Top then things overheard on the scanner while railfanning... 10. This train sucks today. -Q384 9. Conductor: Gimmie three step. Engineer: I’m already using a Conrail, ain’t that enough? 8. K660, you got any high-wides today?* -SC DS 7. Young man, you’re tying up my railroad! -JM 6. There’s no hurry for your train. There’s not even a crew called until 5:30 in Garrett. -SC DS 5. Clear here, clear there, clear everywhere Fostoria. Q137 OOOOUUUUT! -Q117 4. East on two clear NAAAAA!-Sand Patch Helper 3. That’s some quality “T” dispatching. 2. That’s an automatic interlocking, I don’t control that signal. -I&O Dispatcher** 1. Shutup, Malinta, I know you’re there! -I&O Dispatcher Notes: * K660 is a special movment for export farm machinery, all of which is considered oversized. ** The I&O dispatcher doesn't control any signals anywhere. [ 12. December 2003, 02:34: Message edited by: BrianS ]
Well, I'm betting that these were the top ten that you could safely post here? There are probably a few special ones that can only be repeated in private..... Boxcab E50
Boxcab, you're absolutely right! If you want to see my two favorites drop me an e-mail and I'll share 'em off the boards. -B
On Guilford: "three cars" "oops, meant 2, better back up" One saturday morning the scanner kept going off with someone on either the SLR or Guilford, impersonating scooby do and Shaggy. Lots of Zoinks Scoob! and stuff like that, for hours! Figured it was an MOW inspection crew or something. We also listened to an increasingly angry conductor vs. dispatcher/car clerk one night - they had been given a switchlist to put centerbeam lumber cars on a loading dock track for boxcars. That was pretty good.
My favorite - A CP engineer answering a detector... "CP train*****west, no defects, except for the conductor, out."
I have a cheapie scanner, Radio Shack type, the only freq's I can know of are the basic dispatching signals, for BNSF and UP, in Cheyenne. What's a good website to get all the others I can't get, like MOW, car toads, etc? Maybe my 200-channel RS scanner just doesn't have enough range...
Scanner range is all in the antenna. If you invest in a replacment duckie or, better yet, a magnet mount one for your car, you'll easily double if not triple (or even better!) you current range.
Any ideas on where to get an antenna to mount to this basic scanner? It was a gift to me from my bride, and I don't want to resort to buying an expensive Bearcat, Uniden, etc. model. What model antenna would I need? Would the magnet mount attach where the flexible antenna now mounts? About how much will something like that cost(sounds pricey)? You mentioned 'invest'... Does it increase power consumption? I could also buy a cheap 12V lighter plug for the scanner's voltage, too.
When I worked for Radio Shack, which was a few years ago, I remember there were a large variety of replacement antennas available. I would guess they should have something you could use. I don't remember the prices, but they should not require a second mortgage. As far as power consumption is concerned, I believe there should be no difference. The 12v plug for using the scanner in the car is not a bad idea in any case, however, just to save wear on the scanner battery.
After a quick trip to Radio Shack , I came across a car cord for a 9V device, p/n 273-1811; and a magnet mount antenna, 20-032. I think these will do what I need, and I wish I'd have though of this a lot earlier! Thanks for the idea!
