Check out my other You Tube channel with more cool railroad and rail fanning videos along with other adventures Dave has: www.youtube.com/@ThatsDavesOtherDoings

The 85 year old guy did not "bang the lid". The sign of a true dumptruck driving proffesional!

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Your right about that Jeff! He was a grand gentleman, we had a nice conversation. He gave me inspiration to keep on railroading. Very much appreciate your visiting with us and checking out the new ballast in video my friend.

Always love seeing parts of the railroad operation not normally shown. It's amazing the amount of support systems, materials, equipment, and personnel that keep even a short line or single industrial line up and running. Thanks for sharing this with us, Dave! Also that Kenworth was really nice! A very good friend of the family is of that older generation of trucker. He loves being on the road still to this day and I think he just turned 82 if i remember right.

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Thank you Shane, glad you enjoyed. You are right, this is not a part of railroading that most folks ever think about having to do. But it's a lot of fun for me when I get new ballast in. Good for your friend, I like to see the older generation still out there working. Very much appreciate your visiting with us and checking out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

Totally cool video, Dave. Seeing that 85-year-old guy @13:50 climbing down from that tall KW did my heart good...I'm 72, been driving commercial (safely, I might add) for 33 years...think I'll "stick around" a bit longer now that I've "met" him!!! In your kind words..."thank you, thank you, thank you." 😊👌👍

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Thank you EBF, glad you enjoyed. Good for you, keep on truckin my friend! Jerry was a pretty cool guy to talk to, quite an interesting character. You would love chatting with him talk trucking. Appreciate very much your taking the time to visit and check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

"Dummy locked, and the dummy didn't check it." Awesome! Shows he doesn't take himself too seriously.

@kidkv

6 ай бұрын

Witch one, or didn't you watch the whole video???

@HammondOfTexas0

6 ай бұрын

​@@kidkvthe old guy that said that

@45Deere9500

6 ай бұрын

@@kidkv I watched the whole video. You might need to watch it again, more closely this time, to understand my post.

@kidkv

6 ай бұрын

@@45Deere9500 no need to watch again, made the post before watching till the end, getting what you meant, it was the gate. Most of the time, I'm watching a video, I'm doing something else at the same time, and miss some bits.

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

That guy was Jerry, a grand person, very interesting character to chat with 45Deere. He gave me inspiration to keep on railroading. Appreciate very much your taking the time to visit and check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

Great that the company is spending money to keep the railroad in good shape. Happy Holidays Dave

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Yes it is Donnie, they never give me any flak when I tell them to order me more ballast in. The big problem on the track is trying to get rid of mud spots and will use a lot of ballast up doing that. Appreciate very much your taking the time to visit and check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

Great video, I enjoyed watching the different trucks dump ballast.

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Thank you for the kind words onetuliptree. Glad you enjoyed. We had 19 dump trucks in that day, they are always fun to watch. I like when they bring new ballast in, it's a good day for me. Very much appreciate your visiting with us and checking out the new ballast in video my friend.

This video rocks! Thanks Dave!

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

The video rocks or it is full of rocks Poowg? :-) I'm grateful the company doesn't give me any fluff about buying new ballast when I ask for it. Better to have too much ballast on my track than not enough. Very much appreciate your taking the time to pay us a visit and check out the new ballast in video my friend.

85 and 77 years old, makes me feel guilty. I'm "ONLY" 70 and retiring at the end of the month. 😁😁 Stay safe and I hope you and your better half have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year Dave.

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Congratulations on your upcoming retirement Robert! Hey if you get bored, come around and drive truck with these guys, you'd fit right in....:-) May you and your family also have a great holiday season my friend. Very much appreciate your visiting with us and checking out the new ballast in video.

Like the way you have everything organised and under control Dave! Just to warm you up, it's 92 degrees at my place 🙂 Summer is here. Keep those trains rolling 👍

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

SW Pa. gets cold in the mornings and warms up during the day in December any more Richard. I like the cold better than the heat, I'm glad you are warm, but I'll take 20 degrees over 90. But to each his own. Thanks for the nice comment. Appreciate very much your taking the time to visit and check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

Hi Dave, you guys have a Merry Christmas over there! 85 years young good for him!

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

May you also have a Merry Christmas Clineshaunt. Thank you. Yes that guy is an inspiration for me to keep going! he's doing pretty darn good for his age, and he's got some pretty cool stories to tell about his adventures he shared with me. Very much appreciate your taking the time to pay us a visit and check out the new ballast in video my friend.

@clineshaunt

6 ай бұрын

@@ccrx6700 It’s a pleasure Dave! Just out of curiosity, what does granite ballast go for per ton? Sorry if it was in your video and I missed it.

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

@@clineshaunt i have no idea cost of granite. Our limestone is 18 a ton which includes delivery price.

