RR content? - Off sick again / the greedy bastards

I managed to go all month nearly without taking off work. Most Engineers take off about two trips a month. I missed four trips in August do to some fatigue and vertigo issues. I've been under the weather and I think it may be my medicine making me sick. Still, I probably could not work at all without it so, Oh Well.

Of course it might be that I lost 6k in my 401k in one day today... that would make anybody sick!
Wall Street is now officially recognized as the world biggest casino. They no longer sell stock in manufacturing companies. they now sell stock in finance. True. The biggest industry in America is Credit. When, I was a kid it was GM then Exxon, now it's credit. The Greedy Bastards - sounds like a rock band.

RR content - Save the F-45's!

Me running the F-45's
Photo by Dave Belcher taken 9/28/03

I ran this train way back when I worked the extra board. Our F-45 have dwindled from 4 to 2 as far as I know. And were the only ones used in regular service in the world.

I'm encouraging a postcard blitz to Save the F-45's... move them to Missoula for use with the Biz cars or other excursion trains. 2 of the F-45's were ruined when they were out on lease (my opinion) The other 2 are still reliable. If they could just be moved inside in Livingston for now might be a good idea too. At one time a F8 was acquired for the Company train but it turned out to be in to bad shape to restore. So there was interest at one time in a dedicated power.

Save the F-45's!

RR content (kinda) - this is realy stupid

This is really stupid... I'm not going to offer an opinion on what part.

I got stung by a bee a few days ago... again... it's the second time this summer. I've figured out I'm slightly allergic. Before the fever I wasn't allergic to anything. If I don't take some benedryl, I'll get some mild hives. The bee sting was right in the web of my hand between my thumb and made it difficult to use the thumb. I have had muscle and joint aches like a mini-flu too.

I had to lay off work... If I had my bosses job, I would have not even mentioned it. They consider it an off duty injury.
Now that I'm better, the RR wants me to get a return to work OK from the Doctor...

It's all unbelievable... I'll miss 3 trips because of this.

RR content - Helper train for sure

We are waiting for helpers. I steal the internet connection near the Livingston NP depot. Later we will come out of the Bozeman tunnel with bell ringing on 2 rear units. Slow going today... 12,000+ ton regular freight train... unusual

The tendency of Blog

I don't add to the Blog much other than RR photos 'cause the tendency is to bitch about stuff. I mange to keep pretty quiet about stuff on the RR that gripes me but I've been sick again (CFS is a roller coaster, but not much fun) so here goes...

And I hate getting older.. At this point I don't tolerate the schedule (or lack of) an Engineer anymore. I have little energy, less exhilaration, etc. OK, I feel better - <- note... this was edited... it was just too much... see!

Well, at least I don't have a beer and a remote in my hand... If I could just get away from the stupid computer it would be great.

Today I went to the airport to watch the Fire Tanker airplanes today... that was it, I didn't do one thing other than that.

RR content - POD

Picture of the day... like that's going to happen everyday!

RR content but On Vacation Jun 15 - 29

I was on vacation... most of June!

the original intent was a once a week update for the railfans that read my blog but summer is just too much fun...

I made my annual motorcycle journey and it included a ride on the Cumbres and Toltec Steam train... click here for pics

I was able to talk my way into a cab ride for my friend Hans from the Netherlands

Summer months

I have been really busy this summer... haven't really had time for the blog... it's going to turn into a once a onth ting for awhile.... more later

Wellsville, MO - Wal Mart Blight?

This article was written 11/23/2012 Black Friday... the Americas Still out There Trip was in 2008.

It's Black Friday.  I have not written much.. I'm retired now and will post some old RR stuff at some point, but, for now...I had been avoiding the whole spectacle of the election.  Whole thing turned my stomach.  I had to avoid it a bit as it would cloud my happiness. Not intending this to be a political rant or some leftist blog but this whole greed thing it outta hand.



I picked today to write because I have been recently encouraged to relate some stories of my motorcycle journeys with print and photographs. Also, over 100 Wal Mart stores have been picketed by non-Union workers today.



This is a two fold story about a motorcycle journey and Wal Mart.  The town of realization became Wellsville, MO. The date was June 19, 2008. Actually there will be another America's Still Out There story that happened on this same motorcycle trip.  It involves a Horse and Buggy and a Soda Fountain and a Barbershop. I'll relate that soon and link it to here.

The downtown area was all but dried up. Just one lone skateboarder (no one to run him off) a bunch of boarded up buildings, a information booth in the form of a caboose and a town square with over 4400 American flags planted to honor or dead in Iraq. Stopped for some reason long forgotten... probably to honor the dead.



The skater kid comes over to admire the motorcycle.  That still happens in backroads of America. Strangers are still approachable.  I stuck me that Downtown Wellsville had probably dried up because of Wal Mart.  So I asked the kid,  "is there was a Wal Mart in town"?  Sure the kid says, "over in Mexico" ((18 miles away).... suspicion confirmed.  I had been running into this in town after town. Reminder to self... take pictures of the kids.  All the pictures from this trip are available here



Now, do we blame Wal Mart or ourselves or was it just all inevitable?  Hard to say... perhaps "Pay less, Live better" works.  I admit I have been in Wal Mart a few times.  But I would rather find those hard to find eye drops in a Mom in Pop Drugstore that was right behind that motorcycle pictured above.  Or get a battery at the Farm Equipment store.  That used to be the way of things. Life was slower, better and more personal.



How can you not like this guy?

It's Maggie's Great Uncle Harold.  She has fond memories of his Drugstore and Soda fountain in Detroit and the penny candy and Grape Nehi... America's Still out there

Will the thrill - atgatt

The Motorcycle group I am with have a saying... atgatt... All the gear all the time
This is why. It can happen so quick. Riding in the rain the bike hydroplaned and dumped Will off on his left side. He was doing 75 mph and came out of it all just very sore but no major injuries and no head injury. He still is a cerebral guy. And a friend... whew!

RR content - Der Undercutter

An undercutter isn't a big weed whacker... it actually recycles ballast and lowers the track ie. in a tunnel to allow larger equipment to pass through. As RR equipment has gotten bigger more room is needed. Most tunnels are lined with concrete and it is cost prohibitive to enlarge the openings.

RR content - Greycliff day

Raining for the 4th day in a row....

I'm in the siding a Greycliff on a 17000+ Coal train using the KOA campground connection...

Broken rail ahead.... Officers special behind us

Summer is coming... finally

Worked a LAUSPO last night 1430-0400... 6 hours to Livingston. I ran LIV-HEL after that straight shot.

It is 86F in Helena and a bit windy. i got in at 0400 and got some decent sleep. Went for a bike ride.

5.69 miles
avg spd 11.3
max spd 43.4

avg hr 121
max hr 218
above target 3:16
below target 10:40
in target zone 32:57
total miles this season 546

called for 1735 on PASSAG

RR - Careful what you wish for

I had never had the opportunity to br qualified for DP's by a roadforman... I finally just talked my way into it. Careful what you wish for. Yesterday I had a Coal mty that had DP problems not covered in the guides (imagine that) The DP's would drop out of normal and go to idle... I could feel the train run out then about 40 seconds later, an alarm light and indication of idle and DP brake valve cut out. Executing normal would get it to load but the brake valve would stay cut out and did not reset until stopping and running the train check. It wasn't a problem really on a Coal mty but I sure as hell don't want this setup on a load.

I love the DP's on a Coal Load

8800hp front, 8800hp rear and the MRL aces 13000+ hp in the middle... 30500+hp total

photo above... retired Engineer Goodson in the middle 11/07

No worries!