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2019 Rose Parade float depicting driving the Golden Spike catches fire.

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2019 Rose Parade float depicting driving the Golden Spike catches fire.
Posted by jeffhergert on Tuesday, January 1, 2019 2:10 PM

I knew Chinese American Heritage Foundation's float, sponsered by the UP, was going to be in the parade.  I missed most of the parade, and apperantly so did the float.  

https://abc7.com/entertainment/rose-parade-2019-small-fire-extinguished-after-erupting-on-float/5000170/ 

I haven't heard exactly what went wrong, but here's a couple of ideas on my part.

1. Someone thought they were real steam engines and tried to light a fire in the boiler.

2. It suffered a hot box.

Jeff (tongue firmly against cheek)

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Posted by tree68 on Tuesday, January 1, 2019 2:16 PM

They were lucky - I've seen videos of some that ended up consumed by flames on the parade route.

LarryWhistling
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Posted by SD70Dude on Tuesday, January 1, 2019 4:24 PM

Were some flowers placed too close to the float's engine or exhaust pipe?

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

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Posted by BaltACD on Tuesday, January 1, 2019 4:56 PM

Overheated traction motor.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by Overmod on Tuesday, January 1, 2019 5:22 PM

jeffhergert
I haven't heard exactly what went wrong,

Funny, I didn't know GE was building turbo engines that small.

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Posted by Miningman on Tuesday, January 1, 2019 7:06 PM

Bad omen for the UP. I saw it live on TV, the float was outstanding.

Now I'm freaked out. Not the way to start the year. 

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Posted by MidlandMike on Tuesday, January 1, 2019 8:50 PM

It's ironic that the float represented the two UP and CP engines meeting for the completion of the transcontinental railroad.  The susqui-centennial year of that event is not off to a good start.

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Posted by charlie hebdo on Tuesday, January 1, 2019 9:00 PM

Overmod

 

 
jeffhergert
I haven't heard exactly what went wrong,

 

Funny, I didn't know GE was building turbo engines that small.

 

nah, it was an old ALCO.

 

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Wednesday, January 2, 2019 1:29 AM

Welding the Nation together w CWR and Thermite?

 

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