Weekend Steam II: Cumbres and Toltec #488

 Another great suggestion from Merle! Cumbres and Toltec # 488. Thank You, Merle! The tourist season is probably coming to a close soon.

Weekend Steam: Sad Vulcan Locomotive

 Merle spotted a brief video showing an abandoned Vulcan loco, and it provides some interesting views.  You should know that flues are not welded in the sheets at their ends. The ends of the flues are expanded with a roller, and then they are rolled over. Thank You, Merle, for the pick!

Here are some bonus Vulcan videos from a quick search on YouTube:

Adventures In Motoring, 1913!

I pulled one of my old books off the shelf to look for a story I remembered, and I flipped right to it. I got this book way back when I was in high school. It is Early American Car Advertisements, by Q. David Bowers, copyright 1966. It is funny how some things will stick in your mind. This one is because it referenced early gas engines. 
 

The Metz Non-Stop Run was made in 1913 with a Metz 22, a tiny car with 22 horsepower and a friction drive rather than a conventional transmission and clutch. (Check this link to see how the friction drive worked. It is very much like the system on Heider tractors.) The trip was 1600 miles from Boston to Minneapolis, and the goal was to make the trip in less than 96 hours. It was a huge challenge, but they did beat the time by several hours.  Here is one of the hurdles they had to jump. 

"...I was not looking for a night's lodging, but for information. Failing to get an answer, we were obliged to resort to our route book, so continued along as best we could- little suspecting that we were going farther and farther out of our way every minute.

After a time we were brought to a stop at the end of a road, and I took out my flash-light to hunt for a sign-post. Turning to the right, I encountered a tremendous grade and a very rough road.

“That certainly cannot be the way,” I remarked to McGann; “it looks better to take the road to the left.” We did this, and proceeded only a short distance when suddenly the motor stopped. McGann locked the brakes, and announced quietly, “Out of gas!”

I realized the same thing at the same instant, for I would bank on my motor running indefinitely if given sufficient gasoline and oil.

A nice predicament!

No one realizes the consternation caused by running out of gasoline in an absolutely strange place, with impenetrable darkness all around you. Here we were, in the wilds of Wisconsin, miles from nowhere, and out of gasoline!
                                             One Ray of Hope

But wait! Not quite out. The outlet to the gasoline pipe in my tank is one-half inch above the bottom of the tank. By careful driving on the sloping side of the road there would be a slight inclination of the tank, and the remaining gasoline would flow to the lower end. So, having decided that we were on the wrong road, we turned around and, by keeping well on the right-hand slope managed to return about three miles to the last farmhouse we had passed.

We turned our search-light full onto the front of the house, and I made bold with my electric flash lamp in hand to arouse the inmates.

A child’s voice was heard, and I knew the household must be awake; but what did they think of this outfit, with a powerful searchlight turned full on the house and a none too gentle-looking stranger approaching at midnight? I felt as though I ought to shout “Don’t shoot; I’m not a robber,” But I knew McGann would never forget that, so I quietly walked up to the door and called “Hello!”

We Had Missed the Main Road by About Seven Miles

For response came a woman’s voice, asking what I wanted, and when I explained that it was gasoline, she replied that they hadn’t any. Further inquiry brought out the fact that we were about 7 miles from the main road, the Ridgeroad, as they call it, and that several miles farther along on the Ridgeroad lived a farmer by the name of Reicheim who had a machine that he used for sawing wood-- and perhaps he might have some gasoline.

After thanking the lady very kindly, and apologizing for the midnight invasion, we started our motor with the meager supply of gasoline still left and made 6 miles of the journey back toward the Ridgerroad before our dear old “22” made its last gasp and refused to budge another foot without replenishment of the life-giving fluid that makes the wheels go ’round.

Gasoline or Bust!

It was past midnight. I looked up int the sky, thinking I might locate East, West, North, or South from the position of the stars, but only occasionally did one or two peep through the parting clouds. So with my little flashlight I set out to find Farmer Reicheim, who sawed wood with a machine. I gained the main road, and turned the direction we would have taken if we had kept to our true course.

The reader may think it strange that we should not have provided ourselves with an ample supply of gasoline while it was procurable by daylight, and I will admit we were a little careless in not watching the supply; but as we had previously traveled over 400 miles on a tankful, and as we were expecting to cover only 300 miles or so on this lap of the journey to La Crosse, we gave no thought to the matter. After filling at Chicago, bad roads, heavy sand, and losing our way used up our supply faster than we realized, and so we found ourselves stranded.

