Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood Afternoon one and all.
TODD: $100 bill? What's THAT even look like???? And, THAT bridge/tunnel is looking pretty durn good!
KEITH: Your little scene is looking good too! See....I told ya not to "sweat" them decals! Sounds like you need some fine point tweezers (helps to keep 'em from sticking to your fingers). I've found THAT a suture removal kit provides excellent decal trimming scissors and a perfect tweezers for the job. And yes, though I'm a life-long civilian, I picked up on your S*O*S. Then again, having a Ham Radio father might have a little something to do with it.
Try this one: dot dash dash dash dot dot dash We hear this a lot some days in eastern Iowa...
RAY: "There is no problem THAT can not be solved with the suitable application of explosives." Might be an option for getting THAT hitch out! Just a thought, but are you sure ALL fasteners are out? No chance something could have the head sheared-off and still be very much in-place??? I've battled some seriously rusted fasteners in the past (the '53 fire engine is notorious for them), but haven't (yet) had THAT bad of a battle... Be extra careful around THAT thing...when it finally lets go, it might come rocketing out of there.
SAWYER: Nice pics Pally! Not sure why the patches on the geep turned out so..."day-glo" on you...but always good to see a geep earning it's pay!
SAM: It must've been a real kick to the crotch getting THAT letter... how nice: they promote you, they furlough you. We'll keep our fingers crossed for you.
A big to the OTR trucker...sorry Sir, I've already forgotten your name. Have a cup of infamous Diner coffee on me. Stay safe and keep the shiny side up.
ULRICH: sounds like a lovely little disease you've picked up. A spring cold...what fun 'eh? I've had something working on me all week too...not sure what it is. As far as I know, I'm only allergic to stupid people...so am ruling-out pollen/allergies in general.
Welp, time to get to w**k, I've got an article on infrastructure improvements in Tiffin, IA to write for THAT Editor... then shooting high school soccer this evening.
A good, SAFE rest of the day to ya all...
Chris
The Cedar cRapids Industrial Branch: Proudly Shipping Yesterday's CrunchBerries Tomorrow!
Ray.. "Kieth, I like what you have done with the parking spots. Excellent!" Coming from you~ thank you.
I imagine.. I'll paint.. thin wash the streets for 'oil drippings'.. and tire wear.. or skids.. or 'Oh shees' along some parts of the curbs... but this is taking time.. I can't believe it. I'm way behind schedule. lol
But let me tell ya.. lol.. "I haven't the foggiest" I find myself studying pics.. looking at streets signs and the likes..
This is where I am.. on a side note.. when I'm not finishing up stuff.. I'm planning on the next move..
"Ah.. lets see.. I need some telephone poles.. oh.. a streetlight.. a Traffic Signal.. oh boy~" thats where I am right now. In way over my head. And, we have no Navy men here in the forum.. in a previous post.. I said I'd fill in the rest of the yellow lines. with a
dot dot dot dash dash dash dot dot dot. Morse code.. for SOS .. lol.
I'll be catching up on some reading.. sitting in the corner.. "hmm now lets see.. whats Jeff up to~"
Thanks for the welcome, all. I'm actually on vacation this week, after a while, one needs a break from all the driving. Should be interesting trying to follow this from the road, I have been known to be "off the grid" for as long as two weeks, and then in everyday for another week! The Wi-fi at the big truck stop chains sometimes leaves a bit to be desired.....
Am working on a 2-foot by 12-foot switching layout, have had a Walthers paper mill kit sitting around for the longest time, so the whole layout will be a paper mill complex, not based on any mill in particular, but I get a lot of ideas from ones I have been in loading or unloading. Benchwork is up, and I have most of the roadbed and track on hand.
Worked on getting WC 6001 ready for the layout, now just needs touch up paint, a snowplow (anyone know of the correct plow for this ex-Algoma Central unit?), a DCC+sound decoder, and Sergent Engineering couplers, and it will be ready.
Randy Vos
"Ever have one of those days where you couldn't hit the ground with your hat??" - Waylon Jennings
"May the Lord take a liking to you and blow you up, real good" - SCTV
Randy.. Todd.. reminds me of the time.. when I got some lab work done.. I was low on Red Blood Cells.
