How Many “Forum” Readers Are There?

[Mookie]

Got to sit on switch engine many years ago - didn't know train crew, but since I was a RR brat, they were very nice.

Straight tea - but in my earlier years, well, it would have been something a lot stronger.

You are right - I wouldn't be caught dead baking a cookie!

:)

Jen

[GerFust]

Never had the opportunity to get up front - would love to do that but don't have any relatives in the industry. I wonder if ice tea is also a trait of train watchers? Something about you doesn't strike me as the cookie recipe type, and what do you put in the ice tea?

Jer [e-mail]

[Mookie]

Wouldn't that be a hoot to take your ice tea out and just watch the train traffic in a comfy chair! I am not sure what the attraction is, but I never get tired of watching them. I don't even photo them - just watch and enjoy.

We had a Big Boy in a park in Omaha - I loved going up there and just standing next to it. That was one big engine. My Dad hand-fired a lot of the engines in that era and explained what everything was on it. Better than exchanging cookie recipes any time!

Never been in a caboose - could never get away from the front end! :)

Jen

[GerFust]

Wow - you certainly generate a lot of potential new forum topics.

Living near the tracks sounds very nice. It makes me wonder why all the folks in Potterville, MI got all steamed when CN derailed there a year ago. It didn't hurt any homes, other than some food and wet laundry that rotted when the power went out, for which they were compensated. I think it would be cool to watch the trains from your own backyard, front porch, etc.

A Big Boy in the backyard! That's dreaming big. I wanted to start with a caboose, maybe a passenger car I can make into a private coach.

[Mookie]

Thanx for the tips, Dave. I hope to go there before too much more time passes. Talked my driver into it and now just have to get a vacation sock going!

Jen

[Mookie]

Thanx for the tips, Dave. I hope to go there before too much more time passes. Talked my driver into it and now just have to get a vacation sock going!

Jen

[David3]

Illinois here I was #2 in this list but I live 2 hours from Rochelle also. I was there once and I loved it, I wish I could go back there again. Do they let you even go near the intermodal yard?

[dknelson]

Wisconsin here -- about a 2 hour drive from rochelle.
and yes I do know how to spell "wave"
A group of us once stood at the fence at an agreed on time and posed for the webcam. A friend back home printed out the image but it was pretty grainy.
By the way if you ever get there don;t just hang out at the park (or "the deer stand" as some locals call it) -- there are two depots in town and one just out of town (stewart), a new intermodal yard to the west, a shortline to the north at Flagg Center that goes up to Davis Jct, and other sights worth seeing all within a few minutes of the park. You can also trace the old Milwaukee Road right of way to the south
Dave Nelson

[Mookie]

I always thought if I ever got there I would carry a big sign that says "I'm Here!" and show it to the camera!

Jen

[Soo2610]

I'll second the Rochelle reunion. Need to get back out there. It has been a while.

[Soo2610]

Gerald, know what you mean. Was on the campus last fall for a tour. My daughter was considering going there and has been invited to attend. Naturally, being a railfan, I had to check out the rail lines and possible viewing areas. It is a beautiful campus but she has narrowed her choices down to the U of I Or Iowa State which has the UP just a couple of blocks away.

[Soo2610]

Kinda figured we could always use a little levity in our lives. What with worrying about paying bills and family members playing games in the big sandbox in the middle east. I needed a laugh. I didn't respond the night before so Ed beat me to number four. Didn't really like number nine so I passed. Was looking at other posts on the forum and started thinking about number 10, the movie, Bo Derek and son of a gun Jen rhymes with ten and haven't seen a response from her yet. So I stuck tongue in cheek, posted and waited to see how the timing worked out. Couldn't have been better. Glad you got a laugh out of it.

[Modelcar]

...Wonder how many different States we represent..Do we have representives from all regions of the country. [ # 7 ]....Indiana here. But I started in Pennsylvania.

QM

[dknelson]

what we need is an AOL chatroom or some such.

Maybe a grand Forum Reunion at Rochelle -- we could tailgate and agree to waive at a certain agreed on time to the folks who can't be there!
Dave Nelson

[Mookie]

Someday - I am going to live where I can sit on my front porch or in front window and spend all my free time just watching trains. Not have to drive across town to sit in a car and watch them only on the weekends! Now if they would just put old steam whistles on the new diesels! But then, I am the one that wants a Big Boy in my back yard, too...

[GerFust]

I definitely agree about the peaceful sound of a distant train. I live some 25 miles north of here, and sometimes swear I can hear the trains passing through north Lansing. The tracks in the town where I live were pulled up in the early 90's, unfortunately. I'd love to live closer to the railroad - wouldn't be a problem at all! [e-mail].

[Mookie]

Our campus has the BN just to the north of it, and did have CNW and Rock Island very close at one time. Those tracks are now pretty much gone.

But I can hear the trains at home and love every minute of them. There is something very peaceful about a train in the distance.

[GerFust]

Nice to hear that someone else in the university community is into trains. Sorry you cannot see the trains.

Unfortunately, the new law school here blocks me view. I do hear the trains echoing off the buildings all day, though, and they really call me to be out there. The CN line goes through campus, as does the UP (I think) a bit further south. The two mainlines cross just west of campus, which I pass on the way home - making for some nice train watching.

MSU has many gardens - I don't do it often enough, but the rose garden is next to the CN line and some days you can catch a train every 15 minutes - a very nice place to watch trains, have a nice view, and get some work done in private.

[Anonymous]

I lost count but count me in!

G Setter

[Anonymous]

Wow, there must be 2 dozen of us. Makes you feel powerful, doesn't it?

[Mookie]

I told you I always get a laugh from the forums!

Ah, forever may I remain a figment of someone's imagination!

Jen

[Mookie]

Fortunately I get in here about 6:30 am so it was the first thing I saw when I started on the Forums. Reading the Forums always gives me a laugh to start my day and this was no exception!

[Soo2610]

You're welcome. Was wondering if you would see this in time to grab number 10.

[edblysard]

But loitering is more fun, if your good at it, you can do it right out in the open, and no one knows!
Ed

[Anonymous]

I`m number 18

N.D.

[dknelson]

Rumor has it -- Jenny is a "10" -- she says so herself! Pass it on!

dave nelson

[rustybore]

Lurking is an artform - add me to the list of readers

[Mookie]

you work close to trains? How I envy you - I am in a basement and can't hear weather, trains, zip.
But I think he is doing this cuz we have worn out all the other subjects and he does get some of us to answer. (on the campus of Univ of Nebraska!)

[GerFust]

#11, St. Johns, MI - listen to trains (can't see them from my office) on the campus of Michigan State University. Again - haven't seen an answer as to why you are doing this. Did you contact the webmaster for a count?

[Mookie]

Good timing - I will be #10, thank you! I am not here on weekends, so this worked out perfectly!