Jerry Day Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Herb:
>
> I like to see this stuff operate as much as
> anyone. I have been researching and writing about
> D&RGW MOW equipment since the 60s. But, unique,
> one-of-a-kind historic aircraft have been
> destroyed while flying at air shows.
>
> An example would be Rotary OY. The poor thing
> almost came apart last time it was used. The D&RGW
> never operated it the way it has been used on the
> C&TS. The Rio Grande ran it Jan-March or early
> April at the latest when the snow was mostly
> powder. They never ran it in May when the snow was
> hard packed or ice. OY has not been used for 11
> years and probably never will be again. I am glad
> I saw it run (helps with my book projects to have
> seen one run), but I hope it is preserved rather
> than used up.
>
> Jerry Day
> Longmont, CO
True about the historic aircraft but flight is inherantly less forgiving than rail travel! LOL!
And you are also right about the rotaries. They were not designed as ice cutters and to use them as such was irresponsible.
Both of the above examples, however, are irrelevant to the discussion but are good examples of the frequently heard attitude of fragility to which I spoke above.
To use OB to drive some piles would not be irresponsible or dangerous beyond the inherent dangers of any operating piece of machinery.