Hello, CN railfans...

[blubomber1]

Hello, all. Just wanted to jump in here to see what Mr.CNDave was making a fuss about. He was right....very nice forum here. By the way, I work for Milepost Transportation, and I'm currently working out of the CN Port Huron yard office as a clerk/crew driver. When I get my digital camera, I will post some bodacious pics of the rolling stoc making its way through Port Huron.

[Colonel]

Welcome blubomber to trainboard, glad you dropped by to see what all the fuss is about. So is Dave as enthusiastic at work as he is here?

I look forward to seeing some of your pictures here. I hope you make this place your internet home like the rest of us :D

[Alan]

Hello blu welcome smile.gif Dave is doing a good job with this forum, and will be pleased you came aboard.

I see you work out of Port Huron. I had to get off a train there in '85, to go across to the customs/immigration post to fill out some documents, so it was the first place I set foot on American soil :D

[Robin Matthysen]

I would like to add my welcome to you too blubomber1. By any chance does your nickname come from the Winnipeg Bluebomber Football team?

[DaveCN5710]

The BLUEBOMBER !!!!!! You made it :D

Glad to have you aboard Kurt !! smile.gif

[rsn48]

Blue Bomber...well..... Go Lions Go....lol

Glad you are here, help build up the CN forum, sometimes it can be lonely here. I'm not a CN employee but my grandfather and uncle were engineers for CN. I have a long history with CN, though second hand.

[DaveCN5710]

I should be working tonite Kurt , your probably already there :confused: When I get my other computer fixed Blubomber and I will have a massive CN picture thread . I already got 40 pics :D

[Maxwell Plant]

I've always liked the Canadian National. I wouldn't say I'm an ardent fan, but I do like it. I became more of a fan since the almost CN-BNSF merger. I live in Central Illinois, IC territory, and I'm watching the IC slowly turn into CN. smile.gif But I guess by the end of this year, the IC will be totally gone. :( It't too bad, since they got out of the hands of Pepsi-Co., they really became a real railroad again. During the Pepsi-Co. rule, they ran ICG (A merger of two of the finest small Class-1's, IC and GM&O.) into the ground, mostly by ransacking the GM&O physical plant. They also came up with the "BRILLIANT" idea of De-Double Tracking both the IC Chicago-New Orleans Main and the GM&O Chicago-St. Louis Main. STUPID! I witnessed two of the fastest Mainlines become plugged, un-maintained and under utilized. Both the Abe Lincoln (GM&O) and the City of New Orleans (IC) used to run these mains at 110 MPH. Now Amtrak can only go 79. The GM&O line got so bad, Amtrak was running at 55 MPH until the line was finally sold off to the Chicago Missouri & Western, which in turn failed and was sold to SP. This is now a UP owned line and is barely used, except for the three Amtrak trains a day. :mad: Now, with CN at the helm of IC, things are getting even better. The Peoria-Sub, a Secondary Main of IC's that runs from Peoria-Lincoln-Mt. Pulaski-Decatur, IL., is seeing a lot more use and has had many track improvements. I've been told they could run Passenger Trains out there at 79 MPH if they wanted to. :eek: Too bad there isn't a Passenger Train on this line, I'd love to see that! :D With all this going on so close to home, I'm going to start visiting this forum more often. I have to learn about my new Railway Neighbor, the CN! :cool:

[rsn48]

If you're learning to like CN that is great Maxwell. Usually up here in canuck land, most uncivilized Canadians prefer CP. Since I was raised around CN I couldn't fathom why anyone would like CP, I'm sure you would agree that isn't a prejudice...lol.

CN is a funky railroad with incredible history. A book you might find hard to get, but I really really really recommend is The People's Railway: A History of Canadian National. It was written in 1992. Along with the railroad was all kinds of incredible spinoffs. We have a radio system called the CBC, which is kind of like PBS television except on radio instead. This station is broadcast nationally. Its origins was from the Canadian National. Some wise guy decided it would be nice to have music on the trains. So, radio stations were set up across the country to pipe in music into the trains. This became the embryo of our modern broadcasting system. The first Canadian hockey game ever broadcast over radio was on this system.

Air Canada, our national airline was spun off from CN. The history of CN in the war years is fascinating, and the volume of traffic in Halifax, where most air craft and shipping freight left from, during the second World War is astounding. Both Canadian and American war products left through this port. The demand for coal was so great, they bought a coal field.

