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Chatterbox Fall 2021

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  • Member since
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  • From: Defiance Ohio
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Posted by JoeKoh on Friday, October 15, 2021 2:56 AM

morning

Went and got Matt from school.Did see an NS grain train being loaded at Delta.On the way home showed Matt some of the ND&W on the east side.Mother nature is sending rain rain and more rain today.Matt is going to work on the layout.I need to get ready for 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").

 

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  • From: Defiance Ohio
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Posted by JoeKoh on Wednesday, October 13, 2021 4:31 PM

evening

Ns had a westbound tanker train in the siding.They also had cars uptown as well.Yard uptown is mowed.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").

 

  • Member since
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  • From: Defiance Ohio
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Posted by JoeKoh on Tuesday, October 12, 2021 7:01 PM

evening

Ns had an eastbound and cars uptown after work.Ran errands in town.Came home and finished up a project.G+G stopped over to wish us Happy Anniversary.They groaned at my bear story.Tomorrow after work going uptown to take care of Ma and Pa Skivers yard.Guessers say rain and a cool down for the weekend.

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 Tuesday, October 12, 2021 7:03 AM

CShaveRR
You'd have a lot of fun in Michigan or Illinois, with 83 and 102 counties, respectively, to attempt contact with!

Most states have QSO parties through the year - and they're open to everyone.  Conditions are sometimes excellent into the Midwest from here, so I could probably do pretty well for both MI and IL.

The Michigan QSO Party is in April.  Illinois is also this coming weekend, on Sunday (NY is Saturday).  Maybe I'll fire up the radio on Sunday after the BBQ and see what pops up.

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 Monday, October 11, 2021 10:48 PM

Larry, your colors must be early this year...I remember when we were out there at about this time the colors were amazing!  

Here we're still going toward a peak; plenty of green left.

You'd have a lot of fun in Michigan or Illinois, with 83 and 102 counties, respectively, to attempt contact with!

Bed now, hospital tomorrow morning...this is a test!

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)

  • Member since
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Posted by JoeKoh on Monday, October 11, 2021 4:36 PM

evening

BBQ sounds good.Ns had an eastbound when we left work today.Trying to get computer and printer talking to each other again.More chores for here at home.Rain tonight then a cool down to come for next weekend.

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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  • From: Northern New York
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Posted by tree68 on Sunday, October 10, 2021 7:06 PM

Over 250 total riders today on our locals.  I'm sure they enjoyed the colors despite gray skies, and the fact that a significant part of said fall colors are already on the ground.  

Fortunately, the rails were dry and the leaves didn't stick to them.  Had good runs on both trips with no slippage.

This was my last weekend on the rails until Polar starts.  Next weekend is the last for the locals (and the Utica trips, I believe), and next weekend is our FD barbeque, Fire Prevention Week activities at the school, and the NY QSO Party, a ham radio event in which we try to contact all 62 counties in NY.

Whee!

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 Sunday, October 10, 2021 11:07 AM

afternoon

Went on the ND&W to check things out.New crossing signals and gates are installed in places.Crew was working on the crossing at 127 between Sherwood and Paulding Ohio.Said he needs more fill dirt to set up the box for the crossing.The recent rain isnt helping.Saw a flat car they were using to haul rail numbered "666".It was in the siding to returned to Csx.Also saw a couple Csx trains as well. Going to relax.Tomorrow its back to 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
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  • From: Defiance Ohio
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Posted by JoeKoh on Saturday, October 9, 2021 7:55 PM

evening

Went to the Wauseon depot.(MP320) Ns ran some trains by.Small gathering of people for hugs.The rain really helped the mosquito population.Going to go check on the ND&W progress 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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  • From: US
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Posted by BaltACD on Saturday, October 9, 2021 3:50 PM

Here we are a 24 hours later - each of the locations where I got stung have remained 'tender' and itchy.  The area surrounding the stings remain slightly puffy.  I cannot detect the presence of a stinger.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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  • From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois
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Posted by CShaveRR on Friday, October 8, 2021 11:12 PM

My daughter got stung by a "ground bee" a few weeks ago...on her tongue!  Her son had taken a couple for the team the same way you did, Balt...while riding the mower.

