Memories for us old truckers

I realized I should have posted this over in the overload thread, because this project is already over-loading the local’s patience. The Hwy was never intended for this sort of traffic. School busses still stop on the Richardson to transport kids.

I’m surprised the permitting went through. AKDOT has plenty of work planned through FY25 adding passing lanes, bridge upgrades and such.

Fortunately, there are no steep grades, but there are some drop-offs and it won’t be long until trucks start falling off the road.

Coaldust said:

Fortunately, there are no steep grades, but there are some drop-offs and it won’t be long until trucks start falling off the road.

Click to expand...

Always in those situations, it brings in drivers that are not accustom to that type of heavy hauling
and quick thinking. Back in the 70's on the AK pipeline---if you didn't have verifiable experience
driving off road/logging your chances were slim to none for a job. Mainly hired from PNW,
I remember Dave telling me if your home address was in the midwest--more than likely you were
out of luck. Just the way it was then.

In this photo sets a 1984 359 Pete setting on the fence line--I completely rebuilt it from radiator
to last drive axle. It had a 7FB 400 that I out of framed and put CAC on from a 1986, 3.70 with
a 15 over, it would roll. Funny story about Dave Holiday.
*
The Ag company I worked for did custom grain hauling during harvest. The company also custom
hauled peas to the cannery with a about 20 leased IH ten wheelers. When that ended the office
sent a few drivers up to check out for pulling A trains for grain harvest, a guy from the office
drove Dave Holiday up for a interview. When he walked in I knew I wasn't looking at some
sawbuck, it was the way he carried himself. He didn't really talk much just what was asked of him.
I told him I had this nice T600 with a 350 4CK Cat and a real nice Super Ten for him to drive.
What a great tractor it was, how comfortable it was and quiet. He just looked at me didn't say
a word. Before he came in the shop I saw him walking around the 84 Pete.
*
He showed the Monday of the next week all ready to go. {What's with that 359 with the white
Cat and Retarder setting on the fence he asked}. Oh that's just for looking at, I keep that
around as a yard goat and hang flower pots off the mirrors in the spring time. {He raised one
eye brow walked out and drove off in the 600. Next morning he came in the shop-What do you
think of that fine 600 KW? It's just a Sweet Heart ain't it? His look was one of total disgust.
That Pete just sets around here holding the ground down Huh? Can't do nothing with it?--Nope.
*
Wednesday morning he showed up came in the shop with a GREAT BIG GRIN. I had hooked
the Pete to his set of grain trailers. The rest was history with he and I--I knew when I first
saw him I could have some fun---just because he walked around that old girl before his interview.
*

Coaldust said:

There is an interesting haul that is just gearing up. The Manh Choh is going to haul gold ore from Tetlin, down the Richardson, the Steese, and to Fort Knox for processing.

Black Gold Transportation in FAI has the contract.

K-dubs and Pete’s pulling 95-foot-long combos with 40-ton double side dumps. The plan is to run an average of 60 ore loads a day. PACCAR is cranking out tractors as fast as BGT can cut the checks.

They are competing for drivers and will have a camp for rotational employees to stay at. If someone wanted to stack piles of cash for awhile, this is one way to do it. I’m half tempted to hit the highway and make a few bucks with a BGT truck.

View attachment 307515

Click to expand...

interesting looking rig wonder what they`ll use to get to ft knox

Nash 4x4

^ Got Wood?^

skyking1 said:

^ Got Wood?^

Click to expand...

Wouldn't all like to have that wood in todays world.

1950--First vehicle to cross the new then, Bridge over the Columbia River in East Wenatchee.
About a 47-48 IH K8.
*

Here is a very fine example of a scam--I read about this car three years ago, nothing matched
up then as a super fast street racer--it had a hemi--but it was bone stock. A made up story
that has grown to absurd levels--this car sold for 1mil at auction--all built on BS. There is a
ex writer that has written about this car as being no more than a 14 second car-he wrote for
a Dodge muscle mag. This is one of those stories that got traction and kept going. Most of
what's in this video is total hearsay.
*

The late owners sidekick tells about stoplight to stoplight racing...he wasn't out playing with the "big boys".

Ed

Bumpsteer said:

The late owners sidekick tells about stoplight to stoplight racing...he wasn't out playing with the "big boys".

Ed

Click to expand...

Correct.

This photo reminds me of one that happened in my old company. 2014 Coronado, Lime Canyon
I-84 driver laid it on it's side. Guard rail came through windshield right past drivers head and
shot out the back of sleeper. He was terminated--but still drives like an a$$. Has been seen
descending Cabbage {100,000 GVW} at 60 mph, one of these days.
*

Lime Canyon is no joke.

skyking1 said:

Lime Canyon is no joke.

Click to expand...

Flashing amber lights to warn low speed through some turns.

Oddity for it's time---Twice pipes with a semaphore signal. Nice truck back then, even now.
*

This photo came up on another site---It's a KW assembly line, the number on the cab would
put it somewhere in 1945 I think. Another guy and I think it's a photo of assembly line during
WWII in the Yakima plant. KW moved civilian assembly there during the war. A neighbor years
ago showed me B&W photos of the Yakima shop when he worked there, he lived in Selah at
the time. The cabs are right for time period---no vent windows, rare photo.
*

Nice picture
I wonder where the plant was?
EDIT: I see the little vents behind the firewall.

skyking1 said:

Nice picture
I wonder where the plant was?
EDIT: I see the little vents behind the firewall.

Click to expand...

skyking1 said:

I wonder where the plant was?

Click to expand...

Over the tracks westside from 1st Ave, in the area of the old Washington Produce building, it would
be 2nd or 3rd IIRC. Area of N. 1st.

That is what I was thinking. That area was really connected to the rail yards well on the north end. Thanks.
EDIT:
That was where the designee had me parallel park and back a dock back in 1991 for the CDL. I had not practiced the latter, he gave me a mulligan there

111