Actually as I type this, I am looking at a picture of people in the lounge car with large ear phones on, listening to the radio; this was 1920. Also CN pioneered the use of radio telephones from trains, again in the late 20's or early 30's; I'm not sure of the time frame here.

CN was also into shipping (ships) in a big way, owning many of them. And of course, resorts across Canada. One of the most famous being the Jasper Park Lodge, Jasper Alberta, where I did some of my growing up.

Last March, I took the family on the VIA to Jasper and stayed at the Lodge, something I had never done. It was the best place I have ever stayed in my life. It's more like a university campus. I counted around 70 buildings on the "grounds." There are all kinds of pictures of Bing Crosby, as he used to love stay there and golf.

As for passenger trains, I will be curious as to what CN does with that. Like all railroads, they disdained passenger service; since it was a financial loss. My grandfather was an engineer on the Super Continental for many years; like many young lads, passenger has always been one of my favourites, operations be damned. Unfortunately I am not so young any more, I had my 53 birthday today. I hope you learn to like CN. And if you ever come to Vancouver BC, I'll take you railfanning to some great spots in the Fraser Canyon...lots of that other inferior railroad there as well...CP. Cheers!

[Maxwell Plant]

Like I said, I've always liked the CN, and for some odd reason, never liked the CP! As you know I'm not a Canadian, I've only been up there once, Thunderbay. I saw ONE CN train there and One too many CP's! The Cn line looked "weedie", but the train I saw was HUGE! It had two SD75i's on the point and the train just went on and on! We were on our way back to the US so I didn't get a picture or even see the whole train, it was so LONG! Anyway, I am glad we didn't get another "Pacific" Railroad to operate on the IC, ONE AROUND HERE IS ENOUGH! :rolleyes:

[blubomber1]

Hello all.....Thanks for the warm welcome. I saw CNDave tonight at work. He's the engineer on the F50331-07 train. Basically, it's a CP detour train that runs on CN's line. The CP crew brings it from Toronto to Port Huron,MI. and get a cab back to Canada. Then, the CN crew picks it up here, and moves it to Battle Creek. Another CN crew will relieve them, and take it to the Bensenville, IL. where a CP crew takes it to god knows where. If anyone has any questions about schedules and times of CN trains, I'll do my best to get the information to you.

[Robin Matthysen]

Hi Blubomber1, regarding train times. Is there any ryme or reason as to the freight traffic through Georgetown Ontario? Sometimes I get lucky and others spend an hour or two waitng with the camera and nothing comes through. Even if I could determine when the majority come through it may help. As an example, two came through while I was walking my dog at about 8:30 this morning. Sometimes there is a flurry of activity between 3pm and 6pm.
Any help will be appreciated

[DaveCN5710]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by blubomber1:
[B]Hello all.....Thanks for the warm welcome. I saw CNDave tonight at work. He's the engineer on the F50331-07 train. Another CN crew will relieve them, and take it to the Bensenville, IL. B]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

God Kurt , your a serious rail fan :D I did not know where the train went :D I was just glad to get off it when I got it to where I had to take it :D

Man I did not get home until 1 PM today , slept my day away too .
Glad you made it here blubomber smile.gif

Hey Maxwell Plant smile.gif The IC (HUNTER HARRISON) has slowly turned the GT into the IC :rolleyes: We used to have double track and he tore it out and made it single track with passing sidings , now it takes forever to get across the road :rolleyes:

BUT if the CN BN merger happens , all the track that was taken out will be replaced and paid for by the government . I am really surprised that CN let a guy come in from another railroad and let him make all of the changes that he made .

I was really surprised because basically the CN (Canadians) don't like to have other people run their railroad . That is one thing that I have learned being employed by CN for nearly 8 years .

[ 08 February 2001: Message edited by: Davecn5623 ]

[DaveCN5710]

http://www.zing.com/picture/paf1afa8f3b37ab5896df57d4b539884f/fff185bc.jpg.orig.jpg

[BC Rail King]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by rsn48:
If you're learning to like CN that is great Maxwell. Usually up here in canuck land, most uncivilized Canadians prefer CP. Since I was raised around CN I couldn't fathom why anyone would like CP, I'm sure you would agree that isn't a prejudice...lol.

