Loring Winter and so it begins

[Shiner]

These are the heaters. The fires that you see are fueled by propane to heat these switches and tracks, the ties are concrete. From experience the Burlington Northern Santa Fe rail lines that owns the tracks has found using propane/natural gas is the best source of heat and is economical to use, in the Chicago metropolitan area. They have installed small orifice tubes that the fuel flows out of, these are buried just under the grave along side of the switches and tracks, they are then ignited to burn, similar to a gas grill or a gas fire place orifice tube.

These have been in placed and are used when the temps drop below a certain set point in ambient temps. It is just as a I said in my pervious post that the millennials and non-local news people were amazed at the burning of this fuel to heat the tracks. They simple state that the tracks were on fire, never giving the full story. Since they are not from Chicago IL they have never experience this.

Electrical cost are higher then natural gas/propane in our area. As an example I have a 2,000 sq ft home using natural gas to heat (house kept at 68F), cook, run my fireplace, heat our water and dry the clothes. The gas bill is $62 a month. Electricity is used only to run the lights (LED'S), TV/radio and provide power for my DC fan motor on the furnace+ some parasitic uses such as cell phone chargers and so, forth. This usually cost me $96 a month.

Thank you for the education Jim.

 

[GAmes]

That's some hearty grass, gonna need a combo snow blower/ Lawn mower

It's been so warm here the grass has turned green and our red tip photinias have new red leaves. I'm glad it turned a little colder, much more warm weather and the pear trees would bloom.

 

[Shiner]

It's been so warm here the grass has turned green and our red tip photinias have new red leaves. I'm glad it turned a little colder, much more warm weather and the pear trees would bloom.

0 here right now. Tired of winter now.

 

[DHayden]

peaches and plums have bloomed here, have the feeling there toast this year.

 

[Shiner]

peaches and plums have bloomed here, have the feeling there toast this year.

I finally sawed my peach tree down last year. 3 years in a row it bloomed early and frosted all the blooms off. Pear tree doing okat, got some pears last year.

 

[mwilson]

Some more trail pics for you guys...

“ Isnt it beautiful? ITS 81, 81A,98B are all currently be groomed thru Grand Isle. Trails are mint! Ride right and ride safe!”

 

[jhenderson]

That retirement job looks better all the time. I’ve been repairing a broken loader mast on the forwarder, outside for the last week. In that time we’ve had -8 to + 40f , 45 mph winds, mud, snow, sleet, freezing rain, and 1 inch of pure ice under foot. A heated cab with that view would be a welcome change.

 

[mwilson]

The ice is unbelievable this year...I had to put sheet metal screws in my Bean Boots...14” of snow Weds that did not stick to the ice underneath...

 

[NIsaacs]

Flagstaff, AZ broke a one day snowfall record from 1915 @ 31.6", yesterday was 35.9"....about 12" here, since 5.00 pm last night.

 

[mwilson]

The dog does not look amused.....

 

[Shiner]

Flagstaff, AZ broke a one day snowfall record from 1915 @ 31.6", yesterday was 35.9"....about 12" here, since 5.00 pm last night.

View attachment 111459 View attachment 111460

Dog is saying WTF! We are due another round. We have broken our records as well.

 

[DHayden]

Awe...poor puppy

 

[Shiner]

Flagstaff, AZ broke a one day snowfall record from 1915 @ 31.6", yesterday was 35.9"....about 12" here, since 5.00 pm last night.

View attachment 111459 View attachment 111460

What breed is that? I had a cairen(sp) terrier many years back, that I got from the pound, he had been a puppy mill dog and abused. One of the best dogs we ever had.

 

[NIsaacs]

What breed is that?

Yes, he is Cairn Terrier, about 6 years old. He loves the snow and follows my Bobcat when I plow. I use it (Bobcat) to help him get Rats, so when it starts, he is ready. The best dang rat getter I have ever had. The other one is a Red/Blue heeler cross, she is so smart and is 1 year old. She loves the snow too.

 

[DavidC]

Most of you guy's may receive this storm. It has been raining here for about 2 1/2 days so it is very big. The good thing with all of this and the record snows up north they say it may have ended Az's long time drought

 

[GrantP]

Most of you guy's may receive this storm. It has been raining here for about 2 1/2 days so it is very big. The good thing with all of this and the record snows up north they say it may have ended Az's long time drought

We could definitely use it. The Agua Fria was flowing for the first time in recent memory, the Verde is over the banks, and water falls in Oak Creek Canyon. We're going to have a very green desert in the next few months.

 

[GrantP]

A very unusual sight in AZ.

 

[DavidC]

We could definitely use it. The Agua Fria was flowing for the first time in recent memory, the Verde is over the banks, and water falls in Oak Creek Canyon. We're going to have a very green desert in the next few months.

To be honest the first thing I thought of is fires. Like Ca. had a few years ago after they got drenched during the winter everything grew and green then no rain and it all went brown

 

[TFucili]

Most of you guy's may receive this storm. It has been raining here for about 2 1/2 days so it is very big. The good thing with all of this and the record snows up north they say it may have ended Az's long time drought

I hope it ends the drought, and I know we need the precip, but DANG this has been the coldest, wettest, grayest, dreariest Winter since we have lived here. A few days without sunshine and I am bouncing off the walls

 

[GrantP]

To be honest the first thing I thought of is fires. Like Ca. had a few years ago after they got drenched during the winter everything grew and green then no rain and it all went brown

I thought the same. That is the cycle, it will all dry out in May or June and then the camping season starts.