That's a neat look at the ballast delivery. While Peterbilt's are first in my heart for trucks, I sure can appreciate other nice ones when I see them, like Jerry in his Kenworth W900L. It looked like he even had a sliding rear window in the cab, a rare feature. The ballast out in my preferred train watching spot here in Central Arizona on Union Pacific's Sunset Route has changed over the last 25-years....probably for the better. Up into the 1990's, Southern Pacific, the original owner, would use a slag ballast. My guess, a copper slag, because of the many copper mines in our state, and that SP served many of those mines and probably got the slag at next to nothing. Anyway, it was maybe just one hair lighter in color from black, and you can just imagine how lovely that must've been for the brakemen and conductors and MOW crews who had to be out there on those glorious mid-summer 115°+ days. Not to mention the heat kinks or sun kinks, that would occasionally pop out! Now the ballast is a light-gray and off-white granite, I think, but there is still a lot of the old slag along the ROW out there. The BNSF/Santa Fe of Northern Arizona for many years would use volcanic cinders from cinder pits near Flagstaff, Arizona. You'll be able to get a good closeup look at UP's current ballast in some of my new videos that will be posting soon. Thanks, Dave! 🤠👍

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Thank you, glad you enjoyed Scotty. We thought about using slag many years ago, it is cheap, but worried about how it would cause extra wear on the tamper, plus like you say the excess heat coming off of it. That was slag from steel mills here. Very much appreciate your taking the time to visit with us and check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend. Will look forward to seeing the ballast in those videos.

You rock Dave! 😉 Keep up the great videos! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family! That's railroading! Your fan from Michigan, Bob Kozminski

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Thank you and may you and your family also have a happy holiday season Bob. Appreciate very much the nice comment and for your taking the time to check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

Thank you for sharing, Dave! It's always so interesting to see the many different processes at the railroad! No one brings railroading to us like you do!

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed Seth. It's always a good day when I get new ballast in. This is just a part of railroading that no one ever thinks about having to do. Very much appreciate your visiting with us and checking out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

Great video Dave! Speaking of soft rock, the railroads in this area (BNSF and Canadian Pacific) don't use local stone for ballast at all. All of it is brought in from outside of the area - mostly from central Wisconsin where they can get quartzite and granite. The stone in this area is soft sandstone and disintegrates rapidly even on the roads. They do use it for rip-rap though. They need a lot of that along the river.

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Thank you, glad you enjoyed Mojo. Quartz is a very hard rock as is granite. Sandstone is junk for track ballast and roads. Appreciate very much your taking the time to visit and check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

Thats alot of tonnage for sure.. had some good looking trucks hauling for ya, thanks for the info on the different types of ballast. Always good stuff Dave, you keep a nice neat pile..

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Thank you, glad you enjoyed Pappy. It's always a good day when I get new ballast to come in. Appreciate very much your taking the time to visit and check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

Good video. Enjoyed seeing the 85 year old!

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Thank you. Yes he was an inspiration, a grand gentleman, we had a nice conversation. Very much appreciate your visiting with us and checking out the 400 tons of ballast in video.

That looked like fun ! 3-29

@ccrx6700

3 ай бұрын

Always a good day when we get new ballast in Alan. Thanks so much for writing in and for watching the video. May you have a very good day my friend.

You got 400 tons of Ballast for Christmas Dave! A great present for a railroader! 😆 Hope that you and family have a great Christmas!

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Yes it sure is Mike! I am fortunate they never deny me when I ask for more ballast to come in. It's always a good day here when I get new ballast in. Very much appreciate your visiting with us and checking out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

That was cool Sieng all those trucks dump rock!😉

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed Michael. It's always a good day when I get new ballast in. Wish I could have taped all the trucks that came in that day, there was 19 of them. Very much appreciate your visiting with us and checking out the 400 tons of ballast in video my friend.

That was fun watching dump trucks

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Thank you Bigmack, glad you enjoyed the show. Hope you are having a good day. It's always a good day here when I get new ballast in. Very much appreciate your visiting with us and checking out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

@bigmackstruckstop9213

6 ай бұрын

@@ccrx6700 your very welcome my friend

Dave is a rockstar.

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

I guess you could say that Ray! LOL I do like to get new ballast in and am lucky they never give me any flak when I tell management I want more ballast. Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

hello Dave & it's is Randy and i like yours video is cool thanks Dave Friends Randy & Merry Christmas & Happy New Year's & The Best in New Year's 2024 Thanks Dave Friends Randy

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Thank you, glad you enjoyed Randy. Hope you and your family also have a happy holiday season. Appreciate very much your taking the time to visit and check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

I hope that you and yours have a Very Merry Christmas and a Spectacular New Year !!!! Thanks for all of your great videos this year and I look forward to more in 2024 !

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Thank you Alan and may you and your family also have a happy holiday season. There will be lots of videos out in 2024 the good Lord willing. Appreciate very much your taking the time to visit and check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

Rock n roll dave! Thanks!

