At Rocky Mountain National Park / Estes Park, CO they used steam power at
the start of last century to take guests over the 12,000 foot summit.
There's a museum there and a hotel the Stanley brothers built. They are
credited with pioneering auto tourism as early as 1903. The steam cars were
about the only ones with sufficient power to take the long drive to the
summit. I'm sure they sold many cars based on having the capability to make
that drive.
A fuel injected car sure makes that trip much easier today. I was grateful
for hydraulic brakes too. I can't imagine what they would have done with
mechanical brakes if they were very much out of adjustment.
A superficial search doesn't give me much on the early transportation. Jon
Amo, have you been up there or do you have information on the area?
Wes
on 10/26/03 2:44 PM, Richard Fox at v4gr@rcn.com wrote:
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Richard Fox" <v4gr@rcn.com>
> To: <Want1937hd@aol.com>
> Cc: <>
> Sent: Sunday, October 26, 2003 01:42 PM
> Subject: Re: Aaaahhhh, the Rule Book
>
>
>> The steam record is 145.607. A very soft record I am sure. I think the
>> Stanley could have beat that with a good course and enough desire on the
>> Brothers part.
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: <Want1937hd@aol.com>
>> To: <drmayf@teknett.com>; <v4gr@rcn.com>; <land-speed@autox.team.net>
>> Sent: Sunday, October 26, 2003 12:00 PM
>> Subject: Re: Aaaahhhh, the Rule Book
>>
>>
>>> In a message dated 10/26/03 2:22:36 PM Eastern Standard Time,
>>> drmayf@teknett.com writes:
>>>
>>>> In any case, was just a curiosity on my part. MAybe the rule book can
>> have
>>>> a
>>>> single line added for "S = Steam, external combustion" pistor or
>> turbine.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> What is the Steam Record? Seam cars are real big back here, about 30 of
>> them
>>> within an hours drive. We left the church in a 20 HP Stanley 25 years
> ago,
>> and
>>> life has been clear sailing ever since. Bob in connecticut
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