Tuesday Torque: Ingersoll Rand Air Compressor

 This post is a bit different because it features an electric motor. It is a GE 700 horsepower, operating on 2300 volts. We don't know the age, but it was installed used, in 1964. Pretty neat, Merle, Thank You!

Gone!

 There is a house we go by occasionally that has an interesting "garden." Old iron, cement frogs, auction plunder and etc. It was always fun to look. Now it's gone. All the interesting old things, and the house. I should have knocked on the door and tried to buy the grinder when it was available, but I respect these roadside collections and don't want to break them up. Oh Well. Back To The Old Grind!

Model Railroading Fun

 No engine like this exists today. The W1 was an experimental locomotive with a water tube boiler instead of a fire tube boiler, and it operated at 450 Pounds Per Square Inch, and was a compound engine with four cylinders. I would love to see photos of the chassis without the boiler and see how that was set up. According to the writeup on YouTube, there is no audio recording of the W1, so the sound effects don't necessarily sound right. Compound engines have the same exhaust as simple engines, because the high pressure cylinders exhaust into the low pressure cylinders, and the low pressure cylinders exhaust into the stack. Pretty neat, Merle, I had not heard of this machine. Thank You for spotting!

Rotary Snowplow On The Cumbres and Toltec

 The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad demonstrates how the Rio Grande Narrow Gauge cleared snow from their tracks during the winter months. In early 2020 BC (Before COVID) the Cumbres and Toltec ran Rotary OY on a photographer's special from Chama, New Mexico, to the 10,000 foot summit of Cumbres Pass in Colorado. Two K-36 Mikado steam locomotives powered the rotary up the 4% grade in an all-steam extravaganza!

These scenes were taken from our program "Steam and Snow: Rotary OY on Cumbres Pass." It is available on DVD, Hi-Definition Blu-ray, and 4K Digital Download by logging onto 7ideaproductions.com. https://www.7ideaproductions.com/prod...

Weekend Steam: Visit The Wales Countryside...

 ...and ride the Talyllyn Railway  Nice ride, Merle! Thank You!

Country Joe McDonald, War War War

 Joe McDonald recorded War War War in the studio in 1971, and you will have to pay an impressive price if you can find an original vinyl disc. He re-recorded it live in 2007, and he tells a bit of the history of this fine collection in his introduction. The songs are all poems written by Robert W. Service, and set to music by Joe. You can purchase this collection on CD, plus many others by Joe McDonald at his online store. CLICK HERE

Introduction:

Foreward:

The Call:

Young Fellow, My Lad:

The Man From Athabasca:

The Munition Maker:

The Twins:

Jean Desprez:

War Widow:

The March Of The Dead:

Owl On Ice

Our barred owls must have gone hungry last night, what with the freezing precip. They were out all day today, hanging around the edge of our yard, hoping for a mouse. We love 'em, but they make us just a bit nervous.

Getting Old

I ventured out in the weather today to check out the north end of the woods and paused to look at an old field where Susan and I planted trees in the late 80's. We have several planting projects, and I am always a bit amazed when I look at trees we planted that are now sawlogs. We don't feel that old.

 

Winter's Not Quite Over

 We are getting sleet and freezing rain tonight. Tomorrow will be a good day to stay in. This video shows train snow plow action in Minnesota, in 2019. Entertaining if you are sitting by the fireside. Thank You, Merle!

What's Ben Been Up To Lately? Baltimo' Hot Foot Cakewalk!

Ben, aka Brass Man Bart is retired now and he is playing with his tubas a bit more. His latest is the Baltimo' Hot Foot Cakewalk, from the early 20th Century. The instrument you see is a 1912 York euphonium, and you will also hear a 1924 Climax Brand tuba, plus tambourine and cowbell, all played by the Brass Man.

Tuesday Torque: Fairbanks Engine Startups

 We always enjoy seeing old engines firing up. Thank You, Merle!

Here's An Oldie But Goodie

 Back To The Old Grind!

Weekend Steam II: Scottish Steam, Perth Depot, 1960's

 Thank You, Merle!

Weekend Steam: British Steam, 1960-1967

 This is a great collection of working steam locos working during the sixties, when most of the American railroads were already Dieselized. Thank You, Merle!

Happy Anniversaries Sisko!

Sisko is one of the Schipperke pups we fostered in 2020. He is a high energy dog, and he required a lot of attention. We kept him under our roof for a year while Susan worked with him and we searched for the right home. 

In February 2021 Sisko's new Mama adopted him. She has lots of experience training dogs, and has him doing barn hunts (by scent), and he loves the challenge. He lives with five beagle dogs who also barn hunt, in Eastern Tennessee.

 All of the dogs we fostered in 2020 are in good homes, and it is a special treat to be able to visit with the extended dog families. This batch of fosters has gone to Texas, Michigan, Northern Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, and Tennessee.

