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String Lining

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  • Member since
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  • From: Northern New York
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Posted by tree68 on Friday, October 13, 2023 2:16 PM

I have an app on all of my computers that pulls time from a variety of sources (but not GPS) to keep my computers within milliseconds of the actual time.

This became necessary when I started using my laptop for digital amateur radio contacts (JT65) as the transmit and receive signals are time sensitive.  I eventually put the app on all of my computers.

OTOH, I bought a "heads up" speedometer for my truck that pulls in GPS to compute my speed, and it displays GPS time as well.  Pretty cool, actually.  Shows my direction of travel, but only to the cardinal and ordinal points.

A trunked radio system I administered included a GPS antenna for system time.

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 Overmod on Friday, October 13, 2023 1:38 PM

Heartbreaking, in a way, even if the reasons for it are completely sensible.  It could have been retained, like the speaking clock, for its nostalgia value -- how much airtime or spectrum bandwidth did it use?

Admittedly, even after all these years, I'm still a bit upset that the time signal injected into the GPS system 'for everyone to use free' represents a far better continuous time reference than anything previously available to railroad time services.  (In fact I still think it's amazing that the time signal has to be corrected both for relativity and the effects of lower gravity... and that the corrections are in opposite directions!)

I spent a great deal of time and trouble designing a spring-wound railroad watch that would be precise to within 5 seconds a year.  Guess what?  Don't need it any more (at least if I can see the sky with my $2.42 32-channel GPS core that runs on millivolts and microamps...)

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Friday, October 13, 2023 1:09 PM

 

The End of Time.
 
 
More.
 
 
 
National Research Council Time Signal CBC Radio (1995)
 
 
Long part of our Past.
 
Multitudes of Seth Thomases Set Wound and/or Regulated,
 
Clock Cards adjacent amended, then sent in.  Form TS-37.
 
Putting Sound to  the Meaning of the phrase  "On Time ."
 
Will be missed, in a way like Factory Whistles.
 
Unifying our Country for all to hear.
 
By Dial Telephone, Presently.
 
613 745-1576 
 
 

Thank You.

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Monday, October 9, 2023 11:44 AM

 

CP 3512 Slocan Lake Screening For 100th.
 
 

Thank You.

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Saturday, October 7, 2023 2:08 PM
Fiery Truck Crash blocks CNR Main Line near Spences Bridge, B C.   
 
 
Thank You.


 

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Saturday, October 7, 2023 4:45 AM

O.T.

 

Might be of Interest.

 

Pay Telephone Used as a Business Telephone.
 
Here is a photograph showing a common practice so that a business
 could have aTelephone at low expense.
 
 
Pay Telephone on Premises sign to left of " Salada " window.  '
 
"00" as first two numbers in Telephone Number often indicated a Pay Telephone,
 
MArquette 0087 is Number here.
 
Had to do with complex Coin Collecting/Return equipment in Telephone Exchange.
 
The  Business Name, Business  Address and Telephone Number
would be listed in local Telephone Directory.
 
In addition to the Coin Collector being placed in a prominent location inside
Business and Pay Telephone Sign on outside, there was a Separate Desk Set
withOUT Dial usually on Counter where Proprietor could Receive Incoming
Telephone Calls and Orders.
 
As this instrument could not Dial Out, he would have to walk to the Pay Phone
to place Outgoing Calls.
 
In this situation, the Dialless Telephone had to be IN VIEW of Pay Telephone. 
 

Thank You.

 

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Tuesday, October 3, 2023 2:00 PM
NDG
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Posted by NDG on Friday, September 29, 2023 12:46 AM

 FWIW.

Steam Locomotive With Hand Brake on Tender.
 
At time 1:30 Hand Brake on Steam Locomotive Tender.
 
 

Thank You.

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Posted by Overmod on Tuesday, September 19, 2023 6:35 PM

Did they ever track down the kimberlite pipe in Cobalt that the enormous diamond came from?

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  • From: Northern New York
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Posted by tree68 on Tuesday, September 19, 2023 3:59 PM

The magic of physics.  Kinda like air conditioning railroad cars using steam.

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...

NDG
  • Member since
    December 2013
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Posted by NDG on Tuesday, September 19, 2023 3:08 PM

 

Trompe. Compressed Air from Falling Water.
 
Learned about this  Plant on film on CBC TV back in the Fifties, and was suitably impressed!!
 
 
 
 

Thank You.

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Thursday, September 14, 2023 12:00 PM

 

Rio Grande  Wreck, Troublesome, 1956.

