zugmann BaltACD One other thing - back then - materials engineering had not progressed to shaving 1/8 inch here and 1/4 inch there on the mechanicals so 20 cents a unit could be saved in manufacturing costs - as primitive as the engineering of those days was - the intent of their efforts were for the equipment to LAST and LAST and LAST even when abused. But won't someone think of the poor stockholders?
BaltACD One other thing - back then - materials engineering had not progressed to shaving 1/8 inch here and 1/4 inch there on the mechanicals so 20 cents a unit could be saved in manufacturing costs - as primitive as the engineering of those days was - the intent of their efforts were for the equipment to LAST and LAST and LAST even when abused.
But won't someone think of the poor stockholders?
The old timers were - they didn't want to be eaten up with warranty claims to have money taken away from the bottom line. Back then there was no such thing a product recall. In today's world I would like to see just how much 'sharpshooting engineering' is costing the companies in fixing recalls that were caused by engineering 'solutions' that saved a penny a unit and cost $100 a unit to repair.
Also back then, people that owned machines had some mechanical ability, generally enogh to do some elementary maintenance on the machines they owned, in many cases, that is not true today and with the complexity of todays machines - people don't have the mechanical or electronical abilities to do much with todays machines.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Why single out the poor stockholders? What about the rich ones?
Semper Vaporo
Pkgs.
BaltACDOne other thing - back then - materials engineering had not progressed to shaving 1/8 inch here and 1/4 inch there on the mechanicals so 20 cents a unit could be saved in manufacturing costs - as primitive as the engineering of those days was - the intent of their efforts were for the equipment to LAST and LAST and LAST even when abused.
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
My thoughts as well. Those plows were beasts.
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...
tree68 Paul of Covington I sympathize with the transmissions and clutches on those trucks. The secret then (as it is now) is to get off it just before impact. Let the momentum of the truck do the work.
Paul of Covington I sympathize with the transmissions and clutches on those trucks.
The secret then (as it is now) is to get off it just before impact. Let the momentum of the truck do the work.
One other thing - back then - materials engineering had not progressed to shaving 1/8 inch here and 1/4 inch there on the mechanicals so 20 cents a unit could be saved in manufacturing costs - as primitive as the engineering of those days was - the intent of their efforts were for the equipment to LAST and LAST and LAST even when abused.
tree68Period snow plowing on "the Tug:" https://youtu.be/TZR2WbD3Hz0
https://youtu.be/TZR2WbD3Hz0
I sympathize with the transmissions and clutches on those trucks.
_____________
"A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner
Anyone else have this come to mind when watching the start of that video? Thanks for reminding me how much I loved it ... and find I still do.
https://books.google.com/books/about/Katy_and_the_Big_Snow.html?id=-2fuCgAAQBAJ
Carl Frink invented the vehicular snow plow as we know it around 1919 - at the request of a bus line operator who installed the plow on his bus. The company was headquartered not ten miles from my house, and I know a number of people who built the plows. The company was bought out by a Canadian company and may still exist in name.
Balt's comment about being close to "the amenities" may have been spot on in built up areas, but was far from the case out in the country. But most folks living out in the sticks were likely "subsistence farmers" who grew or raised pretty much everything they needed to survive. Not many of them left today.
Prior to 1980, it was common for radio stations, especially, to give road reports. Through the winter "hard packed snow and ice" on the roads was a common report. That changed with the arrival of the Olympics in Lake Placid. Word came down from above that all roads leading to the site would be bare. Virtually overnight the material in the hoppers on the rear of the snowplows changed from sand (with a little salt mixed in) to pure salt. These days, it's increasingly rare to see a "sander" with sand in it.
Period snow plowing on "the Tug:"
CSSHEGEWISCH Overmod Chains are for packed snow; on glare ice they provide all the traction advantage of hockey skates. I would disagree, my sons could stop pretty quickly on their hockey skates.
Overmod Chains are for packed snow; on glare ice they provide all the traction advantage of hockey skates.
Chains are for packed snow; on glare ice they provide all the traction advantage of hockey skates.
Snow fighting - prior to WW II it barely existed for towns and counties. Beyond snow shovels very little 'needed' to be rendered snow free for 'normal' social operations. People, for the most part, lived within walking distance of their place of employment and their food purveyors, so as long as the sidewalks weren't knee deep in snow people could get to work and keep their families fed.
Railroads were the organizations that 'needed' to have their 'roads' cleared and cleared in short order to be able to continue the economic mission they are in business for and they developed the tools to accomplish snow removal. WW II and it's aftermath changed all that.
With the mass development of housing out of urban areas and 'not being family farms' all those people depended upon the highway system to provide for themselves.
