Yeh, I understand Jeff, and am grateful for the good old running pieces of machinery that we have and use regularly. I wasn't trying to seem ungrateful. A shovel with a short handle is better than no shovel at all when you have a ditch to dig. What I was thinking about was some of the relics we have accumulated that are slowly moving to the scrap pile that never had any real potential like the drag line for example. I remember when it was unloaded and thinking geez what are we going to do with that.
Going back to SV Catoads post about the KaBoom Truck. Other readers not familiar with this new addition might like to know what it is about: A family that has long been connected in one way or another with SVRR donated it over the winter. It is an old telephone co. line truck with hydraulic telescoping boom, with a hoist line and also the ability to run a detachable auger. It is probably mid 60's vintage. I had been thinking ever since I got started with SVRy that a small crane would be great to have. The engine runs like a dog, but I am sure when Scott gets the time to install a new or rebuilt carb. and tune up the ignition it will be fine. It will work for lifting steam dome covers and a lot of things like that. Jerry and Jim took the truck to Sumpter to use it to lift rail to work on extending the track to the crossing next to the depot, but the truck broke down as far as the engine running as soon as they got there and to add to the frustration they had to tinker with it just to get it out of the road. Long story short a large rough terain forlift has been rented for the weekend to accomplish what the KaBoom truck was intended to do. Jerry should post the saga of him and Scott getting the truck from the N. side of Baker City up to the rr.