And yes, those things can be nasty in railroad yards!  I found a switch stand on the GTW that had a nest of some sort in it.  They must have papered their nest in such a way that a round hole in the metal support was the opening (as opposed to the open areas beneath said support).  At any rate, I brought a cork from home, and plugged the hole...never saw any more from there (they thought I was crazy).

Also, a brakeman friend on the GTW was unfortunate enough to bother a nest near one of the ties in the local yard...he received many stings (funny to watch, but most assuredly not funny).  I was riding the train to Grand Rapids, and basically helping him take it easy.  We actually stopped at a farmhouse not far from the tracks, and he obtained half of a raw onion.  That was a remedy that someone had suggested to him, and it seemed to have worked.

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 tree68 on Friday, October 8, 2021 9:55 PM

BaltACD
That being said - where they stung still hurts - 6 hours after the sting.

I had some come out of a switch stand once, one bit me through my glove - ouch.

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
    May 2003
  • From: US
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Posted by BaltACD on Friday, October 8, 2021 8:03 PM

tree68
 
BaltACD
According to Google, they don't like Cinnamon - so their dens got a good dose of Cinnamon to encourage them to move to a new homestead. 

That's probably better than dumping gas in the hole and lighting it...

According to Google the 'ground' bees don't have barbed stingers like honeybees and others.  That being said - where they stung still hurts - 6 hours after the sting.  On the back of my hand there looked to be the remanent of a stinger which I removed, the back of my hand still has a level of pain, as do my face and hip.  Hope they like Cinnamon - they will get more of it tomorrow.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
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  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,020 posts
Posted by tree68 on Friday, October 8, 2021 7:03 PM

BaltACD
According to Google, they don't like Cinnamon - so their dens got a good dose of Cinnamon to encourage them to move to a new homestead.

That's probably better than dumping gas in the hole and lighting it...

Re: Joe's rain.  I was working outside today, so wasn't watching the Deshler cam much.  I did check on it, though, and "Diamond Lake" was full.  I hadn't been last time I had looked.  Must have been quite the shower...

I'm working on putting up a tower for some of my ham radio antennas.  As I'm digging the hole behind the garage for the base. I'm finding that they used plenty of rocks in the backfill when they built the garage.  Makes for some tough digging.

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 Friday, October 8, 2021 4:36 PM

evening

Just got home before Mother Nature could give us another shower.Saw a couple trains today.We went to a diner south of Mansfield Ohio.It has a train/state motto theme.The food was great.Carl I found a car for you.Tomorrow is chores here and hugs in the evening.

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
    May 2003
  • From: US
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Posted by BaltACD on Friday, October 8, 2021 4:21 PM

Found out I have a couple of subterranean bee dens in my front yard - the hard way.  Mowing the lawn and they took umbrage at me riding the mower over their den.  Got stung on the back of one hand underneath the gloves I was wearing, just under my eye on one cheek and on my hip through the sweatpants I was wearing.

According to Google, they don't like Cinnamon - so their dens got a good dose of Cinnamon to encourage them to move to a new homestead.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois
  • 13,681 posts
Posted by CShaveRR on Thursday, October 7, 2021 8:08 PM

We had a quarter-inch of rain overnight last night, and another 0.9 this afternoon (most of which I napped through).  Still trying (between naps) to get some filing done on sightings from this past week, and compiling a report to go out Sunday.

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)

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,318 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Thursday, October 7, 2021 7:31 PM

evening

Ns was clear after work today.Didn't get as much rain as the guessers thought.Went over to Deshler on an errand.Csx ran a few trains by.Q 171 had plenty of power going back to Chicago.Q 016 looked plenty big going east while we came home.Tomorrow is "A" day.Going to track down an old B&O route.How long we stay? Depends on Mother Nature.

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
Posted by JoeKoh on Wednesday, October 6, 2021 5:11 PM

evening

Ns Mow was busy again after work today.I heard some csx coming into town as I was coming and going.Our yard got a quick mowing too.Friday is Aday x 27.So tomorrow will be our Friday at 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
  • 13,318 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Tuesday, October 5, 2021 4:14 PM

evening

Saw a loram unit go by at lunch.Just caught the end.Not sure which unit it was.After work Ns Mow crews were out welding and replacing track.Ran errands in town.Saw q 016 go east on Csx.Tomorrow going to do yardwork in town.Hopefully the rain can stay away.

