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Chatterbox Spring 2020

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Posted by Paul of Covington on Tuesday, May 26, 2020 1:08 PM

   By the way, I remember reading somewhere long ago that "half-mast" is actually 2/3 of the way up.

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Posted by JoeKoh on Tuesday, May 26, 2020 2:24 PM

afternoon

Ns was clear after work.Going to get cleaned up.Matt has his virtual graduation 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 Deggesty on Tuesday, May 26, 2020 3:26 PM

Paul of Covington

   By the way, I remember reading somewhere long ago that "half-mast" is actually 2/3 of the way up.

 

It is many years since I read a Boy Scouts manual, but I have a memory that you lower the flag a distance equal to the height of the flag--which would was to the bottom of the mast that I mounted on the side of my house.

I wish that, the last time I was in the house where I lived when I was in high school, I had picked up a copy of the Scouts manual. 

Johnny

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Posted by Paul of Covington on Tuesday, May 26, 2020 4:30 PM

   Johnny, it was so long ago that I don't remember if it was army or boat related or something else altogether, but now that I think more about it, I don't think the rule can be absolute.  With a tall flagpole you have plenty of mast to work with, but a short pole at the stern of a boat or on the wall of a house doesn't give you much to work with.  I guess you try to do what looks right.

   I do remember the part you discussed about raising the flag all the way up then lowering it to half-mast.

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Posted by JoeKoh on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 2:33 PM

afternoon

Ns was clear when I left work.When I got to work this morning they ran an eastbound with stacks up front and mixed stuff in the back.Reminded me of csx's q 192.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 JoeKoh on Thursday, May 28, 2020 2:59 PM

afternoon

Ns sent a westbound stack train after work.Mother nature sent a shower.Looks like maybe June 8th will be able to go see my brother.Not sure if we will be able to get him away from the nursing home or not yet.Matt is checking things for college this fall.Will be going to do dishes here in a bit.

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, May 28, 2020 4:36 PM

Not as hot, but just as muggy today.  A mid-afternoon shower didn't help much.  The overhead door people working on a new door at the fire station wished they could have left it closed - it was nice and cool inside.

The door isn't done, so I get to have a (real) fire truck parked in my driveway tonight.

Headed across the street with the riding mower this morning to attack the lawn at our FD Banquet Hall.  The regular crew has been laid off for the moment.  I mowed half of it a couple of weeks ago.  That wasn't bad.  The half I hadn't mowed could have used a baler...

It looks much nicer now...

LarryWhistling
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Posted by Deggesty on Thursday, May 28, 2020 8:40 PM

tree68

Not as hot, but just as muggy today.  A mid-afternoon shower didn't help much.  The overhead door people working on a new door at the fire station wished they could have left it closed - it was nice and cool inside.

The door isn't done, so I get to have a (real) fire truck parked in my driveway tonight.

Headed across the street with the riding mower this morning to attack the lawn at our FD Banquet Hall.  The regular crew has been laid off for the moment.  I mowed half of it a couple of weeks ago.  That wasn't bad.  The half I hadn't mowed could have used a baler...

It looks much nicer now...

 

Larry, if you bale it it, make sure it is cured; I would hate for you to have a fire in your mowSmile

Johnny

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Posted by JoeKoh on Friday, May 29, 2020 4:01 PM

afternoon

Ns sent an eastbound after work.Ran errands with Stacey.Heard thunder but saw where it rained our house.Tomorrow Matt and I get our new glasses.Sunday is Matt's graduation parade.Going to work on that and other 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 Saturday, May 30, 2020 12:01 PM

afternoon

Nicer today and not as humid.House is cleaned on the inside and out.Still some high water in the back swamp.Matt and Stacey went to get his graduation cake.Last night on Csx in Garrett it was take a number.Had 351 working the yard.Q 566,565 and 350 had to come in and work the yard too.Plus both locals were trying to squeeze in to put stuff away.Maybe it will be better today.Need to get cleaned up.

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 Paul_D_North_Jr on Sunday, May 31, 2020 6:25 AM

Carl, this is probably like a friend or relative telling one of us about a cute train movie they just saw - the International Quilt Museum in Lincoln, Nebraska was featured - but Marie and I saw part of this program on quilts the other night and thought of Pat:

https://www.craftinamerica.org/episode/quilts 

https://www.craftinamerica.org/release/quilts-premieres-december-27

Ken Burns - he of documentary movie fame - has a cameo appearance, as he's a quilt collector.