I went to the resturant.. by myself.. ordered the steak.. .. lol.. Char Rare.. extra char rare... if he can~
The waitress comes back.. and says.. "The cook wants to know what Char Rare is?"
" Well take the hottest flame you got.. burn the heck of it on the outside.. I mean burn it almost black.. and seal in the juices.. by turning it over each time before the juices run out." '
Need I say more~? Perfect steak.. juicy.. yummy stuff to slurp around the bits of meat.. mmm yummy~!
Todd. nice pics.. wow.. I'm impressed. you are actually moving along. You and Der John are neck and neck.. with the turtle (me) on a consistant pace. Say .. now, that isn't a casting of a rock face .. that Brenda got you? I hope you do tell us some more about the rock molds.. especially the LATEX ones.. I'm really wondering.
Todd.. are you about ready for the recipe' of Polish Chili Verde? .. lol.. I'm just about ready for a step by step.. "EVen Todd can do it~" show and tell. lol... on how to 'Never EVER geta Cold' soup. If I were to come over right now with the soup.. I know.. you'd love the stuff. First thing you'd say..
"Wow".. then maybe..
"Whew.. I feel my sinuses are opening up"
"This is good~ I can actually really taste this~!"
"Wow.. I"m warm~"
"Ah this is so good for my scratchy throat"
"I feel my chest loosening up?".. "Wow"
"Whoa"
"I"m gonnna have a second serving"
I know.. I've had a few stories about a few things here.. but Todd.. I believe you are about the only person who would try this. I'm tellin ya.. Never Ever get a cold again.. never a flea bite.. or a mosquito.. and maybe against chiggers too. Nasty buggars.
Mornin' everyone!
Zoe I'll have the Sirloin Steak breakfast with the eggs over easy and sourdough toast to go along with my dark raost coffee in a FGLK mug. What? how do I want my steak? You mean there's more than one way to cook it? Well for me just warm it up a bit so it's slightly gray on the outside.... Yep I'll have my steak rare..... (Spoken like a true carnivore!)
Got up about an hour early and went down to get my blood drawn. I still appears to to be reddish in color which is a good thing I guess. Then I went over to the Water Street Cafe for a bit. Saw several people I know down there and had some good conversation.... The owner's 2 kids (boy and a girl) were in my choruses years ago and the son was a member of my Boy Scout Troop. I always get great service (Just like here!!!! Sheesh Zoe can't I give another place a compliment? Sorry I didn't mean it to be anything against my "regular" place.....)
Randy, ! Order up your steak ny way you like it. It will always be cooked to perfection here. Don't forget to tell us about what you are doing as a MRR.
Todd, Pin? I'm supposed to take out the pin?......... Oh yes, the pin came out fairly easily. THAT only took a couple of day to break free. I think the whole thing should break loose soon. Should w*rk on it more today. Flashes do funny things to model photos. I never (well almost never) use a flash for my model photos. Looking good BTW!
Kieth, I like what you have done with the parking spots. Excellent!
Best get a move on and see what I can accomplish today.
Ulrich you popped back in while I was writing I guess. Sorry you are under the weather again. either "Kieth's Chili", or the "Kaskas Cure" should make it go away quickly. The first one cause i think it causes pain in other areas of the body so you don't notice, and the second just makes you not care.......
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Good Afternoon,
oh boy, do I feel lousy! Is it swine flu? Is it mad cow disease, after I hear you guys talking about steaks? I dunno. Whatever it is, it´s tying me to my bed.
Chloe, seems, as if I am stuck with that chamomile tea of yours, make it a gallon for me, please.
Todd - something nice is on its way there
Randy - to the best place of model railroading! We are a chatty bunch here - you´ll feel at home soon!
Heading back to bed...
"Coffee and keep it coming.. lots of typing to do today."
Randy.. welcome. And I mean it! You've come right up to the Rivet Counter.. to sit and dine. I guess you could have came in sat in the corner with all the lurkers. So,~ Welcome.
Feel free to ask dumb questions here. Believe on getting honest answers from friends here. I trust these peeps here.. but most of all.. you get to talk to others that are into Model Railroading. I find that most important.. to be able to confront and talk about your ideas on MRR.
Oh.. and just one other thing... Don't feel like you're talking to yourself here... even if no one answers you.. we'll get around to it~ and get back to ya. I can read someones' post here.. and it might take a week or two to get back to them.
