Amtrak and most passenger transit systems get state and federal money yep politics...Private Freight railroads have congresionaly mandated PTC signal systems because train cars were ending up in peoples living rooms who lived next to the tracks-Yes Politics that goes with the sloppy soup of democracry.
Discussion on the topic here:
http://cs.trains.com/trn/f/111/t/269285.aspx
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
See page 5 of the July issue. Don's column lasted a couple of months shy of 41 years.
Reminds me a bit of the end of the "Model Garage" series in Popular Science written by Martin Bunn, started in the July 1925 issue and ended in the June 1969 issue. No mention was made until over a year later when a new story was published, and one or two more were published with the last in 1972. Good to see some note on Don's column in the latest Trains.
Thank You.
Savage Tunnel And yet, Malcolm Kenton remains, possibly the worst-informed columnist I've seen in my 48 years of reading TRAINS.His latest, concerning more "tourist trains" to Harpers Ferry,WV., is a real laugher, the young fellow doesn't know reality from fantasy.
And yet, Malcolm Kenton remains, possibly the worst-informed columnist I've seen in my 48 years of reading TRAINS.His latest, concerning more "tourist trains" to Harpers Ferry,WV., is a real laugher, the young fellow doesn't know reality from fantasy.
Kinda a cheap shot at Malcolm. Yes, he's a bit of a bright-eyed optomist. But, his head and heart are in the right place. At the very worst, he's trying.
What about you? How about tossing your ideas out for how to improve passenger rail service in the US and letting us have a shot at your ideas?
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
NDG erikem See page 5 of the July issue. Don's column lasted a couple of months shy of 41 years. Reminds me a bit of the end of the "Model Garage" series in Popular Science written by Martin Bunn, started in the July 1925 issue and ended in the June 1969 issue. No mention was made until over a year later when a new story was published, and one or two more were published with the last in 1972. Good to see some note on Don's column in the latest Trains. Still miss Gus Wilson. Thank You.
erikem See page 5 of the July issue. Don's column lasted a couple of months shy of 41 years. Reminds me a bit of the end of the "Model Garage" series in Popular Science written by Martin Bunn, started in the July 1925 issue and ended in the June 1969 issue. No mention was made until over a year later when a new story was published, and one or two more were published with the last in 1972. Good to see some note on Don's column in the latest Trains.
Still miss Gus Wilson.
Johnny
NDGStill miss Gus Wilson.
Then your day just became brighter...
http://www.gus-stories.org/
And I miss Uncle Tom McCahill from Mechanix Illustrated. He was the man!
DeggestyHe KNEW cars.
The problem these days is that EVERYTHING runs on the computer(s). Your timing light and dwell meter have been mostly consigned to the dust bin.
tree68 Deggesty He KNEW cars. The problem these days is that EVERYTHING runs on the computer(s). Your timing light and dwell meter have been mostly consigned to the dust bin.
Deggesty He KNEW cars.
Bought a 2017 Ram pickup - turn the key and there is a delay between the key hitting the starter segment and the starter actually turning over. Computer is interrogating the 'system' to see if it is OK to start the engine.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
BaltACD Bought a 2017 Ram pickup - turn the key and there is a delay between the key hitting the starter segment and the starter actually turning over. Computer is interrogating the 'system' to see if it is OK to start the engine.
A friend bought one of those several years ago (I think it was a 2014). One day the computer detected low oil pressure and shut down the engine while he was driving down the highway at full speed. Apparently no engine = no steering, and he went into the ditch. Fortunately there was about 4 feet of snow on the ground, and he stopped just short of slamming into a power pole.
The thing did not actually have low oil pressure, a sensor had failed.
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
SD70Dude BaltACD Bought a 2017 Ram pickup - turn the key and there is a delay between the key hitting the starter segment and the starter actually turning over. Computer is interrogating the 'system' to see if it is OK to start the engine. A friend bought one of those several years ago (I think it was a 2014). One day the computer detected low oil pressure and shut down the engine while he was driving down the highway at full speed. Apparently no engine = no steering, and he went into the ditch. Fortunately there was about 4 feet of snow on the ground, and he stopped just short of slamming into a power pole. The thing did not actually have low oil pressure, a sensor had failed.
2017 does not have hydraluic power steering - it is electrically powered. Many makes are going to electically activated power steering.
My previous vehicle was a 2003 Durango, it had hydraluic power steering. Had a serpentine belt break - thus stopping the power steering pump. Car could be steered, the effort to steer it was much, much higher than when the PS was working. A car can be steered without PS - the effort is just much higher than one expects.
I figured it had a steer-by-wire system.
I have been in similar situations driving vehicles with failed or leaking power steering systems (seems Ford, Chrysler and GM all used crappy hydraulic hoses), and found that as long as you are moving it is not that hard to steer in "armstrong mode", with the vehicle's inertia helping turn the wheels.
When stopped it is a very different story.
This stuff goes back a while... Had an 01 refuse to start because a coolant temperature sensor broke and the computer decided it was overheating.
Certainly is worrying.
SD70DudeApparently no engine = no steering, and he went into the ditch.
This has to be an Italian Fiat thing. One of the great advertising points for electric steering is that it stays fully operational whether the engine is running or not (provided there is adequate voltage on the battery to run it when the alternator is not turning). Be just like Marchionne to build a truck with too much assist for its battery...