Interesting look into something I didn't know that much about.  "Long-arm" sewing machines are something I had never heard of.  And Marie enlightened me on some of the advantages of the newer sewing machines . . . Whistling 

- PDN. 

"This Fascinating Railroad Business" (title of 1943 book by Robert Selph Henry of the AAR)
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Posted by CShaveRR on Sunday, May 31, 2020 7:29 PM

Thanks, Paul!

We've been to the museum in Lincoln, for about as long as I could be torn away from Camp Mookie!  (Pat had a historical question about some needlework, and they were able to help, but not give a definitive answer, IIRC.)

Pat is just getting back into quilting, after a hiatus of a few years.  When our church family lost a couple of newborn infants a few years ago (and we lost a grand-niece about the same time), she stopped quilting to make burial gowns for "Angel Babies" such as those.  I think she made close to a thousand, which were among those distributed to area hospitals that had requested them to give to distraught mothers (she made the "newborn" size, while other folks made smaller sizes).  For a while, when the demand was greatest earlier this year, the Angel Babies gang shifted their efforts to usable face masks.  Again, Pat made a couple hundred of those.  I think her attention shifted back to quilting after the passing of Linda.

Illinois has opened up somewhat--we were able to sit down outside at a restaurant for Sunday dinner today.  Of course, I made sure that our table had a good view...this time of the BNSF main line through Western Springs.  I had three good freights go by.  At the table next to us was a family with a little guy who, we were told, has been crazy about trains practically since birth.  I told the parents that if they were really lucky, he won't grow out of it!

In a few more months, this establishment will become a lot more popular with me, as trains will be required to slow for a shoo-fly around construction of a new bridge taking the tracks over a widened Interstate 294, a mile or so to the west.  (There is no way they could fit even one extra lane underneath the existing bridge there.)

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 CSSHEGEWISCH on Monday, June 1, 2020 10:05 AM

I'm rather familiar with the bridge over the Tollway, the road has been widened over the years from 2 lanes to 4 lanes in each direction and at the last widening they eliminated the shoulder under the CB&Q/BN/BNSF overpass.

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 CShaveRR on Monday, June 1, 2020 11:01 AM

I only go far enough back to remember three lanes in each direction under the BN.  But I didn't move to Illinois until I was 21.

I'm surprised that they haven't torn out the Hinsdale Oasis yet...they can't fit added lanes under that, either.

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 CSSHEGEWISCH on Monday, June 1, 2020 12:00 PM

They might address that issue after the Mile-Long Bridge (over I&M Canal, ex-Alton, Sanitary & Ship Canal, Des Plaines River and ATSF) is replaced.

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 mudchicken on Monday, June 1, 2020 3:00 PM

Just spent a few hours researching an issue related to the long-gone Chicago Attica & Southern RR (Swastika Route), from its C&EI roots until the end in 1946. I was startled to see that NYC and the ICC played a part in its demise (never read that part before) and also that A&K Materials is playing out of the Scoundrel's Handbook penned by scrapper Dulien Steel (of Seattle, not clear what happened to them at the end) between 1915 and 1960. Dulien scrapped the CA&S and ran it for three years (1943-1946) just like the current scoundrel. (and left town under the cover of darkness as well - scary similarities)

The CA&S experiment with distillate powered switch engines also was something I had not seen either (M-1 to M-4 ...Chrysler/ DeSoto AirFlows on Steroids? RGS geese in training?)

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 JoeKoh on Monday, June 1, 2020 3:33 PM

afternoon

Ns was clear after work.Stacey and I went to town to do errands.Matt took his day off and is looking for trains.Culvert construction on the main road to our east and road wideing on our road.Makes for a few delays at times.Going to get cleaned up.

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, June 2, 2020 3:05 PM

afternoon

Ns sent a westbound stack train after work.Came home a blew off the whirrly gigs.Matt has to go do dishes.Other chores for me as well too.Thursday after work need to go give hugs.

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 CShaveRR on Tuesday, June 2, 2020 7:30 PM

I purchased a batery-powered lawn mower yesterday.  It was too wet to try it out until today (and today was hot--we got up to 94º!).  It worked beautifully, but still (together with the heat) gave my heart valve a test.  It was easy enough for Pat to use, and our lawn looks beautiful (well, comparatively)!

I called it "a very useful locomower"!

