Bad train pictures

[JoeKoh]

watch out for mookie she will be getting star number 4 before too long!
stay safe
joe

[JoeKoh]

watch out for mookie she will be getting star number 4 before too long!
stay safe
joe

[mudchicken]

Nora:

On the spacing of the hot box detectors and dragging equipment detectors. Both of the big western railroads initially wanted one of each at 60 mile intervals and are now shortening that to 20 miles (Only on the heavy haul corridors ). Secondary branches are lucky to have any. Wait till you encounter a "talker" or the EFI scanners taking inventory of everything that leaves town. (Ever wonder what those little grey plastic 2" x 8" blocks on the side of every railcar and locomotive do?)

[mudchicken]

Nora:

On the spacing of the hot box detectors and dragging equipment detectors. Both of the big western railroads initially wanted one of each at 60 mile intervals and are now shortening that to 20 miles (Only on the heavy haul corridors ). Secondary branches are lucky to have any. Wait till you encounter a "talker" or the EFI scanners taking inventory of everything that leaves town. (Ever wonder what those little grey plastic 2" x 8" blocks on the side of every railcar and locomotive do?)

[Anonymous]

Joe is already at 585!!

what number am i at?.. so subtract 500 - 423 and that is my T-minus for 3 stars...

77 left!!

[Anonymous]

Joe is already at 585!!

what number am i at?.. so subtract 500 - 423 and that is my T-minus for 3 stars...

77 left!!

[Anonymous]

since we're talking about that...
500-116 = 384 post left for me until my third star.
The sad thing is that it took a calculator to fugure that out...
I predict it will happen in early 2004 or hopefully sooner.

[Anonymous]

since we're talking about that...
500-116 = 384 post left for me until my third star.
The sad thing is that it took a calculator to fugure that out...
I predict it will happen in early 2004 or hopefully sooner.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Alaskaman

since we're talking about that...
500-116 = 384 post left for me until my third star.
The sad thing is that it took a calculator to fugure that out...
I predict it will happen in early 2004 or hopefully sooner.

So post away buddy, and many happy returns. [:)] [:)] [:)]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Alaskaman

since we're talking about that...
500-116 = 384 post left for me until my third star.
The sad thing is that it took a calculator to fugure that out...
I predict it will happen in early 2004 or hopefully sooner.

So post away buddy, and many happy returns. [:)] [:)] [:)]

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mudchicken

Nora:

On the spacing of the hot box detectors and dragging equipment detectors. Both of the big western railroads initially wanted one of each at 60 mile intervals and are now shortening that to 20 miles (Only on the heavy haul corridors ). Secondary branches are lucky to have any. Wait till you encounter a "talker" or the EFI scanners taking inventory of everything that leaves town. (Ever wonder what those little grey plastic 2" x 8" blocks on the side of every railcar and locomotive do?)

Now I have something else I have to go looking for! Gray and 2X8 - that isn't very big. Are they on all railcars and locomotives? Any particular place - like the yellow thingies?

Mookie

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mudchicken

Nora:

On the spacing of the hot box detectors and dragging equipment detectors. Both of the big western railroads initially wanted one of each at 60 mile intervals and are now shortening that to 20 miles (Only on the heavy haul corridors ). Secondary branches are lucky to have any. Wait till you encounter a "talker" or the EFI scanners taking inventory of everything that leaves town. (Ever wonder what those little grey plastic 2" x 8" blocks on the side of every railcar and locomotive do?)

Now I have something else I have to go looking for! Gray and 2X8 - that isn't very big. Are they on all railcars and locomotives? Any particular place - like the yellow thingies?

Mookie

[Nora]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

QUOTE: Originally posted by mudchicken

Wait till you encounter a "talker" or the EFI scanners taking inventory of everything that leaves town. (Ever wonder what those little grey plastic 2" x 8" blocks on the side of every railcar and locomotive do?)

Now I have something else I have to go looking for! Gray and 2X8 - that isn't very big. Are they on all railcars and locomotives? Any particular place - like the yellow thingies?

I've never noticed the gray blocks either, OR yellow thingies (what yellow thingies?). But I have encountered many "talkers," the most notorious among them being my sister. [:D] Seriously, what is a "talker" as referred to here?

--Nora

[Nora]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

QUOTE: Originally posted by mudchicken

Wait till you encounter a "talker" or the EFI scanners taking inventory of everything that leaves town. (Ever wonder what those little grey plastic 2" x 8" blocks on the side of every railcar and locomotive do?)

Now I have something else I have to go looking for! Gray and 2X8 - that isn't very big. Are they on all railcars and locomotives? Any particular place - like the yellow thingies?

I've never noticed the gray blocks either, OR yellow thingies (what yellow thingies?). But I have encountered many "talkers," the most notorious among them being my sister. [:D] Seriously, what is a "talker" as referred to here?

