You probably don't care...

[Beap52 2,380]

...but,  Took a little road trip today.

 

Left south Missouri to go to the farm in north Missouri to transport a piece of  equipment back home.   73 year old me in a 34 year old GMC K2500 with 237,000 miles on it pulling a tandem axle trailer.  368 miles and some six hours of driving.  While at the farm I got to ride around and see the goings on. If you all remember, there's a power line crossing the farm from a gas turbine generator being built a couple of farms behind ours.

 

350 ci (5.7) TBI engine oil pressure held a 35 psi, the engine coolant ran ~195 degrees and the 4l80 automatic transmission was between 180 to 195 degrees.  Pretty good considering it was sunny and 95 degrees with heat index of 105.  Air conditioner blowing cold and Boots Randolph and Flatt and Scruggs bluegrass playing on the original factory cassette payer.   Life can't get much better!

 

The picture below is some of the power line poles being installed.  Cement foundations are about 6 feet in diameter and 33 feet deep.  My brother said that on the bolts poured into the cement had to be withing 2 degrees of being in alignment.  The pullies that they feed the 2" transmission wire through are a good 3 feet in diameter. 

 

Observations:   1)smallish SUV's pulling camping trailers

                          2)Stopped for gas ($3.56 per gallon) and watched a family in two vehicles park at the pumps (in the shade of course).  They got out of their cars and head into the convenience store before getting fuel.  It's a good thing I was leaving because it was going to be the only available pump. 

Edited Tuesday at 12:24 AM by Beap52
additional information

[Sparky-(Admin) 25,934]

Actually it’s a cool story.

  Pics of the truck? 

[Beap52 2,380]

2 minutes ago, Sparky said:

Actually it’s a cool story.

  Pics of the truck? 

I'm the 2nd owner.  Original fellow bought it in his 60's and sold it when he could no longer drive. I went to local dealer and they printed out their repair and maintenance history of it.  I've had to replace several of the small sensors and the like.  Engine and transmission are original and other than the seals we replaced last winter haven't been messed with.   It's a rust free truck and I do my best to keep it that way.  I've owned it ten or twelve years. 

 

[ebinmaine 79,651]

6 hours ago, Sparky said:

Actually it’s a cool story.

[Handy Don 16,942]

A power company wanted a right-of-way for a high-voltage line across my son & daughter’s 155 acre managed forest. 

They declined politely and then forcefully as did nearly every property owner and municipality along the entire route.

 

[oliver2-44 11,626]

Do you know if they are installing fiber optic inside the static wire that runs at the very top of those poles? 

Also What voltage will the line be?

(Sorry I'm an old power plant guy)

[Beap52 2,380]

4 hours ago, oliver2-44 said:

Do you know if they are installing fiber optic inside the static wire that runs at the very top of those poles? 

Also What voltage will the line be?

(Sorry I'm an old power plant guy)

The simplest way to learn about the power plant is google "Turney, MO power plant".   I really don't understand a lot about the actual plant.  It's gas turbine and my 92 year old mom fusses about all of the infrastructure on her farm.  Three petroleum lines including one pumping station and basically  two steel towered power lines.  I told her that she and dad just chose the wrong location 64 years ago.  

[Handy Don 16,942]

11 hours ago, Beap52 said:

The simplest way to learn about the power plant is google "Turney, MO power plant".   I really don't understand a lot about the actual plant.  It's gas turbine and my 92 year old mom fusses about all of the infrastructure on her farm.  Three petroleum lines including one pumping station and basically  two steel towered power lines.  I told her that she and dad just chose the wrong location 64 years ago.  

I hope she had/has an attorney help her guard her own interests with the legal aspects of the taking of property. The power company typically will stretch any agreement to the limit and beyond in their favor. 

[Beap52 2,380]

9 hours ago, Handy Don said:

I hope she had/has an attorney help her guard her own interests with the legal aspects of the taking of property. The power company typically will stretch any agreement to the limit and beyond in their favor. 

Twenty years ago, Mom agreed way to quickly when the oil pumping station and line came through.  She thought she made a fortune.  I told her "Mom, the skidsteer they use to push snow cost more than they paid you and they will replace it every ten years."  This time we made what we thought was a fair price.  Twice what they offered.  It provided us funds for cleaning the farm, upgrade machinery and work on buildings.  We contacted two lawyers that were suppose to handle easements and they both told us the offer for the easement was fair.  That bad advice cost almost two thousand dollars in fees.  We as a family agreed on a price, then we met with the electric company, presented our case and got our agreed price--we were also the last easement they needed. 

 

Once the work started, we learned that the easement (100 feet wide) doesn't mean squat.   The trucks and other machines went outside one hundred feet.  When we questioned that, the lady said read page such and such, paragraph such and such.  It gives them right of way pretty much anywhere they  want to go.  Apparently the lawyers didn't read the contract we took to them or don't understand jargon any better than we do.  We are suppose to be reimbursed for losses.

 

This is one farm (and other neighboring farms as well)  that won't be developed into a housing development.  Too much industrial equipment above and below ground.