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

For sure on that Dave! Lot's of rocks, but we will use them in in short order. Always a fun day for me when new ballast comes in. Very much appreciate your taking the time to visit with us and check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

Very interesting information! I enjoyed watching the trucks come in and dump the rock. We have some type of crushed red granite here in North Texas that is used for walkways and driveways. I did not realize there were different grades of ballast so I learned something new! I was also amazed to see the 85 year old still working driving the truck. Good for him. Have a great Christmas with the family.

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Thank you, glad you enjoyed Mary and glad you could find out something new. Yes that truck driver was an amazing person, very interesting character to chat with too. Appreciate very much your taking the time to visit and check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

Hi Dave. Another great video. Would it ever be possible for you to show us the inner workings of the mine? Not sure but that would be cool to see! Have a great day and thanks again

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed Patrick. It's always a good day when I get new ballast in. Cameras and cell phones are not allowed under ground in the mine. I am not allowed in the mine either because I have not been trained for underground. So sorry but I will not be able to accommodate your desires. Wish I could, that would be so very interesting. Very much appreciate your visiting with us and checking out the 400 tons of ballast in video my friend.

Another great video Dave and as always your so very informative about the product. Unfortunately we have a generation that doesn’t won’t to work anymore. I have four kids and I raised them to work and earn their living. I pray that you have a wonderful week.

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Thank you Donnie for the nice comment. Good for you on raising your kids that way, same here with my son, he's now a foreman with the local gas company plus runs an excavating business on the side. I'm sure you're just as proud of your kids as I am of my son. Hope you are also having a great day. It's always a good day here when I get new ballast in. Very much appreciate your visiting with us and checking out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

The biggest struggle I had working the coal yard was to pick up the coal and not dig into the earth in the process. The boilers didn't like burning dirt! LOL Took me a while to figure out how to set the bucket to not dig while I was moving or picking up the coal. This brings back memories seeing you in the loader. :)

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

I understand that completely S. Our old boss used to get very upset if we would "bottom dig" and pick up the fines from the bottom of the pile. Either learn to not do it or get yelled at by him! :-) Hope you are having a good day. It's always a good day here when I get new ballast in. Very much appreciate your visiting with us and checking out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

Oooh limestone flavored ballast.

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Would be much nicer if we could get granite in Arkay, but with the astronomical cost for us, it's just out of the picture. Limestone is $18 a ton and that includes delivery price which is pretty cheap. Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

Thanks for the video i enjoyed watchimg the trucks dumping the rock. Have a Merru Christmas. An Happy New Year.

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Thank you, glad you enjoyed John. It's always a good day when I get new ballast to come in. Appreciate very much your taking the time to visit and check out the 400 tons of ballast video. And, may you and your family also have a Merry Christmas my friend.

Hello Dave ya A pile of stone great job Hopefully your Day was going well for ya 👍🏻😎Robin out .

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Thank you, glad you enjoyed Robin. It's always a good day when I get new ballast to come in. Appreciate very much your taking the time to visit and check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

Thank you very much for this very interesting and informative video presentation and we are grateful for the work that you do in these productions. The ballast looks very impressive and looks like a larger size than that used previously. We are absolutely delighted to see the "behind the scenes" work that is done. We would like to take this time to wish you a very Merry Christmas and that you will have a great, great day.

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Thank you for the very nice comment John. May you and your family also have a most happy holiday season. Very much appreciate your taking the time to visit with us and check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

Wow - that is a lot of trucks Dave. Happy Christmas shoveling ballast!

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

I'll use the ballast regulator to move all that rock on the tracks Glenn, shoveling days are over for me! The old timers used to use ballast forks to shovel it out of gondola cars. Our ballast car is hydraulically dumped, much, much nicer!

Thanks Dave you made unloading trucks of ballast so interesting..lol ive always just driven over the stuff never really paid attention to the type of rocks etc, I did his some one night they had tampered the track the ballast train had gone but as l went along doing about 50 MPH l hit the raised ballast thought it was going to lift me off but the cow catcher very noisily leveled it out every thing was shaking and shuddering...ended up no real damage except all the paint to bare metal around the skirt of the cow catcher..needles to say l reported it to the train controller someone had stuffed up some where..stay safe and thanks again regards Doc from Down Under in Australia.

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Thank you Doc from Down Under. It's always a good day when I get new ballast in. We've dumped too heavy before also and had the locomotive plow it off, fortunately it was never going fast, that would have been a pretty scary thing to happen to you. Very much appreciate your taking the time to visit with us and check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

Awesome video about the track ballast. I loved working with ballast during my RR career. Enjoyed watching once again and have a nice upcoming Tuesday.(Steve)

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Thank you, glad you enjoyed Steve. It's always a good day when I get new ballast to come in. Appreciate very much your taking the time to visit and check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

Nice video Dave! Thanks for sharing! Merry Christmas!

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Thank you Brian, glad you enjoyed. May you and your family have a most happy holiday season also. Very much appreciate your watching the 400 tons of ballast in video my friend. It's always a good day here when new ballast comes in.

