Got a call from my doc today - my PSA is back within normal range. We'll check again is six months.
She hinted she'd like to see it lower, but where it's at is OK for now.
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...
I will attend the C&NW retirees' lunch today, held in a trainless section of the area. So I'll compensate by visiting some of my old haunts first. Then, after lunch comes a visit with my oncology nurse--I think she's gonna shoot me. After that appointment (assuming I survive the shooting as well as I do every other month), I may try to scare up some CN action in West Chicago before heading home.
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)
Attended training tonight on our new county radio system. On the fire side we're going from six simplex channels to sixteen channels on the "fire" zone (and more on other zones). I can now train folks for the system, but there's clearly going to be a learning curve.
Just understanding the intended purposes for several of the channels (talkgroups in trunked radio parlance) is going to be a challenge.
evening
Back to work today.Ns has a rail train parked in the siding.They pulled the power off today while I was inside at work.Went over to meet up with a friend in Deshler.Made new friends as well.Csx was busy clogging things up.Even got some railroad goodies dropped off as well.Need to get cleaned up and sleep fast.
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").
afternoon
Busy day for Csx.The GT heritage unit did come eastbound on Csx after they changed the symbol.Also crews are working to help J 715 back on the rails.The engine picked a yard lead switch in Defiance.Brother is doing good.Ns ran a hot ups train east while we visiited.
Went over to Deshler and worked around the museum and park.Trimmer got a work out.Csx sent a few trains by.Stopped at the store on the way home and found a car wash.My great niece and friends are taking their school band to New York.Truck appreciated the wash.Going to do things here at home.
Didnt see any Ns trains today.Gave more hugs.Found out one of Stacey's cousins lives in Chicago and uses metra to get around.His apartment backdoor looks over a railyard.He thinks it's a Up yard.Need to go run errands.Maybe tomorrow will get to watch trains.
Sounds like Csx got back open and running today.Came home and saw 2 trains in Swanton on Ns waiting to go.First round of hugs today.More on tap for tomorrow.
Heard a report of a derailment on CSX over toward Garrett. No details.
0400 wake-up call this morning - house on fire in a neighboring town. I took our tanker over, but they had plenty of water from a hydrant. Possibly started in the kitchen, but got into void spaces and the attic. Pretty sure they tore it down after I left the scene. Family of four lost most everything.
Ns sent a westbound stack train after work today.On Csx q 010 derailed near Auburn Indiana.Crews are working on it now.Matt is uptown taking care of yardwork.Will do the same when he gets home.Getting things around for tomorrow.
Ns ran a stack train westbound after work.Went to Deshler for a meeting.Csx ran some trains by as well.The I&O had the MOW tonka toys parked behind the Hamler elevator.Going to do a couple quick chores then it's time for bed.
tree68 BaltACD I also keep track of all the fuel, repairs and other costs of ownership. I'm not that extensive, although when I was working and had time, I'd put the gas info into a data file and massage it with a QBasic program to see how the MPG was going. I log the actual mileage, gallons, cost, and miles since last fill-up, then I reset trip A to zero until next time. I use trip B for things like long trips. The grocery store I usually use has a program with credit toward fuel. If I haven't used it in a while, it's kind of nice. The problem is, it's good for up to 20 gallons, and once you use it at all, it resets to zero. Thus there is an incentive to go until you'll need all 20 gallons. If I guestimate 15 MPG as a long term average, I've put over 15,000 gallons of gas in the truck. Scary.
BaltACD I also keep track of all the fuel, repairs and other costs of ownership.
I'm not that extensive, although when I was working and had time, I'd put the gas info into a data file and massage it with a QBasic program to see how the MPG was going.
I log the actual mileage, gallons, cost, and miles since last fill-up, then I reset trip A to zero until next time. I use trip B for things like long trips.
The grocery store I usually use has a program with credit toward fuel. If I haven't used it in a while, it's kind of nice. The problem is, it's good for up to 20 gallons, and once you use it at all, it resets to zero. Thus there is an incentive to go until you'll need all 20 gallons.
If I guestimate 15 MPG as a long term average, I've put over 15,000 gallons of gas in the truck. Scary.
My local grocery store gives 10 cents a gallon off for every $100 of purchases. The maximum gas purchase is 25 gallons. Points expire at the end of the next month after they were earned. Points earned in June will expire at the end of July.
When I was working I was using a tank a week. Now that I am retired, except when I am taking trips, I use about a tank a month. Mileage since I bought the truck is 14.13940256 MPG. The Durango got 14.53690712 over the 360K miles I drove it. My Jeep Cherokee got 16.24356169 - It had 79K when I bought it and over 295K when I got rid of it. My 1984 Dodge Daytona Turbo got 23.14959098 from New until I got rid of it at 200K.
