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CN Shuts Down all Service in the East... VIA shuts down all service across the whole country

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Posted by Deggesty on Monday, February 24, 2020 8:23 PM

Don't forget Queen Anne's War (early 18th century) and the French and Indian War (mid-18th century), which were related to the continental wars of the time.

Johnny

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Posted by NKP guy on Monday, February 24, 2020 7:01 PM

Convicted One
O

Convicted One
One can hardly blame the first nations people for being skeptical of euro-american pleas for reason.

   Agreed.

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Posted by Convicted One on Monday, February 24, 2020 5:23 PM

tree68
In some ways, I see a parallel with the Amish vs the "English," chiefly in that the First Nations seem to want to hold on to their heritage, despite technology, etc moving forward

Your comment forced me to think. Bang Head

And after the pain wore off, I started remembering how both the  French and the British exploited the native Americans as pawns in their dirty dealings between one another, as well as against the fledgling United States.  (think time period from the 6 years war up to and including the war  of 1812, just as a generality)

Memories can be long, especially for promises made but never kept.

One can hardly blame the first nations people for being skeptical of euro-american pleas for reason.

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Posted by cx500 on Monday, February 24, 2020 5:18 PM

I wonder if CN wished they still had the Ottawa Valley route available to detour around the blockade at Belleville.

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Posted by BaltACD on Monday, February 24, 2020 3:18 PM

Flintlock76
 
charlie hebdo

Unless many years ago, I rode behind CB&Q 5632 part of the time in a gondola. I was covered with oil residue. 

Not surprised, 5632 was an oil burner, and probably not burning it well.  But were you happy?  Wink

When I was first assigned to Baltimore Terminal as a Terminal Trainmaster - all the B&O yard engines were Fairbank-Morris models - when ever they got placed under load they were also 'oil burners'.  The prime movers may have performed well in their marine applications - being nominally operated under steady load conditions.  In railroad service, the constant reving and decelerating as well as the continual impacts of couplings didn't favor the 'economical' operation of those prime movers.  My daily driver (as well as other employees vehicles) would be pelted by the escaping oil.

 

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Monday, February 24, 2020 3:05 PM

charlie hebdo

Unless many years ago, I rode behind CB&Q 5632 part of the time in a gondola. I was covered with oil residue.

 

Not surprised, 5632 was an oil burner, and probably not burning it well.  But were you happy?  Wink

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Posted by tree68 on Monday, February 24, 2020 1:22 PM

charlie hebdo

Unless many years ago, I rode behind CB&Q 5632 part of the time in a gondola. I was covered with oil residue.

Riding behind an ALCO Diesel can result in a liberal dose of "ALCO snot..."

In other news, the Ontario Provincial Police have moved against the Tyendenaga Mohawks near Belleville, ON:  https://torontosun.com/news/provincial/opp-give-tyendinaga-mohawks-midnight-deadline-to-clear-blockade

 

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Posted by charlie hebdo on Monday, February 24, 2020 12:32 PM

Unless many years ago, I rode behind CB&Q 5632 part of the time in a gondola. I was covered with oil residue.

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Monday, February 24, 2020 11:00 AM

Miningman

Ahhh.. the Greenstone Route!

ONR could use the cash and the excitement.

Flintlock--, You are on buddy, how about that open air car! 

 

 

 

How can you spot steam excursion happy railfans in an open-air car?

Easy!  They're the ones with cinders in their teeth!

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Monday, February 24, 2020 10:52 AM

  edit- wrong thread. Oops.

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Monday, February 24, 2020 9:58 AM

There it is baby, "Spin City."

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Posted by NKP guy on Monday, February 24, 2020 9:53 AM

Flintlock76
Anyone with an agenda and who thinks they're on a mission from God, Gaia, or Mammon isn't above bending facts and figures if it suits their purposes.   Always maintain a healthy sceptisim.  

   As usual, Flintlock, I agree with nearly every word you write.