McGann was to keep watch by the car while I went on the hike for gasoline. The first house I came to was deserted. Nothing about the barn looked like a machine that used gasoline, so I continued for about a mile to the next house, where they said the man a few rods farther along could probably tell me where I could get what I was looking for.

“A few rods up the road!”

I walked and walked, until I began to think I must be going in the wrong direction. Finally I discerned the outlines of a house and, upon awaking the inmates, was told that they didn’t know of anybody that had a machine, didn’t know Reicheim, and only ventured to suggest that their neighbor across the road, and little to the westward, might be able to give me some information.

“How far is it, and which way do you call westward?” I inquired.

“Well,” they said, “which way did you come from?”

“I’m hanged if I know whether you would call it up or down the road,” I replied. “All I know is, I’ve got a car stalled about four miles from here, and I want some gasoline to make it go.”

“Sorry we can’t help you,” they replied, “but if you will turn west and walk a few rods, you will come to a house where they may be able to tell you where you can get some.”

Unable to get any definite information from these people, I again looked at the sky with further hopes of learning the points of the compass. Westward, indeed! They might as well have told me to go heavenward.

Not to bore the reader with the details of that hour of struggle, I finally reached “the house to the westward” as the first rays of dawn were forcing back the dark robes of night. My first rap on the door brought no response. I repeated, several times, and then came a woman’s voice: “Who’s there?”

Can anyone tell me why it is that in every case where I roused households that night it was the woman who answered first? Are the men more timid, or are they less anxious to help one in distress? Whatever the reason may be, God bless the women for their willingness to respond.

Mr. Reicheim Was Not a Bit Interested

At last I had located Mr. Reicheim, for in answer to my question I found that it was indeed his house. As soon as he came to the door I started my hard luck story, but it did not seem to impress him very much.

“I will pay you any price you ask,” I explained earnestly, “but I must have gasoline.”

“Well, I haven’t got any, now,” he drawled. “I put the last two gallons I had in the engine about a month ago.”

“But you say you have not used the engine since then,” I persisted, “so the gasoline must still be there.”

“Oh, yes it must still be there, all right,” he admitted, “but I don’t believe I could get it out.”

I saw by his manner that the wanted to go back to bed, but I was determined to get that gasoline, if there was a quart of it about the place.

“Now look here,” I argued, “my car is about four miles back on the road. I must have gasoline to get to La Crosse before 8 o’clock this very morning. I have been tramping this neighborhood since midnight looking for YOU, and now I must have that two gallons of gasoline. Tell me where it is, and I will get it myself, and pay you your own price for it.”

He mumbled something to his wife about being forced to get up at that hour of the morning, and as I saw him prepare to go out to the barn with me I nearly collapsed with joy. You may well believe that the midnight tramp had pretty high exhausted me, and I had now located probably the only two gallons of gasoline within a radius of 10 miles of where we were stalled.

We had some trouble in getting the gasoline out of his engine. There was nothing for it but to disconnect the pipes and work several valves, but the precious fluid soon came trickling down into a milk pail which we pressed into service, and as that pail filled my spirits rose accordingly. For I had secured enough “life” to carry us on to La Crosse.

At my long absence McGann became alarmed. He thought I might be lost from him, as well as lost in the Wisconsin woods, and he tried to signal me by throwing the search-light in fantastic sweeps across the sky. Then he tried calling, and finally lay down in the car for a sound—which was just as good for me, and better for him. He awoke as I came marching up triumphantly with my milk pail filled with “gas.”

It did not take long to set the stuff to work. We poured it into the tank, cranked up the engine, and were again on our way at a little after 4 o’clock, with La Crosse about 50 miles distant.

Some stretches of the road now became abominable, Heavy rains had preceded us, and numerous washouts, deep-cut ruts and gullies were encountered. But at St. Joseph we secured more gasoline, and the roads improved very much into La Crosse, where I was fortunate in picking up Archie Oldberg, who knew every foot of the remaining distance, 175 miles, to Minneapolis.”

Troublesome Walnut Is Gone!

 This black walnut came up between the big pecan and the gazebo, and I let it get away from me. It leaned heavily to the gazebo because of the pecan crown, and there was no place I could send it because of obstacles in the way. I was able to reach a few of the lower branches with a long pole and pruning saw, but most of the crown was out of reach.

