This made me laugh out loud.

Love the livery on the loco. Very nice.

I didn't get the joke, but hmmmm, I wonder where they got the idea for that pinstripe???????

I don’t get it, either. What did you find so funny about that scene?

Sorry but, I didn't see anything funny either.

I like how the track runs between the buildings, would be interesting to model. Reminds me of a Streetcar or Interurban line.

Rusty

Plus the crew is properly flagging the crossing.

BTW: Exempt definition from the Washington Utilities and Transpotation Commission website.  Other states appear to have similar definitions.

"Exempt signs are intended to inform drivers of commercial motor vehicles transporting passengers or hazardous materials that a stop is not required at certain designated railroad crossings, except when rail traffic is approaching or occupying the crossing or the driver's view is blocked."

(Google is our friend.)

Rusty

What I got out of this was an interesting little shortline railroad that I had never heard of before that also operates a dinner train. Might be an interesting basis for someone wanting to do some Michigan train layouts. A holding company with five (very) short lines, including one with the interesting reporting mark of JAIL. Learn something every day 

I see nothing funny at all either.  The scene takes place in Lansing, Michigan, adjacent the Grand River dam and fish ladder.  Typical Michigan scene of an older part of town with brick buildings.  

Maybe because there is a concrete mile marker right on the corner of the building or its sandwiched between to buildings???

I didn't see any humor in it, either.

However, I'm impressed the crew did everything right.

I can understand why the hogger is easing the engine along. (Such as soft ties, soft roadbed and other likely concerns.)

And, seeing as that is an exempt crossing, and seeing as it doesn't see much rail traffic, I can fully understand strict adherence to the rules concerning flagging crossings.

In all, I thought all the hands involved did a pretty stinkin' good job.

Andre

Great livery color scheme.  Exempt crossing or not, I too agree w/ the comments as to the crew's fine performance.  Maybe it's the RR line's std. operating and safety procedures to treat all crossings as if they were regular crossings.  Doing so would likely promote good practice consistently throughout their system.

Was the perceived humor somewhere in the vein of, "how many X does it take to change a light bulb?"

I think the humor is the engine is going about three miles an hour, there is no traffic and four people in the street stopping "traffic". Don

@scale rail posted:

I think the humor is the engine is going about three miles an hour, there is no traffic and four people in the street stopping "traffic". Don

But,,,,,,,,,,why would THAT be funny?????

The poster was probably one of the guys in the video.  The thread's title was click bait teasing a view.

Run of the mill operating...

I am waiting for the funny to kick-in...

Maybe the Forum Moderators can contact the original poster, and ask him/her to explain what he/she thinks is so funny, especially calling-out the "1:39" portion of the video.

Wow it is bothering you all that much?  Maybe because the engine is coming out of the "parking lot"?  Who knows but different folks find humor in different things. It was still a pretty interesting video to share.  Comments like these will certainly cause good people to go other places.

@MartyE posted:

Wow it is bothering you all that much? 

Who stated that it is "bothering" anybody? Virtually everybody has been trying to find out exactly what is the "funny" part.

Maybe because the engine is coming out of the "parking lot"? 

OK, good point, however nobody has yet thought THAT was "funny".

Who knows but different folks find humor in different things. It was still a pretty interesting video to share.  Comments like these will certainly cause good people to go other places.

Which "comments", and which "good people"????

@MartyE posted:

Wow it is bothering you all that much?  Maybe because the engine is coming out of the "parking lot"?  Who knows but different folks find humor in different things. 

To add to what Hotwater said. As far as my comment is concerned. I had no malicious intent, not that there wasn't anything funny, but rather thought I was missing the joke, and was inquiring that maybe the O.P could point it out.

Another croak in the chorus...l don't get it either. Hope l find this post again when it is explained. ....duh!

Really, no one else saw the GP-9 painted on this engine?

@GregM posted:

Really, no one else saw the GP-9 painted on this engine?

