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Chatterbox Fall 2019

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Posted by tree68 on Sunday, November 24, 2019 10:49 PM

ChuckCobleigh

 

 
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

Thumbs Up

Ran like a top tonight, except on the first trip the rails were a little slippery.  I pretty much laid out enough sand on the second trip to open a new beach...

LarryWhistling
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Posted by JoeKoh on Monday, November 25, 2019 5:23 PM

Evening

Ns sent a westbound stack train after work.The local was working uptown as well.Matt and I ran errands in town.Csx sent a westbound stack train.The Nd&W was shuffling cars around Fc as well.Matt helped me with the outside lights.I looked at them before we put them out.Oh well those are easier to change if they go out.Tomorrow after work we work on the tree inside.

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 26, 2019 4:21 PM

evening

Ns was clear after work today.The tree is up and the lights are on.Still had a couple bulbs to replace.We are under a high wind warning for tomorrow.Calling for rain but not snow.Other chores 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").

 

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Posted by Deggesty on Tuesday, November 26, 2019 8:20 PM

Yes, a large part of Utah received snow yesterday and last night--with the usual misdriving by people who thought they knew how to drive in snow. The tire shops were quite busy today as people realized they needed snow tires.

More snow is predicted tomorrow and Thursday--and St. George (SW Utah) is in trouble because there is no mechanized snow handling equipment in that part of the state. We will need ours up here.

Johnny

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Posted by tree68 on Tuesday, November 26, 2019 10:07 PM

Watching our weather - supposed to be at daughter's house for Thursday (with apple pie and cranberry relish) and I'm working trains Friday and Saturday.  Looks like I might get Sunday off, unless I stick around to help.

I was working on a small project at the fire station and returned to my house for some materials.  On the way back to the fire station I noticed it felt like I had a low tire, and I did.

Changing the flat isn't usually a challenge - I pull the wheels off the truck quite often.  Getting the spare off it's mounting under the truck was a different story entirely.  What a battle.  Of course, it hadn't been off in a number of years...

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 26, 2019 10:13 PM

tree68
Changing the flat isn't usually a challenge - I pull the wheels off the truck quite often.  Getting the spare off it's mounting under the truck was a different story entirely.  What a battle.  Of course, it hadn't been off in a number of years...

Bigger question - was the spare adequately inflated or had that situation also been 'overlooked' for the same number of years?  Before I undertake a long trip (which is 6 to 8 times a year) I crawl under the truck and put the air gauge on the Shrader valve.  Of course if the underslung tire has been put away 'backwards' then you can't access the valve.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by JoeKoh on Wednesday, November 27, 2019 2:47 PM

afternoon

Had an Ns westbound stack train moving slowy by after work.Came home and the swamp was filled up.Also had some branches down.Some areas have power out as well.Matt has to go do dishes tonight.Everyone have a Happy Thanksgiving.

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 Wednesday, November 27, 2019 2:49 PM

BaltACD
Bigger question - was the spare adequately inflated or had that situation also been 'overlooked' for the same number of years?  Before I undertake a long trip (which is 6 to 8 times a year) I crawl under the truck and put the air gauge on the Shrader valve.  Of course if the underslung tire has been put away 'backwards' then you can't access the valve.

It was low, but I have air available in the form of one of those little compressors.  I do check it on rare occasions, and there was enough air that I probably could have limped along for a short distance.

Fixing the flat was free.  Getting the good tire back on the truck took some time, in no small part because they felt one of the lug nuts would have caused damage had they put it back on, so they got a new one from the autoparts store next door.  Total bill was under $8.00.

If I'd realized how long the truck would be in the air waiting for the lug nut, I'd have had them change the oil, too...

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
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Posted by Electroliner 1935 on Wednesday, November 27, 2019 10:07 PM

To all on the Forum, heres to a happy thanksgiving, and I hope you all have much to be thankful for.

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Posted by JoeKoh on Friday, November 29, 2019 3:10 PM

afternoon

Worked some Ot today.Ns had a westbound stacktrain after work.Matt and I did a quick errand into town.Csx ran a westbound ethanol train with BNSF and up power.Matt has to do dishes.The Cp holiday train is scheduled to come through the area tomorrow night.Mother nature isn't going to be too nice.Going to stay in and stay dry.

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 30, 2019 9:38 PM

One thing I did forget to do, however, was put winter air in the tires.

That became obvious when the temperature in Old Forge dipped to about 12 and my truck was sitting outside at the motel.  The tires were all down to about 25 pounds, enough to trigger the "low air" alarm on the dash.  A few minutes at a nearby service station air pump rectified the situation.

We did two "local" Santa trains each on Friday and Saturday.  The early trips were sold out, the second trips were about half full.  Everyone seemed to have a good time.

I was going to stick around to assist with the Polar Express trains on Sunday night, but the forecast for a winter storm put the kybosh on that.  So I'm home...

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 CShaveRR on Sunday, December 1, 2019 9:36 AM

Electroliner 1935

To all on the Forum, heres to a happy thanksgiving, and I hope you all have much to be thankful for.