CN is a funky railroad with incredible history. A book you might find hard to get, but I really really really recommend is The People's Railway: A History of Canadian National. It was written in 1992. Along with the railroad was all kinds of incredible spinoffs. We have a radio system called the CBC, which is kind of like PBS television except on radio instead. This station is broadcast nationally. Its origins was from the Canadian National. Some wise guy decided it would be nice to have music on the trains. So, radio stations were set up across the country to pipe in music into the trains. This became the embryo of our modern broadcasting system. The first Canadian hockey game ever broadcast over radio was on this system.

Air Canada, our national airline was spun off from CN. The history of CN in the war years is fascinating, and the volume of traffic in Halifax, where most air craft and shipping freight left from, during the second World War is astounding. Both Canadian and American war products left through this port. The demand for coal was so great, they bought a coal field.

Actually as I type this, I am looking at a picture of people in the lounge car with large ear phones on, listening to the radio; this was 1920. Also CN pioneered the use of radio telephones from trains, again in the late 20's or early 30's; I'm not sure of the time frame here.

CN was also into shipping (ships) in a big way, owning many of them. And of course, resorts across Canada. One of the most famous being the Jasper Park Lodge, Jasper Alberta, where I did some of my growing up.

Last March, I took the family on the VIA to Jasper and stayed at the Lodge, something I had never done. It was the best place I have ever stayed in my life. It's more like a university campus. I counted around 70 buildings on the "grounds." There are all kinds of pictures of Bing Crosby, as he used to love stay there and golf.

As for passenger trains, I will be curious as to what CN does with that. Like all railroads, they disdained passenger service; since it was a financial loss. My grandfather was an engineer on the Super Continental for many years; like many young lads, passenger has always been one of my favourites, operations be damned. Unfortunately I am not so young any more, I had my 53 birthday today. I hope you learn to like CN. And if you ever come to Vancouver BC, I'll take you railfanning to some great spots in the Fraser Canyon...lots of that other inferior railroad there as well...CP. Cheers!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


Look what happened too all of this stuff. Most of it was taken over by CPR, then sold to a private invester except for some things that are still held by CPR.

Example: The Jasper Park lodge, a great CN destination, now it is owned and operated by Canadian Pacific Hotels Canada.

Dane N.
tongue.gif

[blubomber1]

Hi Robyn. Ya know....lately the trains have been running quite late. When I relieved the day clerk Fri., she only had 3 trains all day. I came in at 15:30-23:30, and had to deal with 11 West bounds and 8 East bounds. 19 trains in 8 hours; man, I was whipped. We had them stacked up in Port Huron...all 3 main lines and at least one yard track was filled with traffic at one point or another.Plus, our local switcher out in the yard doing their thing too. For being classified as a "closed yard", we certainly are busy. Until everything gets back on schedule Robyn, I am no help to you. Sorry :confused:

[Robin Matthysen]

Yup, I can understand it is hard to know when trains run through here. Will just have to keep looking. I often see trains running as a go over the overpasses here, two of them, and can't stop. Sometimes I go sit at the station for an hour and nary a train. That's the way it is

[DaveCN5710]

Yesterday my conductor & I had to take 20 cars over to Sarnia and bring the engine back lite , so before coming into the tunnel to come back I called Kurt on the radio , I goes like this :

"GT 4921 train #359 to the Blu Bomber" You had to been there , Kurt loved it :D

I was supposed to say #359 to Port Huron Yard , just having some radio fun with my man Kurt !!!

[ 14 February 2001: Message edited by: Davecn5623 ]

[blubomber1]

Yeah Dave, That was really funny tongue.gif . I've got the Asst. Supt. standing next to me, muttering something about "proper radio procedures". So, I tried to keep my professionalism best I could, but I couldn't help but laugh. :D

[watash]

Welcome to the Board BluBomber! I read an article about some of the funny radio traffic between guys on the road today. We didn't have radio in the steamers, it would have been fun. :D

[DaveCN5710]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by blubomber1:
Yeah Dave, That was really funny tongue.gif . I've got the Asst. Supt. standing next to me, muttering something about "proper radio procedures". So, I tried to keep my professionalism best I could, but I couldn't help but laugh. :D<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Asst.Supt. Kingsbury ?? He was probably laughing with you smile.gif If he would have been mad , he would have said somethng :D Joe is pretty cool .

