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Chatterbox Spring 2020

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Thursday, April 16, 2020 6:15 PM

tree68

Road trip today today to deliver some "ear savers" to a small local hospital.  A number of folks with 3D printers have been turning them, as well as visor holders, out on home 3D printers for the medical community.  With the governor's order that everyone not able to maintain 6 feet of separation must wear a mask, I'm sure I could make a killing selling the things...

 

I bought my crew at work masks today made by an upholstery shop. $5 is the going rate for washable cloth masks.

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

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Posted by MikeF90 on Friday, April 17, 2020 1:50 PM

Murphy Siding
I bought my crew at work masks today made by an upholstery shop. $5 is the going rate for washable cloth masks.

Good that you found some for sale. My SIL in Hawaii has two sewing machines and is making some, one should arrive in my mail soon.

Rural or small town residents should no longer feel smug, many meat processing plants are being forced to shut down (WSJ also has article but for paid subs). Farmers will also be hit since they may not have room for new baby animals. Some meat is already in the consumer pipeline, but looks like going vegetarian for a while will be necessary. Support your local egg and dairy producers!

Went to Grocery Outlet yesterday - no crowds of idiots like the previously mentioned clothing store. Pasta was available - yay. Also they supplied paper bags free.

Noticed that Amtrak now emulates flag stops - usually they will blow by La Plata, MO at track speed ....

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Posted by JoeKoh on Friday, April 17, 2020 2:26 PM

afternoon

Coal train still in the Ns siding.Heard an "ACE" horn in the distance but no train.Mother nature has covered the outside with heavy wet snow.It is not sticking to the streets or sidewalks.Glad today is Friday.Going to enjoy things 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 Deggesty on Friday, April 17, 2020 3:25 PM

JoeKoh

afternoon

Coal train still in the Ns siding.Heard an "ACE" horn in the distance but no train.Mother nature has covered the outside with heavy wet snow.It is not sticking to the streets or sidewalks.Glad today is Friday.Going to enjoy things here at home.

stay safe

Joe

 

Sunny and mild (52 right now) today. We expect more spring-like weather next week.

The morning paper reported that yesterday morning's shake was 4.2 on the Richter scale, just 3 hairs above Tuesday night's. 

Johnny

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Posted by mudchicken on Saturday, April 18, 2020 1:54 PM

Finally - It's the weekend.

(1) Did what limited work I could Friday and discovered a CSX/CR blooper the lawyers at the federal level ought to be ashamed over.

(2) Apparently, the FCC values $$$ over surveyors and railroad PTC. The Ligado/Light-Squared crap is about to surface again. Don't count on your phone navigation system to be as reliable as it is now either. GPS signal is about to get randomly & continously distorted in the name of 5G.

(3) Waiting for the Air Force Thunderbirds to do a fly-over in the Denver Area of all the hospitals and then south to the AF Academy graduation ceremonies on a very empty academy grounds....somewhere in the next hour

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 Saturday, April 18, 2020 4:57 PM

Hi

Went over to Deshler.Csx sent some interesting trains.Found some specials for Carl.Went south along the NKP on the way home.Ns was sending a Carl special westbound too.Snow is gone from yesterday.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 CSSHEGEWISCH on Sunday, April 19, 2020 10:14 AM

I've never bothered with GPS.  I'm a firm believer in advance planning if I'm unfamiliar with the destination and actually check paper maps or a printout from Google maps to plan out my route.

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 Erik_Mag on Sunday, April 19, 2020 12:56 PM

mudchicken

(2) Apparently, the FCC values $$$ over surveyors and railroad PTC. The Ligado/Light-Squared crap is about to surface again. Don't count on your phone navigation system to be as reliable as it is now either. GPS signal is about to get randomly & continously distorted in the name of 5G.

Ugh, not again...

Too many lawyers and economists and not enough engineers in the FCC.

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Posted by mudchicken on Sunday, April 19, 2020 1:41 PM

I know how disruptive SCADA radio transmissions are and this is supposed to be considerably worse (I still have recurring headaches over what happened at the ethanol plant in Jeff H.'s backyard at Grand Junction IA.....including survey grade shots on control points that "moved" 70 feet at one point. Confused

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 Deggesty on Sunday, April 19, 2020 4:17 PM

CSSHEGEWISCH

I've never bothered with GPS.  I'm a firm believer in advance planning if I'm unfamiliar with the destination and actually check paper maps or a printout from Google maps to plan out my route.

