My father lives next to the railroad tracks near Chico Ca. in the same house I grew up in. After the recent posts on this forum about lack of trains running in various areas I thought it would be a good thing to watch. He says that yesterday there was one short train with about 6 cars. Today there was a single engine (very unusual on this stretch of track). The average must be 6-10 very long trains per day (daylight hours only). Anyone else noticing this?

-- Jon (Jon@jps.net), January 05, 2000

Answers

OMIGOD. Does this mean there is nothing to buy at the Mall? Shit!

-- Johnny Wad (jholmes@hotmail.com), January 05, 2000.

This sounds like a Y2K problem.

-- (marcos@restrel.net), January 05, 2000.

I can't witness regarding trains. But will call my mom who lives near a track. Interesting side-note: I have noticed the formations of C-130s that usually fly over my place 10-15 times a day (very low and annoying), have not been flying for a couple of weeks. Not saying that the Air Force is afraid their C-130s are going to experience computer failures. In fact, most are so old they probably do not have computers. But it is interesting to note that training missions have stopped here.

-- Lisa (lisadawn@yahoo.com), January 05, 2000.

What's that standard salutation to vermin like you, Alice?

Oh yeah, I remember now: "Die, spammer, die."

-- Ron Schwarz (rs@clubvb.com.delete.this), January 05, 2000.

My church is right next to a train track. On Sunday quite a few trains including a very long one passed at normal speed.

-- Butt Nugget (catsbutt@umailme.com), January 05, 2000.

I haven't heard any trains coming through here (Delaware) since December 31. This is most unusual, since a freight train used to come through at 2 a.m. every other day.

-- Marie (pray4peace@compuserve.com), January 05, 2000.

After no rail traffic whatsoever over the weekend,unusual in this area,freight train activity has returned to a normal high volumn. Among other things,a very high volumn of new automobiles going someplace on a lot of trains and also counted approx. 85-90 cars of coal on one train. On a side note, about three weeks ago I saw a military freight with several large Tanks[armor] and many cargo trucks with attached pull behind tanks[liquid] parked temporary on side tracks as if being prepositioned. The latter is very unusual as have never seen this ever before in this area.

-- Lurking patiently (nomail@mymail.net), January 06, 2000.

I was on a train once.

-- Jim Thompson (jimthompsonmd@attglobal.net), January 06, 2000.

Is there the slightest hint of retail shortages in your area?

Rapidly coming to the conclusion that I don't care what happens "behind the scenes" because:

A) There's no way to tell a piece of investigative revelation from a midjudged piece of hyperbole.

B) If it doesn't effect us as consumers, what difference does it make.

Yes, I know, patterns, wheels within wheels, see the signs. I've been seeing them for a while and they've all been false or fake. Sigh.

Why am I going on about this? It's because I still think that real problems will emerge, and I think that I'll read about them first here. But the more speculative garbage like this that appears, the more chance that this group will degenerate back to the haven for New World Orderists that it became in December.

-- Servant (public_service@yahoo.com), January 06, 2000.

Sorry Servant..but I disagree. I enjoy reading about the harbors, shipping and the trains. We have been reading gobbledeegook re computers for two years now. To most of us it made no sense. But by damn, even this old hen can count trains! Keep the stuff you can see and touch coming.

Taz

-- Taz (Tassi123@aol.com), January 06, 2000.

I did see a few more trains yesterday (than on Monday and Tues), but still noticeably fewer than usual - Pittsburgh,Pa

-- REvans (my2scents@home.com), January 06, 2000.

Just want to post an update on the lack of trains here in Chico Ca. One short train passed by in the wee hours of last night and 0 so far today. After 40 years in this house my father KNOWS this is very unusual. Please keep updating your observastions on this. Jon

-- Jon (Jon@jps.net), January 06, 2000.