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Chatterbox Fall 2019

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Posted by Electroliner 1935 on Wednesday, November 13, 2019 9:51 PM

[quote user="CShaveRR"]

 

 
Electroliner 1935

Carl, will the switches be removed or will there be any crosovers?

 



Having traversed it today, I can say that there is still a control point, but the configuration has been changed.  At Vale, eastbound trains can cross over from Tracks 1 or 3 to Track 2, but that's it.  However, there is enough room between the crossovers as currently configured for another pair to be installed at some later time, to make it a universal crossover.  And this is a possibility, because there is a covered lower signal head on 2 that would give instructions for a diverging route if it were in service./quote]

Thank you. This means that they added one switch to the middle track. It allows freight trains to operate on the center track without interference to/from scoots.

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Posted by JoeKoh on Thursday, November 14, 2019 2:46 PM

afternoon

Snowmelt day today.Ns local was uptown afetr work.Matt and Mamma are going uptown.I will be doing chores here.

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 Friday, November 15, 2019 2:33 PM

afternoon

Another snowmelt day.Ns sent a stack train westbound after work.Matt has to do dishes tonight.Taking brother on trip tomorrow.At least the roads will be clear.

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 Saturday, November 16, 2019 9:22 AM

The snow quit melting here overnight - the low temperature was in the vicinity of +8F.  

Of course, that means extra care so neither the locomotives nor the coaches freeze up.  And that means a lot of fuel.

Nice and sunny today, but still pretty nippy.

Since I'm working the railroad this weekend, I'm not home.  Missed a mutual aid garage fire.  Last I heard on the on-line scanner was that the homeowner had used his own backhoe to "separate" the garage from the house it was attached to...

LarryWhistling
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Posted by blhanel on Saturday, November 16, 2019 10:53 AM

tree68

Since I'm working the railroad this weekend, I'm not home.  Missed a mutual aid garage fire.  Last I heard on the on-line scanner was that the homeowner had used his own backhoe to "separate" the garage from the house it was attached to...

 

Was that before or after the fire started? Confused

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Posted by JoeKoh on Saturday, November 16, 2019 6:52 PM

Good Evening

Took brother and wandered on the eastern side of Indiana.Made a zig and a zag around US 30 and Decatur Indiana.Interesting construction in Geneva Indiana.They are replacing a bridge.Next to it looks like a former railroad bridge.There is also a bike path along US 27 there as well.We had a good visit.Saw plenty of pure horse power being used in the fields and on the roads.Tomorrow Matt is doing lunch after church.Might have enough snowmelt to blow some leaves as well.Neighbors trees are still waiting to drop.

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 BaltACD on Saturday, November 16, 2019 7:51 PM

JoeKoh
Good Evening

Took brother and wandered on the eastern side of Indiana.Made a zig and a zag around US 30 and Decatur Indiana.Interesting construction in Geneva Indiana.They are replacing a bridge.Next to it looks like a former railroad bridge.There is also a bike path along US 27 there as well.We had a good visit.Saw plenty of pure horse power being used in the fields and on the roads.Tomorrow Matt is doing lunch after church.Might have enough snowmelt to blow some leaves as well.Neighbors trees are still waiting to drop.

stay safe

Joe

Remember when US27 was the main N-S highway through Garrett, when our family lived there.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by tree68 on Saturday, November 16, 2019 10:13 PM

blhanel
Was that before or after the fire started? 

After.  The dispatch report I get said that the fire had started in the garage and hadn't gotten into the house yet.  Presumably it never did.  Not often we have a fire someplace with that kind of equipment already on scene.

I'm working the PE train on Sunday, too.  Will find out a little more when I get home and figure out who was on the call.

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
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Posted by JoeKoh on Sunday, November 17, 2019 1:37 PM

afternoon

Lunch was good.Stacey won a raffle prize.Had enough snowmelt to go blow some leaves around and chop them up for neighbor.Matt has 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 blhanel on Sunday, November 17, 2019 6:41 PM

tree68

 

 
blhanel
Was that before or after the fire started? 

 

After.  The dispatch report I get said that the fire had started in the garage and hadn't gotten into the house yet.  Presumably it never did.  Not often we have a fire someplace with that kind of equipment already on scene.

