uptown after work. Mother nature sent some rain and it is still muggy out right now.Chores to do here at home.
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").
evening
Had an extra errand to do tonight.Also took my brother a couple things as well.Saw a couple trains on Ns on the way home.Tomorrow is Friday.Will be glad when work is done.
Ns had an eastbound detroit edison train in the siding when I left work.Worked on the yard here.Mother nature is putting Fall into gear now.Going to work on the inside stuff tomorrow.
Happy Silver Anniversary to Joe and Stacey (Momma)!
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)
Good Morning
Thank you Carl.Early church then off to G+G's house.Matt had a good time at homecoming last night.He does have to do dishes tonight.Hoping for no rain fo next Saturday when Matt rides the DT&I special.
Goes down Kalmbach's back hallway, opens closet, kicks server really hard, limps back towards diner.....
Chicken Little Dept.: Road signs and local media going nuts over approaching winter weather, snow and a 65 degree drop in temperature in under 24 hours. (Darned canuckians left the door open again - maybe the geese will get the message...)
mudchicken Goes down Kalmbach's back hallway, opens closet, kicks server really hard, limps back towards diner..... Chicken Little Dept.: Road signs and local media going nuts over approaching winter weather, snow and a 65 degree drop in temperature in under 24 hours. (Darned canuckians left the door open again - maybe the geese will get the message...)
Thanks for the "re-boot", MC. Re the other topic, weather will make our trip to Portland via the Empire Builder real interesting Saturday/Sunday...
Brian (IA) http://blhanel.rrpicturearchives.net.
mudchickenRoad signs and local media going nuts over approaching winter weather, snow and a 65 degree drop in temperature in under 24 hours.
How about steering that weather over (slowly) to NorCal. Pigs Goats & Elephants (the PoCo) has shut off power for some fire+wind prone areas, one just west of me. I'm out of town but my power seems to be up (underground in our community).
Been watching the Tehachapi webcams - massive congestion due to a derailment on single track to the west (Woodford siding) two days ago. Just reopened, WBs seen on both mains so traffic must be backed up to Barstow ..... map link: http://g.co/maps/g7k8e
All the local newscasts I saw yesterday gave warnings to get your lawn watering systems shut off and drained before tonight (if you don't, you may need new pipes). Maybe MC has another day of grace before taking care of his.
I have an advantage in living in assisted living--I do not worry about such any more.
Johnny
good morning
Down here in the hills and mountains.Having a good time.Too many people on the cell phone.Going to go find some breakfast.Trip back to flat Ohio is tomorrow.
DeggestyAll the local newscasts I saw yesterday gave warnings to get your lawn watering systems shut off and drained before tonight (if you don't, you may need new pipes).
Ma Nature handles my lawn watering tasks, and if her system freezes up, we have to shovel.
Got a call late Tuesday, "can you work a train Wednesday?", so that's how I spent Wednesday. Fortunately, the trip was relatively uneventful, which was good as we didn't have much of a crew, numbers-wise.
Gonna be busy most of the weekend. Our annual fall chicken barbeque is Sunday, and this being Fire Prevention Week, I'll be at the local elementary school teaching the little ones to be fire safe.
This week is the anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire, which I believe is why Fire Prevention Week occurs when it does. At any rate, our building customarily holds a fire drill during October, so that should be coming soon. Columbus Day is a paid holiday for us, so I will probably be at Elmhurst, exercising the camera.
(1) Lightly snowing in Denver this morning. Scottie Dog is extra frisky today. Ground is too warm for the snow to stick just yet, if at all today. Gets icy-er as you go north towards Wyoming.(It was 80 degrees here yesterday- High temp today expected to maybe make it to 30.)
(2) Water system is insulated and drained. Maybe this year the damned anti-siphon valve won't fail. (drained and insulated, looks like a giant lollipop under all that foam rubber insullation)
(3) We are taking in a refugee from the California enforced blackout today (just fortunate our visitor from Mendocino County had already had this planned) .... The Bay Area whiners (pansies) deserve this - this is nothing new to the more rural folks. (and PG&E certainly deserves the raspberrries it's getting for a generation of bad fiscal policy where they failed to invest in plant and put lines u/g)
CSSHEGEWISCHThis week is the anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire, which I believe is why Fire Prevention Week occurs when it does.
It is.
Few people know, however, that a number of significant fires occurred at the same time, first and foremost the Peshtigo fire, which burned around 1.2 million acres and killed at least 1,500 people, although some estimates place that number closer to 2,500.
At the same time several large fires also burned across lower Michigan, consuming over a million acres and causing numerous deaths.
Hot, dry, windy conditions bore most of the blame, although one theory sets the cause as a meteorite (ie, fragments thereof), which could explain the widespread nature of the fires. That theory has been largely debunked.
A friend of a friend on FB posted pictures of a wedding party posed on railroad tracks. I pointed out that it was dangerous, and likely trespassing. Now I'm blocked....
tree68 A friend of a friend on FB posted pictures of a wedding party posed on railroad tracks. I pointed out that it was dangerous, and likely trespassing. Now I'm blocked....
If the power lines in California keep coming off their poles does that mean that the power companies are placing their poles too far apart for meeting these windy conditions?
blue streak 1If the power lines in California keep coming off their poles does that mean that the power companies are placing their poles too far apart for meeting these windy conditions?
