A small fire caused the float for the Chinese American Heritage Foundation caught fire and had to be towed out of the Rose Bowl Parade:
No injuries were reported. Cause not yet reported.
Rusty
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I thought this was just blown down steam when I saw it 
!!
I hope this isn't an omen for the Golden spike ceremony!
Boiler was probably packed full of mud....
Yeah, that was a shame. Due to the fire some channels didn't show too much of the float itself (I was looking at NBC and they didn't show much of anything).
Watching a replay later on RFDTV (think that's the right name - it was rebroadcast on a network called "Cowboy" on my local FIOS - which I only put in quotes because I'm not familiar with it and may not be the full name), they showed more of it before it was obvious it was on fire, and also some of when the tow truck pulled it along to either complete the route, or get it off on some side street so the rest of the parade could pass.
It was a nice float, shame about the fire. I would have liked to hear the normal commentary about what they used to decorate it, etc., like they do for floats that aren't on fire... 
-Dave
Has anybody heard what caused the fire? I don't ever remember a float catching on fire in the past. Does anybody know if a float ever had a fire before?
Gee, and I thought it was a fairly decent replication of Vision Line's here-smoke-there-smoke-everywhere-smoke-smoke! Even 'Rose' scented, maybe??
Wonder if they had to request an RA #?
Anyone else catch the 'China' connection??
Redemption came on the gridiron! Way to go, Bucks!!!
(Here I am....living in Meeeeshigan. And nuttin' to cheer about from the pigskin crowd:
University of Michigan.....
Michigan State University.....
Eastern Michigan University.....
Western Michigan University.....
And, personally, I attended Purdue University.....
Poopie.
dkdkrd posted:Gee, and I thought it was a fairly decent replication of Vision Line's here-smoke-there-smoke-everywhere-smoke-smoke! Even 'Rose' scented, maybe??
Wonder if they had to request an RA #?
Anyone else catch the 'China' connection??
..................
The thought briefly crossed my mind, but I don't really consider that a connection since it was a Chinese American group that did the float. Just unfortunate coincidence.
I wouldn't besmirch that group by falsely connecting it to the current state of model train manufacturing quality issues happening in China itself.
-Dave
Train NERDS.....
tncentrr posted:Has anybody heard what caused the fire? I don't ever remember a float catching on fire in the past. Does anybody know if a float ever had a fire before?
I think it was just the commentators guessing, but one suggested brakes since it seemed to start going backwards when the smoke got more out of hand.
Story here has a one liner claiming it was electrical related.
Important thing is no one was seriously hurt.
-Dave
That was a beautiful float.
It was commented that the float was started two weeks before zero (New Year) day, and was worked on 24/7 until done. In contrast the commentator said, most float concept/design and build start in April May. So I imagine train float corners were cut and engineered on the fly to "get 'er done".
Wonder if there will be some rule changes or additions such as requiring P.E. engineers to review the mechanical, electrical, hydraulics etc and sign off before the first chunk of metal is welded. Granted, it is no assurance that something might not happen on parade route.
The China connection was related to the thousands of Chinese workers that were imported to help build the line, many of whom were treated in very inhuman ways and many of whom lost their lives in the process.
Byrdie posted:The China connection was related to the thousands of Chinese workers that were imported to help build the line, many of whom were treated in very inhuman ways and many of whom lost their lives in the process.
The questionable blasting methods of that time which involved lowering Chinese workers in baskets down a rockface to place charges often resulted in casualties.
Tinplate Art posted:The questionable blasting methods of that time which involved lowering Chinese workers in baskets down a rockface to place charges often resulted in casualties.
Since Dynamite had not yet been invented, all they had was black powder and hand drills for blasting, with picks and shovels for digging.
dkdkrd posted:
Redemption came on the gridiron! Way to go, Bucks!!!
University of Michigan.....
Michigan State University.....
Eastern Michigan University.....
Western Michigan University.....
And, personally, I attended Purdue University.....
Poopie.
Hey now lets not forget about Division II ball, Ferris State went to the national championship game!
rrman posted:It was commented that the float was started two weeks before zero (New Year) day, and was worked on 24/7 until done. In contrast the commentator said, most float concept/design and build start in April May. So I imagine train float corners were cut and engineered on the fly to "get 'er done".
Wonder if there will be some rule changes or additions such as requiring P.E. engineers to review the mechanical, electrical, hydraulics etc and sign off before the first chunk of metal is welded. Granted, it is no assurance that something might not happen on parade route.
Probably a good bet that the Rose Parade Committee will substantially fine this builder.
Well deserved - even though it was a beautiful float.
Dave45681 posted:Yeah, that was a shame. Due to the fire some channels didn't show too much of the float itself (I was looking at NBC and they didn't show much of anything).
Watching a replay later on RFDTV (think that's the right name - it was rebroadcast on a network called "Cowboy" on my local FIOS - which I only put in quotes because I'm not familiar with it and may not be the full name), they showed more of it before it was obvious it was on fire, and also some of when the tow truck pulled it along to either complete the route, or get it off on some side street so the rest of the parade could pass.
It was a nice float, shame about the fire. I would have liked to hear the normal commentary about what they used to decorate it, etc., like they do for floats that aren't on fire...