[ 15 February 2001: Message edited by: Davecn5623 ]

[blubomber1]

Yeah, but you see Dave, I don't actually work for CN, so technically I'm not even supposed to talk o GT channel 1. Joe pointed that out to me when I first started working there, and told me I have to maintain proper radio procedre at all times, because if I am goofing off on the radio and the F.R.A. found out that I'm not an employee of CN.....big fine. :eek: But, I still manage to sneek one in here and there. :D

[DaveCN5710]

Well Kurt I must say you do a good job handling the radio from the Port Huron "TOWER" :D

Joe is a good guy . Listen to him and you'll go far . He has done ALOT for me and I look up to him , even though I give him the bird everytime I see him :D

So Kurt , if you were a Engineer at CN , what unit would you like to run ? Just from looking at the power you see everyday .

[blubomber1]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR> Davecn5623-
So Kurt , if you were a Engineer at CN , what unit would you like to run ? Just from looking at the power you see everyday . <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Well, looking at the power that rolls in every day, and talking to the engineers, I'd have to say the 5600's, 5700's and the 5800.
By the way Dave, theres a Saftey Blitz going on this weekend...oddly enough, it's about proper radio procedures and slipping and trippimg hazards. How ironic,huh? :D

[DaveCN5710]

Kurt , don't let it get you down about not getting in , you got your name in there anyways , I actually applied twice before they hired me :D

With them cutting one for one in Port Huron everytime a guy bumps into PH fro out of town I kinda doubt you would be working out of PH anyways .

I don't know :confused: BUT the shortage of people is in Battle Creek , that is where all the new hires are now . There are people down there who have been here for 3 years that can't get out of there as of now .

Don't get discouraged , it pays really WELL , the railroad , but I am not going to say I don't like it (working there) BUT sometimes I wish I could have a NORMAL job with NORMAL hours and have a NORMAL life .

What I am saying is , it's not that greener on the other side . It's a job .

[DaveCN5710]

Hey Kurt , where have you been ??

I had to call in sick last night , head cold from hell :(

[blubomber1]

Hey Dave. Still trying to get the hang of my new computer. tongue.gif Big change from webtv to this. I took today off because I wanted to. :D Take it easy

[DaveCN5710]

Cool Kurt , a day off . I called in sick Saturday night after I accepted call for train #397 , it was the first time ever I called back sick . I still have this awful head cold , nausea feeling :( Last night I drank a half a bottle of cough syrup and passed out :D

[ 28 February 2001: Message edited by: Davecn5623 ]

[DaveCN5710]

Kurt , I heard that they are still looking to hire 10 new Conductors in Port Huron , is this true ?

[blubomber1]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Kurt, I hear they're still looking to hire 10 conductors for Port Huron. Is this true?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
As far as I know Dave, Joe told me that they already hired 10 guys for Port Huron. Who knows? :confused:

[Hytec]

BlueBomber & DaveCN,
Thanks for your wonderful conversations. They give great insight to day-to-day train operations from the employee's perspective. As one who has loved trains from early childhood, but worked his entire career elsewhere :( , I really enjoy "listening" to you guys talk.

Hank

P.S. I'm still watching for more CN and GT run-throughs.

[blubomber1]

Hi Hank. Thanks for posting...and thanks for calling me an employee of CN (I wish). :D You'll find that Dave and I try to do this on a daily basis: Dave gives you an idea of what the road is like, and I try to give you an idea of how things are done in a terminal. My job consists of..... When Toronto faxes us a westbound train supply sheet, it tells us the train I.D.,how many cars are loaded and empty,what engines it has, and the length and weight. I transfer most of that info by hand to a Port Huron Terminal supply sheet. I then normally recieve a fax from the crew center in Troy Mi. to let me know when that crew goes on duty, and who's in it. In some instances, a train will have a Battle Creek engineer on it who brought a train to Port Huron earlier, and I'll go to the motel and pick him up. When the train hits Sarnia, he'll call the Port Huron Yard Office by radio, and let me know if they need a cab back to Sarnia, or London or Toronto. I'll instruct them to call me at 16th street, which is the first crossing they come to after exiting the tunnel. Once they do that, I radio to them that I've called their cab. I then put in a call to Tower Group, which is the customs broker for CN, and let them know the train has arrived. Within about 10 minutes, I get a call back from Tower, and they let me know if there are any custom hold cars in the consist. After that, when the crew is ready, I take them up to their train. When that train departs Port Huron, I note the time it left, fax the terminal supply sheet to the crew center, and staple all of that trains paperwork together. When I receive a confirmation that the crew center got my fax, I take it, punch 2 holes at the top,and post it on a clipboard for the trainmaster's records. I also field calls, make coffee, keep the fax and copy machines stocked with paper.....all that for under 8 bucks an hour. Milepost is getting ready to vote in a union, and I can't wait. Well, I hope you got a little understanding of what I do 8 hours a day. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. ;)

