The Horse's Arse....and a 'bit' more....

[sparks]

Found this while searching for gasoline octane ratings available world wide.

http://www.grandadventuresranch.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=236:the-importance-of-the-horses-ass&catid=117:fun-stuff&Itemid=85

There is an interesting twist in the story.

Whatever...........I'm still looking for a chart that shows octane ratings thru out the world.






sparks

[MountainDon]

Interesting find.



octane
http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/kitcar/kb.php?aid=124
http://forum.autoworld.com.my/index.php?showtopic=90862

[Squirl]

I laughed hard at this one and showed it around.  A local train enthusiest told me it is a common myth.
Snopes lists it as false, but not totally false.  It is an interesting read.
http://www.snopes.com/history/american/gauge.asp

[MountainDon]

That one slipped by my BS meter. 

[Windpower]

we went to the Illinois Railway museum over the weekend

we had a great time

It was a 'special' show

I road in a train that carried President Taft on his campaign

the oldest train we rode in was 102 years old a Chicago "L" train complete with leather straps to hang onto

they didn't have any steam running this year -- they are down for maintenance

most were electric -- some diesel

the largest steam engine weighed in at 950,000 pounds -- the driving wheels were over 6 feet in diameter

I post some pics later


here is their modest website

http://www.irm.org/index.html

[sparks]

Thanks for the info Don....

Windpower.....it's a nice museum...haven't been there in years.

In the rail industry (US), the gauge is 4 feet 8 and one half inches measured one half inch below the top of the ball of the rail on tangent (straight) track. It varies somewhat for curves, spirals, and superelevation. In theory, if the wheels of a railcar with a one inch flange travel across a properly, geometrically aligned section of track, it's very close to being frictionless. A ten thousand ton loaded coal train seldom exceeds 2HP per ton.

But where did that gauge come from? Aah, who knows, but many , many years ago, an old railroad head gave me his perspective on the subject.......had something to do with crossties. And spikes. He never said a thing about the horses arses.

To this day, I ponder his wisdom........after all, that gauge had to come from somewhere. Who knows?





sparks