   I believe we're both talking about something that can be called "spin."  Companies employ it as do interest groups.  

   Where would teenagers be without spin?  

   Yet eventually one has to believe something and think or act upon it.  Critical thinking is just that...critical.

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Monday, February 24, 2020 9:48 AM

NKP guy

 

 
Flintlock76
Old saying, "Figures can lie, and liers can figure." Especially when they have agendas.

 

   But doesn't the fossil fuel industry also have an agenda and a history of bending facts to fit it?  (see for reference Prince William Sound spill and the Gulf of Mexico spill).

   

 

Don't misunderstand, I'm not saying they're without sin either.  Anyone with an agenda and who thinks they're on a mission from God, Gaia, or Mammon isn't above bending facts and figures if it suits their purposes.  

Always maintain a healthy scepticism.  Always be ready to question outrageous facts and figures, especially in this day and age when the media's too lazy to do so.  

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Posted by NKP guy on Monday, February 24, 2020 9:31 AM

Flintlock76
Old saying, "Figures can lie, and liers can figure." Especially when they have agendas.

   But doesn't the fossil fuel industry also have an agenda and a history of bending facts to fit it?  (see for reference Prince William Sound spill and the Gulf of Mexico spill).

   

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Monday, February 24, 2020 9:19 AM

York1

 

 
NKP guy
This morning I learned from the newspaper that between 2010 and 2019 "fossil fuel pipelines in the United States have resulted in more than 5,500 accidents, 800 fires, 300 explosions, 600 injuries and 125 fatalities.  That's an explosion every 11 days and a fatality every 26 days."   There are presently 300,000 miles of pipelines in this country.

 

 

I don't have an argument with your statistics, but they are misleading at best.

First, the statistics come from a group, Fractracker Alliance, which is an anti-fossil fuel group.

I looked at their statistics, and I was surprised to see that one of their "pipeline accidents" happened in my small town three years ago.  It also had an injury involved.

The "pipeline accident" with injury was a car that ran off the road, and hit a natural gas pipe on the side of a building.  The driver was injured in the accident.

Another "pipeline accident" near my town involved a tenant moving out of a house.  He pulled his clothes dryer out without shutting off the gas.  The gas started a fire.

According to Fractracker's own statistics, the vast majority of injuries and fatalities involved natural gas lines going into residential and commercial buildings.

I don't want to dismiss accidents, injuries, or fatalities.  However, this kind of information doesn't give a true picture.  If you leave out natural gas distribution accidents, the true picture is that pipelines are the safest way to move materials.

 

Old saying, "Figures can lie, and liers can figure."

Especially when they have agendas.

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Posted by Euclid on Monday, February 24, 2020 8:56 AM

I conclude that the legal point about land rights of the indigenous people versus the rights of the government is debatable. I conclude that because neither side has at least articulated a clear position on the matter.  Also, the point may be moot depending on how strong the influence of public opinion becomes as each side speaks. Clarification of rights may not be necessary or practical if both sides claim to have the rights.

A few days ago, it was reported that RCMP would pull out of the disputed territory, thus clearing the way for the hereditary chiefs to honor their promise to take down the barricades once the RCMP pulled out.  Since then, the hereditary chiefs seem to be adding more conditions to their commitment to take down the barricades; such as a need to meet with the government to engage in more negotiation, and the need to cease working on the pipeline in the disputed territory. 

Also since the offer to take down the barricades was made, it seems that the RCMP has begun to pull out of the disputed territory, but has not completed that move.  So it is not clear whether they intend to honor their commitment. 

Also, the government has stated that they will not order the RCMP to take down the barricades because (they say) that the RCMP has the duty to enforce the injunctions after they have been made.  Therefore, according to the government, no other order compelling the RCMP to take action is necessary. 

This interview sheds some light on the current state of the standoff.  I see no reason to conclude that a settlement is imminent. 