Now.. on a side note.. lol.. Rob.. remember oh.. way back when.. two weeks ago.. you asked about a mag lite.. Well the one you posted is nice.. I like the light.. Jeanne was real big on the light part with mine... I said no.. I was more interested in the adjustments.. and the magnifying setting. 5x or 8 x .. depends on what you need.
But I've been real happy with mine.. I use it all the time.
Ok.. now remember.. when I said.. "Oh.. I'll be ready to lay Trolley Tracks" NOT! Ah gheez.. one of these days.. I'm gonna finish this thing.. lol. I can't lay trolley tracks untill all spraying is done.
I had to finish up the 'Look Out Point'.. because the trolley tracks run underneath it.
I had to finish the concrete fence/wall going into the tunnel. (far left) I also tore out some white foam at the bottom of the red brick wall.
My idea of lines.. lol.. and parking spaces for taxis. I had to lay the yellow stripe.. by hand.. and even gave it a slight turn. I'd imagine I'll go back and fill in the spaces.. between the breaks in the yellow.. oh perhaps.. with a
Dot Dot Dot Dash dash dash dot dot dot .. lol.
rvos1979- to the diner. Do you have a layout started or still in the dream it satge. Makes no difference, just curious. I know if you are OTR you probably have very little time at home.
I prefer, if the place cooks it correcly, a good cut medium rare. The real medium rare. A lesser cut medium is good. Don't know why, I just do. Most times however I order my steak medium because most places around here don't cook them right. I can eat it anywhere from medium rare to medium well and that's pretty much what medium will get you here.
OK. Here's the progress so far. The flash makes everything look lighter and the darks look darker. In reality the differences in shades is much more subtle.
Far from done, and today I've applied plaster cloth for the hillside around the tunnel entrance. That worked out so so, but it's just the first layer. I carried the cloth down past the edge of the hill to the basin, I guess you call it, to cover the goofy color of the sides. After that gets done then I'll color the hillsides. The basin will be covered with more dirt and ground foam. I should carry the rock faces a bit farther in the tunnel because if you squat down and look into the thing you can see farther than the rocks go but oh well, they can just squat all day if they want. You can tell by the back rock face my original plan was to simulate old steam and diesel smoke stained tunnel walls but in reality, reality didn't look so good so I used it in the back where it's darker. Or, will be.
What's that? Oh excuse me I hear a nap calling. (cough)
Todd
Central Illinoyz
In order to keep my position as Master and Supreme Ruler of the House, I don't argue with my wife.
I'm a small town boy. A product of two people from even smaller towns. I don’t talk on topic….. I just talk.
Morning all, nice little place y'all got here.....
First off, little about me, 30yr old truck driver, doing model railroading when I can, Modeling the Wisconsin Central in HO.
Anyway, about 50 outside in SE Wisconsin, going to 60, and sunny skies.
Know how some people feel about their meat, told a waitress at a truck stop once I wanted my steak cremated, this particular place had a problem of undercooking their meats, so you had to order it one higher than usual.
Well, of to do interesting things.....
Good morning. It's 58 and partly cloudy. The high is due to be 89 and it will be mostly sunny (just another way of saying partly cloudy).Well, after all the work I put in yesterday on mowing the lawn and installing the first 2 of their 6 digital cable adapters my parents treated me to dinner at Wagon Master, a local steak house. We all had the same thing. 8 ounce sirloin, half rack of ribs with potatoes and a side salad. It was a very good dinner. My mother likes her meat extremely well done. When her sirloin was brought out she cut a small piece off and saw a trace of pink inside. She told the waiter to take it back and burn it until it stopped mooing. When it was brought back it was done through and through just the way she likes it. I couldn't help but remember when we lived in France she had the poor chef at a sidewalk cafe crying after she had him burn a steak for her. Over there the meat is seared on the outside and pink inside. She would have none of it! It would be cooked all the way through or else her famous Cherokee temper was going to seek out the nearest target standing under a chef's hat. She was known as the lady who liked charred beef and could leave a chef looking like a terrified cat facing a tub of soapy water. It wasn't long before they had her preferences down pat. I think there was a day of celebration at that cafe in La Rochelle when we left to go to Germany. Without a doubt word was flashed ahead to the chef's in the area we were going to. The very first place we went to they knew exactly what she wanted.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
TMarshUlrich- I figured it had to be something like giddy. I like your definition though. Who knows with them crazy Canadians. Sometimes you wonder.
