More Of This Coming Right Up

                                                                Back To The Old Grind!

Weekend Steam II: Cass Scenic Railroad Number 4

Busy Wife...

...and Busy Kitchen! The canner is going every day.

 

Weekend Steam: Lombard Log Haulers

Thank You, Merle! I copied a comment from one of the participants for viewers: " @terryharper2024

8 days ago (edited)

The first 7 minutes was shot at the Maine Forest & Logging Museum in Bradley, ME. The opening sequence we are using the 1934, 10 ton Lombard Tractor-Truck to pull our 19 ton, 1907 Lombard steam log hauler out of the bay. We had a wonderful and fun day when this was being filmed. We will have both machines out and about for our July 29th event and in October for our Living History Day's event."

Hope to see you there!

Lodged Tree Solutions

 There are risks out there in the woods. Chunking down lodged trees causes fast action by the tree and you have to step back quickly. At the end of the process the treetop will go in unplanned directions, so chunking is effective, but hazardous. I do it often, and I keep reminding myself to reach out for the cuts and step back. Sometimes I quit while I have the very top still standing. Rolling one over by snipping the hinge works if the hanger is on one side. The big risk here is having the butt sit down on your saw. Use little bites, and have wedges to lift the butt if that happens. Nip it, don't whack it. Do not stand in line with the lodged tree, because it could shoot back at you. Chunking Cuts: Cut down vertically until you see the kerf begin to close. Wedge it open and keep cutting down, or pull the saw out and cut up from the bottom to make the treetop drop. Cut with your arms extended, and step back quickly when each cut is complete.

Winding Up The TSI Project!

 Today I finished the main body of this TSI project. The southwest corner, the northeast corner, and maybe a little in the southeast corner are all that needs to be finished. Then, on to the next CRP tree planting project!

The Husqvarna 550 XP is a great saw for this type of work. It is light to carry around and has enough power and speed for cutting tree after tree, or for double girdling. The 272 XP worked great, too, but it is heavy, and it was wearing on me. The little Stihl 170 is light as a feather, but the fuel tank is too small and you have to go fill up often. The 272 would run 1 1/2 hour or more on on fillup. The 550 was going for two hours, but it restarts easily and I was shutting it off between cutting projects.

Tied Together On The North And South Ends

 I can really see the end now. I know where all the unfinished areas are. The middle-south, the southwest corner, the northeast corner, and a bit between the area we did today and the old corn crib. The heat is on this week so I have to get out early tomorrow while the temp is tolerable. The 550 XP is repaired and running again. It is much easier to pack around than the 272 XP, and it hot starts easily.

Tuesday Torque: Mogul 30-60 Startup

 Merle sends me more subjects than you can shake a stick at! It is hard to choose, but you can't go wrong with IHC Moguls. Thank You, Merle!

The Work Goes On!

 I've been burning two tanks of fuel on my trips to the TSI project. That is about three hours of cutting, plenty for an old guy. Saturday was nice and I went out for another outing after lunch and burned another tank of fuel. Today was warm, and I had a lot of wedging to do, so two was my limit. I will be out there again tomorrow, so...

Back To The Old Grind!

Bonus Vid!

Weekend Steam II: New Hope And Ivyland 2-8-0

 Merle sent the link to a short video, and I looked for more with great success! You have to go to Pennsylvania for this railroad. Thank You, Merle!

Taters!

 The tops are all dead on one row of potatoes, so Susan dug them today. The rest are a different variety and are still green.

Union Pacific Donations Train!

Merle's pick this week is not embeddable, so please click over to YouTube to watch it. Thank You, Merle!

                                              Click The Photo To Go To The YouTube Video.

 History was made on Friday, November 11th 2022, as the UP Steam Crew pulled a small assortment of historic equipment out of Cheyenne, WY. This assortment of historic locomotives and cars had been donated by Union Pacific to such preservation groups as the Railroading Heritage of Midwest America, and the Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad. Much of this equipment (including the world-renowned "Challenger" #3985, and 2-10-2 #5511) had called the city of Cheyenne 'home' for a time spanning greater than 65 years. Alas, we viewed as this beautiful assortment of railroad history was towed out of town for what may be the very last time...

In this video, watch from the US Highway 85 bridge above the Cheyenne Yard as the UP Steam Crew prepares the heritage equipment for the move West. Along with the 2 big steam engines are UP DDA40X 6936, a UP CA10 caboose, an ex UP/Amtrak E9B, and Ex-CNW F7A #401. As soon as the equipment is ready, UP 5716 helps the equipment out of Cheyenne with the assistance of UP 8198 and UP Steam fireman Ted Schulte at the throttle. The Wyoming wind was relentless, the cold November air was bone-chilling, and the UP's famed "Overland Route" was buzzing with activity. Come take a look! Rate, Comment. Subscribe. ENJOY!!! Copyright Nick Valdez Railroad Photography 2022

Yard Mama

 

I believe you could hit her tail with a box of Morton Salt. She is almost friendly. We walk and drive right by her almost daily. A groundhog has invaded the compound  and I will have to see about that.