There was a crew working today just a quarter of a mile away, and we went over to talk to them. They came and did our walnut, and were back out the driveway in twenty minutes. We are relieved to have that tree out of our hair. Cleanup begins tomorrow!

A Visit With The Electrophysiologist!

 We made important progress today on my bradycardia problem. We went to Barnes-Jewish/Wash U in St. Louis, where we should have gone in the beginning. I have two problems. Bradycardia. (slow heartbeat) and PVCs, (Premature Ventricular Contractions). We learned a lot in an hour long visit with the doctor. The PVCs are the bigger problem. PVCs make the ventricles contract when they should be filling with blood, which inhibits the pumping action. This is likely causing more symptoms than the slow heartbeat. Treating the PVCs with medications will make the heartbeat issue worse by slowing the heart more. Treating the slow heartbeat with a pacemaker will not get rid of the PVCs, so next week we are going back for an echocardiogram to learn more about what my heart is doing. After that we will be choosing how I will be treated. Most likely at this point is catheter ablation, then monitoring to see how I do without a pacemaker. The doctor assured me that I can go on with my normal activities, as long as I don't push myself into tachycardia, which I have done a few times. 

From a Google Search:  Catheter ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that can treat premature ventricular contractions (PVCs): 

 

• How it works

  A catheter is inserted into the heart through a vein in the groin, and radiofrequency is used to destroy the tissue causing the PVCs. 

   
• When it's recommended

  Catheter ablation is often the preferred treatment for PVCs, especially for patients with monomorphic PVCs. It's also recommended for patients who don't respond to medications or cardiac resynchronization therapy. 

   
• Success rate

  Catheter ablation can eliminate PVCs in up to 85% of patients. 

   
• Recovery

  After the procedure, patients typically lie flat for a few hours and can usually go home the same day. Some soreness is normal and shouldn't last more than a week. 
• 
  

Cutting Sprouts and Dead Wood

 The Kubota RTV makes cleaning up possible for us. We can make a load of dead wood quickly, but dragging it away is the hard part. The RTV holds a good load, and the bed dumps it without us having to handle the wood a second time. A couple more afternoons and we will have everything in ship shape again. 

The pin oak on the right side of the pictures is dying and dropping dead wood. It hangs over the power line coming to the house. We will have to hire someone with a bucket truck to take it down. There is no place to fall it if we cut it ourselves. 

Tuesday Torque: Someplace Or Another Visits Pinckneyville!

 One of the really great shows in the middle of the country!

Rock Garden Equals....

 ...Rocks In Our Heads? We picked up rocks every time we took a trip anywhere, and we also have a lot of rocks from under the old farm house that was torn down sixty years ago. You gotta do something with all those rocks, so making an unmowable area that grows weeds and new trees seemed like a decent idea. We are in the process of cutting young trees, and trying not to tag rocks with the saw. It is amazing the way a place can overgrow with trees in a few years. So, we are gathering up the rocks and moving them to a new spot.

                                  Back To The Old Grind!

Weekend Steam II: Parade Of Steam, Cass, West Virginia

Many Thanks to Merle for spotting this YouTube channel!

Weekend Steam: UP Centipede Tenders

 Study the "centipede" and think about curve radius. It works OK on Union Pacific lines, but when the Big Boy visits other railroads, they can get bound up. A tight curve in a yard or a Y will have wheels climbing the rails. When the Big Boy made its first tour there were some videos of very slow and careful moves being made to avoid derailing. From Union Pacific Railroad Company Fans on Facebook. "This image of engine 4023’s tender helps illustrate why the type is known as a centipede tender. Visible on this side are the five wheels mounted to the tender and the two installed in the leading truck. The diagonal row of rivets indicates the partition between the water tank in the rear of the tender and the coal bunker in the front. Note the recessed ladder on the left and the 10 in (254 mm) sideboards atop the tender on the right.."

Many Thanks, Merle!

A Proper Hinge

 Take a look at the hinge on this locust we cut the other day. No need to bore on this one. It was leaning way back, and I had the tractor supporting the back weight while I set up the hinge. A well aimed hinge of the proper width and length, with the front and back level will put your trees on the ground safely, where you want them. 

Rest In Peace, Paul Harrell

 Paul was a real good guy. I have enjoyed his videos for years, and often go back and refer to them.