In the 'bad old days' the situation was much worse than now. Mother was teaching sister how to drive in one of the old Lincoln Mark IVs with the 460, which alas! had a hot-lean issue and would stop running without any particular detectable warning (other than red lights coming on in the light panel in the dash between the seats). When this happened, you'd experience hardening steering, and the brakes would be good for a couple of shots but then they'd harden up too (this was vacuum, not hydroboost). Upshot was that they very comfortably found themselves going quietly in a straight line with ... no steering, they tried that and it was locked ... no brakes, they tried those and they wouldn't depress ... and we all know there's no point in trying to restart the engine because turning the key does nothing other than lock the wheel ... so they latched onto each other and started screaming as they rolled sedately off the road and gently into a slightly converging hedge at about 35mph.
Could have been worse. Consider what happens on a Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, or a Citroen DS, when the pump stops turning. (Hint: Routemaster buses used the same excuse for technology.)
Have not seen his column in the magazine the past 2 months?
SD70Dude I figured it had a steer-by-wire system. I have been in similar situations driving vehicles with failed or leaking power steering systems (seems Ford, Chrysler and GM all used crappy hydraulic hoses), and found that as long as you are moving it is not that hard to steer in "armstrong mode", with the vehicle's inertia helping turn the wheels. When stopped it is a very different story.
The first fire pumper I learned to drive had zero steering assist AND a non-synchronized transmission. What a beast (but, boy, could it pump!)
(Talk about thread creep....)
Even older armstrong steering, this one may have a great reduction to ease the strain:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=M9FuCDRRb7k
GoodtimingWhew, you guys must all be young whipper snappers; I remember the late 1950cars that had optional power steering. My friends dad bought a 55 Ford without PS and boy did he develope Charlie Atlas arms.
One of the summers I worked for a gov't agency as a summer aide, my main job quickly became driving one of the engineers around a large construction site (I'd guess 200 or so acres) and the adjoining area. His assigned vehicle was an early '70's Ford large sedan. The agency apparently had not specified a maximum engine size; this beast had a big thumping V-8, no power steering, and the small steering wheel suitable for a power-steering-equipped car. Driving that thing was like arm-wrestling a very large bear in a very small outhouse. Most nights my arms ached.
Overmod NDG Still miss Gus Wilson. Then your day just became brighter... http://www.gus-stories.org/
NDG Still miss Gus Wilson.
Kat says " Meow ! "
oltmannd Savage Tunnel And yet, Malcolm Kenton remains, possibly the worst-informed columnist I've seen in my 48 years of reading TRAINS.His latest, concerning more "tourist trains" to Harpers Ferry,WV., is a real laugher, the young fellow doesn't know reality from fantasy. Kinda a cheap shot at Malcolm. Yes, he's a bit of a bright-eyed optomist. But, his head and heart are in the right place. At the very worst, he's trying. What about you? How about tossing your ideas out for how to improve passenger rail service in the US and letting us have a shot at your ideas?
How special that you answered my post 2 months after the fact, but since you called me out...
Do you possess expertise in detecting cheapshots? I slammed Kenton for penning an opinion piece backed up with little factual information. Anyone who is even a little familiar with the state rail agency in Maryland knows that the purpose of the service is to provide commuters a way to get to DC, or more likely nowadays, Montgomery County. There is no way that MARCRAIL would ever get involved with "hauling tourists" to another state on weekends, even if the place is right across the Potomac River. No doubt that CSX would object, they have enough trouble now keeping people off their property there.The only thing Kenton "tries" is to interject his one-world, socialistic views in all his columns.
I don't need to give you or anyone else "ideas" about passenger service; I haven't been on Amtrak since 1982, and could give a fig whether they run or not. Their prices are above what a person of modest wages can afford anyway.I live a good distance from any active rail passenger line, Kenton's anti-car opinions offend me as a car owner, and enough people like him could threaten my freedom. Optimist is spelled with an i.
Savage TunnelThe only thing Kenton "tries" is to interject his one-world, socialistic views in all his columns. I don't need to give you or anyone else "ideas" about passenger service; I haven't been on Amtrak since 1982, and could give a fig whether they run or not. Their prices are above what a person of modest wages can afford anyway. I live a good distance from any active rail passenger line, Kenton's anti-car opinions offend me as a car owner, and enough people like him could threaten my freedom.
If you have so little interest in rail passenger service, why did you post on the Passenger Forum? Or on any of the Trains forums? Your claims that Kenton is some one-world socialist threatening your freedom look like an excuse for you to voice your political views on a forum that specifically bans such subject matter.
I like Malcom's stuff. Even if I don't always agree with him 100%, he's a fresh breath of air compared to some of the other old timer writers that spend their time (and words) lamenting diners and steam engines.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
Savage TunnelThis is the general discussion forum, Charlie, and I'll post my opinion when and where desired as the benefit comes with my subscription. It's ironic being lectured about posting political opinion by someone named for a radical French satire magazine.
Read the Forum rules.
Boy, that escalated quickly. Time to break out the chill pills.
I also find Kenton's columns to be interesting and thought-provoking reading, even if I do not agree with everything.
I don't agree with everything Fred Frailey or Don Phillips (to stay on topic) say either, but I still read them.
We need people who think differently and believe in what they say. Otherwise nothing would ever change and we would still be living in caves.
Savage TunnelDo you possess expertise in detecting cheapshots?
Apparently. ...hey, was that a cheap shot?
Savage TunnelOptimist is spelled with an i.
So noted. Certainly not my worst misspelling... Stay tuned for more!
Savage TunnelI don't need to give you or anyone else "ideas" about passenger service; I haven't been on Amtrak since 1982, and could give a fig whether they run or not.
So, you're basically just a crumudgeon. Not that there's anything wrong with that...
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.