I also enjoyed the Deshler fireworks, virtually - quite the crowd, and a train to boot.
Got 3/4 inch of rain yesterday - and could use more, but at least it was enough that it might actually help. Sat on the back porch with my supper last night and you could almost hear the grass growing...
Larry 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...
afternoon
Ns has a coal train in the siding at work.The ballast cleaner was working on track 1.Ns also sent a westbound stack train after work.Have 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").
More rain today - I was in and out of it as I drove an hour and a half to pick up a new project - an antique fire hose cart. Looks like it was built by an outfit known as Wirt and Knox. I've got more information to gather to find out it's age, but it probably dates back before 1900.
Needs some rehab. The wooden spoked wheels are in rough shape, and I found that it's missing part of the hose reel hub, but those issues can be dealt with.
tree68 More rain today - I was in and out of it as I drove an hour and a half to pick up a new project - an antique fire hose cart. Looks like it was built by an outfit known as Wirt and Knox. I've got more information to gather to find out it's age, but it probably dates back before 1900. Needs some rehab. The wooden spoked wheels are in rough shape, and I found that it's missing part of the hose reel hub, but those issues can be dealt with.
There is a recently restored 1904 version here in Wellington, CO.
mudchickenSounds like you got a tiger by the tail in the research end of it. While Knox and Wirt still exists (part of Kidde); they were careless with the original Philadelphia and earlier corporate records.
Fortunately, there's a wealth of knowledge amongst my SPAAMFAA bretheren (antique fire apparatus collectors). I'll be tapping into them as soon as I get some decent pictures.
Glad to be back in.Ns ran stack trains past couple days westbound after work.Crews are busy repaving our road.Matt gets to do dishes tonight.Chores to do.
Ns was clear after work.Mother nature sent rain today.Now it will be muggy this weekend.Matt is doing dishes tonight.He also got good news.He got another scholarship and passed his college credit courses from school.Less money for tuition is good.Going to check on my brother after work tomorrow.Chores to do.
Congrats to Matt!We had 13 trains pass by us on the UP Overland Route main line in the four hours we were on duty at the Peck Homestead museum. That's better than the eight we had a week ago.We're in for a scorcher of a weekend, after nearly an inch of rain yesterday afternoon and overnight.
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)
evening
Checked on my brother after work.Ns was making a few moves.The local was picking up some MOW flat cars in Edgerton.The build dates that I could see were in the 70's.Came home to mow tonight but had some pulley problems we need to look at.Going to look into it first thing in the morning.Matt is doing dishes tonight.One of the cooks didn't come in last night so he had to do extra cleaning.Soon enough it won't be his problem.Keep cool.
Ns was clear after work.Came home county was doing construction on our road.Then a crew decided to come today and do our neighbor's driveway.Did some car shuffling.Crossed some more T's and dotted some I's on Matt's college stuff too.Tomorrow going to see Tree(Larry) in Deshler.Looking forward to it.
Ns had a stack train after work.Ran a couple errands and there was a cement truck in the middle of our street.Was able to manuever around and check on some campers in Deshler.Csx didn't seem to be as clogged as they were yesterday.Did get some nice power shots.also saw a couple former Ann Arbor grain cars go west as well.Time for bed.
Nice dinner with Joe. Deshler is fairly busy - just over 40 trains yesterday. Nice rain overnight, and a nice breeze is keeping the stifling heat at bay.
I missed three Amtrak cars on one train last night... Watching the wrong train.
Wish I could have made it to Deshler, too. It's a little boring here; threatening weather keeps us inside (where I can look out the window and see yard work piling up!). We did get out to lunch yesterday, and on one manifest train I got five lines of notes: one crossed off immediately, two logged in, and the last two both opening huge cans of worms for me: UP got a bunch of secondhand covered hoppers recently (several hundred, it would appear), and I found a batch of BKTY box cars that needed rouding up and documenting. That task nearly disrupted the entire file yesterday, so I'm a little chicken to go at it again.
Ns was clear after work.Mother nature sent us some rain.Made it a bit muggy outside.Pulled some weeds.Maybe tomorrow will get out the other yard tools.Matt is doing dishes tonight.Yes Larry he finally woke up.
Ns was clear after work.At lunch did see a westbound stack train.Thing is he also had a cut of flat cars with pipes on them.Came home and took care of the swamp.Matt is doing dishes tonight.Going to get cleaned up.
Joe - you missed the excitement in Defiance. The refrigeration unit on a reefer caught fire. FD dealt with it and it came through Deshler a little later, scorched unit and all.
Ns has an eastbound coal train in the siding at work.Larry heard about the fire.By the time I checked my sources it was out and the train was on it's way.Matt is going to do dishes tonight.Going to find a cool place for this weekend.
Some indication that some airliners are being quick changed to carry cargo.
https://marketplace.aviationweek.com/mro-links-snapshot/passenger-cabin-conversions-cargo?utm_rid=CPEN1000000511129&utm_campaign=24872&utm_medium=email&elq2=48c1751cc5034492946940d0e4b4e81a
Morning
Watched some Csx yesterday.Was waiting for a conductor friend at Fc in Defiance.He was on an empty coal train.They were stopped outside of Garrett and taxied back to North Baltimore.Said that csx has a new rule that no trains can be tied down in the yards.Time to get ready for church.Tonight is Matt's last night doing dishes.