Thanks Dave 😊

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Your welcome, glad you enjoyed Santafefrank. It's always a good day when I get new ballast to come in. Appreciate very much your taking the time to visit and check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

Some of our rock is Manhattan shist. On track John by a contractor has pink marble chips. I guess the breakings of the marble process. Still 3/4 Stone. Nice Dave.

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

That would be so cool to see Tuco, pink ballast! Marble is a hard rock and would work well for ballast I would imagine. Hope you are having a good day. It's always a good day here when I get new ballast in. Very much appreciate your visiting with us and checking out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

Flat and safe dump yard is appreciated by the drivers. I had to take a load of construction waste to the dump. Manual off load, I was scared to death watching 40 yard dump trailers on the hill. I was certain they were going to tip over. I only dropped a bit over 5 tons of saturated drywall, insulation and composition roofing.

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Yes it certainly is Keith, dumping on a slope is a bit scary. I've seen trucks tip over before. That's a lot of stuff to throw off by hand, hope your back is still in good shape! Appreciate very much your taking the time to visit and check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

We have plenty of granite in my area. Just had a load put in my driveway recently. I`m north of Philly. Funny thing is the driver and his wife that delivered my stone were both in their 80`s too. I`m retired and 67 but would love to get into a loader or dump for a short time. I love this video Dave! Thanks.👍

@robertschultz6922

6 ай бұрын

I’m from northern Nevada and we have mostly granite out here. The railroad I used to work for was blessed with only granite number three ballast which made our mow crew very happy!

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Thank you, glad you enjoyed Wilbur. Granite in your driveway will last you the rest of your life, good for you. But if you get bored and want to come out here, I'll put you in the loader and you can load our ballast car, then drive the locomotive to go dump it! Appreciate very much your taking the time to visit and check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

@robertschultz6922

6 ай бұрын

@@ccrx6700 oooo I would take you up on that offer if it was real! I miss loading the hoppers!!!

Interesting stuff whole lot of stone to move

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Thank you, glad you enjoyed Daniel. It's always a good day when I get new ballast to come in. Appreciate very much your taking the time to visit and check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

Great stuff there Dave!

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Thank you, glad you enjoyed Dave. Always a good day when I get new ballast to come in. Very much appreciate your taking the time to pay us a visit and check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

Well Dave its almost Chrismas when I'm watching your video so Merry Christmas to you & your family & a Happy New Year.

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Thank you Alf and may you and your family also have a very happy holiday season. Very much appreciate your taking the time to visit with us and check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

Nothing like a little "rock and roll". Thanks Dave, stay safe buddy.

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

You're right about that Rick.... :-) It's always a good day when I get new ballast to come in. Appreciate very much your taking the time to visit and check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

It is amazing how much ballast is consumed by railroads. I remember in the 1990s Grand Trunk Western got the rock from way up in Minnesota that was old overburden from iron ore mining and was then moved all the way down to the main line in Michigan. I really have to think the transportation cost more than the rock. Metra in Chicago buys a limited amount from Dresser Trap Rock open Northwest Wisconsin but because of its very heavy duty strength they apparently link it on diamonds and crossovers. A very distinctive Gray it is a long many miles of Soo line track and at the other end of Minnesota is the town of Red Granite and while it has a almost pinkish look to it it is a tougher Rock used on BNSF animals also used on SOO.and Milwaukee Road lines. Those quarries mention that it also 20:49 takes time to grind The Rock and the pulverizers get a lot of attention. Be glad you're some distance from the Mills of Pittsburgh or they might have stuck you with slag

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

That would be interesting to have pink ballast Paul! :-) Years ago we considered slag as a ballast, it is very cheap to purchase, however like you say, the trucking to get it here would have been a pretty good cost. Plus I don't know how that slag would cause wear and tear on my tamper, don't think it would have been too kind to it tho. Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

Another reason the beds are aluminum. Lighter bed. Can haul more gross weight

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Yes lighter bed which gives better fuel mileage although the trucks seem to ride rougher empty with the aluminum beds than they do with the steel bodies Wayne. Appreciate very much your taking the time to visit and check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

Thank you Dave, you made unloading ballast interesting! Them are some big gravel trucks!

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed Raymond and you are welcome. It's always a good day when I get new ballast in. Wish I could have taped all the trucks that came in that day, there was 19 of them. Very much appreciate your visiting with us and checking out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

Great video thanks Dave and a very Merry Christmas to you and the Mrs

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Thank you, glad you enjoyed Gary. May you and your family also have a Merry Christmas. Appreciate very much your taking the time to visit and check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

It never occurred to me that crushed stone comes in so many varieties. I need to buy some for my driveway and will keep this lesson in mind. Hard, clean stone for me, please!

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

For sure on that Eric, you only want clean rock for your driveway. That stuff we got from Dunbar was junk, full of fines and won't last long in my track. Very much appreciate your taking the time to visit with us and check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

Great Video Dave Happy Holidays!

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Thank you Derrick, glad you enjoyed. May you and your family also have a most joyous holiday season my friend. Very much appreciate your visiting with us and checking out the 400 tons of ballast video.

