Mudchicken (or anyone) - I am so lousy at descriptions, I hope you can figure this out.
MOW is installing what the driver calls narrow ATM machines beside our tracks where I observe the BNSF. They are shiny like aluminum - about the height of an ATM, but a square column in shape. They did some extensive track work in this area in spring and now these little “closets” are appearing along the tracks. Any thoughts on what they might be?
Your favorite pest!
Those are usually power boxes, are there any overhead wires going to them?
They are used for everything from grade crossings to signals to power switches to wayside detection systems.
That’s my guess.
Looks like all wires are underground - they did a lot of fiber optics in the area, so figure that must be why. We are getting quite a congolmeration of “items” next to all those tracks!
Who is your favourite feather duster?
Big Muddy, Fe Feathers, Dusty Feathers - depends on the weather - Mudchicken! The one I keep trying to coax into a nice warm oven for a rest and then dinner afterward!
Cat vs Chicken?
Moo
Looks like all wires are underground - they did a lot of fiber optics in the area, so figure that must be why. We are getting quite a congolmeration of “items” next to all those tracks!
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If that’s the case, they may not be railroad property. They may be splicing cabintes and belong to the communications company that “owns” the firber optics. From your description, they sound too small to be a signalling cabinet (bungalo, and eqipment shed are other names for the same thing). Many times a relocation of a track may mean the relocation of the underground utilities that are leasing the right-of-way. (Many agreements between the railroads and utilities call for them to cross or run parallel to the tracks, but not under them.)
CTC Signal relay cases (pre- wired) with F/O/C connections for the interlocking plant most likely…
http://www.safetran.com/product/signal.asp Look at E-3-1 “Instrument Cases”
Banished to Syracuse in the Geat State of Kansas [ UniHead’s Little Slice of Heaven[alien]…The local diner is the Dog House…No kiities seen there] for the next 48 hours.
Safe for a while…
Those don’t look exactly right - they are a little bigger than what we are looking at, but will go back this weekend and look some more. Driver said they are placed at the switches, but not sure he knows either. I know they are really close to the tracks and sit along with all sorts of other items that are already on the ground and being used.
You need to come to Lincoln, chicken! I have so many questions at my location and …a nice warm place to sit and wait…[C=:-)]
Feather duster. FEATHER DUSTER? Now, I know what a f.d. is, and you know what a f.d. is. What makes you think these young whipper-snappers on this forum know what a feather duster is? Or if they have ever seen one in the flesh, er, feather?
Ah Skeets! So nice to hear from you! Crusty old Skeets knows what a feather duster is? Must have seen one at Grandma’s house! Can’t imagine him using one…[8)]
Wonder what they would say if I said I was going to chase the chicken with a rug beater? Can’t you just imagine!
MLM
Blower motor and air-intake housing on a switch heater?
http://www.railsco.com/Products/Switch_heaters/HAB/hot_air_blower.htm
I’m betting that way, too–we have similar stuff on some of our switches, without the intake “chimneys” on top. Is there ductwork of any sort between those and the switches themselves (as opposed to the switch stands or switch machines)?
P.S. One of our towers used to have a feather-duster; we found out that a brush for applying wallpaper past worked better (especially since the feather-duster started looking a little plucky).
No - but keep trying! [:X]
Going to have driver take me past there and let me look at them again - will get you a detailed description and maybe some photos - but those won’t get to you until about Xmas!
Think maybe something new that is just coming down the pike?
Mook
Affirmative on the ductwork Carl. The ductwork runs through the crib and down the field sides of the rail to the blowwer nozzles. (sheet-metalworker’s nightmare!)
Please don’t give Boss Hen any more ideas![:-^][:-^][:-^]
Trackside lubricator?
http://www.rtands.com/feb01/lubrication.html
Or is el-gato mookster doing one of those kittycat mindgames things that aloof felines are known to do?
No - but that is nice looking. We don’t have anything that nice looking here. Are you thinking yellow thingies? But I was right - they are yellow thingies!
I will get back to you tomorrow after my trip trackside tonite.
Maybe my missing dwarfs live in there in bad weather! I give up!
Aloof? Is that some kind of kitty dandruff?
Mook
I found it much more efficient to simply scrape up the collected dust occasionally; a feather duster would just push it around. BTW, the next time you’re snooping around my hacienda checking on my housekeeping habits, don’t forget to say hello. 8^@
And you better chase the chicken with a rug beater; if you use a feather duster you may get confused.
Ah Skeets - you and I would get along just fine - we both come from the old school that says “Dust is a great furniture protector! Leave it on for maximum protection!”
Re: Chicken - he seems to always be just a fingernail out of reach! But, there’s always next time!
MLM