 

Mystery solved!  While I did notice it! I thought the parking lot sign was humorous.  Now everyone can sleep tonight including the moderators. LOL. 

@GregM posted:

Really, no one else saw the GP-9 painted on this engine?

 

There's nothing unusual about that.

Some roads had ( like the CB&Q) EMD model plates on their locomotives.  BNSF has model designations stenciled on their frames near the front steps.

Rusty

@GregM posted:

Really, no one else saw the GP-9 painted on this engine?

  Sorry but, since it should correctly be "GP9", i.e. without the "-" dash, I didn't think the mistake was "funny". Oh well.

Okay, mods, just delete this thread.  I will refrain from sharing something that I found funny ever again if it causes this much angst.

@GregM posted:

Okay, mods, just delete this thread.  I will refrain from sharing something that I found funny ever again if it causes this much angst.

I sure didn't see no "angst"!!!!! 

 

@GregM posted:

Okay, mods, just delete this thread.  I will refrain from sharing something that I found funny ever again if it causes this much angst.

Say what!?

Anyone that starts a thread that gets this much attention in just a few hours should be proud!

@GregM posted:

Okay, mods, just delete this thread.  I will refrain from sharing something that I found funny ever again if it causes this much angst.

I need to find someone like you to tell my "Dad's jokes" to. My kids just roll their eyes when I tell them. 

@GregM posted:

Really, no one else saw the GP-9 painted on this engine?

I noticed that, and also that there was no "F" on the front. Also noted there was a bell over the rear light, which leads me to believe perhaps the engine was designed to run long hood forward.

@breezinup posted:

I noticed that, and also that there was no "F" on the front. Also noted there was a bell over the rear light, which leads me to believe perhaps the engine was designed to run long hood forward.

Yep, the "F" is on the long hood end.

Rusty

Familiar with this location in East Lansing.  This was a New York Central line back in the day.  Also near end of the video the red brick building with the arches to the left of the engine was a NYC passenger station. A small station that survived.

Hey GregM - I thought it was pretty cool / love that GP-9 - thanks for posting

The bystander behind the engine at 1:39 seems scared of it.  Other than that, interesting video on a railroad's SOP.

I thought the humor was the fact that it was just the engine.  Where was the revenue?

Ron

I liked the video.  It's always refreshing to see a largely unmodified first generation geep, well-kept and in service.  And the employees properly flagged the crossing.  

However, the tall fellow who was standing in the center of the end platform in the direction of movement, in the cross-over gap of the handrail (which did not have a chain across it), as the engine was moving toward the crossing, caused me to wonder if he regularly does that.  I've been retired for 13 years, but I can't stop looking out for the safety of others.

Exempt crossings do not require passenger buses or trucks carrying hazardous cargo to stop before crossing.  As a result, flagging is normally required.  There is some benefit to the railroad to petition the state to declare certain seldom-used crossings exempt.

It's interesting that they used a street light post as the mast for the crossbuck.  Also, it's mildly surprising that they would name of a Michigan parking lot in honor of Caesar Chavez, whom I associate with migrant farm workers using short-handled hoes in the central valley of California.

Looking up this engine, it's an ex-C&O unit. The Adrian & Blissfield NYC lightning stripe livery may well be a nod to the NYC, which used to be a major presence at Adrian (MI), and used the station there. As rrgeorge mentioned in his interesting post, this particular track used to be a NYC line.

What is the title of the video?

Can an engine alone generate revenue for a railroad?

@Moonman posted:

What is the title of the video?

Can an engine alone generate revenue for a railroad?

Not in any way that I can see.  However the light engine may have been part of a round trip on the spur.

Maybe the engine had previously moved a couple of cars in the opposite direction and spotted them for unloading.  (?)

I'm skeptical about the allegation that the track had not been used for a long time.  Usually weeds take over when track is unused for long periods.  They could have run a weed sprayer, though, if there was still a customer who was paying for his track connection.

I like "click bait". LOL!