Good afternoon Dave

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Good afternoon Curtis, hope you are having a good day. It's always a good day here when I get new ballast in. Very much appreciate your visiting with us and checking out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

Wonderful video Dave. I enjoyed watching them make a big pile of rock for you. Have a great day my friend.

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Thank you Lewis, glad you enjoyed. Hope you are having a good day also. It's always a good day here when I get new ballast in. Very much appreciate your visiting with us and checking out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

Other good video Dave👍

@ccrx6700

3 ай бұрын

Appreciate the nice comment Louis and glad you enjoyed. Thank you very much for taking the time to visit with us to watch the video my friend.

I would have guessed the granite rock from Maine could be delivered by rail instead of by truck.

@betterl8thannvr

6 ай бұрын

They'd have to load it on to trucks or barges anyway because their main track is not connected to anything but the dock

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Yes it could be, however NS would have to sell it to us and we most likely couldn't afford to buy it. Plus since we don't interchange with another RR then it would still have to be trucked in. Sure would make our track a lot better if we had granite than limestone tho. Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

Cheaper to maintain the rails than. Deal with derailments and the EPA. Clean up. Later. Enjoy the day. Beer 30 is coming right up.

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

You are certainly right in that Dan. Derailments are very expensive. We are so lucky here we've never had a loaded coal car derail and spill into a creek or even on a public highway. The cost to clean up a spill in a creek would be astronomical. I like beer 30! Very much appreciate your visiting with us and checking out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

Hi Dave, There is a quarry north of Oroville, Ca that mines olivine basalt. The Union Pacific has a spur from the Feather River route that runs into the quarry, and I have heard that the ballast gets shipped quite a ways east. I've used road base from that quarry on lots of roads. Very hard, sharp, and angular rock. You would love it. I'd love to drive a truck on occasion. Unfortunately, I'm dealing with cancer and the doc flunked me on my last physical. Had my license for about 35 years and losing it really hurt.

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Yes I've heard that some western railroads use basalt for ballast David, it is a hard rock. The angular rock is excellent for digging into ties and holding them in place. I do feel for you losing your license, that must have been pretty hard to take. So sorry to hear of the cancer, keep me informed on how you are doing, we will be praying for you my friend.

Cool.

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Thank you, glad you enjoyed RFMCaboose. It's always a good day when I get new ballast to come in. Appreciate very much your taking the time to visit and check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

Somebody is going to be busy on that tamper for a while!

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Well for sure on that Jughead, although with all these very cold mornings the ballast in the track is frozen so not a lot of tamping I can get done right now. But we will use all this ballast up eventually. Hope you are having a good day. It's always a good day here when I get new ballast in. Very much appreciate your visiting with us and checking out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

Dave can do it all ! Cool video 👍🚂😀

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Thanks for the kind words yellowlab. Getting new ballast in is an easy day for me and a lot of fun. I'm very grateful the company never complains when I ask for more ballast, they always get some in for me. Better to have too much ballast out on the track than not enough. Very much appreciate your taking the time to pay us a visit and check out the new ballast in video my friend.

@yellowlab5624

6 ай бұрын

@@ccrx6700 will do ! 👍🚂

Mapletown, home of the Mapletown Maples👍

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Yes it is myesenc. The high school is right up the road from our ballast pile about a half mile or less. They are a small school tho, but still going. A good many of Mapletown graduates work at or have worked at Cumberland Mine. Appreciate very much your taking the time to visit and check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

How long will 400 tons of ballast last? Happy holidays to you your families and the crews that help keep our country running!

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

All depends on how much cribbing and tamping we do Mark, there is really no set amount of time it will last. We've gone thru 400 tons in a matter of days at times and other times it may sit there for a couple of months before it all gets used up. Happy holidays to you and your family also my friend. Very much appreciate your taking the time to visit with us and check out the 400 tons of ballast video.

merry christmas dave and everyone at cumberland coal resources.

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Thank you David. May you and your family also have a very merry holiday season my friend. Appreciate very much your taking the time to visit and check out the 400 tons of ballast video.

I lived beside GM&O. RR since till 25 and it's good to see behind the scenes of RR.

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed Robert. Would be fun to live beside the tracks. This kind of stuff is not something that many think about when doing railroad work, but ballast deliveries is a very important part of keeping the track maintained. Appreciate very much your taking the time to visit and check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

Thanks Dave, Happy Holidays!

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Your certainly welcome 1208bug and may you and your family also have a happy holiday season my friend. Appreciate very much your taking the time to visit and check out the 400 tons of ballast video.

Alco the Railroad Dog approves of this video. As always i enjoyed it also. The young drivers nowadays are female because todays young men will only drive a truck if its part of a video game.

@ccrx6700

4 ай бұрын

Glad you and Alco enjoyed Ken. Thanks so much for taking the time to write in and for checking out the new ballast in video my friends.

The woman drivers are a lot easier to watch than their counterpart.😂 I did learn a lot about rocks... from the "Master Rock" aka "DAVE"!

