Trains.com

Chatterbox Fall 2022

21644 views
287 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    March 2016
  • From: Burbank IL (near Clearing)
  • 13,540 posts
Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Friday, November 18, 2022 10:05 AM

While it doesn't compare to western New York, western Michigan is also scheduled to get its share of lake effect snow.  Winter storm warnings are also going for northwest Indiana.

Before they re-equipped in 1981, South Shore used to get clobbered pretty badly by lake effect snow.  Service suspensions and cutbacks occurred as snow got into the traction motors and disabled most of the Insull-era equipment.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,020 posts
Posted by tree68 on Friday, November 18, 2022 12:53 PM

I got 6.5" here at the house overnight, then the band moved south.  Watertown and environs are getting hammered right now.  I'm getting a little snow now, but it completely quit for a while.

https://www.meteoblue.com/en/weather/webcams/watertown_united-states_5143396

For reference on the above webcams, Adams is about 10 miles south of Watertown, Alexandria Bay is about 25 miles north.  I'm 13 miles north of the city.

Glen Park is a suburb of Watertown, and the "Croghan" images are just outside the gate of Fort Drum at I-781.

The VR cam in Pulaski is showing no snow falling at this moment.

This is very typical of lake effect in this area - tight bands with large snowfalls.  I heard one report that Fort Drum has seen two feet, so far...  

With Lake Ontario completely open (as are all of the Great Lakes), the "fetch" is huge, resulting in a lot of moisture laden air coming ashore.

All the lakes generate lake effect when the conditions are right.  NWS even mentioned that there is some chaining going on, as winds crossing Lake Superior, then Lake Huron/Georgian Bay, gang up with Lakes Erie and Ontario for just that much more punch.  I've seen that on radar - pretty impressive.

If you want to see where the largest lake effect snowfalls will be, just lay a ruler across any of the lakes and look for the longest "fetch."  Given the proper wind direction, watch out!

 

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, November 18, 2022 5:08 PM

evening

Didn't see anything extra on Ns after work.Went into town to do errands.Temprature keeps going down.We do not need to go anywhere.Going to listen for our local teams still in the playoffs.Mother nature keeps sending that west wind across the lake to Buffalo.

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 Friday, November 18, 2022 6:50 PM

tree68
Weather guessers are saying six feet in Buffalo... Did I already say that?  

Ouch, that's serious even in our local mountains.

Seems slightly strange in our higher vaxxed area, but all of a sudden flu shot appointments are booked up several weeks at the 'usual' locations like CVS. RSV outbreaks are probably also a factor. Fortunately my medical group has caught up, with openings the next day ! and a flu / covid clinic upstairs.

I'm keeping an eye out for measles outbreaks due to the one in Ohio - all unvaxxed children Angry Bang Head. I'm old enough not to have had an MMR but that will probably change.

Measles is not something to take lightly - it can reset your immune system to 'useless' for a year or two.

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,020 posts
Posted by tree68 on Friday, November 18, 2022 7:13 PM

One of my firefighters has adult RSV - it's going around.

Images from the Buffalo area indicate some pretty serious snow, so far...

I'm getting snow again, and if the wind holds out of the southwest like it is right now, I'll probably be out blowing snow again in the morning.  Roads to the south of me are still treacherous, at best.  The scanner has been pretty busy.

The Pulaski VR cam is still showing no new snow, and reports from hams north of the St Lawrence River indicate it hasn't had much impact there.

It's gonna be a fun weekend.

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
    January 2002
  • From: Cedar Rapids, IA
  • 4,213 posts
Posted by blhanel on Friday, November 18, 2022 8:56 PM

Wife and I are still recovering from a bout of RSV that we caught about four weeks ago from our special needs granddaughter.  Wasn't fun...

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Burlington, WI
  • 1,418 posts
Posted by rvos1979 on Saturday, November 19, 2022 8:44 AM

Had a family doctor appointment yesterday, got my flu and pneumonia shots while we were there, gotta wait two weeks for the Covid booster to limit reactions.........

What little snow has fallen over the last few days made a mess of the roads, driving home from the Sturtevant yard Thursday night required four wheel drive just to get enough traction, state highway was ice. Interstate wasn't much better, with wrecks and stuck trucks...........

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

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,020 posts
Posted by tree68 on Saturday, November 19, 2022 4:55 PM

I was asked to transport an elderly woman (97, and she still lives on her own!) home from the hospital today.  It went without incident.

While we got less than a foot here at my place, according to my less-than-regulation measurements, the city of Watertown got every bit of two to three feet.  Some streets haven't been plowed, and the plowed snowbanks are pretty impressive.

All this since Thursday afternoon.

 

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
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,020 posts
Posted by tree68 on Saturday, November 19, 2022 4:59 PM

Got an forbidden error when I tried to post the previous post earlier.  Here's some of the rest of it.