I'm working the PE train on Sunday, too.  Will find out a little more when I get home and figure out who was on the call.

 

Wow, demoing the garage to save the house.  Quick thinking on their part...

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Posted by tree68 on Sunday, November 17, 2019 9:06 PM

blhanel
Wow, demoing the garage to save the house.  Quick thinking on their part...

Quick driving on the owner's part - he was out hunting...

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 Monday, November 18, 2019 3:22 PM

afternoon

Ns was clear after work.Matt has to go do dishes.Chores for me to do here.A new employee at work says her son likes trains.My niece also messaged me to expect a new great nephew in the spring too.Better get at the 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 JoeKoh on Tuesday, November 19, 2019 3:47 PM

afternoon

Ns local was moving around after work.Ran some errands in town.Chores to do here.

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 Tuesday, November 19, 2019 4:21 PM

Interesting happening in Deshler last night.

I happened to be watching when a westbound came coasting quietly into view on the camera.  No horns, no lights, nothin'.

Apparently the lead unit was having engine problems.

A few minutes later they got the train rolling again.  Word was they would drop the lead unit in Hamler (next town down the line).

You just never know what you'll see...

LarryWhistling
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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 Deggesty on Tuesday, November 19, 2019 7:54 PM

Southwest Utah is expecting rain tomorrow--the first  rain since the middle of May. Snow is expected in the more northern mountains, with 8 inches expected at Soldier Summit.

Some ski resorts expect to open this weekend, and most by the end of the month.

Johnny

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Posted by rvos1979 on Tuesday, November 19, 2019 7:57 PM

Rather uneventful trip today, other than watching a pickup pulling a rental pump trailer lose said trailer on the interstate in Neenah. Either it was stolen, or the guy driving was clueless that he lost it, he kept on going down the interstate. Made quite the racket when it hit the median wall........

Another week, another Muskogee turn..........

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 CShaveRR on Tuesday, November 19, 2019 9:22 PM

Our weather today was enough above freezing that everything that fell was rain.  We had to go to Elmhurst today for dental appointments--one of us at noon and the other at 1:00 p.m.  Right during the lunch hour, so we had to come up with a way to keep our mouths clean and fresh.  I decided that I would leave home early, ride the scoot to Elmhurst, look over the new railroad-history exhibit at their magnificent museum, and take the first appointment.  Pat would eat lunch at home, and drive over for the later appointment.  Then we had to have something notarized.

Complications:  when our scoot got to Elmhurst, there was a westbound manifest sitting on Track 1, blocking six of the seven crossings in town.  Of course, I was probably the only person in the city overjoyed at this opportunity to check out some cars, which I did in some detail until it started up (then in less detail as it picked up speed).

Second complication:  the magnificent museum was closed until later in the afternoon, so I didn't see the exhibit today.  We'll be in town again within the week, so we'll try again.

Soon after I got back, an intermodal train came out of the yard and stopped on Track 1.  He apparently was making a double, as he backed in a short distance, then sat.  And sat.  Both scoots came and went.  Then another westbound intermodal, an auto-rack train, then an eastbound coal train and an ethanol train.  Finally, he got moving and out of town, after tying up the downtown for well over 40 minutes.  If PSR calls for longer trains like this, I hope they can find a less disruptive way to put them together!

My dental appointment wasn't boring at all, thankfully--just a cleaning and checkup.  I then waited for Pat to show up before heading to lunch.  As I left the office, a westbound manifest left the yard.  While she was in for her checkup (and x-rays), I had a good lunch and was treated to a couple of stack trains and a scoot.

I had a good window for train-watching at the restaurant.  Also looking through the window was a three-year-old little guy, who was excited for the trains, but very well behaved otherwise--his grandmother (I assume) and another lady about the same age were at a table nearby.  When I left I complimented them on his behavior and said that the lucky kids love trains this way all their lives.

When Pat was done, we took care of our banking business, and saw a couple more stack trains before leaving town.  We had an errand to run back in Lombard, and caught yet another stacker.