[DaveCN5710]

Wow Kurt , I thought you just drove me to the head end of the train :D

You got ALOT on your plate , but you do a good job . I don't know if I could do all that stuff you do , I don't even know how to run a Fax Machine :D

Going to Rules Class tonight in Flat Rock for 2 days :rolleyes: , when I come back to work I am going to move on #275/#396 .

[Robin Matthysen]

Hi Kurt. I assume you are being paid in US dollars. That would be worth about $11 Canadian. Don't they have a good minimum wage in Michigan? Seems to me that the job you do would have to be worth at least $15.00 an hour

[Hytec]

Kurt, thanks for the reply. That's a great explanation for the coordination needed to keep people like Dave happy and honest :D .

I have 2 questions -

1. Do the crew members have to clear Customs also each time a train crosses the borders?

2. Why are you required to receive, record, and transmit all data on hardcopy paper? Doesn't CN use computers to build trains, route and track cars, maintain logs, etc.? Or is it some "Law" that requires a paper record for every action with a train?

Thanks for the info, Hank

[E-8]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Hank Coolidge:
Do the crew members have to clear Customs also each time a train crosses the borders?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hank,

I can't speak for them and I am certainly not an expert on the matter, but this picture is just down the street from where I live.
http://www.trainboard.com/userphotos/e-8/bridge.jpg
Everything on the left is in New Brunswick Canada and everything on the right is in Maine USA. The little rail bridge is the only thing in between right there. There is a border crossing a few blocks in each direction. Guilford and Southern New Brunswick Rail interchange here.

Many mornings before work I see a solo Guilford unit pushing boxcars across this bridge into Canada. Usually half a train is in Canada and half in the US.

There are no customs inspectors but if you walked across this bridge in either direction, you could expect to be hauled into the customs house.

Charlie

[ 07 March 2001: Message edited by: E-8 ]

[DaveCN5710]

Hey Hank , if we are bringing the train into Canada , no the crew do not have to clear customs , but after we get the train to Canada we get off and cab back across the bridge to Port Huron and go thru customs that way , usually the cab driver will say he is Canadian with a US train crew and we are whisked thru .

Going to get a train in Canada we go thru Canadian customs on the bridge to get to the yard in Sarnia , hopefully that answers your question . BTW cool picture E-8

[blubomber1]

First of all, thanks Robin.....when we vote in the union, that will be our negotiating start point :D .
Hank..... question #1: the crews aren't really customs main concern....they're looking for things concealed in the freight cars them selves. Yesterday, we had a freight car leave after customs pulled all of the lumber out of it.... So they could examine in between the walls of the car!! What nonsense! :rolleyes:
Question #2: ....I'm not really sure; other than maybe just to check and see that some is awake (or alive) in Port Huron? :D

[Hytec]

Thanks. I had hoped that Customs was simple with as many trains and crews that cross the Can/US border in a day.

I remember the procedure that US Customs used with the Halifax/Montreal sleeper in the 50's when the trains crossed northern Maine. (I don't remember if it was CN or CP) The train would stop at the border, in the woods(!), where a whole bunch of Customs people would board. They would "seal" and stand guard at every door, including the RPO and Baggage cars. A Customs officer would also be in the cab. When all were in place, the train was allowed to proceed non-stop to the opposite border, where it would stop and all Customs personnel would de-train. This way Customs did not have to "inconvenience" any of the passengers. This all took place in the middle of the night, if the train was on schedule.

E-8, that's a great pic, obviously it was taken during your one week of summer :D . (I grew up in central NH, it brings back fond memories.)