HeeHeeHee---
Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry
I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...
http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/
Good morning all. One of them Coffee IV's please. Boy am I tired. Not feeling AT ALL piculous. Work went well last night except for the fact I got my Azz handed to me in a bucket. Door opened up and the place filled up at the exact time I ran out of change in the register. Halfway through a table of seven seperate ticket ladies. Folks, I know some of you out there love them 100 dollar bills, but please, please, puleeeeze when you go into a small town restaurant and your bill is $22 please don't pay with a 100 dollar bill. Expecially* when you are the first payer of the night. Have mercy on the poor person trying to make change for the rest of the people. But, alas, that's not why I'm tired. I laid awake all night long until about 4 am coughing and hacking. I did get a bit of a snooze between 4 and 5. Then..... I knew I should have kept my mouth shut about the Actifed and how it works. Jinxed myself.
Ray- That things STILL stuck????? My gosh! Um, say, you, uh, doooo have the hitch pin out don't you?
Ulrich- I figured it had to be something like giddy. I like your definition though. Who knows with them crazy Canadians. Sometimes you wonder.
Sam- you and you classmates are in my prayers. (you first though) Good luck hoss.
Lee-
Be prepared I'm going to post another picture. It is a progress shot of the scratch built trestle, nothing fancy, just your basic needs trestle and the beginnings of the tunnel and the rockface.
*Expecially- An alternate widespread pronunciation of the word Especially. Not common, but yet not rare for people to use this pronunciation, especially among those who pronounce picture, pitcher.
Have a Great Day!!!!
LSWrrTodd, yea the volcano insurance is free, but then again Ohio hasn’t seen a volcano in the last 65 million years (if ever) so I think it’s a safe insurance bet.
I remember some course I took at UWO some years back where we got told that there was evidence of volcaniic activity some 35 million years ago there---then again the St. Lawrence R was supposed to have been part of a failed rift at some point then too. I've got to dig some of these things out'n my files at some point--
Good morning
We are now at 9C this morning going to a high of 17C in the sunshine---tomorrow back to rain and wind and blargh... Saturday? A high of 8C in the rain---
I'm going to have a quiet morning of fiddling with the New Life mill and getting all the ladders and conveyors connected together---more like weaving these things together---
Flo---I'll have a toasted breakfast bagel and a coffee in a Wheeling and Erie mug please--I'll be at the window booth watching the yard--
Todd, yea the volcano insurance is free, but then again Ohio hasn’t seen a volcano in the last 65 million years (if ever) so I think it’s a safe insurance bet.Sam, that’s not much of an incentive to be promoted. I wish you the best of luck. Sawyer, nice pictures, thanks for sharing.We had plenty of lightening over the lake with just a few strikes on land last night. I backfilled the new apron with dirt and planted grass last night just before the storms. Soon I hope to have time to tinker in the train room, something well overdue!
BM1 Lee Soule USCG (ret) L.S.&W Railroad Serving the Lower Great Lakes
Ray: We just had another row of those t'underin'boomers go through. Lotsa rain ot'n these ones ---oh--and lotsa hail.
Got some more stuff done on the New Life mill and then got some stuff done on the hd listie...
Chloe, I'll have a coffee in a Frisco mug please---I'm at the RC for a bit before I go home to
Evenin' Folks!
Flo just a glass of water please. Yes I know, but I have blood work in the morning and I can only have water tonight.......
Deacons went well tonight. Everyone was in a good mood and we conducted our business with smiles and good humor. The Talent Show Dinner was a rousing success last Sunday by everyone's take. We had the largest crowd we have had in years. Somehow the kitchen was able to "strech the food and no one went without a good meal. We had some good deals on the ingredients, so we made a good bundle of $ for the Pastor's Discretionary fund.
i spent about an hour on the Reese hitch today. Went over to TSC and bought a 2 ton Come Along. Put it in line with the web starp I had around the crab apple tree. Took a length of cahin and wrapped it around the hitch and put some major pressure on the hitch. Then hit it back and forth sideways. It isn't out yet, but it did move about 1/4" out. I will get it out of there yet.........
Sam, I will keep you in my prayers. Hope you somehow miss the cut!
