[ARC5] OT: DY-17? Hmph!

[Richard Knoppow]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Everette" <radiocompass at yahoo.com>
To: "Arc5" <arc5 at mailman.qth.net>; 
<kgordon2006 at frontier.com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2012 4:42 AM
Subject: Re: [ARC5] OT: DY-17? Hmph!


>
>> >
>> > How about.....
>> > a real. honest-to-goodness Model 19 Teletype!
>>
>> Yes! I had one! And a model 15 page printer, and a model 
>> 14
>> typing
>> reperforator, and a TD, and....
>>
>> > Like having a steam locomotive in the house with you.
>>
>> Several, in fact. Yes! :-)
>
> Lots and lots of noise, but far more palatable than the 
> screech of an ART-13 dynamotor.
>
> And it's hardly the same as a steam locomotive, though the 
> shaking of the house is sorta like what happens when a 
> railroad runs thru the front yard as was the case where I 
> grew up.
>
> Try riding in the cab of a steam locomotive some time 
> (there are places where you can do this) and then tell me 
> it's "the same."  I think not.
>
> (I do love steam locomotives.)
>
> Now if you REALLY want radio noise, try the 28vdc-115v 400 
> cy AC inverter from an ARN-7... hardly a joyful noise, and 
> as I have opined here before, it is the love child of a 
> Whelen Fire Truck Siren and a Hoover Industrial Vacuum 
> Cleaner, GUARANTEED to clear the house of every living 
> entity.
>
> 73
>
> Mike
> W4DSE

     The Orange Empire Railroad Museum at Peris California 
has a working steam locomotive.  I do not know what the 
current schedule is but they used to fire it up about twice 
a year and give rides.  When I first rode behind it I was 
surprised it make very little noise and only a barely 
audible chuffing. Well, its an industrial type, designed to 
pull very heavy loads very slowly. I hardly even has to be 
awake to pull a few assorted cars with railfans in them. 
When a steam locomotive is working hard it makes a 
resounding noise, very loud, but when idling along its 
almost silent. I think this is why locomotives must have 
bells ringing continuously when in the yard.
    There are a few places in the U.S. where one can still 
see or ride a working steam locomotive.  If you can manage 
to get to one please do so.  Steamers are almost living 
things when working.  There were very good reasons that they 
were supplanted by diesel-electric but diesels just don't 
have the magic.


--
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles
WB6KBL
dickburk at ix.netcom.com