OT: This would be fun to go to

WOW! I'd love to go to that one!

Me too! I love that stuff! check out "Florida Flywheelers" website

Barry wrote:

I think there is a Steam Tractor event every year up near Gary lindstroms hometown, or not to far from hime. The miniature steam tractors reminded me of a fellow who lived off of Schoolhouse Rd, off the Garden State Parkway. He worked for CBS in NYC and as a hobby built a scale steam railroad on his property. It started out as a simple 600 ft oval of track, and grew into one of the largest scale steam train systems owned by one person. I have video tape, but it was shot on Beta

1, so I have not seen the tape in a long time. His railroad wound up before he retired and moved south to having over two miles of trackage with two bridges, which allowed you to cross over anothe train while driving yours. He held open house every month, and to accomodate fellow hobbyists, he purchased a gas station hydraulic lift, and used that as a turn table, so when fellows showed up at his home, he could raise or lower the turntable to reach each guys station wagons or flat beds, and roll their engines onto the TT, and then he could trun it to reach the lead in track.

He imported coal from a place in Scotland in 150 lb sacks, as it burned the best for his engines. To get the steam up, he would throw in the special coal, then an oil soaked rag, and lit it, then he had a modified Shop Vac, which he did somethng with the motor to slow it down, and would use modified adapters to place over the stack. By turning n the shop vac he got a quicker draft going, and good et a good head of steam up relativly quick.

If you did not own an engine, as a guest he would let you use one of his diesel locomotives, which were powere by two Briggs & Stratton lawn motor engines, each one powering the seperate set of "traction motors". One you proved youcould hande yourself, he wold lend you a steam engine.

Other than all the amazing trackwork and craftsmanship, and the size of the railroad, he had a full scale, Crossing gate protecting both sides of his drive way. wen a train approache the lights would flash and the arms would come down. What hit visuall was these massive cross bucks, but the thrack was only 7 in from rail to rail.

A very dear friend of mine, Bernie Denny started flying for Flagler airlines, as a navigator and over years become the senior navigator for Pan Am in their hay days. He had two passions, designing HO scale operating senic items, such as taking a HO scale size person and made the little guy to use the spark from an old Ford auto coil, and when you pressed a button the spark would jump across this little personshands and teh effect was it looked like he was welding. When he retired from Pan Am, he moveddown south do devote hisretirement time, rebuilding Steam powered Tug Boats.

During the height of the CB radio craze, to entertain them selves when returning from London to New York, the discovered that one of the radio frequencies available to them was the same as ( I think Chanel 17). and while ther would approach the US they would ammuse themselves by talking to truckers. Everytine a trucker or anyone would ask what they were driving they would say an 18 wheeler. These conversations used to while away the hours as they approached the US. (BTW - the 747 does have 18 wheels). when the truckers would as what type of radio yjey using tahey would ell them the name, as the trucker would get a signal strength hat pinned their needles.

If some trucker would ask what your 10-10 was, Bernie would int the mic, about 800 mile due east from NYC at 37000 feet. Used to drive the truckers crazy and when they asked what he was hauling, he would calmly state 300 plus people.

NG