I was remiss in my Thanksgiving wishes...hope it was as as enjoyable for everyone else as it was for Pat and me.  We got to see relatives (and close friends) on both sides of the family while we were in western Michigan.

And, the weather cooperated!

Also, we found some interesting freight equipment on our trip in both directions, with plenty of action to keep me and my note pad busy.  Pat got work done on the sweater she's knitting.  So there's that.

Tomorrow, back to cardiac rehab.  I hope I wasn't backsliding too badly!

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 Sunday, December 1, 2019 12:39 PM

afternoon

Didn't go see the CP Holiday train early this morning due to the weather. Did go pick up brother today.Crews were asking for the dispatchers help due to very foggy conditions.It did clear up for about an hour.Now back home insdie from round 2 of the rain.Back to work 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 Sunday, December 1, 2019 2:30 PM

The promised snow arrived here pretty much on schedule.  No snow when I left the house around noon.  As I pulled into the parking lot of a restaurant I could see that all was white to the southwest, and it was starting to snow lightly.  By the time I left the restaurant it was really coming down, and still is.

Good thing I opted out of working the train in Utica tonight.  Would not have been a fun ride home.

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 CShaveRR on Sunday, December 1, 2019 7:59 PM

There's snow in the air here, along with rain, for the first time during this nation-crippling storm system.  I hope the hordes of holiday travelers got through O'Hare ahead of whatever shows up tonight.

An Amtrak trip is in our future!

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 Sunday, December 1, 2019 9:25 PM

CShaveRR
 I hope the hordes of holiday travelers got through O'Hare ahead of whatever shows up tonight.

The Syracuse airport was closed for several hours today, much to the chagrin of holiday travellers.

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, December 2, 2019 5:28 PM

evening

Saw the Ns local while at work today after lunch.After work while running errands in Defiance CSX ran a westbound.The ND&W is set to get another GP 20 delivered soon.Weather next few days is going to be cloudy and quiet according to the guessers.Chores 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").

 

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Posted by JoeKoh on Tuesday, December 3, 2019 2:56 PM

afternoon

Well Ns came and got the boxcar that was in our siding today.I got to load a former triple crown trailer at work today as well.Had a little kitty trying to follow me home when I got the mail.It went away when the kids got off the bus.Chores 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").

 

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Posted by tree68 on Tuesday, December 3, 2019 4:50 PM

Did a successful presentation about letterpress printing for the grandson's class this morning.   They had some great questions, and had fun trying to fold a printer's cap out of newspaper.  It was worth the trouble (and the early rise, and the hour and a half drive each way).

Lunch with daughter and granddaughter was an added bonus.

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, December 4, 2019 7:09 AM

Following video is about crane work on railroad property, retrucking two cars.  What I found interesting was the railcar that held the Herzog hopper that was the first car retrucked.  QUAX 250512 - a long special duty flat car with moveable pedestals with center plates to mount detrucked rail cars.  First time I have seen such a car.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9_LEuO2kgc

 

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by mudchicken on Wednesday, December 4, 2019 10:38 AM

BaltACD

Following video is about crane work on railroad property, retrucking two cars.  What I found interesting was the railcar that held the Herzog hopper that was the first car retrucked.  QUAX 250512 - a long special duty flat car with moveable pedestals with center plates to mount detrucked rail cars.  First time I have seen such a car.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9_LEuO2kgc

 

 

Balt:  Out here they are referred to as "Red Streaks" and they've been around since the late 80's.  The Santa Fe's were all re-purposed 89' pig flats (TOFC Piggyback flatcars) or autoracks from the Topeka car shops. Figures that a few of those wound up in the lease car fleets. Being that the Herzog Car is being loaded on the red-streak, it's a safe bet that the car will live to see another day. It may go straight back to St. Joseph, MO and Herzog's car shop.

 

 

On a related note, Uncle Pete is having a bad morning here with a train on the ground at Platteville, CO (Denver-Cheyenne line) with 4 engines and 16 articulated intermodal well cars on the ground.  Hit an oilfield semi truck (BAD Haliburton!) at a county highway crossing, sending well cars and containers (Sea-cans) out at least 250' out from track accross US-85. Uncle Pete is being unusually aggressive on blaming the trucker for this one.

Uncle Pete has had multiple incidents with oilfield truckers on the Denver Pacific / Greeley Sub on the line, almost always in the early morning hours. Are Northern Colorado oilfield truckers dumber than Southern Colorado bullhaulers?  Adding to the pain is a double fatal accident with vehicles caught up in the traffic back-up on the now closed US-85. What a mees.