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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  • From: San Francisco East Bay
  • 1,360 posts
Posted by MikeF90 on Tuesday, October 5, 2021 2:54 PM

BNSF Barstow seems to be very clogged up. The webcam pointing at CP Barstow (east end of old yard) showed two WB trains 'parked' (no headlights) on M2 and M3 and one EB on M3.

  • Member since
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  • From: Defiance Ohio
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Posted by JoeKoh on Monday, October 4, 2021 3:32 PM

afternoon

Ns was clear after work today.Ran errands in town.Mother Nature is sending more rain.Going to look at the new Trains magazine.

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
Posted by JoeKoh on Sunday, October 3, 2021 12:01 PM

afternoon

Went back up by work today to return a saw.Ns still has a coal train in the siding.Checked on brother as well.Saw Csx K 182 coke train come west on track 2(elevated) at Hicksville Hill.Then went around Defiance to look at the ND&W.Ties and track laid out west of Defiance.I think they are going to finally fix it up.Need to get Matt back to campus.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").

 

  • Member since
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  • From: Northern New York
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Posted by tree68 on Sunday, October 3, 2021 7:04 AM

Some bright sunshine would have been nice for the leaf peepers yesterday (we had two sold-out trains), but it was not to be.  Cloudy and dry would have been OK for me, but that was not to be, either.  Used a lot of sand...

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 Saturday, October 2, 2021 9:40 PM

evening

Finished yardwork today.Even got the mowing done as well.Took some wood to Deshler.K 597 had a hotbox but the crew didnt find anything.Also the ND&W has a mow train west of Defiance.It's only been about 40 years of no maintanence.Tomorrow taking Matt back to campus.Mother nature wants to send more rain.

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
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,020 posts
Posted by tree68 on Friday, October 1, 2021 6:25 PM

JoeKoh
More yardwork today.  Looking better.

My yard is starting to look good, finally, just in time for the first frost.  We had +35F this morning at 7:30 AM.

Mowing is a problem, though.  The soil is heavily clay, and since it's been rather wet, the zero-turn mower has a tendency to spin, wreaking havoc with the grass.

I've got a front row seat for the fall colors in the central Adirondacks tomorrow - engineer for the "local."

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 Friday, October 1, 2021 5:47 PM

evening

Ns still has a coal train in the sidng at work.There was 1 eachway when I left work.More yardwork today.Looking better.Going to go get some 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").

 

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,020 posts
Posted by tree68 on Thursday, September 30, 2021 5:34 PM

MikeF90
BTW why do monitor and motherboard mfrs still include VGA...

I'm glad they do - if they didn't, I'd have had to buy a new video card ($$$) for my new computer.  I run two monitors on the desktop.  One is running on HDMI, the other on SVGA.

On my previous computer, putting in a new video card meant putting in a new power supply, as the existing power supply couldn't power the upgraded video card.  Probably would have been the same for this one.

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 Thursday, September 30, 2021 5:13 PM

evening

Ns still had a coal train in the siding at work.They did pull the bnsf power off.There was also a westbound waiting on track 1.Worked more in the yard today.Taking advantage of what Mother Nature gives us.Glad tomorrow is Friday.

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
    July 2009
  • From: San Francisco East Bay
  • 1,360 posts
Posted by MikeF90 on Thursday, September 30, 2021 4:30 PM

Ajsik
Just bought a 24" Onn (Roku) from the Walmart in Pewaukee but unfortunately had to return it. Couldn't make my DirecTV Stream work with it.

That's not a good sign. Had to return my new Sony TV, HDMI-HDCP would only work with Sony DVD players Angry,

My new ASUS computer monitor has no RF tuner but only 1 HDMI, 1 DP and 1 VGA (!! - dsub) input. BTW why do monitor and motherboard mfrs still include VGA - old analog projectors must be useless by now.  Now back to RRs....

Late night on VR La Plata webcam I've noticed fthat BNSF launches at least two WB short, fast 'express' trains with a few double stacks on the front followed by single COFC and trailers (UPS, Swift and a few of anything else), often 2x0 locos.. An unusual kind of PSR?

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