Horse/mule drawn wagons

The only thing like that around here on the highways, even to this day is the Amish.

Simon

I remember the milk delivery wagon from that era.

Now, it's just as Simon noted - Amish are all that's left on the roads.

But I model early 20th century so most vehicles on my layout are horse or mule powered

mwb posted:

I remember the milk delivery wagon from that era.

Now, it's just as Simon noted - Amish are all that's left on the roads.

But I model early 20th century so most vehicles on my layout are horse or mule powered

I remember a dairy that had horse drawn milk wagons up until about 1970-71.  Although most deliveries in my neighborhood were done before 7AM, it was a thrill for the kids to see and pet the horses if we would see them later in the day or during a trip to the dairy for ice cream.

I’m not quite that old.

But I remember an old neighbor in the 1970s plowing his field with a mule. 

Koly and John, my grandfather's white and brown mules (l have not seen another white mule) were used to plow and mow on steep hillsides where there was risk of turning a tractor over. One field was a hillside potato field, and the slopes over the creek were mowed.  They also hauled a wagon down into rough pastures.  They were put out to pasture and died of old age.

JeffPo posted:

I’m not quite that old.

But I remember an old neighbor in the 1970s plowing his field with a mule. 

Last week I drove by - slowly and given a wide berth - a 6 horse Amish plow team as they were traveling from one family's farm to another farm a half mile up the road.  Plow time and manuring prep for winter crop.

When working the refineries and chemical plants along the Houston Ship Channel in the 1970s to 1999, there were a couple plants used horse drawn mowers.  The reason for "horse power" was due to danger of possible heat source from powered mowers igniting any air borne hydrocarbons or other flammable vapors.  The large Shell refinery was one, had horse drawn mowers to cut down natural growth in vicinity of the tank farms.  I am glad they did this.  Witnessed too many plant explosions over the years, largest being the Phillips Petroleum plant in Pasadena, Texas.... Oct. 29, 1989.   loss of 29 lives including construction hands during a turnaround and plant personnel.  The Phillips personnel in the control room had no way out, one called his wife and spoke to her until line went dead...….  Some things I would rather forget, but have learned from events and taught others as Safety Specialist and Manager of many construction sites.  

Jesse   TCA

When I was a child in the fifties a fish monger would come through our neighborhood with a single mule hauling his wagon load of ice and fish. It was always dripping melt water and noisy from the mule clopping on the pavement. Mom would occasionally send me to get her a flounder if she heard his wagon. Unfortunately we didn't own a camera in those days

Bob

Around 1954 or 55 in Wichita Falls Texas, our trash crew used horse drawn wagons. There was an alley behind our homes they drove on. 

And yes, I walked two miles to school, rain or snow.