Sawyer, much improved photos! Too bad the whole room couldn't have been painted the same color as the sky...... I know THAT might have caused a, well, lets just say I know it would have been a problem!
We are about ready to have a line of thunderstorms go through the area, so I better say goodnight.... Yep just heard thunder.
Bye!
Evening all.
Can't stay and look, but I'm not going to practice tomorrow, so I'll be home early, and I'll explain THAT and read posts and all THAT stuff then...
My Model Railroad: Tri State RailMy Photos on Flickr: FlickrMy Videos on Youtube: YoutubeMy Photos on RRPA: RR Picture Archives
PackerEvening ya'll Sawyer, Looks like someone got a new camera and is having fun with it! Looking good, although those red patches are pretty bright.
Evening ya'll
Sawyer, Looks like someone got a new camera and is having fun with it! Looking good, although those red patches are pretty bright.
Sawyer Berry
Clemson University c/o 2018
Building a protolanced industrial park layout
Ya know what they say about not copying what you see on the TV? I was wrestling a heavier friend (me 180 lbs, he was 250 lbs)and tried a movie I saw in a UFC fight after getting tackled. The move is supposed to be used when on your back and involves catching the other persons arm and wrapping both legs around their arm with the feet in his chest, then pulling him down with the legs while still holding the arm. It's supposed to flip him on his back and get him in an armbar. I didn't work out too well because he didn't get flipped and I ended up pulling something in my leg, I'm gonna wager it's a groin pull. After that heals up I'll go back to working out, again. I should be able to work on the upper body still, haven't pulled anything up there yet.
Garry, Hope your place stays high and dry. Amtrak on PC track sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.
Vincent
Wants: 1. high-quality, sound equipped, SD40-2s, C636s, C30-7s, and F-units in BN. As for ones that don't cost an arm and a leg, that's out of the question....
2. An end to the limited-production and other crap that makes models harder to get and more expensive.
Good Evening All,
Been lurking here all day as I went back and forth on the phone here in the office. Another long day, but I'm ready to get a "to go" and head on out. Theodore is on the floor and ready to align, and the rest is not far behind. We may make this ridiculous schedule yet.Sam bummer about the furloughs. How the heck are the trains to run with not enough people to run them? Catch y'all later, J.R.
I got the parent's yard mowed this morning. I then waited for the Home Health nurse to arrive to change my dressings. Afterward a technician for Suddenlink showed up at my parent's place, an hour late. His job was to get their new Suddenlink Digital Adapters working. He checked the integrity of the cable throughout the house. It's all good, so why wouldn't the adapters work? We told him about the condition of the cables in this area an dthat they had been up since the mid 80's. Sure enough that turned out to be the problem, or at least part of it. He replaced the old RG-59 cable from the main pole to the house, a stretch of around 200 feet, with RG-6 which is made to work with digital systems. He assured me that nobody in this area had this stuff yet and it gave me great pleasure to see his jaw hit the ground when I told him that I had it all through my trailer for the last three years and that I had had a tech string RG-6 from my service pole to the main line at the same time. Anyhow, the new cable was enough to enable the digital adapters to work. I got two in operation today, four more to go. I told my parents it would have been MUCH easier to just switch to Dish Network.
Good afternoon all!
Haven't been in in a while, due to LIFE...
Garry- We'll be praying for you and your neice, hopefully the water crests before reaching your house...
Jeff- My, I had to look twice before I realized that was a Lehigh Valley Hopper!!! Looks GOOD!
Please pray for my classmates and myself, we have received letters from the BLET (Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers) that we will be furloughed when we get promoted, and brought back on a seniority basis... That will not be for six months, so things can (most likely WILL) change. I'm praying and hoping, more of the former, that we get to keep our jobs without being furloughed...
Have a bunch of pages to catch up on, better get to it!
Sam
May He bless you, guide you, and keep you safe on your journey through life!
I Model the New Hope & Ivyland RR (Bucks County, PA)
Good morning ...
Thanks for all the thoughts and comments about the flooding.
Lake Barkley continues to rise. Elevation of water surface increased about one foot in past 24 hours to 366.6 feet above sea level. It is expected to reach 370' this weekend which will be the highest the lake has ever been. The top of the dam is 375', and so the lake can not go above that. Below the dam, the Cumberland River is about 40' above normal where it flows north to the Ohio River. Similar story for Kentucky Lake (Tennessee River) which is on the other side of Land Between the Lakes from us.