Here is just one example of Paul's work to provide useful information to his viewers. 

The Fun Never Ends

 There were some black locusts leaning out and getting in the way of the lawnmower, so they became a project over the weekend. We dropped them with the help of the tractor. Bucking, splitting, and stacking went without a hitch. We don't know how lucky we are.*(Cultural Reference at the end of this post.)

We had the hydraulic splitter set up in front of the stack of wood. I split and Susan stacked. No problems. Today, though, I noticed some very big hornets (European Hornets) flying about. They were coming and going from under the trim board where the white arrow points. I have fought yellow jackets, hornets, and bumble bees a few times, so I went to work. I started batting them out of the air with a small chunk of cherry firewood. I would knock them down and then step on them. I killed more than a dozen before I was nailed on top of the head. That was interesting. I usually swell up with stings, so I paid attention to my symptoms. I could feel the venom spreading down my head, especially through my face, but I was still in the fight. I grabbed the LP torch and killed them coming and going from the hole. I ran the count up to more than fifty. We shot some wasp and hornet killer in the hole this evening. I expect more to come, though. The pupated larvae will not be killed, and they will soon emerge. Nasty little blighters! I am extremely thankful that they did not attack Susan while she was stacking wood.

*Cultural Reference:

Tuesday Torque: 22 HP Fairbanks At Meriden Antique Engine And Threshers Association

 Meriden, Kansas. Thank You, Merle! 67 inch flywheels, 7000 pounds! Note the patch for the freeze damage on the water jacket.

Don't Belt Up

                               Time For A Day Off! No Grinding For You!

Weekend Steam: SUV RVing Rides The Narrow Gauge To Silverton!

Click Here to make your reservation.

Weekend Steam: Ohio Valley Antique Machinery Show

 Thanks, Merle! This show was just three weeks ago. This weekend you all should be in Mt. Pleasant or Rollag!

Rollag:

Mt. Pleasant:

Anon: Here you go! Steam-O-Rama coming up in Halltown, MO, September 12-15! Click The Pic!

Hot Pistol League Night

 The hot day kept people away. There were only three other shooters besides Susan and me, so we got to shoot twice, and still got home before it was dark. We had to brake for deer a couple times on the way home, but no close calls.

Big Bug Treat!

 We had a big Cerambycid beetle out in the dog yard the other night. We usually just see the grub larvae in oaks and hickories that we are splitting for firewood. 

Tuesday Torque II: One Cylinder Two-Stroke

 The Bulldogs are a great listening experience, sorta like our John Deere two cylinders. Thanks, Merle!

Tuesday Torque: Big Cats!

 Very Interesting, Merle!

Looks Like Little Turbochargers...

 Do Likewise.

Back To The Old Grind!

Weekend Steam II: Strolling With An Advance Engine At Pinckneyville

 This Advance engine was on its way to the Baker Fan. My time there was short, and I kept a move on, rather than shooting long videos. 

Weekend Steam: The Smallest Case Traction Engine

 Seen at Pinckneyville last weekend. 

Splitting The Sassafras

 It's been nearly three weeks since we cut these trees, and I finally got back to them. It will dry fast, and the smell is heavenly. 

People Are Good!

Seen at Pinckneyville during the big engine show. 

Tuesday Torque: Army Tractor School?

 How would you unstick a Rumely Oil Pull? The best strategy is to not get stuck in the first place. Count the lugs on a tractor tire and multiply by the height of each lug. Each rotation of the wheel cuts down that many inches. This is a lesson you should learn before you drive on soft or wet ground. Those angle lugs pump mud sideways, and you can go down on the frame in seconds. When your tractor starts to spin, stop the wheels and form an escape strategy. This has been a problem for some of my absentee landowners who borrowed a tractor to plant trees, without the knowledge of how fast a tractor tire can mine down in the mud.  Many Thanks, Merle!

https://youtube.com/shorts/dkMB-iyWCIs?si=NrWw-tONAP0mhjJb

Here's Your Golden Opportunity!

 Good used Allis D-17 tractor. Now you can be a farmer! Price reduced to $8500 when I walked out.

Back To The Old Grind!

Weekend Steam II: Moving A Corliss Engine

 Thanks, Merle! We love seeing those big engines at the shows, and there is a big story behind every one of them!

