Just wanted to update you folks on the startup. There was a public TV station there and also a retired Cat public relations film maker whom was hired out of retirement by Cat to do a free lance gig on it. I have not seen any film yet even though I was interviewed by both. The pony behaved well, even with the big crowd, and popped off on the second crank. The last person to run the snowplow when it came out of retirement briefly in 1979 heard about it and was on his way from Alaska for the event when his transfer case crapped in his pickup. He jumped on a plane and got here in time for the doings. It was only fitting that he sat in the cab and jerked the throttle when it was time to start the main. It fired easily. Now I am working with the Esko High School, honor role media students, whom are producing a documentary of the steps required to wake up and start the snowplow after a long nap. I kiddingly said that I will get the Finnish Oscar in 2050 when they look at it to figure out how to start it again. Esko's population is 90 percent Finnish heritage. The museum has asked the kids to do the documentary for their records after they realized they never had anyone that had a clue on starting it when they got the brain fart to do so. Future plans are to get it out of the viewing shed next summer and take it to the local Harvest Reunion and parade it. I'm still working on getting it out in the snow where it belongs. It may take a museum president change before that happens. Sorry I have no pictures at this time. I will post the media links when I get them. It should be on PBS for a week straight soon or so I was told.