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

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Posted by York1 on Monday, February 24, 2020 8:51 AM

NKP guy
This morning I learned from the newspaper that between 2010 and 2019 "fossil fuel pipelines in the United States have resulted in more than 5,500 accidents, 800 fires, 300 explosions, 600 injuries and 125 fatalities.  That's an explosion every 11 days and a fatality every 26 days."   There are presently 300,000 miles of pipelines in this country.

 

I don't have an argument with your statistics, but they are misleading at best.

First, the statistics come from a group, Fractracker Alliance, which is an anti-fossil fuel group.

I looked at their statistics, and I was surprised to see that one of their "pipeline accidents" happened in my small town three years ago.  It also had an injury involved.

The "pipeline accident" with injury was a car that ran off the road, and hit a natural gas pipe on the side of a building.  The driver was injured in the accident.

Another "pipeline accident" near my town involved a tenant moving out of a house.  He pulled his clothes dryer out without shutting off the gas.  The gas started a fire.

According to Fractracker's own statistics, the vast majority of injuries and fatalities involved natural gas lines going into residential and commercial buildings.

I don't want to dismiss accidents, injuries, or fatalities.  However, this kind of information doesn't give a true picture.  If you leave out natural gas distribution accidents, the true picture is that pipelines are the safest way to move materials.

York1 John       

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Posted by NKP guy on Monday, February 24, 2020 8:13 AM

   This morning I learned from the newspaper that between 2010 and 2019 "fossil fuel pipelines in the United States have resulted in more than 5,500 accidents, 800 fires, 300 explosions, 600 injuries and 125 fatalities.  That's an explosion every 11 days and a fatality every 26 days."   There are presently 300,000 miles of pipelines in this country.

   In the article,  https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/23/opinion/appalachian-trail-pipeline.html  we learn that there is now a plan to cross the Appalachian Trail with a new pipeline.  Federal law prohibits any federal agency (US Forest Service or National Park Service) from authorizing a pipeline in the national park system.  It remains to be seen how this will play out.

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Posted by tree68 on Monday, February 24, 2020 7:18 AM

SD70Dude
CN is still rerouting some trains through far northern Ontario and Quebec. 

They've been moving some traffic down the CSX St Lawrence Sub to Syracuse as well.  It'll be theirs in another few months anyhow.

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Posted by Miningman on Monday, February 24, 2020 1:00 AM

Ahhh.. the Greenstone Route!

ONR could use the cash and the excitement.

Flintlock--, You are on buddy, how about that open air car! 

 

 

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Posted by SD70Dude on Monday, February 24, 2020 12:46 AM

CN is still rerouting some trains through far northern Ontario and Quebec.  Some are now taking the north end of the former Algoma Central railway and running across most of the Ontario Northland system, going through Hearst, Kapuskasing, Cochrane, and Rouyn-Noranda.  They eventually come into Montreal from the northeast. 

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Sunday, February 23, 2020 9:33 PM

I think we all need a breather.  How about a train trip across Canada, from New Brunswick to British Columbia on the CPR?  Let me set the stage, it's the 1920's, the Great War is over and Kaiser Bill's had his butt kicked. Times are good.  Time to relax a bit with a train ride.  Join me on the rear platform for a mug of coffee and a good smoke!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1T4HqFho_40  

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Posted by greyhounds on Sunday, February 23, 2020 8:20 PM

Miningman
If this crisis is resolved I still firmly believe that Canada will not survive as a whole, probably not in my lifetime but likely my daughters.

I sure hope you're wrong about that.  I've dropped in a few times.  Nice place with nice folks.  Really good neighbor.  Would not be good if something bad happened to the place.

"By many measures, the U.S. freight rail system is the safest, most efficient and cost effective in the world." - Federal Railroad Administration, October, 2009. I'm just your average, everyday, uncivilized howling "anti-government" critic of mass government expenditures for "High Speed Rail" in the US. And I'm gosh darn proud of that.
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Posted by Flintlock76 on Sunday, February 23, 2020 7:12 PM

Sections of American states seceding from another really is nothing new.  Vermont was formed from western counties of New Hampshire, the Virginia counties that became West Virginia did so at the beginning of the Civil War.  