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

We don't get a lot of them but it's nice when we do Captain Tom. One of the lady drivers in the past was blonde and she got lost coming in here. I told her my wife was blonde also and not to feel bad I understood....:-) I told her my wife was weed trimming in the yard one day and cut off the cat's tail with the trimmer. She picked up the tail and cat and said she was going to Walmart. I told her she needed to go to a vet. She looked at me with that blonde look in her eyes and said, haven't you ever heard that Walmart is the biggest re-tailer in the world..... Have a great day and hope you enjoyed that one my friend!

Wondering why the apparently light loads on those trucks that can haul more? Your thoughts please! Keep up the good work. Jim ❤

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Pa. DOT liked to scale trucks and find their weight Jim. So in the years past the DOT fined so many trucks for being over weight limits on Pa. roads, the quarries started loading them lighter. Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, Dave, the Mrs. and the family!

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Thank you Jeff. May you and your family also have a most blessed holiday season. Very much appreciate your visiting with us and checking out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

Great video and excellent commentary Dave! 🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃💯👍🇺🇸

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Thank you, glad you enjoyed Jim. It's always a good day when I get new ballast to come in. Appreciate very much your taking the time to visit and check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

You know what I always wondered how the Flintstones and the rubbles slept in their beds everything was made of rock lol

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

It's like in the movie Space Jam, you can do anything in Looney Tune land....:-)

Deliveries are usually nice. Once a lot of coal(!) was delivered to the veteran railroad. The guy transporting it used a 24 meter, 80 feet, truck and trailer, built for transporting "Leca" balls. They are a mixture of clay and air, and is very light. The wild guy filled his truck train with coal. Overload an masse. Delivering the coal he ruined the road near the station.... The veteran railroad had to repair it. It was alot of coal, 30 - 40 tons ore more. If I remember I'll try some research.

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

That's an interesting story Stefan. Never heard of leca balls. It's a wonder that guy was even able to dump his load with that much weight on it! Hope you are having a good day. It's always a good day here when I get new ballast in. Very much appreciate your visiting with us and checking out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

wow that was neat to see all the No. 3 ballast being delivered. 440 tons! over 20 trucks of rocks. now the difficult part piling them close to the rails. what is the reach of the 520 bucket? 13-18 feet for the piles ? with the equipment you have to warm it up to prevent any damage, especially in the cold. great video thank you for sharing your time, showing off what goes on with the railroad. Those areas with the coal dust and dirt keep you on your toes! in clarence,NY there are a few granite mines. but still a long haul, even if run on a train and trans shipped to your site. have a great day! take care, and be safe out there !

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Thank you Barry, glad you enjoyed the show. I really don't know the reach of that bucket, never measured it. And yes sir, I always warm my diesel powered equipment up, much easier on the machine. Very much appreciate your taking the time to visit with us and check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

16:49 Many of the trucks are aluminum too. Everything but the frame. He is clearly a thinker. First one there, knows to check a lock. Knows the difference in what's on the ground vs whats in his truck. And probably didn't want to foul your ramp either. Bet he makes at least two more loads than everybody else.

@ccrx6700

2 ай бұрын

Appreciate the nice comment Shain and you are right, that guy was a good thinker and respectful. Thank you very much for watching the video and may you have a most blessed day my friend.

Hey Dave Glad to see you rocking and rolling here so close to Christmas pun intended lol,looks like you have your work cut out for yourself for awhile and you get to play with all them toys to fix everything,hope you and your family and you Railroad family have a very Merry Christmas,til you next adventure take care my friend stay warm and be safe

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Thank you, glad you enjoyed Grec. It's always a good day when I get new ballast to come in. Appreciate very much your taking the time to visit and check out the 400 tons of ballast video and may you also have a Merry Christmas my friend.

Over here we have British Standards for things, one is for railway ballast which has to be a certain size hardness and water resistance. When they privatised the company that got the maintenance contract in my area cut costs on everything and signed a contract for cheaper stone that was not to BS Spec. That ended up causing many problems with wet ballast that was soft and crushed, most of it was tipped down the sides of the track out of harms way. Seems there is no standard like that your side of the pond. Also it is the same over here fewer young are willing to do jobs like that everyone wants to work on computers these days. Have a Happy Christmas and I wish you and your good lady well for the new Year

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

AAREMA does have standards they publish for railroad ballast, however that is not law cedarcam, just their recommendations. Like your situation, that was what happened with that garbage rock from the Dunbar quarry, they were trying to cut costs and the bean counter behind the computer has no clue what that junk would do in my track. There is so much work out here for guys willing to get a bit dirty, but like you say, the younger generation wants to spend their time on the computer and cell phones. Hope you and your family also have a most joyous holiday season my friend.

@cedarcam

6 ай бұрын

@@ccrx6700 Thank you Dave I will do my best, got all my treats ready to feast on. Yea that's bean counters for you. Never ask the guys on the ground and end up paying more in the long run.