Ah, no. PG&E paid higher dividends instead of learning lessons from earlier fires in San Diego county. They are now installing stronger distribution line components and, of course, clearing vegetation further away.
Much as been said about PoCo performance and liability, but the residents share equal risk for purposely choosing to live in high fire risk areas. Look at the current fire at the north end of the San Fernando Valley, not enough brush clearance. Even worse a few years ago in Orange County suburbs - the brush had not burned in decades! The county, state and federal fire agencies don't have infinite budget and manpower; these 'edge dwellers' must buck up and assess themselves a special fire district.
MikeF90...but the residents share equal risk...
They like their cedar shake roofs and want to live close to nature.
Some years ago I read about a fellow who had essentially fireproofed his house (ceramic tile roof, stucco siding, etc). When confronted by a fire that burned most of his neighbor's houses to the ground, his house was still standing.
Back home.Cincinnati and I-75 need a major plumber to come and clean out the system.While down south did take some pictures in the mountains.Still can see the results of the brush fires a few years ago.Here at home we the Ohio taxpayer got stuck to keep the first Energy Nuclear plants open.Why didn't the company use the profits to upkeep the facilities.Have chores and paperwork to do.Tomorrow Matt is going to uber me to the DT&I special.Friend had an extra ticket and couldn't go.Going to dress warm.
MikeF90 blue streak 1 If the power lines in California keep coming off their poles does that mean that the power companies are placing their poles too far apart for meeting these windy conditions? Ah, no. PG&E paid higher dividends instead of learning lessons from earlier fires in San Diego county. They are now installing stronger distribution line components and, of course, clearing vegetation further away. Much as been said about PoCo performance and liability, but the residents share equal risk for purposely choosing to live in high fire risk areas. Look at the current fire at the north end of the San Fernando Valley, not enough brush clearance. Even worse a few years ago in Orange County suburbs - the brush had not burned in decades! The county, state and federal fire agencies don't have infinite budget and manpower; these 'edge dwellers' must buck up and assess themselves a special fire district.
blue streak 1 If the power lines in California keep coming off their poles does that mean that the power companies are placing their poles too far apart for meeting these windy conditions?
tree68They like their cedar shake roofs and want to live close to nature.
Nobody likes cedar shake roofs out here now; good way to find your house uninsurable. The houses in my neighborhood had cedar shakes when built 50 years ago, I don't think any have them now, those few that have shakes have fiberglas or composition shakes.
tree68Some years ago I read about a fellow who had essentially fireproofed his house (ceramic tile roof, stucco siding, etc). When confronted by a fire that burned most of his neighbor's houses to the ground, his house was still standing.
That was in the hills above Malibu, if I recall the LA Times story from about 20 years ago or so. Paid attention to vents and soffits, tile roof, stucco with a coating that "evaporated" to keep things cool, sprinklers fed by a gasoline pump drawing from his swimming pool, if I remember right he had fire shutters to close over the windows. He actually rode out the fire at home.
One of our big problems for a while had to deal with different agencies preventing brush clearing on properties for "environmental reasons" because that was what the agencies were concerned about. I think a lot of that baloney got scotched after the 2003 Cedar fire down here. Now we have county folks going around and seeing that brush clearing has actually been done.
SDG&E had four circuits shut down today in the back country where the winds were most active, but as of 8:00 PM the power was back on in all circuits except for an unplanned outage near Escondido (cause not reported, at least yet) and two planned maintenance outages going on this evening. (There are usually five or six planned outages scheduled each weekday, year-round. These days, you get a notice in the mail a week or more before the scheduled outage.)
Train trip went pretty good today.Plenty of people were out taking pictures.Had to wait at Hamler for an eastbound on Csx.Also waited at Leipsic for an eastbound as well on NS.Hope the crew makes it back to Lima on time.Back to work for me tomorrow.
My freight-car-spotting friend from New Jersey gave me a couple of numbers to check out yesterday, and he hit the jackpot--both in quantity and quality--with them.He just asked me casually what the build dates and series limits would be in a series of SPMX covered hoppers. The series (of a type and size typically used for plastics transport) is currently being built...and based on the quantity it may be current for a long while--the series is SPMX 6950-8699, 1750 cars! Reporting marks SPMX are owned by the Shell Oil Company, which exited the plastics business about three decades ago. With these cars and the previous 250 cars, it appears that they'll be getting back into it in a big way.The other series he asked about was small by comparison--600 cars--but every bit as exciting to me. These are CN triple hoppers, small cube, lettered for the Bessemer & Lake Erie (35001-35600). The thing is, they're being rebuilt from modern aluminum coal gondolas about twice their capacity! They're about ballast-car size, but the regular hoppers are wrong for that. I'd love to have a look at one, if anyone has a picture they can post...we're talking a major rebuilding here.
Ns has some cars to shuffle uptown.Nice fall type evening.Going to relax.Matt is doing dishes.
Evening
Ns was clear when I left work.Did some trimming when I got home.Waiting on pen pal to stop by.Tomorrow it's a meeting in Deshler.
Ns local was uptown after work.Went to meeting in Deshler.Talked about things to finish up this year and project list for next year.New helpers are always welcome.Csx ran it's usual amont of trains as well.Time for bed.
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