Lots Of Big Birds

 We saw turkey vultures in the air today. I don't think they are our bunch, but I had better get into the barn and make sure a decent nesting site is ready for our pair that raised two youngsters last year. The barred owls have us worried. One of them is now perching in the dog yard every night, right over our little dogs. It flies off when we flip on the lights and go out. The turkeys and the geese are no problem. The geese fly over and land in surrounding fields to glean corn since the pond is frozen over. A few of them rest on the ice, but that can't feel good.

Tuesday Torque: London Brighton Veteran Car Run, 2011

 Pour a cup of coffee, this is more than an hour of vintage horseless carriages! Thanks for the pick, Merle!

These Folks Enjoy Their Work!

 Maybe we should move to Tennessee and start a second career...

Back To The Old Grind!

Valentine Countdown Finale! Everybody Loves Somebody, Dean Martin

 Susan and I always enjoy posting for Valentine's Day, and I hope that all of our followers have enjoyed the songs, too! Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine Countdown: That's Amore, Dean Martin

Weekend Steam II: Corliss Mill Engine Startup

 London Science Museum Corliss Steam engine. This 700 hp horizontal cross compound mill engine with Corliss valves, drove up to fifteen hundred weaving looms at the Finchley View Mill, Harle Syke in Burnley in Lancashire from 1903 to 1970. It was built for the mill in 1903 by Burnley Ironworks, and was later restored and installed in the Science Museum in 1979 by Riley & Son Ltd, Lancashire.

Valentine Countdown: The Man On The Flying Trapeze, Spike Jones, Featuring Doodles Weaver

Weekend Steam: Icebreaker Stettin Engine Room!

 Great One Merle! Merle has found the largest coal fired steam ship in the world, and it is in operating condition! Genius At Work posted it on YouTube. Here are his pertinent notes, which will help you as you watch: The Triple Expansion Marine Steam Engine of the Icebreaker Stettin. It is the largest Coal-fired Steam Ship in the World and has one of the most powerful operational Steam Ship Engines in the World. The Ship is preserved as operational Museum Ship since the 1980s. Steam Whistle at 09:00 Crankshaft at 04:54 Connecting Rods at 09:57 Engine Telegraph at 02:36 Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:19 Engine Room Walkthrough 01:13 Boilers 02:24 Engine Reversing 03:00 Valve Gear 04:55 Crankshaft 05:17 Engine Telegraph 05:58 Engine Controls 06:27 Triple Expansion Engine 07:30 Condenser 08:29 Piping 09:17 Lubrication 10:27 Steering Gear 11:47 Steam Motor

There is some discussion in the comments about engine noise. Some think they hear knocking, so you all listen close and don't be afraid to comment! 

Valentine Countdown: You Never Can Tell, Chuck Berry

Valentine Countdown: Waltz Across Texas, Ernest Tubb

Valentine Countdown: Stardust, Hoagy Carmichael

Valentine Countdown Bonus: By The Light Of The Silvery Moon, Brassman Bart

 I might be prejudiced, but I think this is the Brassman's best yet!

Valentine Countdown: Betcha By Golly Wow, The Stylistics

Tuesday Torque: World's Largest Diesel Engine From 1930, For 32 Years!

Thanks for the link, John! https://dieselhouse.dk/en/engines/bw-2000/

Valentine Countdown: Good Times With Bobby Bare!

 Marie Leveau; Tequila Sheila; Numbers; Down To My Last, Come And Get Me; Alimony; Love Is Just A Cloudy Sky

Meat Space?

                                                               Back To The Old Grind!

Valentine Countdown: Somebody To Love, Jefferson Airplane

Weekend Steam II: 46100 Royal Scot Thunders Up Old Hill Bank

 Thank You, Merle!

Valentine Countdown: Everybody Loves Me Baby, Don McLean

Valentine Countdown: Your Song, Elton John

Weekend Steam: Return Of The Durango And Silverton After The 416 Fire, July 2018

I hadn't heard about the fire, Merle. Thanks for finding this video!

Groundhog Day Storm Aftermath

 We had another inch of light snow last night to top off the Groundhog precip, so I blew snow around the house again today, then went out to the solar panels and blew what I could from them. The snow was thick, with a layer of ice and sleet. I cleaned the lower panels pretty well and exposed the corners of the upper set so they would begin melting. The power output went from 50 watts to 2900. I went over to the farm and am glad I didn't go yesterday. There were several places that had been drifted shut, but they are open now, just icy and rough. 

Groundhog Day Storm

Valentine Countdown: God Only Knows, The Beach Boys

Valentine Countdown: True Love Ways, Buddy Holly

Pond Fog

 We had a layer of fog on the pond this morning. It is mostly iced over, and the temp was in the forties when we got up. We've been gettting rain, then ice, then sleet this afternoon. The sleet gives a bit of grip, so you can walk on it. They're calling for snow on top of what we have...

Valentine Countdown: Dedicated To The One I Love, The Mamas and the Papas

Valentine Countdown: Brand New Key, Melanie