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 Tuesday, June 2, 2020 9:43 PM

CShaveRR
I purchased a battery-powered lawn mower yesterday.  

Battery and electric motor technology has really progressed of late.  It wasn't that long ago that the suggestion of a battery-powered mower would have brought visions of a bank of car batteries on wheels.

These days, you can buy an extra battery or two, and maybe an extra charger, and get quite a bit done before you run out of juice (for the tool, not yourself).

Finding a "plug in" drill is getting to be a challenge - almost all such hand tools are now running on batteries.

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
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There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

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Posted by zugmann on Tuesday, June 2, 2020 11:22 PM

CShaveRR
I purchased a batery-powered lawn mower yesterday.  It was too wet to try it out until today (and today was hot--we got up to 94º!).  It worked beautifully, but still (together with the heat) gave my heart valve a test.  It was easy enough for Pat to use, and our lawn looks beautiful (well, comparatively)!

I don't have much yard (and the small bit I have isn't going to win any awards). 

I bought a cheap plug in mower from amazon like 5 years ago - I spent less than 100$, and I figured if I got a year or 2 out of it, it'd be a win.  After that gave out - then I'd look into a battery mower - yet 5 years later that cheap piece of crap is still going strong.  

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any

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Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Wednesday, June 3, 2020 3:12 PM

I bought a Black and Decker plug-in lawn push mower circa 1980 and it lasted until about 2000, through 2 houses each with 1/4 to 1/3 acre of lawn.  The motor was pretty light-weight, so was the mower and as a result it was pretty easy to push around.  Got pretty good with a pattern to maneuver around trees, swingsets, and gardens.  Never severed the cord (100 ft.) but did scalp it a few times - a few wraps of electrical tape fixed that (still have it).  As I recall I only had to replace 1 worn wheel and maybe the brushes once until the aluminum deck cracked at a wheel connection point (don't think it was the same wheel).  At that point rather than have it welded - questionable how the welding heat would affect the fatigue strength at the high-stress areas in and around the heat-affected zone in the complex shape there - and it was better for me from a time management perspective to get a lawn service guy.  

We moved to our current house with about 1/4 acre of lawn and in 2009 bought a used Newton 3.0(?) push mower.  It would last 35 - 35 minutes - about 40 - 45% of the yard - then need about 8 - 12 hours to recharge.  A couple years later we bought a newer 2nd battery (nickel-metal-hydride as I recall, not Lithium-Ion) for it with longer run time and faster recharge.  With the 2 batteries we could almost finish the whole lawn - recharge the new one for part of the day and then we could finish same day.  

By May of 2018 we felt the Newton was too small and slow, and we needed something with a wider cut and more power to do the lawn faster - it was taking us something like 2-1/2 hours. So on a friend's recommendation and demonstration we bought an Ego-something self-propelled electric mower (made in China) from Home Depot.  The SP part was nice - we have a lot of sloped lawn, some of it pretty steep.  However. it lasted only 7 mowings as I recall, then something broke - a stupid (as in unnecessary) safety interlock switch in the handle, I think, but it was never formally diagnosed.  Of course, this happened about a week before our daughter's 40th birthday party here.  A little research found that was a common problem and couldn't be easily fixed by the consumer, and it would take weeks for the HD repair guys to fix it.  So back it went for a full refund.  Have not seen them for sale since.  My bitter and firmly-held opinion is that the VPs for quality control and/ or purchasing the damn switch and repairs should have been summarily fired.  

Then in August 2018 after considerable research we bought a Stihl battery push mower (made in Germany) with a LI battery from a local hardware store.  Aside from not being SP we like it a lot.  (I just can't love any lawn mower - not because of anything inherent in it, but the unproductive time usage they imply.  Someone once said he felt like he'd pushed a lawn mower the equivalent of across the country.  I doubt if the math would work out for me, but I grimace anytime I consider the amount of my life I've spent on that task.)  The battery lasts 45 minutes to an hour, and usually cuts 1/2 to 3/4 of the lawn.  Best of all, it recharges in about 45 minutes (over lunch or dinner), so it's not an all-day affair.  If the grass is not too thick only a 15 to 30-minute recharge is enough to finish.  It has some weight so I'm the only one who can push it up the slopes.

I'd buy one again instead of a gas-powered mower to avoid the hassle of buying gas, the nolse, and inevitable breakdowns and my inability to repair them and the long time for a repair shop, whcih always happens at the worst possible time.

- PDN. 