--Nora

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Nora

I've never noticed the gray blocks either, OR yellow thingies (what yellow thingies?). But I have encountered many "talkers," the most notorious among them being my sister. [:D] Seriously, what is a "talker" as referred to here?

--Nora

Hi Nora, [:)] lol [:D]

Maybe your sister and Ed's California cousin should get together. lol

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Nora

I've never noticed the gray blocks either, OR yellow thingies (what yellow thingies?). But I have encountered many "talkers," the most notorious among them being my sister. [:D] Seriously, what is a "talker" as referred to here?

--Nora

Hi Nora, [:)] lol [:D]

Maybe your sister and Ed's California cousin should get together. lol

[wabash1]

the grey 2x6 thing is a little box about eye high. it is the little bar code box that keeps track of where the cars are.( in laymans terms) these are read by scanners and recorded. if you have a shippment and it gets lost . the railroad can take the number of the car and see where its last location is by scanner and then track it down from there.

[wabash1]

the grey 2x6 thing is a little box about eye high. it is the little bar code box that keeps track of where the cars are.( in laymans terms) these are read by scanners and recorded. if you have a shippment and it gets lost . the railroad can take the number of the car and see where its last location is by scanner and then track it down from there.

[mudchicken]

A talker is a detector that talks back to the train via radio in "servo-talk". It identifies itself by railroad, milepost or control point, and states location of the defect as so many axles from the front/rear of the train and then identifies itself again followed by "out". The servo-talk voices are varied, computer generated, male & female, but there is one that cracks me up. It's the one that sounds like Teddy Ruxpin on an acid trip. The mental picture presented with that servo-talk on the air is priceless.

On the passive responders (2x8 plastic data reflectors for wayside scanners) You find them on anything that is a locomotive or a railcar (not likely to be found on yellow work equipment or a railcar). Located usually on the side sill of a locomotive (walkway level) or at car floor height on the outside of a railcar.

I think the yellow thingies were re-railing frogs hung on the truck or side sill of a switching locomotive. (Or skates, derails, wheel stops or other track OTM) - which one mookie? (don't remember what post that was fom!)

Mudchicken

[mudchicken]

A talker is a detector that talks back to the train via radio in "servo-talk". It identifies itself by railroad, milepost or control point, and states location of the defect as so many axles from the front/rear of the train and then identifies itself again followed by "out". The servo-talk voices are varied, computer generated, male & female, but there is one that cracks me up. It's the one that sounds like Teddy Ruxpin on an acid trip. The mental picture presented with that servo-talk on the air is priceless.

On the passive responders (2x8 plastic data reflectors for wayside scanners) You find them on anything that is a locomotive or a railcar (not likely to be found on yellow work equipment or a railcar). Located usually on the side sill of a locomotive (walkway level) or at car floor height on the outside of a railcar.

I think the yellow thingies were re-railing frogs hung on the truck or side sill of a switching locomotive. (Or skates, derails, wheel stops or other track OTM) - which one mookie? (don't remember what post that was fom!)

Mudchicken

[Nora]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mudchicken

A talker is a detector that talks back to the train via radio in "servo-talk". [...] there is one that cracks me up. It's the one that sounds like Teddy Ruxpin on an acid trip. The mental picture presented with that servo-talk on the air is priceless.

OK, yes, I've heard of these, and actually heard one when I visited Horseshoe Curve; they had speakers with (largely indecipherable) radio stuff coming over them.

QUOTE:
On the passive responders (2x8 plastic data reflectors for wayside scanners) You find them on anything that is a locomotive or a railcar (not likely to be found on yellow work equipment or a railcar). Located usually on the side sill of a locomotive (walkway level) or at car floor height on the outside of a railcar.

I looked for them on the train that went by here a while ago. Could not see them, but the train was a massive two cars long and moving a lot faster than usual, so not much time to look.

--Nora

(edited to fix the spelling of my own name [:I])

[Nora]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mudchicken

A talker is a detector that talks back to the train via radio in "servo-talk". [...] there is one that cracks me up. It's the one that sounds like Teddy Ruxpin on an acid trip. The mental picture presented with that servo-talk on the air is priceless.

OK, yes, I've heard of these, and actually heard one when I visited Horseshoe Curve; they had speakers with (largely indecipherable) radio stuff coming over them.

QUOTE:
On the passive responders (2x8 plastic data reflectors for wayside scanners) You find them on anything that is a locomotive or a railcar (not likely to be found on yellow work equipment or a railcar). Located usually on the side sill of a locomotive (walkway level) or at car floor height on the outside of a railcar.

I looked for them on the train that went by here a while ago. Could not see them, but the train was a massive two cars long and moving a lot faster than usual, so not much time to look.