Ever since it was reported that the replica of Elvis's guitar was lost in the Nashville floods, I have been watching to see if it floats onto our shore. Not yet.
Speaking of Amtrak and bad track, I recall when Amtrak first started in 1970. I rode between Kalamazoo and Chicago in dirty old second hand equipment on some deplorable Penn Central track. The train went faster sideways than forward.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Todd - I am glad you asked - I did not dare to I added the word to my dictionary as follows: piculous (adj.) - state of mind and body after consumption of one or too many Barry-sized greaseburgers in Elliot´s Trackside Diner.
Zoe, more chamomile tea for me, please. actually, I hate that stuff, but it is supposed to do me good. My cold (?) has reached its peak- my eyes are watery, my nose runny and red, my throat is sore, my voice is gone - summing it all up, I am a pleasant company today.
Good Morning all...Its sunny and 72 here...I'll have coffee and a sweet roll please...thank you..You all have a good one...Jerry
TMarshBarry- I gotta know, what does "piculous" mean. I can't find it anywhere.
Extra energetic---
TMarshSlept well last night after unearthing from my toolbox, a package of generic Actifed. The only thing that works for me is Triprolidine HCL and Pseudoephedrine HCL. Nothing, and I do mean nothing, else works on me. Actually, it's the Triprolidine that is the necessity. It's such a hassle getting the stuff, two forms of ID, thumbprint, nasal cavity search, birth certificate, blood sample
Ain't it wonderful? Get to do some extra stuff just to get stuff that we used to be able to get with no issues. But because we live in these times we get to do extra stuff--
I got some gardening done this morning--now we get to do some extra stuff ourselves---have to get some more fertilizer---again
Zoe I'll have a short stack of buckwheat pancakes with NYS Maple Syrup and my dark roast coffee in a FGLK mug please. I'll go sit in the front booth and watch the yard goings on outside.
Got up early to get take a CD of materials for a press release for the Scholarship Dinner to the local paper. It may actually get in tonight's paper. THAT means I may have to read other stuff besides the comics and "Police Beat"......
CederstrandGarry, are you going to model a section of your layout like that twisted track? Sure would be interesting. Just keep AMTRAK away from it.
Rob, THAT wouldn't be a problem for Amtrack, after all they do use CSX trackage around here.....
I have to print materials for Deacons tonight and finish the lawn today. Also have to do a grocery store run, get a "Come Along" from TSC (blasted hitch is still stuck...) and then go to Deacons. One of these days I am going to make it back down to the layout to get some things done. I am way behind schedule with what I hoped to have done by now.
Best get moving. Later!
Coffee in a UNION PACIFIC mug, please.
***Garry, are you going to model a section of your layout like that twisted track? Sure would be interesting. Just keep AMTRAK away from it.
Cheers! Rob
Good morning. It's 58 and mostly sunny. The high will be 89 and it will be clear.I'll be busy outside today as it looks like a good day for mowing, and I need the cash. It's only $20 but that's $20 I didn't have before plus my parent's supply the machine and the gas. All I have to bring is myself. Now, the trick to starting the old peerless tractor is to lock the brake, choke the crap out of the carb, advance the throttle all the way up and hope there's no one else in the shed when the key is turned. The reason for that is that when the first cylinder fires the second cylinder will backfire and it sounds like a shotgun blast. It also makes one heck of a cloud of black smoke that could choke a horse. It's done that for over 10 years and nobody knows why. Several times it's set fire to the dried grass clippings on the top of the deck on start up. The only cure for that is to back it out of the shed and spray down the deck with the water hose. Bad thing about that is, it has to be running to back it out which means it's already burning. Great fun! It can't be pushed because the rear axle locks when the engine is cut off. The only thing that's more fun is when it backfires on shutdown (very rare). The grass doesn't catch fire then but it sure scares the crap out of anyone close by.I could use their new Yardman but the brake, drive and revesre on it are all foot controlled (right foot naturally) and that disagrees with my right foot. The Peerless is all hand controlled except for the initial locking of the brake to start it. After that the brake can be controlled by hand. Isn't it easy to figure out why I like using it.