Recently Updated
Since E2 allows other people to easily see which writeups I created recently, but not which I have updated or revised, I will be from now on listing them here. Hated the original writeup? Maybe it's better now. Loved it? Check out the changes and updates.
- Livio Dante Porta
- Argentina's great steam locomotive engineer passed away on June 10, 2003. An addendum to that effect added, but the whole thing may be rewritten soon.
Ever seen The Omen? Remember Damian, the antichrist? Me, five years old, that was me, almost. Like I was his twin brother.
I've probably been on here long enough that I should have something about ME on here.
I'm 30, an Englishman in California. Living in Anaheim, a block from Disneyland, and working in Newport Beach almost under the John Wayne Airport takeoff path. I'm a UNIX systems administrator by trade, with a sideline in all the random other stuff sysadmins get asked to do. Ex developer, so I can program when I want to; I just found myself burning out when asked to do it day after day.
Born in Hampstead, which for the uninitiated is a borough of London. And no, not on the Heath. Led a peripatetic existence throughout my childhood. My dad was a gardener, and we moved first to the National Trust property of Montacute in Somerset, where I lived until I was five; then to Glenapp Estate in Scotland, near the old fishing village of Ballantrae, north of Stranraer and south of Girvan, where he became the Head Gardener; at the time it was Lord Inchcape's estate, though I don't know who owns it now. Realising that manual labour did not a lifetime's career make, he went to college up in Ayr, which entailed another move. Graduating, he got a job in a center in Durham training the unemployed in the skills of gardening, greenkeeping, landscaping, tree surgery, etc. After a few years of that, we all moved to Oxfordshire, and I stayed there through the rest of my childhood.
I went to college at Imperial College in South Kensington (London) and got a rather scraped-through degree in Computing. Worked for an anti-virus firm for 3 years as a programmer, and then I married an American girl and about a year later moved to California. Been working mostly as a sysadmin here ever since.
The last five years have seen me reviving my childhood interests as a railfan, and you'll probably see that most of my writeups on here are on the topics of trains, railways and transportation, especially since they're pretty under-served here. I know UNIX and computers very well, but there are plenty of you here who do -- I'll leave the noding of those to others. I also have a great deal of knowledge in my head about military technology and history, especially 20th century, and an interest in history in general, though I'm more likely to help others with their writeups in those fields than do them myself. And in general, I'm the worst knowledge sponge ...
Recently acquired an old car, a 1967 Ford Thunderbird, busy re-learning old cars and the fun and trials of driving them. This is inspiring a few writeups too.
E2 User Statistics ------------------------------------------------------ Nodes: 165 XP: 2038 Cools: 80 Max Rep: 47 Min Rep: 4 Total Rep: 1974 Node-Fu: 12.3515 WNF: 17.8121 Cool Ratio: 48.48485% Merit: 10.9636 Devotion: 1809 Mean: 11.9636 idea: 20.6061% person: 2.4242% thing: 76.9697%
Top 5 Writeups with the Highest Reputation
1C! sequential turn signals (.1
1C! Shinkansen Types (.2
2C! 4-8-4 (.3
1C! Red Devil (.3
2C! locomotive (.4
1C! crown sheet failure (.5
Top 5 Writeups with the Lowest Reputation
1.) Class 03
1.) Class 04
1.) Railway 32
1.) Mason Bogie
1.) Class 02
2.) Standard Gauge
2.) superheated
2.) Class 10
2.) Class 01
2.) starting tractive effort
2.) bats day in the fun park
3.) well tank
3.) Detroit
3.) Class 12
3.) Class 23 1C!
3.) Class 05
3.) Länderbahn
3.) metre gauge
3.) Wye
4.) road unit
4.) fallen flag
4.) Water Level Route
4.) Class 40 1C!
4.) Class 55 1C!
4.) tractive effort 1C!
4.) James and Browne 1C!
4.) 1971 Ford Thunderbird
4.) Class 07
4.) Class 06
4.) section break
4.) Duke of Gloucester
4.) Deltic
4.) critter
4.) UIC
4.) short hood
4.) long hood
4.) EMD GP35
4.) loading gauge
4.) tank engine
4.) Sans Pareil
4.) superheater element
5.) new old stock
5.) cow and calf
5.) phase break
5.) grate limit
5.) UIC numbering
5.) Switcher
5.) Rainhill Trials
5.) locomotive frame
5.) Pacific
Top 5 Cooled Writeups with the Highest Reputation
1C! sequential turn signals (.1
1C! Shinkansen Types (.2
2C! 4-8-4 (.3
1C! Red Devil (.3
2C! locomotive (.4
1C! crown sheet failure (.5
Top 5 Cooled Writeups with the Lowest Reputation
1.) Class 23 1C!
2.) Class 40 1C!
2.) Class 55 1C!
2.) tractive effort 1C!
2.) James and Browne 1C!
3.) Factor of Adhesion 1C!
4.) Ford 427 Cammer 1C!
