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Chatterbox Winter 2020-2021

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Posted by diningcar on Thursday, December 31, 2020 3:37 PM

A safe and Happy New Year to all Trains Forum participants. 

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Posted by tree68 on Thursday, December 31, 2020 2:28 PM

Ed was a gem.  I'll post his humility essay separately.

 

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 Thursday, December 31, 2020 1:31 PM

We have sun now, but it's cold and yard crews get holiday pay, so not much is happening in my department.  I have some tables that should have been finished several years ago that I'll be working on to take up some of the time.  We'll be ringing in 2021 with spiced apple rings, not out in public.  (And probably not waiting up.)

Today was the birthday of one of the Forum saints, though he might chuckle at that description:  Ed Blysard.  Cancer took him too soon.  He had a fantastic way with words, and would let you have it if you needed it.  

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 Tuesday, December 29, 2020 6:25 PM

evening

Went and enjoyed the sunny day in Deshler. Found some new friends and some old friends stopped by.Csx had MOW busy here and there.They brought one grain train south then went back and got the other one on the Toledo Sub.Mother nature wants to send us rain 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 Monday, December 28, 2020 11:00 AM

Electroliner 1935
Neat project. Looks great.

The plans are on-line.  One selling point is the use of common "one by" lumber.  

Careful inspection will reveal flaws - I'm something of a carpenter, but I'm not a cabinet maker...  OTOH, it'll probably be sold or given away when she outgrows it.

That said, it did come out reasonably well.  She was aware she was getting it, and once unwrapped (yes, I wrapped it), and with the unwrapping of some utensils and "food" she was busy "cooking" for all of us.  

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...

  • Member since
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  • From: Defiance Ohio
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Posted by JoeKoh on Monday, December 28, 2020 10:29 AM

morning

Gray sky day here in Nw Ohio.Went and did some errands in town.Saw a couple csx trains go by.Also the ND&W was working around its yard too. The old Sante Fe 2026 was doing the work.Today is the 8 year anniversary of the ND&W here in town.Still plenty of work 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 Electroliner 1935 on Saturday, December 26, 2020 4:44 PM

Wow! Lucky Granddaughter and fortunate Grandpa. Neat project. Looks great.

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Posted by JoeKoh on Saturday, December 26, 2020 3:55 PM

afternoon

Happy Boxing Day!!!

Started in Bryan Ohio waiting for the Amtrak 49.They had 2 former Northern Pacific coaches on the back end.A young lady was getting off the train and didn't realize why we were there taking pictures.We then went to the hobby store in Wapak.Matt picked up a couple of cars.We finished our trip by going to Deshler.We saw a couple trains on csx and gave hugs as well.Pretty good day today.

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 Friday, December 25, 2020 9:15 PM

Electroliner 1935
Love to see a picture of it after Xmas, please.

Here's the kitchen, along with the "happy homemaker" herself.

Lila's Kitchen

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...

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois
  • 13,681 posts
Posted by CShaveRR on Friday, December 25, 2020 8:51 PM

Merry Christmas, and greetings for the upcoming season, year, administration, whatever.  Let's hope it all gets better!

Our white Christmas this year was pretty much a bust (though our shovels are now ready and in position for quick deployment).  Chicago has gotten this far without even a one-inch snowfall.  The other side of the pond has gotten plenty (over a foot in some parts of Berrien County, Michigan).  At the tip of the lake, Indiana didn't get quite that much, but they got the white Christmas.

I took a solo trip Wednesday before the deep freeze hit us, and saw a few interesting freight cars, including a Consumers Energy coal train and a manifest on BNSF.

More interesting has been the work being done to widen the Tri-state (I-294) around the western edge of Cook County.  It has caused the bridge on the ex-BN main line to be shooflied for now, and the Mile-Long bridge over the old ATSF and GM&O (among other things) will almost become the mile-wide bridge as well (four lanes in each direction is not going to be enough).  The highway will be widened past O'Hare, but there will be another parallel Tollway (I-490?) going around the western edge of the airport.

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 blue streak 1 on Friday, December 25, 2020 12:52 AM

Strange south bound train by here Tuesday.  2  CN units back to back followed by a unit train of mostly two different tank car markings.  Also had haz mat plackards and all cars appeared to be full.  Had the requisite box car on front and rear of train.

