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Chatterbox Spring 2021

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Posted by blhanel on Wednesday, April 14, 2021 10:46 PM

JoeKoh

Trying to keep some wrens from nesting on the back porch.Trying an option right now.We'll see how it works.

stay safe

Joe

 

We've been having a battle royale with nesting robins here- they keep trying to build nests above lights or security cameras on our house, or even IN the garage when I leave the garage door open.  I've tried the life-like plastic owl to scare them away, it worked for a while last year, but this year they pretty much ignored it- even tried to build a nest ON TOP OF IT.  Recently purchased plastic pointy-cone strips and put them on top of said lights and cameras, which has sorta worked, although they still tried to pile materials on top of that in one location.  I just keep tearing it down.  Sometimes I think they're getting back at me for cutting out our overgrown landscaping shrubs (their former nesting sites)...

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Posted by JoeKoh on Wednesday, April 14, 2021 5:17 PM

evening

Ns had an eastbound lined up but didn't see it after work.Came home and took care of the yardwork.Some of the swamp was still a bit wet.Trying to keep some wrens from nesting on the back porch.Trying an option right now.We'll see how it works.

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, April 13, 2021 3:14 PM

afternoon

Ns sent a westbound stack train after work.Ran errands in town.Swamp still a bit wet to mow.

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 Monday, April 12, 2021 2:41 PM

afternoon

Ns has an eastbound Detroit edison coal train in the siding at work.Also saw a eastbound stack train after work.The swamp is starting to dry out.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").

 

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Posted by JoeKoh on Sunday, April 11, 2021 12:15 PM

afternoon

Checked in on my brother.Couldn't take him out because the nursing home was on lockdown.Two staff members tested positive for Covid.Went over to Butler Indiana and saw some trains on Ns.They sent a large shipment of culverts west.Was waiting for other trains but they got backed up.Seems a large westbound Carl special had problems in Edgerton Ohio.Mother nature decided to rain so I came home.Back to work 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 JoeKoh on Saturday, April 10, 2021 5:44 AM

good morning

Ns was clear after work yesterday.Even the boxcar was gone as well.Worked outside and it turned out great because had extra help.Mother nature is going to send us some rain.Still going to go see my brother probably tomorrow.As far as Csx trains go the double trains are ran sometimes because they have no crews.Have seen them pull into Garrett and then separate the 2 trains.Makes the crews really happy.

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 BaltACD on Thursday, April 8, 2021 6:53 PM

blue streak 1
An interesting observation.  You be the judge.   This afternoon heard a hard working train coming north on the A&WP sub.  It had 2 CSX units as it passed.  Saw it was one of the empty coal trains ( from Mobile ? ) that passes a couple times a week.  First thought working that hard and that slow how was it going to make it up the ruling grade just past my home ?

Finally heard what I though was a DPU pusher on the end  reving up to run 8.  Then surprize it was a UP unit followed by a NS unit.  Well behold it was an all mixed manifest train . It consisted of the regular mix including plackarded tank cars of quite a number that comes from interchange of UP to CSX at New Orleans.  

The total length of train I would estimate was around 15 - 16,000 feet long.  Suspect that maybe the manifest coupled onto the empty coal train at Mobile.

Now if this is going to be a regular operation it might be CSX's reluctance for Amtrak service to Mobile ? Find it interesting that CSX has facilities in their locos to DPU to other RRs locos. Are the DPU protocols the same for all RRs ? 

To my knowledge all current DPU protocols are the same for all carriers.  The last serveral series of New locomotives that CSX acquired prior to my retiremen all came from the factory equipped for DPU operation - even though CSX had not yet started to use DPU on the property to any great extent much beyond experimentation.

The equipment locomotives are equipped with is a part of their UMLER records so carriers know when specific engines can do.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Thursday, April 8, 2021 6:20 PM

An interesting observation.  You be the judge.   This afternoon heard a hard working train coming north on the A&WP sub.  It had 2 CSX units as it passed.  Saw it was one of the empty coal trains ( from Mobile ? ) that passes a couple times a week.  First thought working that hard and that slow how was it going to make it up the ruling grade just past my home ?

Finally heard what I though was a DPU pusher on the end  reving up to run 8.  Then surprize it was a UP unit followed by a NS unit.  Well behold it was an all mixed manifest train . It consisted of the regular mix including plackarded tank cars of quite a number that comes from interchange of UP to CSX at New Orleans.  

The total length of train I would estimate was around 15 - 16,000 feet long.  Suspect that maybe the manifest coupled onto the empty coal train at Mobile.

Now if this is going to be a regular operation it might be CSX's reluctance for Amtrak service to Mobile ? Find it interesting that CSX has facilities in their locos to DPU to other RRs locos. Are the DPU protocols the same for all RRs ? 

