All Steamed Up part 3

I realized that there was a kid's tractor pull coming up. Husband wanted to go talk to the 'train guys', so I turned on my cell phone and took off for the pull.

There were ages from about 3-4 up to around 8. The goal was to pedal the tractor as far as possible, with the weight increasing on the back as it moved forward. 

The ones that stood out.  A tiny, tiny little boy, that wanted to try so badly, but with his tush on the seat, he couldn't reach the pedals.  He tried standing up, kicking, tossing his feet 'round and round, no luck.  The judges finally told him good try, and gave him a participation ribbon.  He looked confused, and his mom told him that he needed go get up, the next person was going to try.  He looked at the ribbon, and sort of smiled, then said "I did it, I got on a tractor!"  He was so happy to just have been on the (toy) tractor, I don't think he even understood exactly what he was doing...

Another young boy, pedaled like mad, and then he hit the limits of what he could pull so fast, the tractor locked up, tipped backwards, and dumped him on his back.  He looked more confused than anything, and his dad ran out to check on him.  Little guy was juuuust on the verge of tears, when the judge said, "Did you know you did the longest pull yet?"  

THAT snapped him out of it!  

He jumped up, and told Dad, "I pulled it way long, Daddy!"  Dad was grinning, kid was grinning, and he was skipping as he went out. 

Young girl had cowboy boots on.  She was going like sixty, and then hit a spot where it was hard going for her.  She pushed, and then her boot slipped off the pedal.  She adjusted, tried again, and the OTHER boot slipped off (slick soles).  Her mom came out, and the girl looked up and asked if she could take her shoes off.  Judge and Mom, simultaneously, "NO."  She tried once more, halfheartedly, and then both feet slipped.  The judge said it was good enough...  

As they were leaving, I heard her mumble to herself, "I could have gone farther barefoot."  

There was a parade of tractors, and while I didn't get pics of all of them, here is a few.  I don't swear to this, but I *think* the big wheel on the upper left, was to use when it was stationary, for powering devices, otherwise it was disengaged as a tractor.  However, it could also be a flywheel...

I can't remember the name of this one, but it could hold several people in the back.  It had a very, VERY loud whistle, that came in useful with some ding dong that was standing in the road, on a phone, oblivious...  

This is a Great grand daddy Case tractor.  It always amazes me that these were steam engines, run usually by a large fire in a hold, that went out in the hottest point of the year, to cut, swath and pick up dry hay, grain, what have you...  And, occasionally, you had problems with this.  

Eeep.

This one I took because it was a nicely restored Allis-Chalmers.  But mostly because it reminds me of going out on the tractor with my dad...  (But we didn't have the umbrella... And ours was red with cat prints all over it...)

Next, whistle stop at the train yard!

All Steamed Up part 2

Walking around the area was a caution, you had to be aware of the drivers.  There is a reason that most of them are men... Those things are a monster to get turning one way or another, brute force is really an asset.  Quite a few of the rigs had 'chain drive'.  This amounted to a large logging style chain wrapped around the steering gear, which you more or less yarded on with levers to turn right or left.  This is NOT a Mini Cooper!

The various engines would roar to life, and they would parade around the outer perimeter of the area, then go back and park, to let others out.  Parking was its own unique experience, backing is possible, but slow and very cumbersome...

I went over to the stationary engine area, there was more than a few pumps.  Farms had to have water pulled up, and this was pretty much how they did it.  (And is that not a cute "fence post"???)  You would be amazed at how many of the machines just had a big old strap that would make some other machine work... OSHA wouldn't be pleased, but it was really a pretty effective way to get things going. (For these demos, they would put a hose in the pan to pull up water, then run it through the pump, to pump it in the pan... To pull it up again!)

Other than the amusement factor, (the little bird blew the exhaust out of its beak, giving it a Hee Haw-esque effect while the engine was running), I was not entirely sure what this small engine did.  I didn't see a sign, but I am guessing it was just a small power generator, for a small pump or washing machine.

This was rather cool to watch, it was a model of an actual Farmall, and the gent set it up on a pivot, so as the tractor moved, it would be continually turning, and it had tiny disks on the back.  If you look closely, you can see where the wheels and the disks were actually starting to 'plow in'.  Little Babushka stayed on very well, too!

Some gals were selling a quilt (I didn't win, sigh), and had some turn of the century sewing items to go with the other engines and such on display...

And someone with a sense of humor decided we needed Singer Farmalls, and John Deeres!

Next up, tractor pulling, and parade of vehicles...

All Steamed Up, part 1

Well, I decided to try a blog today.  The thing is holding up pretty well, I haven't lost a web page today, and I might even have stuff and nonsense to put on here!  So, without further ado, I will try and catch you up...

Been out and about some.  Husband has a friend (two friends, actually) that build and run model trains.  Bigger models, like the kind you can ride on.  Said friends invited Husband and I to an event called the Oregon Steam Up.  I'd been there before, but it had been a while ago.  We both thought it sounded like fun, and so we went up to Brooks, Oregon to see the sights...

We were able to get in early, as we were guests of the aforementioned train folks.  We found a spot to park and went in, getting the brochure for the gathering.

Minnesota Molines were the featured tractor for this year...

And as you can see, there was plenty of them to 'strut their stuff'.  In fact, there were a few more buzzing around, that I didn't get in the picture... 

Our friend showed up, and was hungry, so we went to the food court.  While waiting in line, I took a picture of this fancy little flivver.  Still don't know a thing about it, as I never saw anyone around it to drive, or a sign, nada.  But it was sure made up nicely!!!

This is where my nerdliness comes out.  I took this pic of the rig on the right, because on Doctor Who, that particular vehicle has been shown in a few different configurations. It is the same rig.  Different planets, different time periods, but it is the same little cart!  I grin here, geeky is fun...

So, husband and I split up, he wanted to go in the 'back' and talk with said friends, I wanted to take pictures.  We did quite a bit, but there is a LOT to see at this gathering...

They had a flag raising to start the show, and asked that everyone quiet the engines... Uhmm.  Easier said then done with some of the Johnny Poppers!  But it was enough to hear the pledge... "With Liberty, and Justice for All."

WHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!

All of the machines with whistles let fly to tell all it was open!  I also was deaf for a minute or so, because I was beside 4 of them... 

(Note to self, ear protection would be a GREAT idea next time!)

In part 2, the iron that was running about, chugging, popping, or just buzzing along!