As a kid in the Baltimore suburban area in 1958 our family was helping friends who lived about 5 miles from our house when the 'blizzard' that happened on Valentine's weekend (about 18 inces) struck. My father was 'bucking' his way through the snow to reach their house when the transmission on his 1957 Buick, which was equipped with chains, 'expired' at Midnight while we were a little less than a mile from their house with the snow still falling. We had no alternative but to trudge through the snow to the friends house - and there we were 'stuck' for the following week and all schools in the area were closed for the duration. At that time the City of Baltimore and the surrounding Baltimore County had next to no snow fighting equipment - a few snow plows, a few salt trucks with limited facilites to keep them filled and operating. The entire Baltimore area was barely moving.
In the 21st Century all that has changed - in 2010 the area had back to back 20+ inch blizzrds about 4 days apart - the major roads were cleared the day after the snow stopped in each instance - the residential roads took a little longer but were cleared of the firtst storms snow before then second storm struck. The performance was repeated after the second storm. Of course all the politicians could talk about was how 'snow removal' had gone over budget.
Glare ice, and you might need CHAINS??
In what alternate reality?
Norm48327 Ed, Rare to see snow in Houston, but back in the mid eighties I was in Midland when they had an ice storm. Of course being from Michigan I was used to driving in those conditions, not the best but negotiable to those who "been there, done that". Watching the locals trying to navigate black ice was entertaining to say the least
Ed,
Rare to see snow in Houston, but back in the mid eighties I was in Midland when they had an ice storm. Of course being from Michigan I was used to driving in those conditions, not the best but negotiable to those who "been there, done that". Watching the locals trying to navigate black ice was entertaining to say the least
I'm curious but how does black ice differ in TX compared to the great white north?
Its worse as it is pure black ice, with no snow in the lanes to drive in for traction.
Being raised in the big sky, winter driving was in the most cases not a problem, then I came down south and experienced the true ice storms. It didn't matter how good you thought you were, when you stop at an intersection, the crown of the road was enough to slide the truck sideways until you hit the curb, you quickly realize glare ice is glare ice, and you might need chains!
Good luck finding some down here btw
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein
http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/
CShaveRR We have a coating of snow here, with temperatures cold enough to assure that it will cover the lawn for a while. The news tonight reported that Atlanta has had more snow this winter than we have, so far.
We have a coating of snow here, with temperatures cold enough to assure that it will cover the lawn for a while. The news tonight reported that Atlanta has had more snow this winter than we have, so far.
What I drove home in tonight certainly isn't rare - it was classic lake effect. After dealing with light snow and snow covered roads for the first half of the trip, I ran straight into the proverbial curtain in Lowville, and didn't come out of it for nearly 20 miles. Spent most of that time behind a snowplow that was moving 3-4" off the road and onto the already significant snowbanks.
Then I get home and the driveway is exactly as I left it Saturday... Just a little bit of the white stuff - not enough to shovel, much less get out the snowblower.
Ended up with about 6" at my house .. some area got as high as 10"
The snow laden pine trees have been a nightmare for the power companies.
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
SD70M-2Dude Meanwhile in Edmonton it's +8°C (46°F) and everything is melting. Folks are walking down the street in t-shirts!
Meanwhile in Edmonton it's +8°C (46°F) and everything is melting. Folks are walking down the street in t-shirts!
CSSHEGEWISCHMy brother has a picture of himself in front of the Alamo during one of the previous snowstorms there.
Heard there was snow at the Talledega race track, too.
edblysard Snow all melted, adults all awake now, out and about and yes, it snowed at the Alamo!
Yup, it needs it...
23 17 46 11
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
Rare to see snow in Houston, but back in the mid eighties I was in Midland when they had an ice storm. Of course being from Michigan I was used to driving in those conditions, not the best but negotiable to those who "been there, done that". Watching the locals trying to navigate black ice was entertaining to say the least.
As a side note, I had to purchase a Texas license plate while there and I returned to Michigan while there was still snow on the roads. I had to laugh at the wide berth other drivers were giving me when they saw my plate.
Norm
Mookie,
Those big fat snow flakes are something my late wife appreciated. She loved to watch them float down but hated to have to shovel them the next morning. Winter is uopn us girl. Don't expect to see green grass for a time.
I am waiting with bated breath to see how the locals here in Michigan make out the first time the roads are slick. They're always a few who think 70 on black ice is safe.
Huge snowflakes coming down like rain in Ashland, VA. It is beautiful!
She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
The news people at 11:00 last night were having more fun than a barrel full of monkeys showing pictures of snow at The Alamo.
Bruce
So shovel the coal, let this rattler roll.
"A Train is a Place Going Somewhere" CP Rail Public Timetable
"O. S. Irricana"
. . . __ . ______
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.