 

 

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Posted by JoeKoh on Thursday, April 8, 2021 4:42 PM

evening

Balt our condolences.The Ash bore bug really hit Ohio hard.We had one tree fall right into the ditch behind our house.There is another one primed to go right by the playground area.People in charge are reactive instead of proactive.(oops that fell well now it needs cleaned up).Ns ran a stack train westbound after work.We have a boxcar in our warehouse as well.Glad tomorrow is Friday.Think Mother nature is done with the rain for now.More to come Sunday accrording to the guessers.

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 BaltACD on Thursday, April 8, 2021 7:41 AM

tree68
Indeed - for us a ten acre fire is major.  The Adirondacks haven't seen a major fire in years - which, given the "forever wild" mantra, is a bad thing.  After the derecho of 1995, there was an effort to pull the newly fallen timber out.  It was denied, and all those trees are still laying there...

Our collective inexperience with larger fires gets us in trouble occasionally because we don't make the transition from "put the fire out" to "draw a line and don't let the fire get past it."  I'm speaking of the local volunteer fire departments - not the forest rangers.

Made a round trip to Ohio and back for my brother-in-law's funeral Monday & Tuesday.  Driving through the forested areas - it being Spring and the trees not having leafed out as of yet - it was easy to see the high number of trees that had been blown over or broken off above ground and were 'trapped' by other trees - wood that is drying out every day and is prime fuel for a lightning strike to start a forest fire.  There was A LOT OF DEAD WOOD that was visible.  It being early in the growing season, Lord only knows how much of last years underbrush was still in place that is also ready to go up in flames.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by tree68 on Thursday, April 8, 2021 6:52 AM

Indeed - for us a ten acre fire is major.  The Adirondacks haven't seen a major fire in years - which, given the "forever wild" mantra, is a bad thing.  After the derecho of 1995, there was an effort to pull the newly fallen timber out.  It was denied, and all those trees are still laying there...

Our collective inexperience with larger fires gets us in trouble occasionally because we don't make the transition from "put the fire out" to "draw a line and don't let the fire get past it."  I'm speaking of the local volunteer fire departments - not the forest rangers.

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
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Come ride the rails with me!
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Posted by Erik_Mag on Thursday, April 8, 2021 12:46 AM

Tree, what you're describing sounds like a tame fall fire season here in SoCal. Woulldn't want to be in your neck of the woods, if you got a strong Santa Ana (sustained 40 to 70 mph winds, 80 to 90F with singe digit relative humidity) blowing through, though the topography of your area makes that unlikely.

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Posted by tree68 on Wednesday, April 7, 2021 9:39 PM

It's amazing - after some six years of an annual ban on open fires from the middle of March to the middle of May, some people don't seem to get it and light off that big bonfire in their back yard.

Sometimes it's so windy that one has to wonder if they understand the physics of the wind.  

It doesn't help that we're actually in something of a drought condition...

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 Wednesday, April 7, 2021 4:40 PM

Evening NS was clear after work.Came home and had the first mowing of the season.Guessers say rain tomorrow.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 blue streak 1 on Wednesday, April 7, 2021 12:51 PM

Now i am locked out ======  What the heck ?????????????

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Posted by JoeKoh on Tuesday, April 6, 2021 5:53 PM

evening

Ns had some cars uptown after work today.Spent time outside clearing branches.Mother nature wants it more summer then spring right now.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").

 

  • Member since
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Posted by JoeKoh on Monday, April 5, 2021 5:32 PM

evening

Back to work today.Ns was clear after work.Came home and worked outside.Time for supper.

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 blue streak 1 on Monday, April 5, 2021 7:26 AM

What rail lines are in the flood zone near the retention pond at Tampa ?  Another thought =  These stories say they are pumping some of the waste water out in  a controlled manner.  Why are pumps even needed ?  Just fill pipes and operater them as siphons ?    Since the wasste water is acidic that will corrode the pumps eventually.

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Sunday, April 4, 2021 7:20 PM

how do you access old news wire posts ?

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Posted by tree68 on Saturday, April 3, 2021 12:59 PM

JoeKoh
.Also found out Csx is delaying the demolition of the Hamilton Station if residents can raise enough money to move it.

Good luck with that.  When the local historical society tried to move the Milford, MI depot, they came up short.  There are now condos on that site.

I even donated $100 to the cause.

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 Saturday, April 3, 2021 12:40 PM

afternoon

Went out and saw a few trains on Csx.There was a K 447 with Kcs power that came east.The q 350 came west and it was running long hood forward.Also found out Csx is delaying the demolition of the Hamilton Station if residents can raise enough money to move it.Going to go back out and enjoy the sunshine.