 
 

Thank You.

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  • From: I've been everywhere, man
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Posted by SD70Dude on Sunday, August 27, 2023 3:14 PM

NDG, further to our conversation about power in the Canadian north, it appears that Yellowknife is supplied by local hydro dams and also has a large backup diesel plant.  (link opens as a PDF)

https://registry.mvlwb.ca/Documents/MV2019L1-0001/MV2019L1-0001%20-%20NTPC%20-%20Jackfish-%20Operations%20Maintenance%20and%20Surveillance%20Manual%20-%20Feb26_21.pdf

In locomotive terms the Jackfish diesel plant contains four SD45s, two MK5000s, several NRE gensets (or perhaps a Siemens Charger if you bolted all the QSKs together a-la Detroit) and something British. 

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

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Posted by Overmod on Sunday, August 27, 2023 6:56 AM

Why did I know I was going to be reading about something by GE before I clicked on that link? Wink

Note the repair history.  The report noted over 60% of the power assemblies had needed attention by 50% of the expected overhaul interval...

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Posted by SD70Dude on Sunday, August 27, 2023 1:37 AM

The Canadian TSB has released their report on a locomotive fire in the Kootenay region a couple years ago.  As usual GE = Generally Exploded and Guaranteed Employment (for mechanics)........

https://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/rail/2021/r21v0144/r21v0144.html

 

 

Meanwhile the far north end of the Great Slave Lake Railway is about to go up in flames. 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/hay-river-wildfire-update-nwt-august-26-2023-1.6948781

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

NDG
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    December 2013
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Posted by NDG on Tuesday, August 15, 2023 6:38 PM

 

75 Year Brill Trolley Bus, Vancouver
 
 

Thank You.

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Posted by SD70Dude on Monday, August 14, 2023 11:01 PM

That scheme does adapt quite well to modern safety cab units.

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Monday, August 14, 2023 9:28 PM

Can Always Hope??

Quite Attractive.  On ebay.
 
 

Thank You.

 

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Sunday, August 13, 2023 10:51 AM
NDG
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Posted by NDG on Saturday, August 12, 2023 1:37 PM
Another View Engine 1077.
 
 
One of these may have been LAST Operating Steam Locomotive in Canada
C. 1970?
 

Thank You.

 

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Saturday, August 12, 2023 1:30 PM

Reply 403 Forbidden.

Thank You??

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Posted by Overmod on Friday, August 11, 2023 7:41 PM

NDG
USE ARROWS.

Were we not just discussing locomotive #10 a few days ago?

Note that shiny 8010 is now just as rare and interesting to see as the Climax...

NDG
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    December 2013
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Posted by NDG on Thursday, August 10, 2023 12:29 PM

 

Fifty Years Ago.
 
 
 
CP 5673 5615 on Spokane International at Curzon,
Locomotive Facing East to CP Yahk.
 
 
Looking East, CPR Nelson Sub.  Spokane International to USA in distance
 to Right.
 
 
 
 
Extra 8724  West Passing Wreck Site. August 01, 1973.  USE ARROWS. 
 
CP 5615 on its side behind CP 5673 facing South on Spokane International,
 far right.
 
 
 
 
CP 8724 8556 8555 4065 4053
 
Trailing 4 Units once had S/G. CP 8555 still did when Scrapped.
 
CP 8555 Rad as Front.
 
CP 4053 trailing being handed to Shop at Nelson, Dead.
 

 

 
 

Thank You.

NDG
  • Member since
    December 2013
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Posted by NDG on Thursday, August 10, 2023 11:03 AM

 

CPR Trestle Fire, Arson. 
 
Poupore Hill, Genelle, B C.
 
M. 8.6 Rossland Sub.
 
China Creek Bridge.
 
 
 

Thank You.

  • Member since
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  • From: Northern New York
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Posted by tree68 on Sunday, August 6, 2023 8:17 PM

Euclid
The crane has the general look of a manufactured caboose circa 1880.

Kitbash heaven - a couple of wood side cabeese and some Plastruct shapes and you're there...

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 2014
  • 8,148 posts
Posted by Euclid on Sunday, August 6, 2023 7:29 AM

NDG

 

For The Modeller.
 
CPR Crane ebay.
 
 
 

Thank You.

 

The crane has the general look of a manufactured caboose circa 1880.
  • Member since
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Posted by BaltACD on Saturday, August 5, 2023 6:16 PM

NDG
 
For The Modeller.
 
CPR Crane ebay.
 
 
Thank You.

Definately home built!

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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