There are reports of four feet of snow in some area.  There were cases of vehicles being abandoned.  One local fire department went on-line to ask that people who may have done so please contact them so they can get the roads in their area open.  During the worst of it, fire trucks and ambulances were getting stuck or going off the road during responses.

We're under a warning until Sunday, but right now we're just getting flurries.

 

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
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,020 posts
Posted by tree68 on Saturday, November 19, 2022 5:01 PM

Got an forbidden error again when I tried to post the previous post earlier.  Here's the rest of it.

As for measuring snow, there are specific guidelines, including measuring the depth four times per day.  This accounts for a certain amount of settling.  

Measure more often and the reported amount will be high, less often and the reported amount will be low.

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, November 19, 2022 6:40 PM

evening

Cold and a bit of snow today.Did run an errand.Going to stay inside and keep warm.

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
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Saturday, November 19, 2022 6:51 PM

Caught a few minutes of the Boston College at Notre Dame football game - white field and all.  Lake effect snow off Lake Michigan.  On CSX that snow belt includes LaPaz, IN.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    July 2016
  • 2,631 posts
Posted by Backshop on Saturday, November 19, 2022 7:35 PM

I like four seasons as much as anybody but the NY snow belt is too much of a good thing.

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,020 posts
Posted by tree68 on Saturday, November 19, 2022 8:32 PM

BaltACD

Caught a few minutes of the Boston College at Notre Dame football game - white field and all.  Lake effect snow off Lake Michigan.  On CSX that snow belt includes LaPaz, IN.

The Fairport VR cam had an eastbound in which the second unit had a sizeable "top hat" of snow...

Don't know if it picked that up sitting in the Buffalo area, or just running 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
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,318 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Sunday, November 20, 2022 5:50 AM

morning

Watching the Deshler Cam.Had reports last night that trains for Buffalo were being held west of Wilard.Antwerp is out in Ohio's football playoffs.Liberty Center is still in.Columbus Grove will play Marion Local next Saturday as well.Going to go check on my brother.Mother nature has the freezer open.

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 Monday, November 21, 2022 2:33 PM

afternoon

Ns had some cars uptown after work.Yesterday after I checked on my brother I saw some trains.A switcher was out and about at SDI in Butler.Came back home a saw some trains on Csx.I 010 had some sd 70 ac rebuilds for power.Have stuff inside today.Tommorow hope to chop leaves one more time.Wed. college boy comes 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").

 

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,318 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Tuesday, November 22, 2022 3:00 PM

afternoon

Heard a couple on ns after work today.College boy is coming home tonight.Boss is getting the pantry stocked up.One more day.

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, November 23, 2022 5:04 PM

evening

Ns has 1 boxcar near our siding at work uptown.Not sure if it's coming or going.Ran errands after work.Matt helped with the Christmas tree and lights.He is working on what train we want to run under it.Wishing everyone a happy Thanksgiving.

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, November 24, 2022 6:47 AM

Happy Thanksgiving!

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
    July 2016
  • 2,631 posts
Posted by Backshop on Thursday, November 24, 2022 7:42 AM

I just participated in a Thanksgiving tradition--listening to all 17 minutes of Arlo Guthrie's Alice's Restaurant!

(1) Alice's Restaurant Massacree - YouTube

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,020 posts
Posted by tree68 on Thursday, November 24, 2022 8:00 AM

Backshop

I just participated in a Thanksgiving tradition--listening to all 17 minutes of Arlo Guthrie's Alice's Restaurant!

(1) Alice's Restaurant Massacree - YouTube

Someone just mentioned that over on FB.  Now I'm gonna have to get out the guitar and pick a few rounds...

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
    December 2001
  • From: Burlington, WI
  • 1,418 posts
Posted by rvos1979 on Friday, November 25, 2022 2:41 AM

Interesting Thanksgiving day, spent it working. Debit card had a fraud block put on it in the morning, so I'm out that for the next couple weeks, then almost had pheasant for lunch. Learned that pheasants make a helluva racket when hit by a semi going 65 mph. Amazingly, didn't even crack the windshield..........

Delivery this morning, then home to cash a check so I can eat next week.........

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

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Friday, November 25, 2022 7:27 AM

rvos1979
Interesting Thanksgiving day, spent it working. Debit card had a fraud block put on it in the morning, so I'm out that for the next couple weeks, then almost had pheasant for lunch. Learned that pheasants make a helluva racket when hit by a semi going 65 mph. Amazingly, didn't even crack the windshield..........

Delivery this morning, then home to cash a check so I can eat next week.........

I use Discover as my primary card.  I check my account on line probably once a week and sometimes more frequently.  On several occasions I have seen fraudulent purchases on my account.  I have also had Discover notify me of SUSPECTED fraudulent purchases which in on case was a actual purchase I had made.

