Hobo Jungle

[Wolf]

Diesel locomotives DO require taking on water periodically, otherwise you will get a 'hot engine"
shutdown due to low radiator water. But this (water) is best taken on with a water hose rather
than a water spout.
Had to nurse a more modern model of Alco locomotive (C-420) than the RS2/3 depicted in 2railjon's
picture, back to the engine house to top off the water in the radiator while I was working for the V&M
in Virginia Beach back in 1977. Trip took quite a while because it would shut off every couple of
hundred feet, whereupon I'd have to restart it after turning off the alarm bells and letting the engine cool
....then make a little forward progression until the shutdown tripped again....

[2railjon]

A few more layout shots from Tramp & Daisy!

[2railjon]

Is the end near?
"**** that non-breathing cock-sucker. I'm looking for a job now because of him.

6 months ago Nashville was *THE* location to be at. Now there's 100+ CSX loco repair guys gone plus those of us that supported the loco shop w/ GE. Yard is seamed shut because they did away with a hump that was getting 2k+ plus cars a day so they could flat switch. In a straight pull yard. With one track over the hump. You have bowl job blocking bowl jobs blocking inbound trains blocking the only entrance in or out of the yard. It's insane.

Also, the local short line used to get 30-40 cars a day now gets 20-30 cars a WEEK because they route traffic around the yard, so they're not switching out their customers either. It doesn't just affect CSX, it affects anything connected to rail in middle TN.

So, no capital improvement or major repair of the main line tracks, shutting down repair facilities all over the system, and storing 2k+ locomotives (thereby running what you still use into the ground). Sounds like a great ****** plan.

But, hey, he got his $84 million payout for leaving CP six months early."

"He's melted down his own railroad....

what a jackass.


Among some of their cost saving cuts they got rid of brakes sticks to save money, lol. No matter how you feel about brake sticks, the next lawsuit on the CSX involving a brake tie/unite related injury is going to be interesting when the lawyer introduces all the carrier generated studies showing how brake sticks increase safety, reduce injuries etc...yada, yada, yada.

One decent FELA payout on that injury will swallow up any short term gain from eliminating brake sticks....


Making conductors walk and inspect the train when stopped....another genius move. "hey, we finally got a light up here"..... "Cool, see in 30min....I'm 8k feet back...on my way up..."

Dispatcher "&^%&^%(&%!!!"

LOL"

[2railjon]

[robert.]

Stocks up from $86 to $113. Nobody cares about people anymore. Just dollars

[MurphOnMillerAve]

There are that many diesels sitting idle? What does that tell us? Or are they simply sitting there, eager for their next assignment at that particular moment?

[rogruth]

I think UP is even worse.

[webenda]

I think UP is even worse.

Why do you say that Roger? Union Pacific has about 8,500 locomotives in its diesel fleet. Only 16% are parked, waiting for business to pick up.

292 UP Locomotives stored in desert south of Tucson.jpg (512.24 KiB) Viewed 5202 times

3.4 miles of locomotives stored in desert.jpg (118.71 KiB) Viewed 5202 times

I'm not worried, the new president promised to bring jobs back to America. The Kayenta mine on the Navajo Indian Reservation in northern Arizona is closed right now due to government restrictions on coal burning. Donald Trump has been announcing, "We are putting the coal miners back to work." Soon Tucson Electic Power (TEP) will be back to burning coal. Supplying TEP with coal will bring three of those locomotives out of retirement.

These electric locomotives that operated at the Kayenta mine should be back in service when the mine opens.

Arizona Coal Train 850.jpg (271.6 KiB) Viewed 5200 times

[rogruth]

Wayne,
That's why I said it.

[webenda]

Wayne,
That's why I said it.

How about Data, Roger? Yuh got any data to back up your statement?

Never mind, I found it...

In July 2016, Progressive Railroading reported, "Fleet Stats 2016:"
Union Pacific Railroad has stored about 1,400 locomotives by Q1’s end compared with 475 a year earlier, and Norfolk Southern Corp. has stored 200 road units.

Reference: http://www.progressiverailroading.com/c ... -Q2--48748

And that's why you said it.

NOTE-- 2017 Fleet Stats from Progressive Railroading not on line yet (8/4/2017.)

Reference: http://www.progressiverailroading.com/k ... &year=2017

[Rufus T. Firefly]

I was disconnected for a while - got a call Thurs night that a tree was across my lines at my home on PA and spent more of Fri there - no internet and no phone or any kind.

Big section of the poplar had split off across the lane onto the wires; when it hit it pulled the lines tight to the next pole next to my house and pulled that pole enough to snap the guy wire and then pull the wire house going into the house from above over from 90 degree to ~60 degrees. So the tree's weight was all transferred to the wire connections running into my house. Oh, that also tore a bit of a hole in the roof just to make things complete.

Drove 7 miles to get cell reception and called the electric company again to given then an update.

I managed to cut enough of the loose limbs to get in/out of my lane and then the mower got delivered from the shop, so I took it for a lap when I could smell oil burning and could see a nice blue cloud out the one side. Shut that down and over to the shop. He'd just done the valve cover manifold but the seal failed.....

Electric company shows as do the tree trimmers. Power is off, they both do their thing, power one - still have a bent over power inlet and a hole in the roof.

Mower fixed and mowing got dome and drove over there for a bit - thunder, lightning and oh goody - more rain on the way with a hole in the roof. Borrowed a roll of good duct tape and back up on the steel roof and cover the hole and cover that with a plastic trash bag and cover that again with duct tape.

After a visit with my one aunt for a while I caught up with my Amish carpenter and roofer's son to give them some more work and then I drove home....

Another fun Friday........

[MurphOnMillerAve]

Didn't somebody somewhere along the line refer to house ownership as "the money pit" ? Yet, it still beats renting , huh.

P.S. I thought the duct tape plastic garbage bag temporary repair, with rain menacing, was pretty clever.

[robert.]

Could be a great debate. Renting v. Owning.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Didn't somebody somewhere along the line refer to house ownership as "the money pit" ? Yet, it still beats renting , huh.

This is the family retreat in PA - will be 4th generation when I hand it off - right now we're having an ever so lovely time getting a new tile floor in the kitchen and entryway......and I'm past the point of wondering why I did not do it myself this time

P.S. I thought the duct tape plastic garbage bag temporary repair, with rain menacing, was pretty clever.

You work with the materials you have on hand or can lay your hands on when time is short. The mothers of invention and all all that stuff......

[healey36]

There are guys in this world who wonder "What will I do to keep myself occupied after I retire?"

Ruf, I suspect you're not one of them...

Healey