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Posted by JoeKoh on Thursday, December 24, 2020 2:42 PM

afternoon

Mother nature has dropped us down into the froze zone.Was watching the Deshler web cam and heard a K 706 getting an ec-1 for a bad crossing at the "Bend".Holidays are always full of extra trains.Went out to take a look.Turns out it was an ethanol train from CN running on CSX with 3 CN units as well.Also heard the NS dispatcher give permission for the crews to open up the throttle and get home for Christmas.Hope everyone has a safe and Merry Christmas.

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, December 23, 2020 6:32 PM

Electroliner 1935
Love to see a picture of it after Xmas, please.

I'll see what I can do.  Busy priming it today.  That's how it's being delivered.

 

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...

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,318 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Wednesday, December 23, 2020 4:14 PM

evening

Ns had a very long stack train going west after work.Work is done for me and Stacey until after the new year. Local gas stations are becoming Grinches around here.Had some rain today still too warm for snow.Chores to do 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 Electroliner 1935 on Wednesday, December 23, 2020 3:16 PM

tree68
I've been working on a kitchen set for the granddaughter.  It's all assembled, just needs some sanding and a coat of primer.  It'll be a mother/daughter project to do the finishing. The concept for the kitchen is amazingly easy - all "one by" wood.  Just cut it square and assemble.  

Love to see a picture of it after Xmas, please.

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Posted by SD60MAC9500 on Tuesday, December 22, 2020 7:57 PM
 

SD70Dude

Bit of snow last night, but still doesn't really feel like winter.  Most of what we had melted over the past couple weeks. 

CN's EJ&E heritage unit made its way westbound across Alberta today, leading Vancouver-bound train Q117.

 

While I was out doing my Seasonal UPS gig. Saw an SD38-2 still in EJE paint on the Mt. Clemens Sub few days ago. Might be the same one I saw months back I think the number is 676.

 
 
Rahhhhhhhhh!!!!
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Posted by SD70Dude on Tuesday, December 22, 2020 7:21 PM

Bit of snow last night, but still doesn't really feel like winter.  Most of what we had melted over the past couple weeks. 

CN's EJ&E heritage unit made its way westbound across Alberta today, leading Vancouver-bound train Q117.

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

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Posted by cx500 on Tuesday, December 22, 2020 7:07 PM

After a wonderful couple of dry and sometimes warm weeks, most of the snow had gone.  I was out on my bicycle yesterday morning, but late afternoon the weather god started its revenge.  By this morning about 12-15" of the white stuff was on the ground.  My muscles are complaining, but being retired at least I don't have to commute in it!

John, Calgary, Alberta

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Posted by tree68 on Tuesday, December 22, 2020 5:48 PM

The lake effect machine is supposed to fire up here this weekend.  And my route to my daughter's house takes me right straight through it.  

If it's too bad, their presents will have to wait, or if I can get there in the morning, I've been promised a bed to sleep in.

I've been working on a kitchen set for the granddaughter.  It's all assembled, just needs some sanding and a coat of primer.  It'll be a mother/daughter project to do the finishing.

The concept for the kitchen is amazingly easy - all "one by" wood.  Just cut it square and assemble.

 

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...

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,318 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Tuesday, December 22, 2020 5:16 PM

evening

Ns had a Carl special going west after work.Guessers say warmer with rain then snow for Christmas Eve.We just might get a white Christmas this year.One more day of work.

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").

 

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
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Posted by JoeKoh on Monday, December 21, 2020 2:53 PM

afternoon

Ns was clear after work.Mother nature sent us cloudy skies and drizzle.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").

 

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,318 posts
Chatterbox Winter 2020-2021
Posted by JoeKoh on Monday, December 21, 2020 3:01 AM

Good Morning

First day of Winter today.Guessers say Mother Nature might provide some white stuff this afternoon.Went out for a bit yesterday.Not too much on CSX.The ND&W has plenty of high cube boxcars in the yard.The old Sante Fe 2026 was parked on a side track as well.Time to get ready for work.Brother is getting better.Need to get another package for him together.

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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