 

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 BaltACD on Wednesday, December 4, 2019 12:06 PM

mudchicken
 
BaltACD

Following video is about crane work on railroad property, retrucking two cars.  What I found interesting was the railcar that held the Herzog hopper that was the first car retrucked.  QUAX 250512 - a long special duty flat car with moveable pedestals with center plates to mount detrucked rail cars.  First time I have seen such a car.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9_LEuO2kgc 

 

Balt:  Out here they are referred to as "Red Streaks" and they've been around since the late 80's.  The Santa Fe's were all re-purposed 89' pig flats (TOFC Piggyback flatcars) or autoracks from the Topeka car shops. Figures that a few of those wound up in the lease car fleets. Being that the Herzog Car is being loaded on the red-streak, it's a safe bet that the car will live to see another day. It may go straight back to St. Joseph, MO and Herzog's car shop.

Actually, in the video the Herzog car is being unloaded from the 'red streak'; that being the case I suspect this video was shot at Herzog's facility.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by Erik_Mag on Wednesday, December 4, 2019 1:49 PM

mudchicken

On a related note, Uncle Pete is having a bad morning here with a train on the ground at Platteville, CO (Denver-Cheyenne line) with 4 engines and 16 articulated intermodal well cars on the ground.  Hit an oilfield semi truck (BAD Haliburton!) at a county highway crossing, sending well cars and containers (Sea-cans) out at least 250' out from track accross US-85. Uncle Pete is being unusually aggressive on blaming the trucker for this one.

Uncle Pete has had multiple incidents with oilfield truckers on the Denver Pacific / Greeley Sub on the line, almost always in the early morning hours. Are Northern Colorado oilfield truckers dumber than Southern Colorado bullhaulers?

I've hear of at least two incidents of sand trucks killing bicyclists in San Diego county during the early morning hours. While the incident with Uncle Pete doesn't appear to involve a fatality, I don't blame them for being unusually agressive with the blame.

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Posted by CShaveRR on Wednesday, December 4, 2019 4:13 PM

tree68
Did a successful presentation about letterpress printing

Gee, Larry, is there no hat you don't wear?  

I worked in the composing room of our local daily newspaper during one summer in college.  My favorite job was replacing the Linotype lines with the corrected ones, using the proofs.  When it got to the point where I could correct the proofreaders, they moved me into the newsroom.  I gave serious thought to a journalism career in college, but that basically would have meant starting over, as not much would have been salvageable from the track I was on.  Whatever course I took, I needed money...the railroad was hiring...the rest is history.

Daughter Linda was put in the hospital last night with serious problems...she couldn't even write a coherent sentence.  We're still waiting to see what has happened--needless to say, we're all very concerned about the possibility of permanent brain damage, or worse...rotten thing to happen to anyone, especially a Ph.D.


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 Deggesty on Wednesday, December 4, 2019 4:58 PM

Carl, I am sorry to hear about Linda. I am praying for  her and her family.

Johnny

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Posted by JoeKoh on Wednesday, December 4, 2019 5:00 PM

evening

Worked some Ot today.Ns was clear when I left work.Would be wonderful if our computers at work could actually talk to each other.Back at it 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 rvos1979 on Wednesday, December 4, 2019 7:19 PM

Erik_Mag

 

 
mudchicken

On a related note, Uncle Pete is having a bad morning here with a train on the ground at Platteville, CO (Denver-Cheyenne line) with 4 engines and 16 articulated intermodal well cars on the ground.  Hit an oilfield semi truck (BAD Haliburton!) at a county highway crossing, sending well cars and containers (Sea-cans) out at least 250' out from track accross US-85. Uncle Pete is being unusually aggressive on blaming the trucker for this one.

Uncle Pete has had multiple incidents with oilfield truckers on the Denver Pacific / Greeley Sub on the line, almost always in the early morning hours. Are Northern Colorado oilfield truckers dumber than Southern Colorado bullhaulers?

 

 

I've hear of at least two incidents of sand trucks killing bicyclists in San Diego county during the early morning hours. While the incident with Uncle Pete doesn't appear to involve a fatality, I don't blame them for being unusually agressive with the blame.

 

From what I gather on my trucking pages, Haliburton is the Swift of the oilfield truckers. Most are still learning to drive while working........

Love to be a fly on the wall when Haliburton gets that clean up bill...........

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 BaltACD on Wednesday, December 4, 2019 7:35 PM

rvos1979
From what I gather on my trucking pages, Haliburton is the Swift of the oilfield truckers. Most are still learning to drive while working........

Love to be a fly on the wall when Haliburton gets that clean up bill...........

Just watched a video of the 'Raising the Kursk', the Russian submarine that sank off Murmansk, Russia in 2000.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQJ6IMREvz8

 

I can only imagine what the cost of that salvage operation was.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by zardoz on Wednesday, December 4, 2019 11:08 PM

Deggesty

Carl, I am sorry to hear about Linda. I am praying for  her and her family.

 

+1++1

Kathy & I send our best wishes.

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Posted by tree68 on Thursday, December 5, 2019 9:43 AM

Deggesty

Carl, I am sorry to hear about Linda. I am praying for  her and her family.

Another +1.  As one of many who has been following your reports on Linda, I sincerely hope this is nothing than a temporary setback.  

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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