My resource for online checkling out of the sightings I get has been unavailable to me for a couple of days, with no estimated time of getting it back up.  Today I got several series of new cars, a new (to me) reporting mark, and a couple of interesting secondhand cars that I think I can deal with on my own.

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 Wednesday, November 20, 2019 4:57 AM

Tree: Good luck with your PE excursions. Our CRRM circular operation (vs your lineal operation) is off and running with a longer program. As hard as they try, a few bugz manage to creep-in, some humerous (especially some of the wardrobe and technical fails)....BELIEVE!

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 tree68 on Wednesday, November 20, 2019 7:52 AM

mudchicken

Tree: Good luck with your PE excursions. Our CRRM circular operation (vs your lineal operation) is off and running with a longer program. As hard as they try, a few bugz manage to creep-in, some humerous (especially some of the wardrobe and technical fails)....BELIEVE!

Our operation seems to get a few tweaks every year.  Some we come up with, some at the behest of the licensing people.  OTOH, the licensing people have made some requests that we've successfully refused over the years, as we feel how we do it has advantages for us.

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
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Posted by JoeKoh on Wednesday, November 20, 2019 4:04 PM

Hi

Ns sent a westbound tanker train with 2 cn units on the point.Came home and  crunched up some more leaves.Tomorrow the guessers say rain.Found some more material to be useful 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 CSSHEGEWISCH on Thursday, November 21, 2019 6:55 AM

We're in the middle of a brief warming spell.  Today's high is predicted to be in the 50's and right now it's raining heavily. It should wash down the remaining salt and other crud off of the sidewalks.  Train was on time this morning despite the slower loading because of the rain.

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 Thursday, November 21, 2019 2:32 PM

afternoon

Rain and wind here in Nw Ohio.Ns was clear when I left work.Chores to do here.

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 21, 2019 2:59 PM

We're supposed to get a lot of wind tomorrow.  Right now, the trend line for the barometer on my home weather station is in free fall.

Another weekend of Polar Express coming up.

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 Friday, November 22, 2019 4:41 PM

evening

Ns local was uptown when we left work today.Reserved the hall for next June for Matt's graduation party.Matt was asked to come in and do dishes tonight.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").

 

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Posted by tree68 on Friday, November 22, 2019 9:47 PM

First night of PE for the weekend is in the books.  Our F10 decided to misbehave for reasons as yet undiscovered, so it went along for the ride but wasn't working - an RS18u got the duty instead.  

Took a few minutes to get myself re-oriented, though.  The main controls are in the same place on every AAR stand.  It's the little stuff that gets moved around.

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 Saturday, November 23, 2019 6:30 PM

Good Evening

Got reports of Detroit Edison coal trains coming on Csx.Was busy earlier today chopping leaves,tonight it's shoveling snow.Only in NW Ohio.Matt is doing dishes tonight.We'll see what I can find on csx 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 tree68 on Saturday, November 23, 2019 9:38 PM

One. Thirty. Amp. Fuse.  Shut down the whole locomotive...  

All fixed now, and the F10 again took two trainloads of happy kids and their families to the North Pole.

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, November 24, 2019 10:02 AM

Morning

Saw some Csx action.Csx local (J715) came into town and set a string of coal hoppers off at omni for scrapping.Saw a few frieghts and combo trains as well.Csx had to close a crossing again for a broken rail in the crossing.Makes the detour around for the Clinton street bridge a bit longer trip for some people.Matt has to go do dishes tonight.

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 BaltACD on Sunday, November 24, 2019 11:26 AM

JoeKoh
Morning

Saw some Csx action.Csx local (J715) came into town and set a string of coal hoppers off at omni for scrapping.Saw a few frieghts and combo trains as well.Csx had to close a crossing again for a broken rail in the crossing.Makes the detour around for the Clinton street bridge a bit longer trip for some people.Matt has to go do dishes tonight.

stay safe

Joe

Don't have the real reason as to why, but this time of year it seems that a higher percentage of 'broken rails' that are discovered are found IN highway grade crossings.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by ChuckCobleigh on Sunday, November 24, 2019 1:07 PM

tree68
One. Thirty. Amp. Fuse.  Shut down the whole locomotive...  

If had been a fifty amp fuse, you could have blamed The Rolling Stones, I guess.Big Smile

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