Now if this was an oak barrel burned on the inside it might fill the bill 
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So true!
But you can also burn a stick of oak and shove it down the top opening… Right?
Is an argument for quitting roundy-rounds and going into shunting operations?
Sure could!
Some flexibility, either way, could be added with one or two of these:
Notice the tube into the spout. I’m having trouble deciding on whether it should be for refilling the barrel car, or something more direct.
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I like the first one better. But I agree there is no point whatsoever in doing this if it isn’t made from white oak and charred on the inside.
But I do like the combo car. A whiskey case/speak easy car all in one.
No. . . No you can’t.
Now this brings up an intersing thought. Whiskey and shunts. I happen to love whiskey and I happen to have a brain shunt. What would happen if I tap into my brain shunt and attach a whiskey feed line. Direct injection of Marker’s Mark into my brain.
You might suddenly find yourself falling on your own siding.
Great point Korm. Thanks for grounding me. I am not sure my brain has taste buds. Good call
I wonder if I can make the first “Nathaniel” style whiskey lifting injector into my brain boiler.
Some appear to try though… so in the stranger than fiction department…
And to keep this BB-related, when are you going again?
As much as I hate to say it, it is an absolute legit alternative. Many makers of ethanol race fuel (I won’t promote home distilling of drinking alcohol as that would be highly illegal; on the other hand, I am all in favor of a nice full bodied oak barrel aged single malt race fuel) will age in glass containers and drop in charred oak chunks. So yes its a thing. But I but I just think it would be fun to make a real oak barrel, char it, and fill it and run it around the layout. Just to say I have done it. And then when I host a live steam event I will have fuel on hand. I actually have no idea if home distilling is illegal.
And to keep it BB related I can’t wait. I think I am officially all cleared and nothing foreseen is in the way. Less than a month away.
T-MINUS ONE MONTH AND COUNTING…
I’m worried. Has anyone else been re-writing reading between the lines?
(Apologies Devon. In my defence I was left unsupervised…) 
While we will only be travelling vicariously with him, should we be concerned that our Big Boy tour guide is now looking into oak barrel aged “rocket fuel”…
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…and will be visiting a “rocket park” near Promontory Point?
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…and isn’t there also a Return to Snake River Celebration commemorating the 50th year of that Ill fated Snake River rocket crossing attempt?
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…and isn’t the SNAKE RIVER in Idaho?
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…and keeping to the thread, doesn’t our tour guide have to cross the Snake River to get to Promontory Point to see the Big Boy?
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…and didn’t he proudly quote this very line👇 during the the 2024 MIK?
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…and while I’m not a conspiracy theorist, is this T-shirt just a coincidence?
This is all but sounding like the prelude to a classic LargeScale Centralian Code 1 Emergency scenario. Shouldn’t Cliff we be organising a BIG BOY INTERVENTION ? (it is after all, Cliff’s thread)
Or knowing you guys as I now do…
…should we just urgently, alert David Attenborough and his film crew about the upcoming trip?
Just imagine David Attenborough’s voice narrating The History of the Union Pacific Railroad and segueing into this:
David Attenborough (voiceover): “Our story begins in the serene wilderness of North Idaho, where Devon Sinsley , an ardent enthusiast of steam locomotives, has made his home. The quietude of these woods belies the roaring adventure that awaits him. Devon’s mission: to track and witness the awe-inspiring spectacle of the Union Pacific Big Boy, a leviathan of the rails. This will not be a simple outing, but without his wife to keep him focused, a journey that will fully test Devon to the bone. Join us as he traverses the open plains of south Idaho, crosses the treacherous Snake river with his dog Pepper, in a vehicle filled with oak barrels of carefully aged rocket fuel, to witness the spectacle that is called… THE BIG BOY…”
I must say I’m sitting on the edge of my seat, just in reading Devon’s preparation for this trip.
Look, I know I’m the new guy here, but he’s British. It’s probably best some one who speaks the King’s English, send Mr. Attenborough the email alert.
What do you think Cliff? It’s your hijacked thread. 
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Bill, I really like your thinking on Devon’s itinerary. Sounds like you’re saying he should:
- Burn some oak sticks
- Steal a small but working rocket from Rocket Park
- Get some rocket fuel
- Load the rocket with it
- Load himself with it as well, but chew on the burnt sticks for flavor
- Successfully (unlike Evel) cross the Snake River
- Rent a car on the other side and head to the Big Boy stop
From my research, I think the sticky point will be his ability to get French white oak. Other than that, it seems pretty straight forward.
I’m a little fuzzy on the BB stop order, though. But heck Devon will probably be too.
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Is this thread now the equivalent of twiddling your thumbs while you wait for the train?
Okay just to try an tackle Bill’s (sans Ted) Excellent Adventure he has laid out for me.
First I don’t drink alcohol and drive so no worries at least about about me sampling the rocket fuel while driving. Now on the nightly layovers I can guarantee I will refuel my rocket with barrel aged rocket fuel.
Yes to visiting Rocket Park. The Golden Spike park and the Rocket park are the reason for the added day. I wouldn’t even imagine being that close and not taking a pee. . .I mean peek at the park. As to the Snake River and celebrating Knievel’s attempt I probably won’t be making it. Not even sure where he actually attempted it but it is very much in that neck of the woods. Yes the Snake River is in Idaho, It traverses pretty much the entire southern part of the state and works its way to within a couple hours of my house. I will cross it on the way down will cross it here (42.60094550875768, -114.45401449910483) and on the way home cross it here (43.22245472616754, -112.34328159759656)
And that quote is one of my favorite all time sayings “Bones heal, pain is temporary, and chics dig scars”!
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And my wife hates that quote. Because while bones do heal and pain is temporary the ER bill outlasts them both, lol.
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You read my thoughts, Cliff.
That’s why I didn’t suggest Morgan Freeman, James Earl Jones, Jim Dale or Stephen Fry to narrate Devon’s Adventure.
None of these famous narrators have tracking experience or have a team with a tranquilliser gun or access to GPS collars like David Attenborough does. It won’t matter if the map is upside down, they’ll be able to find him.
Plus we want a film crew who can get up close enough (without startling the ferro-equinologist in his natural environment) to catch that big smile on film when he gets buffeted by the sudden wind and feels the gentle rain of ash and soot landing in his hair as the train rushes by.
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42.5971, -114.4229
Devon, I plugged in your coordinates and you’ll be quite close.
There’s even a Chick-Fil-A nearby, and a Walmart that sells Knievel supplies so you can make it a true pit stop. I’ve taken the opportunity to forward your migration pattern and river crossings to David Attenborough’s team.
OMG I’m getting way too involved in this project! There won’t be any surprises when the Docco comes out.
EDIT: Because I couldn’t help myself, I looked at your other crossing.
That crossing is near another PitStop on your Amazing Race, the Idaho Potato Museum & Potato Station Cafe. A real station with railway memorabilia and Pringle related history.
Again, you’re welcome.
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