Hank

[DaveCN5710]

(Engineer's Yearly Certification Exam) Well Kurt I passed the test , got 4 wrong out of 100 , your allowed 15 wrong . I did better than last time and this time I did not study at all :D

[ 08 March 2001: Message edited by: Davecn5623 ]

[blubomber1]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>(Engineer's Yearly Certification Exam) Well Kurt I passed the test , got 4 wrong out of 100 , your allowed 15 wrong . I did better than last time and this time I did not study at all <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Most excellent Dave! :D Pretty boring until about 2030 hours tonight; thats when EVERYTHING started showing up...149,145,397,143,535,395; not including the east bounds. 1 more day, and then it's the weekend! ;)

[DaveCN5710]

Ok thanks Kurt , just got ordered for #275 @ 0315 :rolleyes: It's supposed to go at 2200 . I am taking digital camera to work with me , it will be light into my shift :D

[blubomber1]

Sorry folks for not posting in the last few days.....aside from working for Milepost 5 days a week, I also drive cab on Sundays, so I am pooped.I'm hoping to start saving for my digital camera (man those things are expensive) :eek: . But, I think my wife will break down and buy me one for my b-day(a month away :D ).

[DaveCN5710]

Your forgiven :cool:

[DaveCN5710]

Blubomber , where you at ???? :confused:

Computer down , working too much , I have not worked since Monday , I came in on #396 Monday night , tied up at 2am .

Anyways I was 12 out when I tied up , now here it is late Friday night and I am 3 out now :D

Call me part-time :D

[blubomber1]

Sorry Dave, have alot on my mind. Rumour mill is back up and running: I heard from 3 different people that Milepost loses its contract with CN Tuesday. Might have to go on unenjoyment. Oh well.....

[DaveCN5710]

That stinks :(

I am working yard assignment #504 today , maybe I'll see you there . Go on duty today at 1300 .

Don't let it get you down .

[blubomber1]

Whew......drove cab today, and STILL couldn't get away from the railroad:
At 5am, I was at Top End, picking up the CP 535 crew and took them to the STL&H yard in London, Ontario. Then, about 1100, I went to the yard office, picked up 396 and took them to Battle Creek, Mi. What a day!! :eek:

[DaveCN5710]

Sounds like somedays I have :D working on the Railroad , all day long :D

[DaveCN5710]

Man Kurt , it's going to stink if Milepost does not continue business with CN , now you are going to have to get back ahold of CN and hopefully you can get hired . I like having you around smile.gif

[blubomber1]

Well, it sounds like Milepost will be around until at least October :D so, I still have a job until then. I hope the union comes through...... :D

[blubomber1]

Hey Dave, i didn't get a good look at your wheel. Did you and Glazar have alot to set out at Durand? You may even make it back tomorrow night before I go home. Later

[DaveCN5710]

our setout at Durand was rather small . When we got to Durand our train was 4800ft , when we left Durand we were 7600ft .

Went on duty on 2230 and tied up at 0615 in Battle Creek . I am at the hotel right now , getting ready for some sleep :D

Our power last night was pretty good . Had the CN 5652 in the lead , I love SD70's :D and the CN 53?? , I don't know but it was a 5300 :D

Maybe we'll be in when your still there Kurt , we are rested for 1415 this afternoon . I'll post later when I got ordered .

[DaveCN5710]

Well Kurt , got up around 1500 still not ordered yet :mad: was rested at 1415 , working the railroad requires daytime sleeping :D Up all night sleep all day , then you get a day off and your body is still on the schedule .

[DaveCN5710]

Ugh!! Had the worst trip I have ever had working for the railroad :rolleyes:

Got shafted in everyway you possibly could .

Kurt I talked to LINDA this morning in Port Huron and she said MILEPOST is not going anywhere .

Can you confirm this ? She is the BOSS right ? :D

[blubomber1]

Yeah Dave, she is the boss. Keith Creel was in Port Huron today, and he never mentioned anything to Joe about it, either. :cool:
Unfortunately, I have a wedding to attend that weekend, so I have to pass. :(

[DaveCN5710]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by blubomber1:

Unfortunately, I have a wedding to attend that weekend, so I have to pass. :(<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Oh yeah

:(

[DaveCN5710]

Hello Kurt , where have you been ?? :confused: I know your lurking :D

I will be coming in on #500 on Monday , will probably see you there .

