Whatzit?

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webenda
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Re: Whatzit?

Postby webenda » Wed Oct 06, 2021 1:06 pm

Rufus T. Firefly wrote:
sleepmac wrote:Possibly a tiny turntable for reversing rail speeders?


Seems linked to the switch as well. Maybe for reversing small engines to run around the trains? I see gearing but nothing obvious for actuating that gearing to rotate the section.


Dan got it.

Rufus, no gearing, actuation is two men pushing the locomotive around as hard as they can.

Image

There does not appear to be any link between the switch and the rod that pulls the lock out of the turntable. If there is, the switch stand could serve a dual purpose.

Source: https://railwaypages.com/portage-flyer
Trackside Treasure: Portage Flyer passengers focus their attention on the train as they stretch their legs on the station platform in the background while we focus ours on this odd little home-built turntable at the east end of the line. It was built around an old salvaged swing-bearing from a Cat excavator, as was its partner at the western terminus. They are only used during steam season in July and August, as the diesel is a bit too long and heavy for this one in particular, which can be a bit of a bear for two people to push by hand, even with the little tea-kettle on it.
--Charles Cooper

The Tea-Kettles
Image

Edit 2: Possible turn table/switch link acknowledged.
Last edited by webenda on Wed Oct 06, 2021 7:19 pm, edited 2 times in total.
----Wayne----

Back when I was growing up, if you didn't start someth'n, there wouldn't be noth'n.
--Merle Haggard

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Rufus T. Firefly
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Re: Whatzit?

Postby Rufus T. Firefly » Wed Oct 06, 2021 1:58 pm

webenda wrote:
Rufus T. Firefly wrote:
sleepmac wrote:Possibly a tiny turntable for reversing rail speeders?


Seems linked to the switch as well. Maybe for reversing small engines to run around the trains? I see gearing but nothing obvious for actuating that gearing to rotate the section.


Dan got it.

Rufus, no gearing, actuation is two men pushing the locomotive around as hard as they can.


So those teeth on the interior of the ring are just for decoration? Or, residual from the source of the ring itself....

There does not appear to be any link between the switch and the rod that pulls the lock out of the turntable. That would not make sense. You want the lock in lock position while moving on or off the turntable no matter which way the switch is set.


That far end of that rod appeared to be located with some relationship with the switch mechanism. But, I could not see any good reason for it to be associated. Not everything is obvious.
The average train of thought isn’t big enough to carry a full sized opinion on any subject.

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webenda
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Re: Whatzit?

Postby webenda » Wed Oct 06, 2021 7:10 pm

Rufus T. Firefly wrote:So those teeth on the interior of the ring are just for decoration? Or, residual from the source of the ring itself....


Residual... the turntable was built by bolting rails to an old salvaged swing-bearing from a Cat excavator.

Image

Image
Swing or Slew bearing cut away. The upper excavator structure is fastened to the outer part of the swing bearing. The annular gear is bolted to the lower excavatorstructure.

Image
The swing (or slew) motors in the upper structure drive a pinion that engages the annular gear in the swing bearing.
And around and around the excavator swings.
https://youtu.be/XnbNa3s7MOQ
----Wayne----

Back when I was growing up, if you didn't start someth'n, there wouldn't be noth'n.
--Merle Haggard

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Rufus T. Firefly
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Re: Whatzit?

Postby Rufus T. Firefly » Fri Oct 08, 2021 12:05 pm

webenda wrote:
Rufus T. Firefly wrote:So those teeth on the interior of the ring are just for decoration? Or, residual from the source of the ring itself....


Residual... the turntable was built by bolting rails to an old salvaged swing-bearing from a Cat excavator.


Yes, I did read that. Clever salvage use...
The average train of thought isn’t big enough to carry a full sized opinion on any subject.

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webenda
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Re: Whatzit?

Postby webenda » Mon Oct 11, 2021 1:20 pm

Whatzit?
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----Wayne----

Back when I was growing up, if you didn't start someth'n, there wouldn't be noth'n.
--Merle Haggard

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webenda
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Re: Whatzit?

Postby webenda » Tue Oct 12, 2021 9:50 am

It is ants.
----Wayne----

Back when I was growing up, if you didn't start someth'n, there wouldn't be noth'n.
--Merle Haggard

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webenda
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Re: Whatzit?

Postby webenda » Tue Oct 12, 2021 9:56 am

Next:
Whatzit?
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----Wayne----

Back when I was growing up, if you didn't start someth'n, there wouldn't be noth'n.
--Merle Haggard

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Rufus T. Firefly
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Re: Whatzit?

Postby Rufus T. Firefly » Tue Oct 12, 2021 11:03 am

some sort of mushroom; amanita??
The average train of thought isn’t big enough to carry a full sized opinion on any subject.

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webenda
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Re: Whatzit?

Postby webenda » Wed Oct 13, 2021 12:47 am

Mushroom is correct.

When they open up, ants eat them. This is very strange because only one species of ant is known to eat mushrooms and it does not live in Kentucky.
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----Wayne----

Back when I was growing up, if you didn't start someth'n, there wouldn't be noth'n.
--Merle Haggard

E7
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Re: Whatzit?

Postby E7 » Wed Oct 13, 2021 3:08 am

webenda wrote: This is very strange because only one species of ant is known to eat mushrooms and it does not live in Kentucky.


Perhaps no one told that to those ants!

Rich

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webenda
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Re: Whatzit?

Postby webenda » Wed Oct 13, 2021 4:30 am

E7 wrote:
webenda wrote: This is very strange because only one species of ant is known to eat mushrooms and it does not live in Kentucky.


Perhaps no one told that to those ants!

Rich

https://www.scientificamerican.com/arti ... rthropods/
----Wayne----

Back when I was growing up, if you didn't start someth'n, there wouldn't be noth'n.
--Merle Haggard

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Rufus T. Firefly
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Re: Whatzit?

Postby Rufus T. Firefly » Wed Oct 13, 2021 8:16 am

webenda wrote:Mushroom is correct.

When they open up, ants eat them. This is very strange because only one species of ant is known to eat mushrooms and it does not live in Kentucky.


Things do change and there are unknowns.
The average train of thought isn’t big enough to carry a full sized opinion on any subject.

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webenda
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Re: Whatzit?

Postby webenda » Sun Oct 17, 2021 8:55 pm

Whatzit?
Image
----Wayne----

Back when I was growing up, if you didn't start someth'n, there wouldn't be noth'n.
--Merle Haggard

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webenda
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Re: Whatzit?

Postby webenda » Mon Oct 18, 2021 5:21 pm

Whatzitclue2
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----Wayne----

Back when I was growing up, if you didn't start someth'n, there wouldn't be noth'n.
--Merle Haggard

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Rufus T. Firefly
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Re: Whatzit?

Postby Rufus T. Firefly » Mon Oct 18, 2021 6:22 pm

No one I recognize as yet.......although maybe some slight resemblance to Jeff Goldblum.
The average train of thought isn’t big enough to carry a full sized opinion on any subject.


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