Out and about in Mrs Mack

[mrsmackpaul]

Here's a photo I found of Loy Yang power station getting built

The blue B model was one of two I remember been used on the two trailers shifting the precipitators in sections

Doubt it is one of the trailers on the back but I dunno 

 

Paul 

[mrsmackpaul]

A couple more piccies from the trailers working days

Back a  boiler section in under boiler number 2 on B station

This is one of two B models still working in the 90s building these power stations 

Looks like it has a Lincoln welder on the back

Dragging boiler sections in

Loy Yang has some of the biggest boilers in the world 

This is because they burn low grade brown coal, there's enough proven coal to supply Loy Yang for 570 years but left greens have convinced the poxy governments to pull the pin in about 10 - 15 years time

Bloody greenies

 

Paul 

 

 

 

[mrsmackpaul]

Got sent this tonight

 

Little house on a big trailer

Lifted on with a crane you can see hiding in the trees 

 

Paul 

[Vladislav]

So isn't that high enough for the house to survive in a flooding now? 

Thanks for the story Paul mate. Just found the thread and could see live scenes from your brown land. 

And the job's well done! 

[mrsmackpaul]

Vlad I think it is plenty high enough now, even if it wasn't to be I guess they can just tow it to higher ground

Problem is in this part of the world, it is so flat there is no higher ground

 

Paul

[mrsmackpaul]

Well Thursday night I bumped into my mate Mal up the street

We yarned and eventually Mal asks if I have seen how the house ended up

I explain no and he whips out his phone shows me this

As I understand it the dolley (joey dog or jeep or what ever you call it) was never latched on and when they went to drive forward it just sort of popped out from underneath and the whole shooting match hit the deck

Anyway I suggested to Mal that he and the diff join us for tea Friday night

A few drinks later after having our tea (maybe called supper in the U.S., evening meal) Mal and I are watching the fire and I reckon we can slip a chain around the front of trailer and hook this to the winch rope and winch it back onto Mrs Mack 

First thing this morning (Saturday) we meet there and I back the Mack in shove a chain under and around and start winching away

Anyway the kingpin is on a big rectangular section that the grease plate is attached to, I forgot this and once we got that far up the winch was trying pull forward but the trailer still had to go up and 8 inches or so

So we parked the Traxcavator bucket under one side and blocks of wood on the other and let the trailer down

Repositioned the chain and then winched and strained and pushed and lifted and in no more 20 minutes the trailer and house was firmly attached to Mrs Mack by the grease plate

And then backwards forwards and so on and a short drive and the trailer is positioned 

I left the Mack there with the trailer still attached as it can't fall down

 

The old bucket of bolts to the rescue again

They really are a good old truck

 

Paul

[cruiseliner64]

Love it.great job.ya cant beat a MACK

Paul

[70mackMB]

Good job Paul!  Nothing better than a friend with the correct equipment.    .....Hippy

[Mark T]

R Model  1150 TC    good old equipment for sure.  Give a little credit to the opperator too.  Nice job.

[mrsmackpaul]

On 8/25/2024 at 9:33 AM, Mark T said:

R Model  1150 TC    good old equipment for sure.  Give a little credit to the opperator too.  Nice job.

Yah know

My mate Mal, the Traxcavator driver, he is pretty good 

I noticed the other night while unloading a shipping container site hut with Mal and the Traxcavator that we are officially getting older or muffler is getting worse

On this delicate work I could just talk away to Mal in a fairly normal voice

Not no more, few more hand gestures and a louder voice are needed 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Mark T]

Paul, you have no idea the memories the Case brings to me.  I actually have a picture on my desk under the glass surface of me when I was around 12 and I'm by a 1150 TC like that.  You guys are still doing jobs with one.  I love it.

[mrsmackpaul]

Mark yah know, Mal the Traxcavator driver and I have been through a lot together, my mate Mal and I have been through so much, mainly shitty times

I will try and describe a little, Mal and I started farming out on our own with our young families at the beginning of the very worst drought in Australian history, we watched as our hopes and dreams and all we ever worked for blew away in dust storms 

If any of you have heard of the dust bowl in the Pan Handle, it was like that

Dust would roll in midday and blow all night 

Anyway Mal and farmed through this, I think the hardest part for me, was city people telling us it was our fault, pricks, I'll never forgive those woke bastards 

That just cut deep and changed me for ever

Anyway Mal had the Traxcavator from doing contracts years before clearing scrub under power lines etc

We, perhaps just me and Mal (maybe not the woman folk) enjoyed the fun, made the best of our bad situation 

We pushed channels in and reformed then, laser leveled paddocks for irrgation

I started with my old Chamberlain and a land plane

Then I  bought a worn out 886 (wore it out a lot more) International Harvester 4x4  and Mal bought a old Colville scoop

I know this is all old rubbish but we was both growing broke at a fast rate of knots, feeding cows in a drought isnt the right way to make money

Mal had the Traxcavator and we used this for filling irrigation channels in before adjusting and reforming channels and laying out irrigation

 

 

Anyway, Mal bought a old Steiger Cougar for leveling

Yeah I know, nothing to do with Macks, so bare with me

This is about a very Australian thing

"Mateship" we were and still are a couple of odd balls that were never "kissed on the dick by a fairy" or in other words, someone that had everything they touch turn to gold

Like seriously, we would have to be the two unluckiest jokers around

We both bought irrgation farms in the most reliable irrigation area in Australia and it promptly turned to dust 

No matter how bad it got we always had tea (evening meal) on Saturday night at each others place

We bloody laughed and drank, drank and laughed 

It really was crap, to give you a idea of just how bad it was, on average, one farmer every fortnight was topping themselves, it really was shit

Mal and I just kept on laughing, mostly at our selves 

Anyway, way of topic now 

Mal had the Traxcavator and I foolishly had a vision and we were and still are the best of mates 

I have a video some where of the Traxcavator and lots more photos of our stupid stuff

Life truely is great with great mates, stuff is always okay no matter had bigger shit sandwich your served

 

Sorry for the waffle 

 

Paul

 

[Mark T]

Almost 20 years......where'd they go ?

[mrsmackpaul]

1 hour ago, Mark T said:

Almost 20 years......where'd they go ?

Dunno, I just blinked and poof, all gone

 

Paul

[mowerman]

My God I’m so sorry to hear that but your stories are never boring Paul besides, it’s your tread you step all over it. It got me too thick. I have been pounding shit since I started in this racket at 20 years old thinking back I’ve done nothing but work work, I’ve always had lots of money in my pocket, but I sure had to work for it. 48 years of roadwork and too many hours it’s no wonder I’m sick to death of it and yes, I’ve seen people around me as you mentioned everything they touch turns to gold and by the way Paul you should be a writer ha ha thanks for all your stories and happy Saturday, two more weeks and I’m done … bob

[cruiseliner64]

Hi.must be something about being around trucks and other machinery.hard work and long hours are the norm while the "nice people" get everything.that was some hardship you have been through Paul but you weathered it.i have been kicked in the teeth a few times by life but never to the extent you have.i think if your prepared to work you will grind out a living somehow.i know i did.keep on truckin is my motto.

Paul