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!
Monday, February 28, 2022
Sunday, February 27, 2022
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!
Saturday, February 26, 2022
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...Friday, February 25, 2022
Weekend Steam: Visit The Wales Countryside...
...and ride the Talyllyn Railway Nice ride, Merle! Thank You!
Thursday, February 24, 2022
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
Wednesday, February 23, 2022
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!
Monday, February 21, 2022
Tuesday Torque: Fairbanks Engine Startups
We always enjoy seeing old engines firing up. Thank You, Merle!
Sunday, February 20, 2022
Saturday, February 19, 2022
Friday, February 18, 2022
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!
Thursday, February 17, 2022
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.
Tuesday, February 15, 2022
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.
Monday, February 14, 2022
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!
Sunday, February 13, 2022
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!
Saturday, February 12, 2022
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.
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!
Friday, February 11, 2022
Thursday, February 10, 2022
Wednesday, February 9, 2022
Tuesday, February 8, 2022
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!
Monday, February 7, 2022
Tuesday Torque: World's Largest Diesel Engine From 1930, For 32 Years!
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
Sunday, February 6, 2022
Saturday, February 5, 2022
Friday, February 4, 2022
Weekend Steam: Return Of The Durango And Silverton After The 416 Fire, July 2018
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.
Thursday, February 3, 2022
Wednesday, February 2, 2022
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...