Rufus Has A Home!

We had many applications, and choosing the best home for a special boy like Rufus was difficult. We settled on a retired gentleman who flew A7s in his younger days. He drove in yesterday and had dinner with us, then we handled the paperwork and sent them on their way. We are always a bit sad when a Schipperke leaves our care, but Rufus is in good hands and we have a larger Schipperke family. 

 

Hydrate, Hydrate!

 Chainsawing and wedging on 90 degree days will make you sweat. The work is rewarding, though, and I am forging ahead. Get a cool shower as soon as you get in, and set your boots where there is air movement so they can dry out overnight. Spend some quiet time with your saw every day before you go out. Grease the clutch bearing every few days. Touch up the chain, knock the dust off the air cleaner, etc. Carry water with you.

Siri Call 911SiriCall 911 Siri Call 911

 

This robbery happened in New Jersey, where the gun laws are hard and unforgiving. Plus, postal workers have federal workplace weapon prohibitions, so the letter carrier is defenseless. It takes a lot of time, effort and expense to put those crooks away, with no revenue in return. Traffic enforcement, though, is a cash cow. Chiefs of police must practice their concerned expressions and voice for media appearances. If the carrier had successfully defended himself he would have been prosecuted for numerous violations for hurting the perpetrators. Check your local and state laws. Cops love to investigate and prosecute people who have a job, so they can collect dollars. Defending yourself may very well cause you more trouble than the robbers will ever have. Stand and Deliver!

Toccata and Fugue in D Minor...

 ...on the accordion? Yup, and it is great! An energetic way to start the week.

Take A Trip And Never Leave The Farm With Tristan of SUV RVing: Big Red Rock

Weekend Steam: Powered By Steam, Faszination Dampf

Thank You, Merle, this looks like a good channel. 

Some Trees Are Resisting...

 but we are making good progress. I got out in the heat again today and burned a couple tanks of fuel in the little Stihl saw. Watch out for rubbery legs when you work in the heat. No new videos today, but I will shoot some more on Sunday.

More TSI Trees

 A cherry, then a cherrybark oak in the second video.

Thinning Choices

 Cutting trees you planted can be tough for anyone, but you make up your mind that it must be done. The easy part is taking down trees that have problems. Trees that are straight, unforked, with nice crowns can be a problem, though. Crown position is also important. These two trees are intermediates with sunlight only from above. The dominant and co-dominant trees around them are superior and faster growing. The intermediates slow growth on the better trees by impeding crown growth and by taking up root space. Look at your trees critically and be willing to cut well formed trees, too, when they are under-performing. Study that thumbnail photo. The slowdown on this tree began four seasons ago. These trees will make great firewood!

Check Those Tree Stands In Your Timber

 

We are brainwashed by public educators to think that trees are static. Nope, they grow, and they grow every year. You gotta loosen that belt at the end of every deer season.

Tough Black Cherry Tree

 Trees around the edge are always a wedging job. This black cherry had multiple tops and was tangled up with a couple of other trees. Got it down, though. I filed the saw after I was done cutting and was going to fire it up to check how it cut, and the primer bulb tore when I pushed on it. Oh Well, or words to that effect. I will use the old 272 XP tomorrow.

Enzo And New Mom

We have been busy this weekend with the foster dogs. Enzo will be leaving with his new Mom Monday Morning. New home, new life. Back To The Old Grind!

Brighten Your Day!

 

Weekend Steam II: N & W 611 Wheel Slip

 Thank You, Merle!

Weekend Steam: NW 475, Strasburg

 Great suggestion, Merle! Thank You

Thinking, Thinking, Down The Road

 I'm thinking down the road thirty years when I am 102. Forestry makes you think in decades. 

Susan's Garden Update

 Susan is busy every day, running the electric canner and tending to the garden. The tomatoes will be ready soon and she will break out the big canner and the gas hot plate. Those cabbages are 7.8 and 5.2 pounds. We will be making kraut soon!

The recent rain (1.7") brought the straw beans out of the ground, and today we had another .36!

Touring With Tristan: Southern Utah

Springpoles Again

 Springpoles smack down chainsaw novices. The key things to remember are to find the apex between the ascending and descending sides and then attack on the inside at that point. Shave it, notch it, or make a face in it. Stand aside and cut on the tensioned side. I like to make a hinge sometimes, but it usually won't be necessary. I demonstrate that here, so you will have that little method in your toolbox. Attack it from the tensioned side, or too high or low, and you are likely to be injured. Do it right and the danger disappears. 

Cutting A Boat Load!

 

Back To The Old Grind!

Weekend Steam II: Odd Hybrid Locomotives In South Africa

 Merle keeps sending links that show us new and unusual steam applications. This is something that I had never heard about before! Thank You, Merle!

Weekend Steam: Big Boy Action!

 Good One, Merle. Thank You!