Looking at the numbers, I am surprised that the Ram and the Durango are only about 0.4 MPG different - the Durango had the 4.7 V8 and the Ram has the 5.7 Hemi V8 and has towing as a higher percentage of its total mileage than did the Durango. The Ram is a larger and heavier vehicle.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
BaltACDI also keep track of all the fuel, repairs and other costs of ownership.
tree68Truck is back, and appears to be running fine. If this fuel pump lasts as long as the last one, it'll probably outlive me. I keep a log of my fuel purchases - I could probably figure out how many gallons of gas have gone through since I bought the truck, new. But, I have other things to do.
I also keep track of all the fuel, repairs and other costs of ownership. I keep a book in the vehicle and put the data into an Excel spreadsheet every quarter. Through June 27 the Ram has used 559 gallons this year at a average price of $2.69 - for 7656 miles that included towing trips back from Florida to Maryland, a round trip towing to Topeka and back was well as a round trip towing to Watkins Glen and back. 3444 gallons since I bought the truck in February 2018.
Goodness - haven't heard of Nora in ages. Back when she was driving cab (RR) she would occasionally wander into the Southern Tier, almost close enough to head down to meet her.
Truck is back, and appears to be running fine. If this fuel pump lasts as long as the last one, it'll probably outlive me. I keep a log of my fuel purchases - I could probably figure out how many gallons of gas have gone through since I bought the truck, new. But, I have other things to do.
I took a practice test for drones today - missed "passing" by two questions, and discovered a lot of stuff I have to learn. The little book I bought doesn't even come close, even if the hype is that you'll pass it if you study the book.
One of the flight maps used in the test includes Deshler - and a special flight situation around Hamler. And that's an important consideration. Not that the map was of the Deshler area, but that there is a LOT of emphasis on reading the charts.
Flew some today and gave most of the resulting stills and video to a local resident who was curious about the creek above town. Hope she enjoys it, although she'll have to have her daughter help her get them off the thumb drive so she can see them.
Yes I did Carl.Gave some tips on where the train stuff was in Lima.(what's left).Ns dropped a car off for uptown at the warehouse.Had to go get things for Matthew.He is still growing.Stacey's Aunt passed away so we need to go give hugs Thursday and Friday.Have chores to do here.
Did you wish Nora a happy birthday, Joe? I haven't seen that family in five years or so. I've been kind of away from things a while, holding the memorial "service of music and memories" for our daughter, more than a year after it was originlly scheduled. It went beautifully, with plenty of live music (harp, violin, viola, piano, synthsizer), and live and video eulogies, and people from all over the country. Now we're up in the Land of No Trains (this isn't just a euphemism in this particular area!), taking a much-needed rest with our son-in-law and grandson. I have a few sightings to take care of...not many, because this was a rough trip even without taking the "scenic" route.
My Caprice with a 5.7 has distributor where radiator has to be removed to work on it. When radiator went bad asked to have a complete rehab of distrbutor and innards. old cap looked fairly bad.
$600 radiator replacement almost all labor $25 distributor . Transmission cooler added to cost of labor.
zugmann BaltACD It may be common - I just havn't been pulling apart current era engines to experience all the plastic. My one truck is almost 15 years old and has plastic. *shrugs*
BaltACD It may be common - I just havn't been pulling apart current era engines to experience all the plastic.
My one truck is almost 15 years old and has plastic. *shrugs*
My 2003 Durango with the 4.7 V8 was metal. There is so much plastic on the top of my 2017 Ram's 5.7 Hemi I suspect everything under the top cover is plastic all the way down to the cylinder heads.
Went to Deshler today to work in the museum.Went down to Wapak to have lunch with Nora.On the way back the I&O sent a power move south in Lima.A friend was a conductor for Csx on Q 009.One thing for sure the creeks and ditches are full.Might be able to take care of the yard tomorrow.
joe
BaltACDIt may be common - I just havn't been pulling apart current era engines to experience all the plastic.
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
zugmann BaltACD One thing that got me on the video I linked - that all the intake manifold and intake system was PLASTIC. Isn't that pretty common anymore?
BaltACD One thing that got me on the video I linked - that all the intake manifold and intake system was PLASTIC.
Isn't that pretty common anymore?
It may be common - I just havn't been pulling apart current era engines to experience all the plastic.
I know the fuel tank on my Ram is plastic and from watching 'mustie1' YouTube videos - plastic doesn't rust and corrode when gas is left in it for extended periods of time - the fuel may 'go bad', but it won't destroy the tank in doing so.
BaltACDOne thing that got me on the video I linked - that all the intake manifold and intake system was PLASTIC.
tree68 On a similar note, Dad told me once that one model of Cadillac was so packed under the hood (and remember the size of those 'boats') that it was necessary to loosen the engine mounts to change a couple of the spark plugs...
On a similar note, Dad told me once that one model of Cadillac was so packed under the hood (and remember the size of those 'boats') that it was necessary to loosen the engine mounts to change a couple of the spark plugs...
That trick wasn't just on a Cadillac - the late 70's Chevy Monza - when equipped with the small block Chevy V8 had to be diconnected from the motor mounts and have the engine manipulated on jacks the change the spark plugs nearest the firewall. This was a production car.