When the fraud was actually fraud, I have contacted Discover, they immediately disable that card number and issue a new card - with the no cost option of Overnight FedEx delivery or a normal USPS delivery.  Over the past decade I have had to go through the lost/fraud routine with Discover four times, three times when I was at my normal home and one time when I was at my Snowbird home.

Recently I thought I had lost my wallet and all its cards.  Since I have online access to all my accounts I went 'Lost Card' on all of them.  Discover had a new card in my possession less than 24 hours after I reported the loss.  The others, which I allowed to com USPS arrived the second Saturday after the loss was reported on a Thursday.  AAA, Medicare, United Health and AARP took up to 2.5 weeks to arrive.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,318 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Friday, November 25, 2022 4:41 PM

evening

Matt and I went to Deshler today.Even a side trip down to Leipsic as well.A rather tame turkey was hanging around the diamond area.We saw Csx cram in a M 560 and L 318 on 1 track.Then I 141 came south as well.Ns ran 2 eastbounds while we were there.In Deshler a crew van was looking for a crew on M 350 in the Sw wye.Ooops they were already gone.Other parked trains and other problems came about as well.On the way home we spotted M 353.It had an articulated log car in the consist.Found the battery charger for my camera under the passenger seat of my truck tonight.Going to have leftovers for supper.Tomorrow it's THE GAME.

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
    September 2010
  • 2,515 posts
Posted by Electroliner 1935 on Saturday, November 26, 2022 2:01 PM

rvos1979
then almost had pheasant for lunch. Learned that pheasants make a helluva racket when hit by a semi going 65 mph. Amazingly, didn't even crack the windshield....

Back in the early '50s, my english class had a book with stories for us to read. I read it in a study hall period and I have never forgotten it. Wish I could find it. It was about an new diesel engine test run on a railrod in the plains and the brass were in the cab with the Engineer and Fireman when they struck a pheasant that broke the windshield and landed in the back of the cab. The story told about the men turing around and looking at it and then iy vomited on the deck. The image in my mind cracked me up into a laughing spell that I could not stop and the teacher told me to leave the room. It took me about ten minutes to stop laughing because every time I stopped my mind would replay the scene and I would break up again. 

I have seen pictures of E units with steel grids over them operating in the eastern part of the US  and understood vandals would drop heavy objects from overpasses onto oncoming trains but wonder about whether the early units did not have high strength glass.

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Saturday, November 26, 2022 4:20 PM

Electroliner 1935
...

I have seen pictures of E units with steel grids over them operating in the eastern part of the US  and understood vandals would drop heavy objects from overpasses onto oncoming trains but wonder about whether the early units did not have high strength glass.

The windshield glass we take for granted today, wasn't required until 1937 when the laminated form of glass was mandated for automobiles.  Feel certain over the years since there have been many improvements in both the strength of the glass as well as the laminate.

I have no idea if laminated safety glass was required on the early diesels.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,020 posts
Posted by tree68 on Saturday, November 26, 2022 6:31 PM

Locomotives today (along with a number of other rail vehicles) must be equipped with glazing meeting CFR 49 part 223 requirements.  

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/part-223/appendix-Appendix%20A%20to%20Part%20223

There is a move afoot in the automotive industry to go to laminated glass for side and rear windows, again.  The current practice is tempered glass.

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
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Saturday, November 26, 2022 7:55 PM

One reason for tempered side windows is to allow a person to break the window and escape if and when a vehicle ends up in a body of water.  Tempered glass breaks in relative 'granules' not flesh slicing shards and can be broken by a sharp defined small impact - such as a 'automatic center punch'.  $3.99 at Harbor Freight. 

 

Mythbusters version without breaking the side glass

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIx719_oer0

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Denver / La Junta
  • 10,820 posts
Posted by mudchicken on Saturday, November 26, 2022 10:06 PM

mudchicken

92 yesterday, 64 today...Got to Denver a day early??

PS - The gods of centripital force caught another speeder on RTD light rail in Denver today. When will the bus people at RTD wake up and smell the coffee? Downhill into a flat curve with no cross-level elevation means SLOW DOWN!. There is only so much forgiveness in a set-up like that. Passengers hurt, lucky there has not been a fatal injury yet.

 

They FINALLY admitted today that that Light Rail trainset hit the 10 MPH curve lower Exposition/Sable curve at 40 MPH....when you get bus-people running trains (even light rail toy trains), THIS stupidity is what you get ... Hiding behind the clueless at FTA to avoid FRA safety rules and enforcement (lax to none in both cases at FTA) has got to change. 

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
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,318 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Sunday, November 27, 2022 5:36 AM

morning

Rain here in Nw Ohio.A couple teams from old home area are going to the state finals next week.The  BIG team from Columbus gets to watch the championship game in Indy.Csx had to turn the power for a grain train that was here in Defiance.You would think by now they would have an engine facing each way when they go into the loop.Going to go check on my brother.College boy goes back to school.We go 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").

 

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy