A dear old friend who passed away last year has/ had one of those. He’s was also a boiler certified, Because of the pressure created by the steam, those have to be inspected yearly. I’ve actually ridden on it, a few years back.
In John Bodnar’s honor a antique tractor shows occurs on his ranch. Antique tractors, perhaps my favorite part is the single cylinder, engines.
John was an old school mechanic, their was nothing in this world John couldn’t fix. RIP brother!
ghostsniperJune 21, 2022, 5:53 PM
Here in tractor country there is a yearly tractor show in the spring at the county fairgrounds. Man it’s something to see, for people not afraid to get their hands durty.
There are long lines of the single cylinder jobs doing all sorts of things as they huff and puff along. Each sounds like it is barely running.
The main feature each year is the enormous compilage of steam apparatuses working in unison to harvest forestry, all staged of course. 80′ long leather belts driving a host of cast iron machines doing various things to turn raw trees into ready to use lumber. It’s a sight to see. Lot’s of black and white smoke.
One year I bought a short length of railroad track that has served as my anvil hundreds of times.
Another time I bought 4 matched bullseye glass windows 2’x4′ that I cleaned up, etched leaves and ferns on the glass, fabricated hardwood aprons and legs for, and sold for $600 each. I paid $10 for each window and enjoyed the hell out of creating the end results. I can’t wait to get to the next tractor show!
ThisIsNotNutellaJune 21, 2022, 5:25 PM
Roll a column of these belching behemoths through the Overton Window, someone please.
TerryJune 21, 2022, 8:08 PM
Big steam engines were used when I was a kid to run saws and etc. at the lumber mills. Free fuel from saw dust and skimming cuts. One engine was a Corliss with a 24″ bore and I remember a 48″ stroke. It made 500 HP and ran 24 / 7 excepting maintenance done on Sunday.
Some of my family worked at this mill and a couple others. My grand dad had a huge Corliss air compressor at the family owned gold mine between Sonora and Columbia. All of the machinery at the mines and lumber mills was gigantic.
Terry I know that area well! The river out of hetch hetchy?, below Groveland, is a sensational class Five plus white water raft. Use to raft it annually, I’ve had my ass kicked on that stretch of the river many times, swam or drank more river water then my fair share. One must be on their A game for that float,at least the upper section.
Still own seven eight or nine catarafts, all custom built by WING inflatables. “ they made the IBS/IBL series of rafts for Navy, Marine corps special warfare, back then.
Toughest boats on the water. We use to thrash these boats, boulder busting down some of the toughest water west of the Mississippi.
We were young men them, could bench press small Buicks. Had to stop at 55, just not quick enough or strong enough anymore to avert disaster. Talk about a head rush!
Groveland Ca, north to say The Yuba river complex , off of highway 70 is a white water rafters dream. Every trip was a great adventure. We have many hundreds under our belt. A bit further south is the Kern river, another kick ass series of whitewater adventure.
Real World Address for Donations, Mash Notes and Hate Mail
Gerard Van der Leun
1692 MANGROVE AVE
APT 379
Chico, Ca 95926
Green Pants Interior by Klahn
Who Am I? by Carl Sandburg
My head knocks against the stars.
My feet are on the hilltops.
My finger-tips are in the valleys and shores of universal life.
Down in the sounding foam of primal things I reach my hands and play with pebbles of destiny.
I have been to hell and back many times.
I know all about heaven, for I have talked with God.
I dabble in the blood and guts of the terrible.
I know the passionate seizure of beauty
And the marvelous rebellion of man at all signs reading “Keep Off.”
My name is Truth and I am the most elusive captive in the universe.
Duty, Beauty, Liberty, Country, Honor, Family, Faith — Plus a few simple easy to follow rules for guys
Men saw the stars at the edge of the sea
They thought great thoughts about liberty
Poets wrote down words that did fit
Writers wrote books
Thinkers thought about it
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
Many’s the road I have walked upon
Many’s the hour between dusk and dawn
Many’s the time
Many’s the mile
I see it all now
Through the eyes of a child
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
And close your eyes
Leave it all for a while
Leave the world
And your worries behind
You will build on whatever is real
And wake up each day
To a new waking dream
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Change, change come over
Change come over
Talkin’ about a change
Change, change
Change come over, now
Change, change, change come over
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
Gerard Van der Leun
Comments on this entry are closed.
A dear old friend who passed away last year has/ had one of those. He’s was also a boiler certified, Because of the pressure created by the steam, those have to be inspected yearly. I’ve actually ridden on it, a few years back.
In John Bodnar’s honor a antique tractor shows occurs on his ranch. Antique tractors, perhaps my favorite part is the single cylinder, engines.
John was an old school mechanic, their was nothing in this world John couldn’t fix. RIP brother!
Here in tractor country there is a yearly tractor show in the spring at the county fairgrounds. Man it’s something to see, for people not afraid to get their hands durty.
There are long lines of the single cylinder jobs doing all sorts of things as they huff and puff along. Each sounds like it is barely running.
The main feature each year is the enormous compilage of steam apparatuses working in unison to harvest forestry, all staged of course. 80′ long leather belts driving a host of cast iron machines doing various things to turn raw trees into ready to use lumber. It’s a sight to see. Lot’s of black and white smoke.
One year I bought a short length of railroad track that has served as my anvil hundreds of times.
Another time I bought 4 matched bullseye glass windows 2’x4′ that I cleaned up, etched leaves and ferns on the glass, fabricated hardwood aprons and legs for, and sold for $600 each. I paid $10 for each window and enjoyed the hell out of creating the end results. I can’t wait to get to the next tractor show!
Roll a column of these belching behemoths through the Overton Window, someone please.
Big steam engines were used when I was a kid to run saws and etc. at the lumber mills. Free fuel from saw dust and skimming cuts. One engine was a Corliss with a 24″ bore and I remember a 48″ stroke. It made 500 HP and ran 24 / 7 excepting maintenance done on Sunday.
This lumber mill: https://www.abandonedrails.com/west-side-lumber-company
Some of my family worked at this mill and a couple others. My grand dad had a huge Corliss air compressor at the family owned gold mine between Sonora and Columbia. All of the machinery at the mines and lumber mills was gigantic.
Terry I know that area well! The river out of hetch hetchy?, below Groveland, is a sensational class Five plus white water raft. Use to raft it annually, I’ve had my ass kicked on that stretch of the river many times, swam or drank more river water then my fair share. One must be on their A game for that float,at least the upper section.
Still own seven eight or nine catarafts, all custom built by WING inflatables. “ they made the IBS/IBL series of rafts for Navy, Marine corps special warfare, back then.
Toughest boats on the water. We use to thrash these boats, boulder busting down some of the toughest water west of the Mississippi.
We were young men them, could bench press small Buicks. Had to stop at 55, just not quick enough or strong enough anymore to avert disaster. Talk about a head rush!
Groveland Ca, north to say The Yuba river complex , off of highway 70 is a white water rafters dream. Every trip was a great adventure. We have many hundreds under our belt. A bit further south is the Kern river, another kick ass series of whitewater adventure.
My parents own a home in Groveland.