How much new track could be laid with 400 ton of rock? I have faith all the girls will be taking very good care of the men in the near future as long as they behave and play nice LOL

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

I usually figure about 20 tons per every 10 linear feet of track acgillepsie. Figure that up and it takes a whole lot of ballast to build new track! You're asking a lot for all the men to behave and play nice....LOL Appreciate very much your taking the time to visit and check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

103 👍's up thank you for sharing 😅

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Thanks for the kind words Scott and you are welcome. Getting new ballast in is an easy day for me and a lot of fun. I'm very grateful the company never complains when I ask for more ballast, they always get some in for me. Better to have too much ballast out on the track than not enough. Very much appreciate your taking the time to pay us a visit and check out the new ballast in video my friend.

I have a question. Have you ever seen the locomotive called Yellowstone Mallett #229? Built in 1943. One of world’s largest locomotives. It has been restored and on display in Duluth Minnesota. I have my picture taken by it back I. 1974. I was standing next to the wheel which was taller than me and I am 5’8. It was not restored back then. Google it. It is beautiful now. Photos don’t do it justice for its size.

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Had to look that one up Beverly. What a massive loco that one is! I would love to go visit that sometime. Too bad we are not allowed to post pics on here or you could share your picture of it with us. Thanks so much for writing in and for watching the new ballast video my friend.

Looks like a lot of fines in that Dunbar pile.

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Yes there certainly was Kevin, that stuff was junk. So glad we will not be getting any more of that in. Appreciate very much your taking the time to visit and check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

Hey Dave🎄🎄

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Good evening Chuck. It's always a good day when I get new ballast in. Very much appreciate your visiting with us and checking out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

I think the younger drivers do over the road hauling, while the older drivers stay near home for short trips.

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Can't blame the older guys at all for not wanting to do the over the road stuff and be away from home for up to a week at a time. You are probably right in that Robert. Appreciate very much your taking the time to visit and check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

Very little dust coming from the dumped rock Dave, now the consider Silica dust to be just as dangerous to inhale as Asbestos. We had to wet it down loading and dumping.

@trevelynbrown4444

6 ай бұрын

White Lung as bad as Black Lung .You can get it from concrete work .

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Your right Billy, very little dust. When it gets warm and dry out then we get the dust, most when we load it in the ballast car and also when it gets dumped. What I'm surprised about is that there is not some kind of fed regulation that says all regulators must have a water spray on them when brooming. Sometimes the dust is so bad can't see the regulator, it's lost in that cloud. I used to wear a respirator when I ran the regulator and broomed. Now I almost never run it, just the tamper. The inside of that regulator cab gets filthy. Appreciate very much your taking the time to visit and check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

@billyvalentine1836

6 ай бұрын

@ccrx6700 I believe it has become an OSHA regulation now as for handling any stone or concrete that contains Silica dust present. Working for the NYCT they had held a class as to what PPE and handling of these materials. The proctor I remember said has become and OSHA regulation. Either way wear protection, stay safe, and have a Merry Christmas!!

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

@@billyvalentine1836 👍😊

They try to sell the soft cap rock here in Iowa too. Its too soft and almost worthless for roads, it basically melts and makes mud. Thanks for the video!

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

I hear that BW. That stuff from Dunbar is junk, it won't last long at all out on the track and will actually plug the ballast up with all the fines in it. Some bean counter behind a computer who doesn't have a clue got that for the track. I'm sure glad we will no longer get that stuff in. Very much appreciate your taking the time to pay us a visit and check out the new ballast in video my friend.

I work for a company that specializes in rock quarry’s, asphalt plants and concrete plants. I work on one of the asphalt crews. We have several young drivers. Most of our older guys have retired and sold their trucks to the young guys. Unfortunately being a truck driver doesn’t have the appeal to the younger generation. Even though there can be good money in it.

@ccrx6700

2 ай бұрын

I think you're right Josh, it just doesn't have the appeal for the younger set. Appreciate your sharing that and may you have a very good day my friend.

Nice guy. Sad to not see the younger ones driving. When I was young I wanted to be a truck driver or heavy equipment operator. Back then women did not do those jobs. Now today the opportunity is there.

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Yes he was. Very interesting character to chat with also Beverly. You might also like to know we've had at least 10 females who have worked under ground in the mine here over the years. One of those ladies got a bid job outside and helped us many times out on the railroad. She was a hard worker. She worked on the barges for awhile and fell in an empty barge which really did a number on here physically and she had to retire. Appreciate very much your taking the time to visit and check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

Thanks for this video! When those trains haul that granite ballast from Maine, could they haul an extra few cars of ballast for you?

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Your welcome Robin. I'm sure NS would sell us the granite at twice the cost they pay for it! They like to make money. We would still have to figure out a way to get it off loaded and then trucked in here. Appreciate very much your taking the time to visit and check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

🚂🚂🚂

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Thank you, glad you enjoyed Tom. It's always a good day when I get new ballast to come in. Appreciate very much your taking the time to visit and check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

Looks like you're getting 3 inch minus. Most people don't understand that some rock is harder than others. We had 4 quarries going at one time. Two of them were quartz. Probably a little harder than the granite. The others were limestone. Considerably easier to crush.