[blubomber1]

I missed ya yesterday, I think I was at the motel. Got another computer, my other one crashed :( But, this new computer is bigger and faster :D .

[DaveCN5710]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by blubomber1:
I missed ya yesterday, I think I was at the motel. Got another computer, my other one crashed :( But, this new computer is bigger and faster :D .<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Ok , does this mean you'll be posting more ??

:D tongue.gif

[blubomber1]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Ok , does this mean you'll be posting more ?? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
You betcha!! :D

[DaveCN5710]

very good , well I posted about the big derailment yesterday in Road Diaries , I wasn't gonna but these guys like ALL the INFO :D

Post tonight when you get out of work and let me know how the re-rail process went will ya , thanks smile.gif

[blubomber1]

RE-rail went smooth. They were just finishing up when I went into work yesterday. 2 cranes to do the job, and Bondo took that car to E.B. Eddy yesterday, restricted speed, 10MPH. It's back today in WH42, waiting for the rip to come and fix it and the tank.
Happy B-day to you and your little one Dave. See you Monday or so :D

[watash]

I sure hope you got some photos of the cranes working on that car Bluebomber! That's what I want to see, the big cranes working. :D

[DaveCN5710]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by watash:
I sure hope you got some photos of the cranes working on that car Bluebomber! That's what I want to see, the big cranes working. :D<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Roger that watash , problem is he don't have a digital camera yet , those would be some :cool: photos , especially the box car laying on its side :D :eek: :eek: :D :D

[watash]

An ordinary camera photo will scan just fine except for real close ups. Just scan the snap shot and post it. Digital is really good for close up.

[DaveCN5710]

hey Kurt !! Do you have a scanner??

Kurt would be able to post more photos than anyone here at the Trainboard if he had the equipment :D :D :eek: :D :cool:

[blubomber1]

Actually, I have been looking at a couple of scanners.However, I'm not sure how much longer I'll be out at the yard office :( . Milepost's management isn't taking very good care of me,and I've had another job offer. So, next week while I'm on vacation :D , I'll be down in Maumee, Ohio for a few days, checking out the operations. I really don't want to leave, but I gotta go where the money is :rolleyes:

[JPindar]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Davecn5623:

Kurt would be able to post more photos than anyone here at the Trainboard if he had the equipment :D :D :eek: :D :cool:<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

If ya wanna play the pic game Dave, yer on! Blakes getting a Dig!

But dont forget, I bring the best of CN, cannibalized engines, imploding buildings, and derailments :D

EN GUARDE!

Jon

[DaveCN5710]

:D Jon , hey Kurt , when you get back from vacation post in here and let me know what happened ?

If you work for Milepost in Ohio does that mean you will haul CSX crews around ?

I'll be back to work next week after a long break smile.gif

[blubomber1]

Hey Dave....
I didn't go scouting a job in Ohio for Milepost :rolleyes: , I'm looking into working for a trucking company called Try Hours, that specializes in expediting hot freight. Blood test tomorrow morning to see if my blood sugar level complies with D.O.T. standards, and if it does, call Linda and give her my 2 week notice.Oh well.

[DaveCN5710]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by blubomber1:
call Linda and give her my 2 week notice.Oh well.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Oh no man , BUT you gotta do what you gotta do ya know . Gonna miss having you around the yard office , I still have along way to go before I can quit :D Good Luck with the new job , I'm sure I'll see ya around next week at the yard office , my vacation ends this coming Monday , I have Monday off but I will be back on the board at midnight .

[blubomber1]

Well, I got the new job. Try Hours called me today and said my medical card is there waiting for me. This is my last week at CN :( I'm really gonna miss it. Yesterday, I drove taxi for 12 hours...from what I understand, no one relieved Tom Saturday night from Milepost. So, I'll be hearing about that from Gerry Palmateer tonight when he gets in.....oh well.