"This Fascinating Railroad Business" (title of 1943 book by Robert Selph Henry of the AAR)
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Posted by JoeKoh on Wednesday, June 3, 2020 3:54 PM

afternoon

Ns was clear after work.Came home and Matt had our new Kitchen Faucet installed.Stacey even liked the style.The old one sprung a leak last night just before bed.Matt is off doing dishes now.Mother nature looked like she was going to send rain but nothing yet.Other chores for me 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 Wednesday, June 3, 2020 7:15 PM

Early summer is almost over--early morning temperatures next week will be in the forties.

Johnny

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Posted by CShaveRR on Wednesday, June 3, 2020 7:58 PM

Just two days after replacing our mower, we had to replace our water heater today.  Not fun, but it was a while in coming.  I hope they've made strides in water-heaater efficiency since sometime in the last century when last we replaced it.

Other'n that, nothing to report...I've been attempting to get updates done on a friend's sightings, but usually find my attention diverted by age-old deficiencies in my own stuff.  Either way, satisfaction is derived.

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 Wednesday, June 3, 2020 8:24 PM

CShaveRR
...we had to replace our water heater today.

Number two is in service, but acting up.  Number three is waiting in the wings.

My problem is my water, which runs through limestone to get to my well.  As such "hard" does not sufficiently describe my water, and I'm sure that there's a pile of crud in the bottom of the current water heater.  

I may get ambitious and drain it to see if that's the case, but getting the stuff out is a real challenge.  I had to fabricate a little shovel for the last water heater.

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 rvos1979 on Wednesday, June 3, 2020 9:09 PM

tree68
CShaveRR
...we had to replace our water heater today.

Number two is in service, but acting up.  Number three is waiting in the wings.

My problem is my water, which runs through limestone to get to my well.  As such "hard" does not sufficiently describe my water, and I'm sure that there's a pile of crud in the bottom of the current water heater.  

I may get ambitious and drain it to see if that's the case, but getting the stuff out is a real challenge.  I had to fabricate a little shovel for the last water heater.

Replaced my water heater about 1.5 years ago, ours sprung a leak, but was also so full of limestone that it wasn't heating very well. Big difference the first time I jumped in the shower..........

Our city water is very hard, the last time I changed the humidifier pad on our furnace, the old one was solid limestone, and that was with about three months use.........

Best money I spent, though, when our furnace died last fall. Replaced everything because of lack of replacement parts, they topped off the refrigerant last week.........

Swap big rolls of corestock for big rolls of tissue at the mill in Muskogee tomorrow, then head for home...........

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 Paul_D_North_Jr on Wednesday, June 3, 2020 9:10 PM

Same problem here.  It's been 9(?) years since I last cleaned the crud out, and I'm not looking forward to it.  I think I had a metal rod with an old metal film canister taped or screwed onto it, and kind of waved it around on the bottom inside until I wasn't bringing much more out.  Good portion of the day on my knees or lying on my side or belly - I saved a small bottle of the stuff to show people what happens.  Current elements are supposedly titanium and are supposed to last forever - the tank itself is plastic, a Marathon I think - also supposed to last forever.  Wrecked the old elements in removing them - I thought they were just in a simple narrow U-shape, and did not know they bend back towards the opening like a paper clip.  However, the heater seems to be generating air lately that shows up as spitting in the hot water lines.  So I wonder if the elements are so buried in the crud that they're heating the water above boiling before the thermostat turns off the power.  My wife says she thinks the hot water is much hotter now, which would support that theory.  I did buy a little pump that attaches to an electric drill to speed the draining process beyond what gravity alone does.  Maybe one of these weekends in the near future . . . Whistling 

- PDN. 

"This Fascinating Railroad Business" (title of 1943 book by Robert Selph Henry of the AAR)
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Posted by tree68 on Wednesday, June 3, 2020 10:06 PM

rvos1979
Our city water is very hard, the last time I changed the humidifier pad on our furnace, the old one was solid limestone, and that was with about three months use.........

I use an ultrasonic humidifier when necessary - and have to buy distilled water for it (a gallon a day, anyhow).  If I use tap water, I have a fine white dust in the air, to the point that I can tell it's there when I breathe.

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 Thursday, June 4, 2020 6:30 PM

evening

Ns sent a stack train west after work.Came home and took care of the yardwork.Smelled some rain today but didn't see any fall.Going to enjoy my day off tomorrow.Getting things ready for Saturday.

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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