In addition to rumblings about secession in northern California there's also been the same talk from the eastern counties of Washington state.  Talk is all it seems to be at this point.

Talk is all there is right now of some Virginia counties seceding to join West Virginia, but it's just talk, no-one's taking it seriously.  

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Posted by York1 on Sunday, February 23, 2020 7:00 PM

Convicted One
I agree, ...but then every decade  or so you hear about North California wanting to secede from South California...sometimes the talk is more superficial than others.

 

Just read last week that some Oregon counties have filed motions to secede from Oregon and join Idaho.  Some Virginia counties have been invited to join West Virginia.  

I have a question for Canadians that was asked the other day, but I don't think I read an answer.  I honestly don't know much about the situation.

The tribal leaders who are elected agreed to let the pipeline cross the land.  Some traditional leaders don't agree.

If the tribal leaders are elected, why don't the traditional leaders get elected to these posts?  Are they in the minority?  So the tribe votes for leaders, but the minority doesn't accept the outcome?

 

York1 John       

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Posted by tree68 on Sunday, February 23, 2020 6:46 PM

Convicted One
...but then every decade  or so you hear about North California wanting to secede from South California...

That talk is going on now in NY, with pretty much all of "upstate" wanting to divest itself of "the city."

In some ways, I see a parallel with the Amish vs the "English,"  chiefly in that the First Nations seem to want to hold on to their heritage, despite technology, etc moving forward.

Of course, the Amish aren't building barricades, but getting them to even put some reflective material on their black buggies, etc, has been an uphill battle.

And internal conflicts will likely continue to be an issue.  This isn't first nations, but it is Native Americans:  https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/new-york/articles/2020-02-23/cayuga-nation-leadership-dispute-sparks-demolition-in-ny

 

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Posted by Convicted One on Sunday, February 23, 2020 6:06 PM

Flintlock76
That would be tragic. I'd hate to see it happen.

I agree, ...but then every decade  or so you hear about North California wanting to secede from South California...sometimes the talk is more superficial than others.

But at the same time, if enough people really feel like their interests are not being properly represented....I guess it is not absolutely a bad thing.

I don't want to get too political, but it's not really that unthinkble that some type of subdivision could be achieved up there that might provide a path towards peace...is it? (that is a sincere question, not trying to inflame anyone)

Edit-add: Of course that's both unfair and overly easy for me to say from down here, because I wouldn't be subject to the realignment. I suppose you'd really have a tough time of it getting the people materially affected to agree on what is "fair".

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Posted by Miningman on Sunday, February 23, 2020 5:41 PM

Of course he aloñe has the authority. It is the Royal Canadian Mounted Police not the Moose Jaw Mounted Police ... it is a Federal Agency and Police Force and as First Minister it is his authority. 

If this crisis is resolved I still firmly believe that Canada will not survive as a whole, probably not in my lifetime but likely my daughters. 

Tough times ahead, for decades to come. Not good. 

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Posted by Euclid on Sunday, February 23, 2020 3:13 PM

Justin Trudeau has said that he does not have the authority to command the RCMP  to clear the blockades.  If he does not have the authority, who does have it?

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Sunday, February 23, 2020 2:29 PM

Convicted One

 

 
Miningman
at is the purpose of the government? If it won’t govern, we should dispense with it — “Have done with this rubbish of a state,” in the words (admittedly in a radically different context and with questionable sincerity) of Stalin. Erin O’Toole, Conservative MP and leadership candidate, has rightly called for the use of whatever force is necessary (it would be minimal) to end the blockades, and of course he is correct."

 

 

Ahh,...the Balkanization of Canada? That would be an interesting, albeit extreme outcome.

 

That would be tragic.  I'd hate to see it happen. 

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