[blubomber1]

Well, I finished my last night as a Milepost clerk for CN last night. :( But, it wasn't all bad.....in the beginning of my shift, I got to haul Dave and his trainee around. :D He was the conductor on 399(mixed freight train) yesterday afternoon, and had to set off his tail end car because of an air problem. And,I cleaned out my locker, finished my shift, and made my retreat. I will still post in here, because this has got to be one of the best message boards I visit. Talk to you all soon, Kurt. tongue.gif

[Jimmyb]

I know how Robin feels about standing on Georgetown Station platform hoping a train will come through, On a visit last year I stood there with him in great anticipation but alas all we got was a "No Show ".
All I wanted was to see a real big unit,Our "Rinky Dink " rail system only has Electic units and some very small diesels . Having witnessed the demise of all our big Steam Loco's, that passed real close to my house I have now had to turn to watching "deisels" Still any rail activity is better than none. I will be back on Georgetown Platform in July and August so Blubomber see what you can do to please an old mans heart and route some trains through there. Heres hoping
web page (http://geocities.com/jimmybeersa/trains.html)

[Jimmyb]

Blubomber Good luck in your new job ,sure enjoyed the :reparrtee " between you and Dave
"Humba Kahle " which in Zulu means "GO WELL"

[DaveCN5710]

Kurt , even though I had to throw out the rear car of the train and we did not leave Port Huron until 1700 , I was back in Port Huron by 0045 AM .

I got cabbed back to Port Huron after arriving at the Creek , and we worked Durand on the way down , turned out to be a good trip . Worked #399 again today , at the hotel laying over now . See Ya ! smile.gif

[blubomber1]

Hello all.....miss me? Been busy with the new job. Was up for 20 hous yesterday, talk about exausting :eek: But, I'm getting to see a lot of the MidWest. Hey Dave, are you still a conductor? Things going all right at the yard office?

[DaveCN5710]

hi Kurt smile.gif Well I have been a Engineer again and then a Conductor again . Even when I work as a Conductor , all the Engineers that I have worked with make me run the engine so that they can read the paper or take a nap .

When I work with BJ Pruett or Tommy Leist , they never run the engine :D

But I heard from the chief crew dispatcher that I will be added to the Engineers Board tomorrow night at midnight .

[blubomber1]

Hey Dave, I just noticed something....why is the CN moderator chair open? Aren't you the moderator anymore? :confused:

[BN9900]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by blubomber1:
Hello all.....Thanks for the warm welcome. I saw CNDave tonight at work. He's the engineer on the F50331-07 train. Basically, it's a CP detour train that runs on CN's line. The CP crew brings it from Toronto to Port Huron,MI. and get a cab back to Canada. Then, the CN crew picks it up here, and moves it to Battle Creek. Another CN crew will relieve them, and take it to the Bensenville, IL. where a CP crew takes it to god knows where. If anyone has any questions about schedules and times of CN trains, I'll do my best to get the information to you.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hello all, out of Bensenville, it takes the CP (Ex-SOO) exx Milwaukee to KC or up to Minnapolis/St Paul to transfer to the BN or even head back to Canada. This yard (Bensinville) used to be my old haunt for the first 18 years of my life and often saw CN units in the round house.
Now I know where those locos came from, thanks to Kurt and Dave.

[BN9900]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by blubomber1:
Hello all.....Thanks for the warm welcome. I saw CNDave tonight at work. He's the engineer on the F50331-07 train. Basically, it's a CP detour train that runs on CN's line. The CP crew brings it from Toronto to Port Huron,MI. and get a cab back to Canada. Then, the CN crew picks it up here, and moves it to Battle Creek. Another CN crew will relieve them, and take it to the Bensenville, IL. where a CP crew takes it to god knows where. If anyone has any questions about schedules and times of CN trains, I'll do my best to get the information to you.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hello all, out of Bensenville, it takes the CP (Ex-SOO) exx Milwaukee to KC or up to Minnapolis/St Paul to transfer to the BN or even head back to Canada. This yard (Bensinville) used to be my old haunt for the first 18 years of my life and often saw CN units in the round house.
Now I know where those locos came from, thanks to Kurt and Dave.

[blubomber1]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Jimmyb:
I will be back on Georgetown Platform in July and August so Blubomber see what you can do to please an old mans heart and route some trains through there. Heres hoping
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

July is a bad time of year, Jimmy....GM shuts down for 2 weeks, and it normally takes another 2 weeks for CN to get back on its regular freight schedule.Keep watching.....who knows? Maybe if you click your heels together and......nevermind. :rolleyes: :D tongue.gif