From: rertman@ix.netcom.com
Date: Mon Aug 04 2003 - 19:56:11 PDT
2-stroke engines can run backwards. One of those silly-looking
little cars in France uses a 2-stroke engine and backing it up
requires shutting off the engine and re-starting it in reverse.
Dick
Everette wrote:
>
> There was a ferry across Mississippi River out from Dyersburg, Tn. when we
> first moved here that when it approached the Mo. side of river, they stopped
> engine, threw lever and restarted engine and it ran the other way, that was
> how the backed ferry into dock, when they came back to Tenn. it was not
> necessary to reverse engine on Tenn side. Ferry was constructed in 1939,
> would hold about a dozen autos, nothing larger than single axle bob truck. I
> never saw what make engine it was. 6 cylinder diesel, slow turning, flywheel
> about 6 feet in dia.
>
> There was room on each side of engine house for two autos to back into, 4
> could pull up to bow and they would park 4 more sideways behind front row.
> If you were one of the cars parked sideways they put a piece of 2 x 4 board
> in front of wheel to make you feel like you were not going to roll off.
>
> I never had occasion to ferry M35 across but they would have taken it and
> maybe 4 cars, that was what they would do when I crossed in my C65 chevy bob
> truck
>
> Everette
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