Robert Pence

Here are a couple of URLs about diesel-electric hybrid buses from New Flyer of America. http://www.newflyer.com/ http://transit.metrokc.gov/am/vehicles/hy-diesel.html It sounds like they use a combination of diesel-mechanical and electric drive, with batteries in a rooftop compartment. Electric power from the batteries is used for acceleration, and the system shifts gradually toward mechanical drive at speed. That allows the diesel engine to operate continuously in an optimal rpm/torque range and eliminates the low-rpm/high-torque diesel acceleration that makes noise and spews particulates. Regenerative braking recovers the energy dissipated in braking to recharge the batteries. New Flyer claims a reduction of 90 per cent in fuel consumption and pollution over the best conventional diesel-mechanical drives. I think the buses shown in the video are by Renault. Personally, I'd like to see straight trolley-bus operation for zero noise and emissions. The hybrid has distinct advantages, though; it avoids the cost of installing/maintaining catenary and frees buses from dependency on overhead wires, avoiding the disruption caused by power failures or events like traffic accidents that block the trolley route.

I hadn't thought of that, but it's a great idea! Make the ferry part of the interstate highway system, and maybe the feds will fund it.

Maybe if Port Stanley were to become conveniently accessible from Cleveland, it would become fun and exciting like Akron is. :lol:

I was looking for info on the Detroit-Superior Bridge tours, and googled "Detroit-Superior Bridge." That took me to zaceman's post on Skyscrapercity.com about the pedestrian/bike path that had a couple of photos, one of which looked awfully familiar; closer inspection confirmed that it was one I had taken and emailed to an artist friend in San Francisco, who had posted it on his site; from Skyscrapercity.com, I can't remember the exact path that brought me here, but I just started following links. When I got to urbanohio.com, I liked what I saw and just stuck around. :)

Nightmare in Asphalt! Look at all those parking lots! :shock:

Remember when the Chamber of Commerce or economic development folks or somebody wanted to change Hamilton's official name to Hamilton! (with the exclamation point) to convey a sense of energy and excitement?<giggle! snort!> In the same vein, I've been trying to get Fort Wayne's name changed to fortwayne. to convey the sentiment of the old guard, that there's no nonsense and no excitement that that's just the way they like it, by God! In the late 1970's, Mad Magazine ran a strip about the fictional ultraconservative town of Dacron, Ohio, where the mayor's cross-dressing son had created a scandal involving numerous prominent citizens.

I didn't know about that rule. I'm sure I've seen it broken at least twice, here.

Some pretty fabulous detail on the courthouse!

It's sad that mass transit is recognized only as a last resort rather than as an integral part of planning for successful development.

I believe it's similar. That was the first cable-stayed bridge I saw, and it made quite an impression on me. I was on my way to Harrisburg from Indianapolis, got a late start, and after a harried night-time drive across Ohio on I-70, stopped in Steubenville to get some sleep. I headed out in the morning, and first caught sight of that bridge gleaming in the morning sun. It made quite a contrast with the grit, dust and rust of Steubenville! I think that was about 1991, and the bridge looked pretty new. If my memory is correct, though, the bridge at Steubenville is somewhat different from the proposed I-280 bridge. Doesn't the one at Steubenville have a pylon that ascends on both sides of the roadway and then comes together at the top? I have a picture somewhere, but I'm too tired :sleep: tonight to look for it.

I read recently that there's a plan at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to put an Amtrak station at the airport. Fifteen years ago when I flew into Harrisburg on business and watched a Keystone Service train pass just on the other side of the fence from the terminal parking lot, I wondered why they hadn't done it already.

Marion Steam Shovels dug the Panama Canal. The ones used on that project were huge, but they built all sizes. There are pictures of a smaller Marion Steamshovel here

Nice town, nice buildings, nice pics! The Top-of_Ohio bikeway is anchored there, and Zane Caverns are nearby; the last I knew, maps of the bike route were available at the library. I rode it several years ago, and it's decent; it goes by many of the area attractions. It's hilly!

We call highway lobbyists "roadfans." Wish you luck in your endevor. Among serious rail enthusiasts and supporters of rail passenger service, "railfan" and "foamer" are approximately synonymous, and conjure up the image of an obsessed doofus in a striped jacket and engineer's cap festooned with railroad patches and pins, four or more cameras hanging from his neck and a radio scanner programmed to railroad operating frequencies attached to his belt, dashing frenziedly through dangerous places to get pictures. Or he may be esconced with another of his ilk in the lounge or in the coach seat directly behind you, loudly spouting statistics :yap: or engaging in a game of "can you top this" with narratives of fantastic (to him) exploits and adventures. He's usually a legend in his own mind :-) and among the most obnoxious and maladjusted :weird: of creatures. If he hasn't found any other railfans on board and suspects that you have the slightest interest in trains, he'll immediately become your buddy for life, or at least for the duration of your trip. In short, it's not a compliment to be called a railfan. Rail enthusiast is somewhat better, or passenger train advocate, etc.

A friend in Cleveland sent me this link to a sign museum opening in Cincinnati October 1. http://www.signmuseum.com/index.html

The fall 2004 issue of Rails to Trails has an interview with Ohio Governor Bob Taft. He expresses enthusiastic support fortrails, and Ohio's enthusiasm for trails seems evident. Last year I rode part of the Canal Towpath and was impressed by the quality of the trail and the number of users. Contrast that with Indiana; several years ago, railroad salvage contractor L.B. Foster gave 110 miles of former Erie-Lackawanna right-of-way, stripped of rails and ties, to Indiana DNR for development as a rail trail. After a few months of hand-wringing and whining ("It might cost a lot to develop;" "Liability insurance might be expensive;" "Property owners will probably take us to court."), the DNR parceled it out to abutting land owners. :stupid:

Some great buildings, and an unusual courthouse. I like it.

:lol: Sounds familiar! Plus, after everyone gets excited about it and community support is committed, you can cite cost overruns and labor delays as the reasons for only building the first 450 feet "at this time," and deferring the carousel until some unspecified later date.

To get local support, propose a 950-foot carousel :lol: .