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Yes sir that's right Pete, they just call it #3 at the quarry, some of the truck drivers call it road nuggets. A whole lot of #3 is used as a base for gas well access roads around here, it works great for holding up to heavy trucks and trains. I'm sure the limestone was a whole lot easier to crush than the quart was! Appreciate very much your taking the time to visit and check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

Wow - that is a lot of truck deliveries there, guess you ship it to where it is needed on a train Dave. Happy Christmas - guess you are going to spend it shoveling ballast!

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Yes we have a ballast car that hauls the rock to where we need it on the track Glenn. There were about 19 trucks in that day. Too bad I couldn't have taped all of them...:-) Very much appreciate your taking the time to pay us a visit and check out the new ballast in video my friend.

I need about that much in 57s. My driveway is a bit muddy! Could use a good load of 304s also!

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Some of the quarries around here call it 57's and some call the same size stone 2B. Wish i could give you some. These #3 make a perfect base for driveways and they use them a lot of the gas well access roads as a base.

So if my assumption are right, I think the ballist rock is cracked, or broken-and not crushed, right, it is flatter and edgier, then crushed rock, right, or is it simply crushed ??? Thanks BigAl California

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

When it is mined it comes out of the mine in fairly big chunks. Then it is run thru a crusher which has screens. Different size screens for making different size rocks Al. Sometimes the screens get holes in them and we get a little bit of bigger size rock than what the #3's are supposed to be. Very much appreciate your visiting with us and checking out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

I bought 9tons in 2022 when diesel fuel jumped I could use 5tons of man killers for my wash.. I think my rocks are rockier.

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

We get our ballast for $18 a ton that includes delivery price, but the quarry is only about 30 minutes from here Bongofurry. Rock prices vary across the country and also vary with the size of the rock and mileage to deliver it. But bring your dump truck on over and I'll see if I can get you 5 tons of ballast....:-) Very much appreciate your visiting with us and checking out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

It’s harder to get a CDL today now also. If you pay to go to a training center out of pocket near me it’s $5,000 for the class. I can get mine for free from the operator local 18. All the older men I know never took the CDL test because they got grandfathered in with a chauffeurs license.

@jaysmith1408

6 ай бұрын

I went to CCAC. My company actually did the training, but I couldn’t actually pass the test, so I went to CCAC for their course, and passed with flying colors (actually I was the only one who passed) but I’d been doing it a while. I think I paid less than 4k for that. Worth every penny. The companies that will take someone who knows how to drive, are far more rare than those who will take people straight out of school.

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

I got a Class A license and considered going to school but like you say, the cost was way too high. Got my B license 18 years ago driving my big hi rail truck for the test, but the test was far less stringent back then than when I took my A test here about 7 years ago. But you're right Preston, it is harder to get a license now. Appreciate very much your taking the time to visit and check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

I'll send you some good old PNW granite, Dave. There's miles of BNSF discarded ballast that probably has more life than the limestone 😂

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

That would be awesome betterl8thannvr, we will be pleased to take it and you're probably right, that used stuff they have is still better than the limestone. Appreciate very much your taking the time to visit and check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

Us older guys are more dependable than younger guys.

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

For a good many of us that is certainly true Hulkbuster. Younger generation seems to want to sit in front of a computer or play on their cell phones, but that's the way they were raised I guess. Appreciate very much your taking the time to visit and check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

No coal in Dave's stocking this year

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

No, I got all ballast in it this year Donald....LOL But I was a good boy this year....:-) I usually get a lump of coal. Appreciate very much your taking the time to visit and check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

@donaldfaris4798

6 ай бұрын

@@ccrx6700 Always enjoy the videos and thanks for taking time to post them can't wait to see what's for 2024 Hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas

That’s a lot of rock……..

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Yes it is Charles, but we will use it up sooner or later. We do go thru a good bit of ballast here. Too much ballast on the track is better than not enough and I am grateful the company doesn't give me any problems in buying new ballast when I want it. Very much appreciate your taking the time to pay us a visit and check out the new ballast in video my friend.

A lot of rock there. Do you use the same size all along tthe track?

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Yes we do Kathie. It's all #3 rock. Perfect for tamping. Hope you are having a good day. It's always a good day here when I get new ballast in. Very much appreciate your visiting with us and checking out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.

Dave. That looks like 1” to 1/1/2 rock. Does it matter if it has fines in it? Do they screen to a consistent size so it won’t break down easily😊

@ccrx6700

6 ай бұрын

Size is pretty consistent ferstuck, once in awhile they get a hole in their screen and some bigger stuff gets mixed in, but this quarry does a pretty good job in keeping their size pretty uniform. The less fines the better, but that is the only thing I don't like about the ballast from Arcosa is the fines in it. But I can't change that. Appreciate very much your taking the time to visit and check out the 400 tons of ballast video my friend.