4.) track gauge 1C!
5.) Pilot 2C!
5.) narrow gauge 2C!
5.) Leyland Princess 1C!
5.) dynamic brake 1C!
5.) low water level 1C!
Top 5 Writeups with the Highest Upvote Ratio
1C! sequential turn signals (.1
1C! Shinkansen Types (.1
2C! 4-8-4 (.1
1C! Red Devil (.1
2C! locomotive (.1
1C! crown sheet failure (.1
2C! Geared locomotive (.1
1C! parts car (.1
1C! 1967 Ford Thunderbird (.1
trailer queen (.1
2C! Whyte notation (.1
1C! Decapod (.1
1C! Willamette locomotive (.1
3C! United States Railroad Administration (.1
1C! 0-6-0 (.1
1C! Class 1 Railroad (.1
Steam locomotive (.1
1C! Standard Railroad of the World (.1
1C! Klein-Lindner (.1
1C! 4-6-2 (.1
Penn Central (.1
1C! Miniature railway (.1
1C! Shay locomotive (.1
2C! Fairlie (.1
1C! Pennsylvania Railroad locomotive numbering (.1
1C! Niagara (.1
Heisler locomotive (.1
1C! grate area (.1
1C! Walschaerts valve gear (.1
1C! Narrow gauge railways of Switzerland (.1
1C! Superheater (.1
Thermactor (.1
1C! shop switcher (.1
1C! ashpan (.1
1C! Dan Bernstein (.1
1C! Federal Railroad Administration (.1
1C! EMD (.1
1C! Andri Chapelon (.1
adhesive weight (.1
Big Boy (.1
2C! Mallard (.1
1C! 1968 Ford Thunderbird (.1
1C! TOPS (.1
1C! 2-8-2 (.1
1C! double slip (.1
1C! Caprotti valve gear (.1
1C! Ferret and Dartboard (.1
1C! Climax locomotive (.1
1C! Slip coach (.1
1C! Firebox (.1
personal luxury car (.1
Brünig Railway (.1
lateral motion device (.1
articulated locomotive (.1
1C! Class 09 (.1
1C! White Pass & Yukon Route (.1
1C! track pan (.1
1C! exhaust steam (.1
1C! 4-8-2 (.1
1C! New York Central (.1
Ford Thunderbird Mark T (.1
Class 08 (.1
Pastrami Dip (.1
blind driver (.1
4-6-4 (.1
2C! Pilot (.1
2C! narrow gauge (.1
1C! Leyland Princess (.1
1C! dynamic brake (.1
1C! low water level (.1
Pertronix Ignitor (.1
drophead (.1
0-4-0 (.1
freelance (.1
Epoch (.1
feedwater heater (.1
steam dome (.1
Baltic (.1
1C! Ford 427 Cammer (.1
1C! track gauge (.1
1969 Ford Thunderbird (.1
Kylchap (.1
rocket (.1
smokebox (.1
wheel arrangement (.1
driving wheel (.1
1C! Factor of Adhesion (.1
tire (.1
1970 Ford Thunderbird (.1
Class 11 (.1
regenerative brake (.1
Livio Dante Porta (.1
dry pipe (.1
saturated steam (.1
front-end throttle (.1
live steam (.1
Northern (.1
Alvin F. Staufer (.1
leading wheel (.1
Hudson (.1
Shifter (.1
new old stock (.1
cow and calf (.1
phase break (.1
grate limit (.1
UIC numbering (.1
Switcher (.1
Rainhill Trials (.1
locomotive frame (.1
Pacific (.1
1C! Class 40 (.1
1C! Class 55 (.1
1C! tractive effort (.1
1C! James and Browne (.1
1971 Ford Thunderbird (.1
Class 07 (.1
Class 06 (.1
section break (.1
Duke of Gloucester (.1
Deltic (.1
critter (.1
UIC (.1
short hood (.1
long hood (.1
EMD GP35 (.1
loading gauge (.1
tank engine (.1
Sans Pareil (.1
superheater element (.1
1C! Class 23 (.1
Class 05 (.1
Ldnderbahn (.1
metre gauge (.1
Wye (.1
Class 10 (.1
Class 01 (.1
starting tractive effort (.1
bats day in the fun park (.1
Class 02 (.1
3C! Eritrean Railway (.2
Catenary (.3
1C! Landau (.4
1C! geep (.4
1C! Pennsylvania Railroad locomotive classification (.5
1C! Doctor Yellow (.5
Buck Naked and the Bare Bottom Boys (.5
Top 5 Writeups with the Highest Downvote Ratio
1.) April 22, 2003
2.) May 16, 2003
3.) Class 03
4.) well tank
5.) Mohawk 1C!