One thing that got me on the video I linked - that all the intake manifold and intake system was PLASTIC.
BaltACDNot your problem, I know, but indicitive of what is involved in working on the Chrysler/Jeep V6.
My late father worked at GM's Proving Grounds in Michigan, first in military and heavy vehicle, then in the Experimental Engineering department. It was their job to come up with the apparatus that Engineering Test dreamed up.
One such task was the Coefficient of Friction Vehicle. Actually a pick-up towing a trailer, it was designed to measure the friction between the tires and the road. Known road? How'd the tires do? Known tires? You get the idea.
The trailer was fitted with electronically controlled disk brakes and included nozzles to put water on the road in front of the tires (Dad designed the nozzles), among other features. Strain guages were fitted to the hitch to measure that resistance.
There was a lot of instrumentation.
The truck was a standard GM pick-up with a V-8 (I don't remember which brand they used). In addition to the motor under the hood, there was A/C (not yet a standard feature in the late 1960's), an air compressor (for things like controlling the "fifth wheel" in the trailer, and a water pump, to feed those nozzles I mentioned. I saw a picture - there was hardly any unused space under the hood. And to top it off, just for laughs, they put a Buick lid on the air cleaner...
A custom fiberglas cover on the trailer finished the whole thing off.
In addition to use in and around GMPG, the rig travelled around the country, including a trip to Minnesota for some testing on a frozen lake.
Erik_MagTree's predicament reminds me of a couple of my experiences. Most recent one was my son driving out 99 Suburban, managed to get 200 feet from our house before the engine wouldn't start (would crank, but not light off). Son complained about rough running before that - my first thought was fuel pump. Car got towed into the dealership and I told the service rep about my suspicions, she called back about 3 hours later saying it was indeed the fuel pump. One from about 45 years ago where my dad said that the family Volvo 244 was out of gas (engine would turn over but not light off). Before going through the hassle of getting a gas can for the refill, I decided to check the gas gauge. Turn the ignition switch to "on" and noticed that I didn't hear the fuel pump run. Checked the fuse box and sure enough the feel pump fuse had blown. Quick trip to the auto parts stoe for a new fuse and the car was running again.
Most recent one was my son driving out 99 Suburban, managed to get 200 feet from our house before the engine wouldn't start (would crank, but not light off). Son complained about rough running before that - my first thought was fuel pump. Car got towed into the dealership and I told the service rep about my suspicions, she called back about 3 hours later saying it was indeed the fuel pump.
One from about 45 years ago where my dad said that the family Volvo 244 was out of gas (engine would turn over but not light off). Before going through the hassle of getting a gas can for the refill, I decided to check the gas gauge. Turn the ignition switch to "on" and noticed that I didn't hear the fuel pump run. Checked the fuse box and sure enough the feel pump fuse had blown. Quick trip to the auto parts stoe for a new fuse and the car was running again.
My HS Drivers Ed teacher's favorite phrase 'Car won't go without gas!'
However he was using the phrase in the context of teaching people to drive a manual transmission car (1963 Chevy BelAir with 3 on the tree).
Tree's predicament reminds me of a couple of my experiences.
tree68 BaltACD Probably about $200 for the pump itself and $400 for the labor of dropping the tank, removing the old pump, installing the new pump and the putting the tank back in place.. Agreed. I know this garage - and I trust them. More than I can say for some I've dealt with...
BaltACD Probably about $200 for the pump itself and $400 for the labor of dropping the tank, removing the old pump, installing the new pump and the putting the tank back in place..
Agreed. I know this garage - and I trust them. More than I can say for some I've dealt with...
Not your problem, I know, but indicitive of what is involved in working on the Chrysler/Jeep V6.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnD7CyCW2gM
BaltACDProbably about $200 for the pump itself and $400 for the labor of dropping the tank, removing the old pump, installing the new pump and the putting the tank back in place..
tree68 BaltACD Fuel pump in the tank or on the engine? At $600 and change for the job, I'm guessing tank, and a quick search confirms that. This one acted just like the one in my GMC - ran fine until I stopped, then it wouldn't start again. I've heard similar stories. The GMC fuel pump replacement was over $800, and that was better than 12 years ago. Still cheaper than a new vehicle payment.
BaltACD Fuel pump in the tank or on the engine?
At $600 and change for the job, I'm guessing tank, and a quick search confirms that.
This one acted just like the one in my GMC - ran fine until I stopped, then it wouldn't start again. I've heard similar stories.
The GMC fuel pump replacement was over $800, and that was better than 12 years ago.
Still cheaper than a new vehicle payment.
Probably about $200 for the pump itself and $400 for the labor of dropping the tank, removing the old pump, installing the new pump and the putting the tank back in place..
If the mechanic expects to feed his family he will need to accomplish the job in about half the time that the 'Flat Rate Manual' allows for the job.
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