What's next for Matt, Joe? Is it time for school already?We took care of yard chores this morning after (virtual) church, then ventured out trackside. Offhand I'd say that our yard is more devoid of small sticks and such than it's been since before we moved here 41 years ago.My dinner in Western Springs was the wurst (but the best imaginable!). We "chased" a BNSF manifest from Downers Grove to Western Springs, except that we passed him up in Clarendon Hills as he was slowing down for the construction over I-294 (I think). The shoofly really appears to be ready for track now. Anyway, the train (with four units--two each BNSF and NS) caught us while Pat was placing our order. I was outside checking for good cars, of course.From Western Springs we went through LaGrange (saw a light-engine move on the IHB), McCook, and Summit to Bedford Park. My usual route to the west end of Clearing Yard was closed because of grade-crossing renovation, so we took the detour...right into railroad property near the double-hump. Along the detour we couldnt see any freight cars (weeds!), but did see some reballasting on the track that caused our problems to begin with. I was able to grab build dates off all eight of the BRC's newest ballast cars (rebuilt from Ortner aggregate hoppers). We went out along the detour route again, but headed east, crossed the yard on Cicero Avenue, which we took to 127th. We were blocked by one CSX train at Blue Island, but saw an ethanol train, which was being shoved (into Blue Island Yard?) by an IAIS ES44AC.After that we headed home via the scenic route, noting the construction along I-294 (the new Mile-Long bridge is going to be wide enough for six lanes or so in each direction...they're working on the northbound lanes now). I needed a nap after I got home, but am now ready to dabble in a little carchaeology with the stuff I saw.
Well, Friday night and all day Saturday were fire trucks in Frankenmuth. Today was recreation and reminiscing. Canoed several miles on the Huron River. Couldn't do the planned route as they weren't picking people up (COVID), so you had to be able to get your boat back to the rental place.
Visited a few places for memorie sake, but couldn't get to the running track at the HS as there is a new pipeline going in which basically has the school blocked off. Couldn't do my usual bike ride for the same reason. Quite the project though.
Tomorrow it's back on the road for home. Can't go through Ontario as the border is still closed, so it's back around the south shore of Lake Erie...
Forgot to get something for the grandkids from Frankenmuth, so will have to see if I can order anything from there on-line...
Ns had an autorack train in the sidng after work today.Had a Up engine as the power.Ran some errands.Neighbor came over to talk.Said it's going to rain.Had the gentle shower as I finished up putting things away.Wish we could have more.The farmers wish it too.Carl don't worry about Matt and what he is doing .He is making sure his new engines look just right.Time for supper.
JoeKoh .Was waiting for a conductor friend at Fc in Defiance. They were stopped outside of Garrett and taxied back to North Baltimore.Said that csx has a new rule that no trains can be tied down in the yards.
.Was waiting for a conductor friend at Fc in Defiance. They were stopped outside of Garrett and taxied back to North Baltimore.Said that csx has a new rule that no trains can be tied down in the yards.
Could that mean yards are getting clogged and need trains kept out to allow yard work ? Or is it a way to reduce terminal dwell time ? Will that decrease velocity ?
blue streak 1 JoeKoh .Was waiting for a conductor friend at Fc in Defiance. They were stopped outside of Garrett and taxied back to North Baltimore.Said that csx has a new rule that no trains can be tied down in the yards. Could that mean yards are getting clogged and need trains kept out to allow yard work ? Or is it a way to reduce terminal dwell time ? Will that decrease velocity ?
Sharp pencil railroading. Pump up the number you want. Want good velocity keep the train moving to the terminal. Want to decrease Terminal Dwell keep the trains of the terminal until a crew is available to step on the train and go. Old as time.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Ns had Mow trucks on the track after work.Matt finished his project with his engines.Going to work on chores.
Ns was clear after work today.Matt and Mom are going into town.Need to do some chores.
Recovering from the big Midwest trip, which ended with a ten hour drive home. Returning via Canada would have shortened the trip a bit, but I really didn't miss Toronto traffic...
Cooler here than it has been, but we still need more rain than the sprinkle we got this morning...
Ns was clear after work.Rain in southern Ohio tonight.Got the yard work done.Matt is off with his church group.They changed a couple things about where they are going.Schools here are divided between virtual learning and starting right off at the school.Going to make a trip to Matt's college when he gets back home.Move in day is coming fast.Glad tomorrow is Friday.
[quote user="JoeKoh"]
[/quote] Friday morning: lite rain overnight and a cool tem of 66 deg. Was drinking a cup this morning when the early AM pulled up and stopped over the fence... AutoRack train. BNSF power (x2) From all the banging of brakes, sounded empty(?) .
While watching saw cars from the regular class 1's, but also GT, F-M, CP, CN, KCS, SP. Hard to believe that the auto rack may be on the 'endangered list' ? Fopr several months Mar thru May, there did not seem to be any racks moving, east or west(?). Then all of a sudden, about the middle of June; they started re-appearing, at the rate of at least one a day. All seemed to be westbound. do not see them going back eastbound; strange....
Auto makers were closed during the start of the bug.Goverment asked them to make breathing machines for awhile.Yes autoracks were stored in some areas.Now that they are back making vehicles they are needed.Thing is most car companies are making SUV's and trucks.So they need the bi-level auto racks.It is neat to see some of the old road names on any rail car.Problem is most of them are close to the limit for service.Ns did send a stack train west as I got off work.Matt is back home.Deciding where to watch trains tomorrow.Rain and cooler weather for next week.
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