Top 5 Writeups with the Most Number of Votes
1C! sequential turn signals (.1
1C! Shinkansen Types (.2
May 16, 2003 (.2
April 22, 2003 (.3
2C! 4-8-4 (.4
1C! Red Devil (.4
2C! locomotive (.5
Top 5 Writeups with the Least Number of Votes
1.) Class 02
2.) Class 10
2.) Class 01
2.) starting tractive effort
2.) bats day in the fun park
3.) Class 23 1C!
3.) Class 05
3.) Ldnderbahn
3.) metre gauge
3.) Wye
3.) Class 04
3.) Railway 32
3.) Mason Bogie
4.) Class 40 1C!
4.) Class 55 1C!
4.) tractive effort 1C!
4.) James and Browne 1C!
4.) 1971 Ford Thunderbird
4.) Class 07
4.) Class 06
4.) section break
4.) Duke of Gloucester
4.) Deltic
4.) critter
4.) UIC
4.) short hood
4.) long hood
4.) EMD GP35
4.) loading gauge
4.) tank engine
4.) Sans Pareil
4.) superheater element
4.) Standard Gauge
4.) superheated
5.) new old stock
5.) cow and calf
5.) phase break
5.) grate limit
5.) UIC numbering
5.) Switcher
5.) Rainhill Trials
5.) locomotive frame
5.) Pacific
5.) Detroit
5.) Class 12
5.) Class 03
Top 5 Writeups with the Most Upvotes
1C! sequential turn signals (.1
1C! Shinkansen Types (.2
2C! 4-8-4 (.3
1C! Red Devil (.3
May 16, 2003 (.4
2C! locomotive (.5
Top 5 Writeups with the Most Downvotes
1.) April 22, 2003
2.) May 16, 2003
3.) Mohawk 1C!
4.) Leatherman Juice
4.) well tank
4.) Class 03
5.) Eritrean Railway 3C!
5.) Catenary
5.) Landau 1C!
5.) geep 1C!
5.) Pennsylvania Railroad locomotive classification 1C!
5.) Doctor Yellow 1C!
5.) Buck Naked and the Bare Bottom Boys
5.) Mountain
5.) daily driver
5.) exhaust steam injector
5.) road unit
5.) fallen flag
5.) Water Level Route
5.) Detroit
5.) Class 12
5.) Standard Gauge
5.) superheated
5.) Class 04
5.) Railway 32
5.) Mason Bogie
Top 5 Writeups with the Most Cools
3C! Eritrean Railway (.1
3C! United States Railroad Administration (.1
2C! 4-8-4 (.2
2C! locomotive (.2
2C! Geared locomotive (.2
2C! Whyte notation (.2
2C! Fairlie (.2
2C! Mallard (.2
2C! Pilot (.2
2C! narrow gauge (.2
1C! sequential turn signals (.3
1C! Shinkansen Types (.3
1C! Red Devil (.3
1C! crown sheet failure (.3
1C! parts car (.3
1C! 1967 Ford Thunderbird (.3
1C! Decapod (.3
1C! Willamette locomotive (.3
1C! 0-6-0 (.3
1C! Class 1 Railroad (.3
1C! Standard Railroad of the World (.3
1C! Klein-Lindner (.3
1C! 4-6-2 (.3
1C! Miniature railway (.3
1C! Shay locomotive (.3
1C! Pennsylvania Railroad locomotive numbering (.3
1C! Niagara (.3
1C! grate area (.3
1C! Walschaerts valve gear (.3
1C! Narrow gauge railways of Switzerland (.3
1C! Superheater (.3
1C! Mohawk (.3
1C! Landau (.3
1C! geep (.3
1C! shop switcher (.3
1C! ashpan (.3
1C! Dan Bernstein (.3
1C! Federal Railroad Administration (.3
1C! EMD (.3
1C! Andri Chapelon (.3
1C! Pennsylvania Railroad locomotive classification (.3
1C! Doctor Yellow (.3
1C! 1968 Ford Thunderbird (.3
1C! TOPS (.3
1C! 2-8-2 (.3
1C! double slip (.3
1C! Caprotti valve gear (.3
1C! Ferret and Dartboard (.3
1C! Climax locomotive (.3
1C! Slip coach (.3
1C! Firebox (.3
1C! Class 09 (.3
1C! White Pass & Yukon Route (.3
1C! track pan (.3
1C! exhaust steam (.3
1C! 4-8-2 (.3
1C! New York Central (.3
1C! Leyland Princess (.3
1C! dynamic brake (.3
1C! low water level (.3
1C! Ford 427 Cammer (.3
1C! track gauge (.3
1C! Factor of Adhesion (.3
1C! Class 40 (.3
1C! Class 55 (.3
1C! tractive effort (.3
1C! James and Browne (.3
1C! Class 23 (.3
Top 5 Non-C!ed Writeups with the Highest Reputation
1.) trailer queen
2.) Steam locomotive
3.) May 16, 2003
3.) Penn Central
4.) Heisler locomotive
5.) Catenary
5.) Thermactor
These lists were generated by in10se's E2 Link and Logger Client at 5/19/2003 10:22:36 AM
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