Quiet on here?

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Lopez Mike
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Re: Quiet on here?

Post by Lopez Mike » Thu Oct 10, 2019 5:19 am

As many of you know, our North West Steam Society has a program of annual inspections of boats that are allowed to attend our events. This includes a hydro test to 1.5 times the setting of the safety valve.

At one of our annual events a non-member showed up with his boat and refused to test his boiler on the grounds that, "It would strain my boiler." What????

He left. We are still holding our breaths.

We do our best.
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DetroiTug
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Re: Quiet on here?

Post by DetroiTug » Thu Oct 10, 2019 2:46 pm

Quote: "Unfortunately the number of folks around who are ambulatory and of sound mind that would spend the time to go to bat with law makers over "sensible legislation" is quickly waning. "

Yes, in our small numbers we would be ineffectual to say the least. I doubt the states would spends hundreds of thousands of dollars writing and enforcing laws regarding us, it would be much more "sensible" to them to just outlaw altogether the operation of small high pressure, publicly displayed steam boats.

If they did it would look something like this:

- Only approved code boiler designs accepted, forget the monotube, Ofeldt's etc
- Only approved piping schemes drawn up by an engineering firm, submitted to the state regulatory board for approval - for a fee
- No changes made to the system without prior approval
- Any changes must be inspected by the state before operation - for a fee
- All owner/operators of said equipment must complete a state run course in safe boiler operation and maintain current license - for an annual fee of course.
- No work shall be performed on said system other than licensed state approved steam engineers.
- All operators must show and carry proof of adequate liability insurance

In short, coupled with the waning interest, it would be the end of our hobby, they may as well outlaw it. My experience with anything the state or Fed's mandate, the cost doesn't improve. A small code boiler would be 20 grand.

Sound far fetched? Talk to anyone who does or has ever owned and operated a light hobby aircraft. The FAA has about "legislated" that hobby out of existence. Just recently, they have been backing off on some of the restrictions to prevent killing it altogether.

The best thing to do is what we've been doing, police ourselves. If we see someone doing something questionable, point it out whether they appreciate it or not, explain to them why it is dangerous, throw them out of the meet etc. (+ etc) :)

-Ron
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cyberbadger
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Re: Quiet on here?

Post by cyberbadger » Thu Oct 10, 2019 3:02 pm

DetroiTug wrote:
Thu Oct 10, 2019 2:46 pm
Quote: "Unfortunately the number of folks around who are ambulatory and of sound mind that would spend the time to go to bat with law makers over "sensible legislation" is quickly waning. "
The legislation will happen when an accident happens.

An accident is not going to end the hobby, that is fear mongering. The public and the courts realize that a few bad apples does not mean that banning is necessary.

I live adjacent to Medina County. A traction engine that had no business being fired in 2001 was at a show and exploded, 4 died instantly, dozens scalded.

And yet that hobby still exists.

Suddenly it was obvious, independent inspections must occur by law yearly and as well as getting hours experience under someone trained and passing a test to get a historical boiler operator license.

-CB
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Re: Quiet on here?

Post by TahoeSteam » Sat Oct 12, 2019 2:34 am

I wonder how much money and how many hours were spent lobbying the Ohio State legislature by hobbyists, museums, railroads, etc to get that favorable outcome (considering the alternative)? How many of those folks still have the resources, energy, or pulse to duplicate that effort today? I believe other states took to even more restrictive legislation following that incident. That was nearly two decades ago mind you... When people were less prone to having extreme stances or making extreme decisions, and were more likely to work together to find a solution that worked for everyone.
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Re: Quiet on here?

Post by TahoeSteam » Sun Oct 13, 2019 4:48 pm

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DetroiTug
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Re: Quiet on here?

Post by DetroiTug » Sun Oct 13, 2019 11:04 pm

Cool video, I met Charlie over at Waterford NY, during the steam meet.

-Ron
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Re: Quiet on here?

Post by DetroiTug » Sun Oct 13, 2019 11:10 pm

Quote: "That was nearly two decades ago mind you... When people were less prone to having extreme stances or making extreme decisions, and were more likely to work together to find a solution that worked for everyone."

A lot has changed in 20 years. Now people are trying to outlaw drinking straws, cows, Internal combustion engines, words - pronouns, bathroom scales, mothers day, fathers day, Valentines day, clothes with any sort of ethnic reference, any sort of religious reference. you name it. Not sure where all that is going to end up.

-Ron
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Re: Quiet on here?

Post by TahoeSteam » Mon Oct 14, 2019 4:50 am

DetroiTug wrote:
Sun Oct 13, 2019 11:10 pm
Quote: "That was nearly two decades ago mind you... When people were less prone to having extreme stances or making extreme decisions, and were more likely to work together to find a solution that worked for everyone."

A lot has changed in 20 years. Now people are trying to outlaw drinking straws, cows, Internal combustion engines, words - pronouns, bathroom scales, mothers day, fathers day, Valentines day, clothes with any sort of ethnic reference, any sort of religious reference. you name it. Not sure where all that is going to end up.

-Ron
I hear you on that
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Re: Quiet on here?

Post by TahoeSteam » Mon Oct 14, 2019 4:50 am

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Re: Quiet on here?

Post by cyberbadger » Tue Oct 15, 2019 4:24 am

If this link doesn't work in your country I have captured it and put it on youtube...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-XVaa5bKiA

-CB
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