 

I've never used GPS, either. I depended upon Streets and Trips, printing the maps with my route marked on them. I did find some errors, such as the map showed an alley by a house where I lived while growing up as being a street--it started out, at a right angle turn in a U.S. highway (the turn was well-marked with signs and a flashing yellow light over the center), paved with cinders and became two ruts. 

Johnny

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Posted by BaltACD on Sunday, April 19, 2020 7:13 PM

Deggesty
 
CSSHEGEWISCH

I've never bothered with GPS.  I'm a firm believer in advance planning if I'm unfamiliar with the destination and actually check paper maps or a printout from Google maps to plan out my route. 

I've never used GPS, either. I depended upon Streets and Trips, printing the maps with my route marked on them. I did find some errors, such as the map showed an alley by a house where I lived while growing up as being a street--it started out, at a right angle turn in a U.S. highway (the turn was well-marked with signs and a flashing yellow light over the center), paved with cinders and became two ruts. 

GPS maps are only as good as the information being provided by the various governmental entities.

We all know mudchicken's view of the competency of the 'local bubbas' when it comes to the ins and outs of property definition and mapping.

My Triumph TR-7's speedometer bounces wildly.  I got a GPS unit for it for the primary reason that the GPS displays a steady MPH number.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by tree68 on Sunday, April 19, 2020 9:28 PM

I'll use the GPS if the potential route has some "micro" moves that I don't want my face buried in a map for.  If I'm running all main roads, no need.

I'll also use it to keep track of my arrival time, if that's a factor.

I have speedometer apps on my phone and tablet.  That's how I know my truck speedometer reads 2 MPH high at 65 - a nice little safety cushion.  Sometimes I'll run one of them just because.

I recall reading of a shortline in Florida that didn't have a conventional speedometer in one of their locomotives, so they ran a GPS.  This was in the less sophisticated days of GPS.  Nowadays, the FRA frowns on electronics in the cab.

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
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Posted by zugmann on Monday, April 20, 2020 8:44 AM

tree68
Nowadays, the FRA frowns on electronics in the cab.

Unless it's PTC that won't work right and needs  a lot of your attention...wait..

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 CShaveRR on Monday, April 20, 2020 10:15 AM

GPS is for local applications when needed; otherwise, a trusty road atlas is just fine.  My car is not equipped, so that's where the cell phone (and  navigational assistant named Pat) come in handy.

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 CShaveRR on Monday, April 20, 2020 10:21 AM

By the way, did you miss me?  I was in the hospital for an eternity (actually only since Friday, but you know...).  I had symptoms, so I called 911 and was taken in, where I tested positive (never knew my nasal cavities could hold that much swab!) and had to stay for treatment to bring the symptoms down.  I was released yesterday, and have to quarantine at home for two weeks.  "At least", because Pat's still in the hospital with her case of the virus--we have to get her to hold more oxygen on her own.

It's agony to be able only to hear the trains through town.

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 diningcar on Monday, April 20, 2020 10:21 AM

Being from the days before GPS (born in 1932) I always read maps and put the relavent destination into my memory. It was very reliable except with my first attempt in Washington, DC where there are few NS-EW roads or streets.

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Posted by mudchicken on Monday, April 20, 2020 10:30 AM

CS: Got a crank-em-up cell i-phone charger now?

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 rvos1979 on Monday, April 20, 2020 11:57 AM

Erik_Mag

 

 
mudchicken

(2) Apparently, the FCC values $$$ over surveyors and railroad PTC. The Ligado/Light-Squared crap is about to surface again. Don't count on your phone navigation system to be as reliable as it is now either. GPS signal is about to get randomly & continously distorted in the name of 5G.

 

 

Ugh, not again...

Too many lawyers and economists and not enough engineers in the FCC.

That would explain why the electronic logs in the truck have been acting a little screwy lately, it uses GPS for location.........

Picking up raw toilet paper in Minneapolis to drop off at the mill so it can be processed, then a Muskogee turn to round out the week..........

