December 2006 - Posts

Car Life vs. Non-Car Life

Don't get me wrong now, cars are insanely important to our way of life.  But I can't help notice some non-measurable things that occur in the difference in lifestyles of people that rely on cars vs. me.  I have a car but use it the same way Read More
posted Wednesday, December 20, 2006 4:50 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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Bus & Rail Vehicle?

Now this is an awesome idea that could be expanded on further.  The idea of a road and rail vehicle opens up vast news logistical means. Read More
posted Wednesday, December 20, 2006 9:24 AM by adron | 2 Comments
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Sound Transit Light Rail Moves Forward!

Looks like some of the first LRVs are getting unloaded already.  Soon they'll have to start the ridiculous FRA mandated 6 month break in period.  Check out the Sound Transit site for progress, videos, and more.  One of the things I see Read More
posted Tuesday, December 19, 2006 10:14 PM by adron | 2 Comments
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Marketers (PDX-TAC)

When riding the train, airplane, or whatever where there will be a crowd I tend to be a fairly laid back guy.  Not much really gets to me.  Sometimes noisy people bother me, or rude vulgar people bother me, but often conversations, tappings, Read More
posted Tuesday, December 19, 2006 1:47 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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Chicago to New York by Train

In a previous write up I stumbled on the timely service of 15hrs between Chicago and New York.  Today one can only expect at best an 18-19hr trip minimum.  Amtrak Read More
posted Sunday, December 17, 2006 4:33 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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Amazing Survival of Railroads

I must say it is amazing that railroads have survived throughout American history. With the prejudice, socialist policies, tax burdens, regulations, and subsidizations of competing inferior services it is truly one of the most amazing feats of history Read More
posted Sunday, December 17, 2006 3:32 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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Railroad Station Death

These are some of the stations that I've been researching and some associated links. Buffola & Detroit Stations. http://central.terminal.railfan.net/trains.html http://central.terminal.railfan.net/pics/ A quick listing of the trains that went in and Read More
posted Sunday, December 17, 2006 3:30 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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#4449 Daylight

This past week hasn't been all that much happening on the "gettin around" front.  Mostly just been at work and at home.  Nothing in between, no wondering around, no rambling on about various adventures on the rails. However yesterday I rode Read More
posted Sunday, December 17, 2006 12:06 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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Concrete Ties

The new trackage between Portland and Seattle that is going in with the concrete ties is exceptionally smooth compared to the old wooden ties.  If you're a rail buff take a ride and you'll notice the difference (maybe).  Being that I travel Read More
posted Tuesday, December 12, 2006 10:17 AM by adron | 0 Comments
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Freight Railroad doesn't cover Capitol Expenses?

Yeah, right, to all those naysayers that say Freight Railroads don't make money and cover capitol infrastructure and expenditures ya better check into that a little bit.  The mighty Norfolk Southern has laid out over $884 Million for right of way Read More
posted Monday, December 11, 2006 11:58 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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Streetcar or Light Rail?

I sat down and started thinking.  What is the real difference here, functionally by rail and vehicle not by usage?  The primary two things that stand out are the speeds.  Light Rail Vehicles usually in the US are used at no more than 55mph Read More
posted Sunday, December 10, 2006 6:04 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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The REAL Efficiency of Rail

Ok, Passenger modes of transit can be argued all day long.  One equation that in no way offers any real debate is the efficiency of freight rail vs. tractor trailer freight. Being the case that all of about 1-5% of freight right of way is even remotely Read More
posted Saturday, December 09, 2006 6:35 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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The Cappucino Expidition

Today I wanted to get out and about before some business I needed to deal with.  So with that I woke early and prepared to head out.  One of the things I first wanted to hit up this morning was a good solid Cappucino. The best one I know of Read More
posted Saturday, December 09, 2006 4:34 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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Inadequate Transit Funding for Operations

Over at Portland Transport, Chris simply stated a fact "inadequate level of funding for transit operations in our region." That statement kind of riled me up (just from a thinking perspective). Two reasons. It is inadequate (funding), just like it is Read More
posted Saturday, December 09, 2006 10:27 AM by adron | 0 Comments
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My 2 Cents on the Burnside Streetcar Alignment

I've made my statements known on the various Streetcar issues I see (mainly the cost and quality of the vehicles themselves).  I've also commented positively on the articles I've seen regarding Sam's Proposal at Willamette Week Online and on Sam's Read More
posted Thursday, December 07, 2006 6:59 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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$80 Billion Dollar Misprint

So I just thought I'd point out, with some disgust, something that occurs all to often with "journalist", "editors", and general "myth generation" that comes from media sources.  The Portland Tribune printed a story titled "Projects:  Couplet Read More
posted Thursday, December 07, 2006 12:59 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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Streetcar Extension #3,098,234,123,023

Well ok, it's really extension segment number 5 if anyone is counting.  Initial Segment, past PSU the waterfront, 2nd segment is Gibbs.  Then The Loop and Oswego.  Putting us at numero five.  Read more about it over at the Read More
posted Tuesday, December 05, 2006 3:08 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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Seattle Snow

So this week while in Tacoma it was snowy, icy, and generally cold.  By the end of the week it wasn't. This picture however is very representative of the environmental conditions facing the transit the last week. Read More
posted Friday, December 01, 2006 11:13 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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