-Dave
NBC just may be the worst choice for Rose Parade coverage. KTLA, channel five in Los Angeles, continues to have superior coverage. The station has covered the Rose Parade since 1947, I believe. If you're not in the Los Angeles region, the KTLA broadcast is also re-transmitted/broadcast on the Hallmark Channel.
Just a thought for 2020.
Tinplate Art posted:The questionable blasting methods of that time which involved lowering Chinese workers in baskets down a rockface to place charges often resulted in casualties.
Since Dynamite had not yet been invented, all they had was black powder and hand drills for blasting, with picks and shovels for digging.
The regular rail workers, often immigrants from Ireland, objected to the Chinese "coolies" because they "smelled" and did not speak English well. The "smell" was due to the food they ate. The Chinese drank tea from boiled water and also washed their clothes in hot water whereas the objectors often suffered from dysentery from poor water (or hangovers from the preferred alternatives). The first Chinese hired began doing nothing but menial tasks until one of their leaders requested that the supervisors give them a chance at the better paying jobs such as blasting. When told that this was dangerous work reserved for those more technically inclined, the leader reminded the supervisor that the Chinese were the ones who invented gunpowder centuries before. The Chinese workers got the jobs, significantly reduced the number of accidents, and showed up for work so regularly that the railroads sent recruiters to China to get more workers.
A Rose by any other Flame shall Smell so Sweet!
Oh the humanity!
Chris S.
That float runs better than some newer trains I have.
Chris S.
That was a great representation of the Golden Spike. Too bad the float didn't make it.
Personally, I only drive fire engines in parades and keep the booster tank full in case of just such an emergency.
rthomps posted:NBC just may be the worst choice for Rose Parade coverage. KTLA, channel five in Los Angeles, continues to have superior coverage. The station has covered the Rose Parade since 1947, I believe. If you're not in the Los Angeles region, the KTLA broadcast is also re-transmitted/broadcast on the Hallmark Channel.
Just a thought for 2020.
Thanks for the tip. I searched on my FIOS box for any references to the parade before viewing. I only had the 2 I referenced (NBC and RFDTV/Cowboy) and also one of CBS or ABC (I forget which - but Philly area Fox or CW was not on the list.). Also, for Philly, there is a lot of competition with many channels liking to show the Mummers Parade (one had it on for 6 hours, if I viewed the schedule properly!), since that is a local thing for us, it is very popular. I think Philly's CW might have had the Mummer's Parade.
The Hallmark Channel did show up in my search, but while I have some sort of Hallmark Channel as part of my basic service (whichever one shows a lot of made for TV Christmas movies in December), my service doesn't include the one that had the Rose Parade.
-Dave
TOKELLY: THANK YOU for your informative and thoughtful post about the Chinese workers! ☺
https://www.pasadenastarnews.c...he-2019-rose-parade/
"One question that Fiesta Parade Floats, which built the Chinese American Heritage Foundation’s float, answered Wednesday was the cause of the fire. Here’s what happened: As the float approached Colorado, a small leak created a fine mist of transmission fluid that made contact with a hot exhaust pipe, creating a small flame, Fiesta Parade Floats President Tim Estes said in a statement. The fire was extinguished quickly, the driver immediately stopped the float and everyone on it was immediately evacuated for safety, Estes said."
rthomps posted:NBC just may be the worst choice for Rose Parade coverage. KTLA, channel five in Los Angeles, continues to have superior coverage. The station has covered the Rose Parade since 1947, I believe. If you're not in the Los Angeles region, the KTLA broadcast is also re-transmitted/broadcast on the Hallmark Channel.
Just a thought for 2020.
Bingo on the NBC coverage. It has been the pits for a few years now!
I think that HGTV broadcast the KTLA feed, if that was the one Leeza Gibbons was on. They stayed on the air as long as they could. The tow truck dragged the float around the next corner and stopped on the main drag. Then everyone filled the street as they may have thought the parade was over.
Hot Water posted:Tinplate Art posted:The questionable blasting methods of that time which involved lowering Chinese workers in baskets down a rockface to place charges often resulted in casualties.
Since Dynamite had not yet been invented, all they had was black powder and hand drills for blasting, with picks and shovels for digging.
worse than that, they were using nitroglycerin on the Central Pacific, which is even more dangerous to use than black powder (nitroglycerin was also very new, had been invented around 1866). They were using it on the Central Pacific by 1867, but because of deadly accidents shipping it California banned its use. When they hit one particularly big tunnel to blast out (I think it was in the Donner Pass region), they started using nitroglycerin again, but this time they actually made it on site..but still really rough for the workers, though the rate of progress more than doubled with nitro being used.
Big Jim posted:rthomps posted:NBC just may be the worst choice for Rose Parade coverage. KTLA, channel five in Los Angeles, continues to have superior coverage. The station has covered the Rose Parade since 1947, I believe. If you're not in the Los Angeles region, the KTLA broadcast is also re-transmitted/broadcast on the Hallmark Channel.
Just a thought for 2020.
Bingo on the NBC coverage. It has been the pits for a few years now!
I think that HGTV broadcast the KTLA feed, if that was the one Leeza Gibbons was on. They stayed on the air as long as they could. The tow truck dragged the float around the next corner and stopped on the main drag. Then everyone filled the street as they may have thought the parade was over.
It's the Hallmark Channel that re-transmits/broadcasts the KTLA feed.
I think HGTV did at one time, too - or they had their own crew in Pasadena.