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 tree68 on Monday, April 20, 2020 12:05 PM

diningcar
Being from the days before GPS (born in 1932) I always read maps and put the relavent destination into my memory. It was very reliable except with my first attempt in Washington, DC where there are few NS-EW roads or streets.

With Interstates now, it's easy - just remember the numbers.  It's the last mile that gets one in trouble.  That and having a semi right in front of you so you can't read upcoming signs...

Of course, we have a problem in fire and EMS with folks who can't bother to put their address where we can see it.  That includes not putting their address on both sides of their mailbox, or just on the door.  All the GPS in the world won't help if you can't breath and we can't find your house...

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 Deggesty on Monday, April 20, 2020 12:27 PM

diningcar

Being from the days before GPS (born in 1932) I always read maps and put the relavent destination into my memory. It was very reliable except with my first attempt in Washington, DC where there are few NS-EW roads or streets.

 

Yes, driving in Washington, D.C., is interesting for someone not used to the traffic circles and right turn lanes that you must get into almost a block before you turn.

Johnny

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Posted by BaltACD on Monday, April 20, 2020 12:36 PM

Deggesty
 
diningcar

Being from the days before GPS (born in 1932) I always read maps and put the relavent destination into my memory. It was very reliable except with my first attempt in Washington, DC where there are few NS-EW roads or streets. 

Yes, driving in Washington, D.C., is interesting for someone not used to the traffic circles and right turn lanes that you must get into almost a block before you turn.

My experiences in living and driving around Pittsburgh - you had to know where you were going long before you got to your 'decision point' because you would be in the wrong lane to go where you wanted to if you didn't.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by JoeKoh on Monday, April 20, 2020 2:39 PM

afternoon

Coal train still in the siding at work.Mamma and a few others were called into her dept. to work.Gov. Dewine announced the school year will be distance learning from now on.Graduation ceremony doesn't look too promising.Matt just wants to finish it up and move on.Chores to do here.Carl I messaged you some goodies.

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 Monday, April 20, 2020 2:59 PM

I'm up to see them, Joe, but might be a little busy for a bit--a grocery run is coming in a few minutes, and a wife in an hour or two.  We finally figured out the way to get her home.  Big Smile

 

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 Monday, April 20, 2020 7:44 PM

Carl, I'm glad to hear that you are able to get Pat home. Both of you take care.

Johnny

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Monday, April 20, 2020 8:35 PM

CShaveRR

I'm up to see them, Joe, but might be a little busy for a bit--a grocery run is coming in a few minutes, and a wife in an hour or two.  We finally figured out the way to get her home.  Big Smile

 

 

Woo Hoo! That's great news.

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

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Posted by Electroliner 1935 on Monday, April 20, 2020 8:48 PM

Great news to have Pat back, Carl.

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Posted by tree68 on Monday, April 20, 2020 8:49 PM

Deggesty

Carl, I'm glad to hear that you are able to get Pat home. Both of you take care.

+1 - but watch out for the rebound.  I understand it's an issue.

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 mudchicken on Monday, April 20, 2020 9:49 PM

+2 and +3 here and please mind what Tree is saying.

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 Murphy Siding on Monday, April 20, 2020 10:40 PM

NorthWest

I'm currently finding out that right now is a particularly ugly time to be graduating from college and looking for jobs. I'd rather not be the unemployed millenial in the basement...

 

You'll do fine. I graduated from college in May 1981, just as the country entered a real ugly recession. When I hear the phrase 'Great Recession" I want to scream. 1981-82-83 was a killer. You'll do fine because you'll find that the economic conditions will make you work harder to find and keep a good job. That will make you stonger and a better and more valuble employee to future employers. Imagine that you landed on Omaha beach on D-Day. That's going to make you a lot tougher than those that docked at the ports a couple weeks later. Start with that mindset and go for it. Good luck.

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Monday, April 20, 2020 10:44 PM

Paul_D_North_Jr

 

Pennsylvania Governor Wolf concluded his speech tonight with this line: "By doing nothin' [sic], we are doing something truly extraordinary, and for that I thank you."  A tip of the hat to anyone who can recognize the origins of that line. 

 

 

Hmmm. Something in my brain is thinking of Johnny Carson on his farewell episode, but then Winston Churchill keeps popping in. Hmmm.

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

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