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 rvos1979 on Friday, April 2, 2021 6:45 PM

mudchicken
CShaveRR

Is anyone else having lots of problems with the Newswire today?  If I get past the "504 Timeout", I get a message that says I've red my limit of eight free subscribers, and offering me a free trial subscription.

Then there's a line for subscribers to sign in.  I subscribe to both Trains and Classic Trains, but clicking the link gives me a white screen.  So I'm nowhere.  And, for the first time since things allegedly were changed, the Rochelle webcam wouldn't come up for me.

This is mildly infuriating.

Get in line... Kalbach got sold a bill of goods on this new and improved (decrepit and failing faster?) web re-design. A good drive-by slapping may be in order. They probably took the money and skipped town. (There are plenty of other things subscribers were supposed to have access to that no longer function.)

Carl and Mud, is it bad when I think manure is better than the redesign of the sites? I have Trains, MR, and MRVP subscriptions, and besides not being able to find anything anymore (nobody must like pull down menus anymore), I don't have access to half the stuff I used to have. Not interested in paying more to get more manure.......

Good comic item on the Chicago traffic report this morning, a dump truck on I290 lost a load of sand, and just kept going. The sand caused another accident, which thankfully caused no injuries, and the dump truck driver returned some time later. No word on how badly he was chewed out by IDOT and state police........

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 JoeKoh on Friday, April 2, 2021 2:46 PM

Good Friday(well that depends)

Ran errands in town and went and watch some trains.Saw some Csx action this morning.Went by Cecil Ohio.The ND&W had  former Sante Fe 2026 on the Cincinnati Northern connection with some cars. The 2045 wasn't having any fun on the wabash as it was stuck with broken rail around it. Went over to New Haven where Ns had the L 91 out working.It had a high hood Gp 38 for power. 13 q passed it at Dawkins.Not exciting power but it's a carl special train and had flat cars with tonka toys on the back.Looked in the yard in New Haven then came back for home.Hope everyone has a Happy Easter.

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, April 2, 2021 2:11 PM

Got a call from our local TV news today.  Long story short - I'm meeting a reporter at our county training center Monday morning for an interview. 

A medium security prison in the county is closing - and our training center is on the state property.  And I'm the president of the county firefighters association, which is the operator of the facility.  

There's a lot that's up in the air right now...

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 Friday, April 2, 2021 2:01 PM

Don't know if it's time to laugh or scream dept.:

Cover of trade magazine "Progressive Railroading"

For UP, More is More......To spur more growth, Union Pacific Aims to become more responsive, resourceful and reliable"

Pogo needs to address the PSR advocates, The Wall Street trash and the beancounter mentality..... (somebody doesn't get it Mischief)

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 mudchicken on Friday, April 2, 2021 1:17 AM

CShaveRR

Is anyone else having lots of problems with the Newswire today?  If I get past the "504 Timeout", I get a message that says I've red my limit of eight free subscribers, and offering me a free trial subscription.

Then there's a line for subscribers to sign in.  I subscribe to both Trains and Classic Trains, but clicking the link gives me a white screen.  So I'm nowhere.  And, for the first time since things allegedly were changed, the Rochelle webcam wouldn't come up for me.

This is mildly infuriating.

 

Get in line... Kalbach got sold a bill of goods on this new and improved (decrepit and failing faster?) web re-design. A good drive-by slapping may be in order. They probably took the money and skipped town. (There are plenty of other things subscribers were supposed to have access to that no longer function.)

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 CShaveRR on Thursday, April 1, 2021 8:38 PM

Is anyone else having lots of problems with the Newswire today?  If I get past the "504 Timeout", I get a message that says I've red my limit of eight free subscribers, and offering me a free trial subscription.

Then there's a line for subscribers to sign in.  I subscribe to both Trains and Classic Trains, but clicking the link gives me a white screen.  So I'm nowhere.  And, for the first time since things allegedly were changed, the Rochelle webcam wouldn't come up for me.

This is mildly infuriating.

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 Thursday, April 1, 2021 11:09 AM

afternoon

Mother nature providing an april fools snow shower for us.Mamma finally got signed up for her first covid shot.Matt comes home tomorrow.Plenty of inside 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").

 

  • Member since
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Posted by tree68 on Wednesday, March 31, 2021 8:43 PM

That's why I pull the hard drives out before a computer leaves the house.

Our township did a "we'll take anything" pickup a few years ago.  They probably ended up picking up half of what was put out, after the pickers got through.

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 Wednesday, March 31, 2021 7:25 PM

In our area, they seem to be more interested in scrap metal.  We put a bed frame out there late last year, and the junkers took the metal parts, leaving us to dispose of the wooden ends.

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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