Red Buses a.k.a Red Jammers

One of the few old White Company Red Buses (a.k.a Red Jammers) found in Glacier NP – Montana.
 
Interestingly:

The “Jammer” name came from the sound the un-synchronized transmissions made when shifting gears.

The White Company at one time produced passenger cars that ran on steam. Around 1911 they converted to producing gasoline engine cars.

These old Red Buses were first introduced in Glacier NP back in the 1930’s.

Volvo ended up purchasing the assets of White, when White went out of business. Volvo is now part of the Ford Motor Company. Ford Motor Company a leader in alternative fuels took a special interest in renovating the vintage Glacier Park vehicles back in 2000.

The fleet of 33 Red Buses now run on clean burning LPG (Propane). The original carburetor gasoline engines were removed and replaced with fuel injected 5.4L bi-fuel engines capable of running on either gasoline or propane.

Transmissions changed out to modern automatics.

The chassis was removed and replaced with a modified E-450 chassis.

The original brake system was replaced with a production 4-wheel disc ABS system.

The windows were replaced with modern safety glass. The external lights were brought up to current standards.

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Red Rock Cactus and Rain

The Desert Southwest offers some diverse scenery.  While most of the year that days are hot and sunny, there are cooler periods.  On occasion we are blessed with delightful rain.  While these rains can sometimes come down with such intensity they become deadly, they also transform the stark landscape into something of beauty.

I live on the western edge of Las Vegas, Nevada.  Further west of us is a rugged mountain range with peaks that exceed 10,000 feet.  At the foothills of this range is Red Rock Conservation Area.  The lower levels are desert.  From the desert floor there are giant clumps of sandstone jutting up hundreds of feet.  Sandstone walls of the Keystone Thrust, rise up from the valley floor up to  3000 feet.  Just behind them, the mountains.

I was watching the rain pouring on the mountains the other day and decided to drive up to Red Rock to enjoy a different kind of experience.  One of the rain and water flowing, rather than the normal dry, and unforgiving terrain.

Since this was the early part of May and we have had rain more than the past many years, the cactus, plants and bushes were in full bloom.

While not the optimum conditions for photography everywhere I turned I saw different colors.  The rain started again and I had to keep the gear dry.  So I popped back in the vehicle and enjoyed it and the drive out of the park.

For info on Red Rock Conservation Area click this link

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