--Nora

(edited to fix the spelling of my own name [:I])

[Modelcar]

.....The speakers at Horseshoe Curve have the data one would pull up on a portable scanner. Tower chatter, info from the engine crew in the area and perhaps some detector talk....[I say tower talk, but not sure if any remain]. Maybe a dispatcher as well.

[Modelcar]

.....The speakers at Horseshoe Curve have the data one would pull up on a portable scanner. Tower chatter, info from the engine crew in the area and perhaps some detector talk....[I say tower talk, but not sure if any remain]. Maybe a dispatcher as well.

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by wabash1

the grey 2x6 thing is a little box about eye high. it is the little bar code box that keeps track of where the cars are.( in laymans terms) these are read by scanners and recorded. if you have a shippment and it gets lost . the railroad can take the number of the car and see where its last location is by scanner and then track it down from there.

[^] ok I have seen those - they sometimes have pretty colored things in them. To go with the yellow thingies.

Nora - start a thread about what are the yellow thingies on the side of the engines about wheel high. The old heads on here know what I am talking about, but the younger ones won't and you will have them out there watching the engines for yellow thingies. Some are newly painted and bright yellow, but most are dull yellow and dirty. And....not all engines have them and only one one side. But if you are diligent you will see where they are. You can e-mail me and I will tell you what they are, but it really is a hoot to see some of the answers and a lot of the guesses. Plus, I finally learned what they really are! [:o)]

Mookie

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by wabash1

the grey 2x6 thing is a little box about eye high. it is the little bar code box that keeps track of where the cars are.( in laymans terms) these are read by scanners and recorded. if you have a shippment and it gets lost . the railroad can take the number of the car and see where its last location is by scanner and then track it down from there.

[^] ok I have seen those - they sometimes have pretty colored things in them. To go with the yellow thingies.

Nora - start a thread about what are the yellow thingies on the side of the engines about wheel high. The old heads on here know what I am talking about, but the younger ones won't and you will have them out there watching the engines for yellow thingies. Some are newly painted and bright yellow, but most are dull yellow and dirty. And....not all engines have them and only one one side. But if you are diligent you will see where they are. You can e-mail me and I will tell you what they are, but it really is a hoot to see some of the answers and a lot of the guesses. Plus, I finally learned what they really are! [:o)]

Mookie

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mudchicken

On the passive responders (2x8 plastic data reflectors for wayside scanners) You find them on anything that is a locomotive or a railcar (not likely to be found on yellow work equipment or a railcar). Located usually on the side sill of a locomotive (walkway level) or at car floor height on the outside of a railcar.

One of the manufacturers of the passive responders is a company called Signal Computer Consultants. They also make a very interesting game called Train Dispatcher. It was originally developed as a dispatching system for a major railroad, (they won't name names[;)]), but they turned it into a game that is real cool. I've played it, and it has really given me new respect for what a dispatcher has to live through. They also have a simulator called Trainmaster. Check out their web site for more info. http://www.softrail.com/ [:)]

Admiral.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mudchicken

On the passive responders (2x8 plastic data reflectors for wayside scanners) You find them on anything that is a locomotive or a railcar (not likely to be found on yellow work equipment or a railcar). Located usually on the side sill of a locomotive (walkway level) or at car floor height on the outside of a railcar.

One of the manufacturers of the passive responders is a company called Signal Computer Consultants. They also make a very interesting game called Train Dispatcher. It was originally developed as a dispatching system for a major railroad, (they won't name names[;)]), but they turned it into a game that is real cool. I've played it, and it has really given me new respect for what a dispatcher has to live through. They also have a simulator called Trainmaster. Check out their web site for more info. http://www.softrail.com/ [:)]

Admiral.

[Nora]

We went on our usual morning walk near the train tracks today. I saw lots and lots of the gray blocks, no yellow thingies, found a huge wrench about two feet long, and observed an overzealous conductor trying to throw himself out the window of the train in an attempt to wave at my kids. [:D] I think I will look for the yellow things a while longer before I break down and ask what they are. But does anyone know whether the giant wrench would have some use in relation to the trains? I threw it back in the weeds so I am not exactly sure, but
it looked like it might have been used for tightening/loosening something about 2" wide. Any ideas?

--Nora

[Nora]

We went on our usual morning walk near the train tracks today. I saw lots and lots of the gray blocks, no yellow thingies, found a huge wrench about two feet long, and observed an overzealous conductor trying to throw himself out the window of the train in an attempt to wave at my kids. [:D] I think I will look for the yellow things a while longer before I break down and ask what they are. But does anyone know whether the giant wrench would have some use in relation to the trains? I threw it back in the weeds so I am not exactly sure, but
it looked like it might have been used for tightening/loosening something about 2" wide. Any ideas?

--Nora