Updates
March 19, 2013: I can't make this stuff up. The White House can't afford White House tours any more, but not only can the White House afford presidential golf outings here in the US, it now turns out that the president will be golfing in Ireland in June, 2013. Ireland is one of the PIIGS, by the way. As you can see by the link the PIIGS even have their own wikipage. Once you have your own wikipage, you are too big to fail. With Cyprus, C-PIIGS?
Original Post
With regard to the NDIC web site: today's daily activity report has not yet been posted.
Cannot access Basic Services.
Later:
I was unaware that there was even a golf story out there, but here it is. I assume the media will start adding up the cost of the golf trips vs the weekly cost of White House tours.I can't make this stuff up.
While we're waiting for NDIC to be back up and running:
Nah, just an old fashioned blizzard.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteYes, here it is: http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/snowy-start-for-northern-plain/8289815
DeleteThe Upper Midwest is bracing for the return of snow and blizzard conditions to start the workweek.
Snow will fall for much of Monday across the northern two-thirds of Minnesota and then spread into northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan as the day progresses.
TRAVEL ALERT IN EFFECT
DeleteA Travel Alert has been issued for Williston, Minot, McClusky, Steele, Napoleon and surrounding areas due to blowing and drifting snow creating icy conditions and reduced visibility. No travel advised in eastern half of North Dakota. -- 8:04 pm CDT, March 18, 2013.
http://www.safetravelusa.com/nddot/
Obviously a dynamic site and will change by tomorrow.
After seeing the video of the train it reminded me of a question. I live near Detroit Lakes, MN and every time I go to town I see at least 1 of these trains.
ReplyDeleteOn every train there is always another car such as a box car hooked between the tank cars and the engine. If there is a pusher, there is a box car there too. It's not always a box car, sometimes it's a flatcar or even a hopper, but there is always another car between the engine and the tank cars. There has to be a reason for this and I was hoping one of your contacts or readers could tell us why.
My original explanation may be wrong: here's another more plausible explanation from another site:
DeleteThe 'Runner wagon' is intended to provide a space between the locomotive and the tanks, to give any airborne sparks from the locomotive exhaust (yes, even diesel-electrics) a chance to cool-off before they reach the leading tank car. While not so necessary now, in steam days this was absolutely necessary as sparks plus petrol do not mix very well and things can go boom. NZ's railways have however never had a bulk petrol tanker fire (although there have been some very near misses), so the system would seem to be successful.
From that same site, here was my original explanation:
DeleteJust a point of reference. The covered hoppers used as buffer cars are often labeled as buffer cars. These cars are filled with sand for proper train handling and added safety...
Depends on the railroad. On NS along the Port Road, we've been seeing solid oil trains to Delaware. The buffer car between the engine and first tank is usually just an empty box car, and one tacked on the rear too.
This is the site: http://www.nscale.net/forums/archive/index.php/t-26547.html
Thank you. Interesting.
Delete