Weekend Steam: American Thresherman Show, Pinckneyville, Illinois. Be There This Weekend1

 The show started today, and goes through Sunday. Pack a lunch and hit the road!

Late Summer Garden Update

 Susan has been busy canning tomatoes and beans lately. Our kraut is all done, and potatoes are all picked and stored in the basement. We hope to have some fall cabbages. The garden is a joy. The next project Susan has is habanero jelly!

Working With Ranger

Ranger is an intact male, so he doesn't have as much freedom as the rest of the pack.  The other, neutered males resent him a bit, so we keep them separated. We give Ranger leash walks outside of the dog yard to make up for that. We also have been taking him to classes this summer, and that is a highlight of his life every week. Our next assignment is to take him to town to walk around the square and deal with distractions. Schips are a joy.

 

Tuesday Torque: John Deere B Tractors

 Many Thanks to Merle for sending John Deere Bs as a topic for this week's torque post. There were a lot of Bs manufactured, and one rests in one of our barns. We used it for mowing around the farm for many years, and I need to limber it up again. There are a bunch of John Deere B videos on YouTube, and all you have to do is go there and do a quick search. I will put a few of them below...

Four Down...

 ...and more to go. We have an active digger in the old barn at the farm. He should leave while the getting is good.

Back To The Old Grind!

Weekend Steam II: Coppards Steam Ploughing Crowborough

Merle picked a topic that is not well known in North America. I first saw this system in the Iron Men Album, back in 1965. It is a fascinating operation. Thank You, Merle!

Coppards: 

Ploughing By Steam

"Steam ploughing with a set of Fowler BB1 Ploughing Engines, No. 15145 'Rusty' of 1917, and No. 15222 OF 1918. The engines are being used with a Fowler 2 furrow balance plough from about 1870.

Ploughing engines are a specialised form of steam traction engine used for ploughing. Each engine has a winch underneath that is used to haul the plough back and forth across the field. The engines then move forwards alternately, allowing the whole field to be plough. The twin engine system was developed by John Fowler in the 1860s and 70s, and the firm bearing his name manufactured them up until the 1930s. Fowler engines were exported throughout the British Empire, and further afield. These particular engines were built as part of an emergency order from the Ministry of Food in WW1, due to the limited food supplies making it through to Great Britain from America as a result of the U-Boat attacks in the Atlantic. The idea was to use the ploughing tackle to get as much waste land into production as possible."

Weekend Steam: SS Jeremiah O'Brien Liberty Ship

 Many Thanks, Merle!

Poppy, Foster Schipperke

 Poppy may be a mix. Her face is a bit chihuahua-like, with a steep forehead. She is a retired dog from a breeder in the Midwest, and has always lived confined. We are working on housebreaking, toys, going in and out, and being a pet. Dogs from breeders often don't want to sit in your lap, but they eventually come around. Poppy is making great progress, and she sleeps through the night in her kennel.

Don't Rock Your Saw!

 Here is a simple and easy method to keep your saw out of the dirt, rocks, or concrete while bucking logs. Plant the tail!

Keep It Sharp, Stop And File Often!

Your saw can be cutting fine one minute, and throwing dust the next. Learn how to file so you can touch up your chains. Wear your readers so you can see the edges of the teeth. Wear your leather gloves, and have good light.

Tuesday Torque: Hard Tail!

 You sure do find some good ones, Merle! We can't thank you enough! I hope the Dad puts a rubber belt around that drive wheel for traction.

A Tree For A Friend

 

We took down the black cherry next to the north barn, bucked a couple 1/2 logs, and dragged it out of the woods. It is a fine looking tree, and I think our friend will make some fine lumber with it. He sealed the ends as soon as he got home, and will pressure wash it to get the dirt out of the bark before he cuts it. The ends will be re-sealed before it goes into his kiln to dry.

Now we have more wood to work up for Winter!  Back To The Old Grind!

Weekend Steam II: Doughty Valley Steam Days

 Merle sent us another show that we should go see! Many Thanks!

Weekend Steam: War Talk...

 Merle found a great photo on FBook, well worth sharing, illustrative, and food for serious thought. Thank You, Merle!

"US Soldier examines a blown up boiler on a locomotive in Canisy Normandy - July / August 1944

LIFE Magazine Archives - Frank Scherschel Photographer WWP-PD"

One of my thoughts when seeing this was whether the enginemen were part of the German army, or Frenchmen who had no choice but to continue their jobs under the control of their invaders. Sober business for those who have to go....

Don't Cheer, Robert W. Service

Don't cheer, damn you! Don't cheer!
Silence! Your bitterest tear
Is fulsomely sweet to-day. . . .
Down on your knees and pray.

See, they sing as they go,
Marching row upon row.
Who will be spared to return,
Sombre and starkly stern?
Chaps whom we knew; so strange,
Distant and dark with change;
Silent as those they slew,
Something in them dead too.
Who will return this way,
To sing as they sing to-day.

Send to the glut of the guns
Bravest and best of you sons.
Hurl a million to slaughter,
Blood flowing like Thames water;
Pile up pyramid high
Your dead to the anguished sky;
A monument down all time
Of hate and horror and crime.
Weep, rage, pity, curse, fear -
Anything, but . . . don't cheer.

Sow to the ploughing guns
Seed of your splendid sons.
Let your heroic slain
Richly manure the plain.
What will the harvest be?
Unborn of Unborn will see. . . .

Dark is the sky and drear. . . .
For the pity of God don't cheer.
Dark and dread is their way.
Who sing as they march to-day. . . .
Humble your hearts and pray.

Bucking Hackberry: When To Quit

The saw was running great, but I quit before I was done. I was getting hot, but that's not the reason I quit. The saw was cutting just a bit to the right, but not enough to jam it up. I quit when the saw began throwing dust instead of chips. A good filing, checking and filing the depth gauges will be done before this saw goes out again.

Bucking Firewood

 We have been busy, so I have not been working on firewood as I should. I went out today and ran a couple of tanks through the saws. There is plenty more to buck, and then we will be splitting and stacking. This video is Part I.

Tuesday Torque: A.O. Smith Motor Wheel

 Merle found another great topic today, and it is one that I have not seen before. The engine hobby is still coming up with surprises for me sixty years since I became infatuated. Thank You, Merle!

Life Goes On

 Last week we sent one Schip, Jewelz, out to her new home in Michigan, and we buried Jack Friday evening, after he died unexpectedly. Hemangiosarcoma is deadly, and we did not know he had it until the post-mortem exam. But, life goes on. We have fosters Atlas, Sophie and Poppy, plus our own pack of Ranger, Mina, Vinnie, Buster, and Teddy, who does not know he isn't a Schipperke. 

A joy, not a grind!

Lift The Rock, Bring Up The Crock!

 We were busy last week, so the kraut worked for 52 days this time, and it is delicious. Susan canned 19 pints, and we have fresh sauerkraut in the fridge.

Weekend Steam II: Let's Go To Sydney....

 Built in 1901, this vessel is a masterpiece if ever there was one! Many thanks to Merle for spotting this beauty!

Weekend Steam: Cute, But Not Even Close!

 Funny One, Merle! The comments are good reading on Facebook.

The boiler is: "Peerless Magnarc arc lamp as used in Cinema projectors"

Schipperke Jack, July 25, 2024

 Little Jack has been one of our companions since early 2018. His owner passed away and he was badly in need of a home. He became a permanent foster. Jack was a sensitive dog, and stayed with his owner in his final days. In the last few days we could see that Jack was tired, and had picked up a bit of weight. He went to the doctor today, but nothing unusual was evident, other than his temp was a few degrees below normal. We went out for a while this evening, and Jack passed away in his kennel while we were gone. He was a good dog and he will be missed. 

A Sweet Foster Schip, Out The Door!

 Jewelz was an owner surrender due to sad circumstances. She is one of the rare, perfect little dogs that came in housebroken, crate trained, well mannered, and following commands. A man and wife who had just buried their twenty-year-old Schipperke (adopted through Midwest Schipperke Rescue many years ago) submitted an application at about the same time we took Jewelz in. They made a long trip to meet and greet us and the dog, and she went home with them today. It was a perfect match of people and dog. Having kept Jewelz for just a month, our separation sorrow this time is not worth mentioning, except she is going way up north where there is lake effect snow. Schips can handle that, and the cold weather, too, but these northern adoptions always bring Bob Dylan's song to mind....

Tuesday Torque: Lister Diesels, Better Late Than Never!

 We had company for a couple days, so I must apologize for posting late. Merle sent Lister as a suggestion, and there are several videos available on YouTube. Thank you, Merle!