Most unexpected Place You've Ever Seen A Porsche

[wdfifteen]

I never expected to see a Porsche in the power house of a gondola ride.



This is the emergency power plant for the Jasper Tramway, near Jasper, Alberta.
In 1985 (?) Jerry Keyser and I drove our 356 coupes on trip out west. We drove up through the Canadian Rockies and ended up at the Jasper Tramway. We were talking to one of the people who works there, showed him our Porsches, and he said, "We've got a Porsche too!" He took us to the power house and there amid all these huge wheels and cables was a 356 industrial engine - their emergency power. It has one Zenith carb, a magneto, and a governor.

https://www.jasperskytram.com


Technical Data:
Elevation of Lower/Upper Stattion: 1304/2277 metres
Vertical height : 973 metres
Length of wire ropes : 2000 metres
Speed : 6 metres per second
Cars : Two - 30 passengers each
Tower : One - 18 metres high
Traction/Towing ropes : 46/26 mm
Power : 260 hp - electric
Auxiliary power: Porsche - gasoline/300 kW diesel generator
Contruction time: 8 months (built by P.H.B., Co., Germany)

[look 171]

I know they made 356 industrial engines, but what makes them industrial? Better durability and more reliable? I saw one in a small helicopter once

[cabmandone]

IF you ask around here, at a car show in Spencerville

[Jeff Higgins]

A good buddy of mine up here in our PNW R Gruppe chapter has a VW bus with a 356 industrial engine in it. I had no idea either, until he told me about it.

I remember seeing photos of WWII German army camps and such with industrial VW engines powering equipment. Pretty simple, robust way to do it.

As far as me, personally, I was quite surprised to see so many Porsches in Reykjavik and Keflavik. Not a lot of suitable roads for them.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by look 171

I know they made 356 industrial engines, but what makes them industrial? Better durability and more reliable? I saw one in a small helicopter once

Industrial engines have different cams, a single carb, often a magneto instead of a distributor, a governor. I’ve heard they have cast iron pistons.
There was an aviation version of the 356 engine, with dual ignition.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by tcar

So a diesel like a Porsche tractor?

No. I’m not sure what the diesel was, never saw it. Porsche Diesel didn’t make any 300 KW engines That know of.

[id911T]

I saw the same thing at Busch Gardens years ago. They have a gondola that traverses the park and 356 or VW industrial engine for backup.

[GH85Carrera]

Well, I will play!

It you go way off the regular beaten path up into Dinosaur National Monument near Vernal, UT, middle of nowhere, USA there is a road that is open range. It goes back into the national park quite a way. At the turnaround at the end, there is a bear proof dumpster and a outhouse style bathroom, and room for a dozen cars to park. I had to drive around some cattle and into cow crap that was splashed on the rear fenders of my 911. Cattle had deer have the right of way!

Anyway, way back in there, we came across a very nice 356C. They were just coming back from the one mile long trek (each way) to a overlook that is stunning.



We saw only three other humans total. 100% opposite of Grand Canyon as far as crowds, and just as pretty. I have a selfie of my wife and I after the two miles of hiking up and down the hills, in 90 degree heat, looking tired. This was just a few weeks before I finally got my hip replacement.

[Fly Mach .86]

On a rotisserie in the Eastwood catalog. No surprise it was a 914.

[KFC911]

My garage!

I blame it all on Wayne

[onewhippedpuppy]

I drove a Boxster across a creek to get to a rally stage viewing area once, does that count?

[turn9]

Making low passes over Willow Springs Raceway

Decades ago

Porsche Mooney

[Fly Mach .86]

On a helicopter.

[cmccuist]

I saw a yellow 930 on the Nelson Mendella Highway in Kingston going the other way.

I also saw a GT-3 in St. Croix.

[pwd72s]

I know it's hard to believe, but I actually saw one in a restaurant parking lot when a PCA dinner meeting was being held. It was craftily hidden among all the Japanese cars.

[Admin at Pelican Parts]

I spent a few days in Juneau back in 2016 and ran across this early 912.. kinda fun to see it amidst a sea of Subarus and full-size trucks.

[kach22i]

I drove out to Lake Michigan about 15 years ago in my old Geo Tracker. In a parking lot in Holland, Michigan was a Porsche 944 filled with fishing equipment, that rear window made a very nice display for the rods & reels.

[cairns]

Juneau for 2nd. The OP for the win.

[Zeke]

I spent a year in AL circa 1994 and we took the '77 Targa we had along with us. Except for Birmingham, you could expect some weird looks and comments from the locals in and out of Talladega. Took it to one car show in a couple counties over and when a father and son passed by the father told his son, "That's a Porsh and they don't make them anymore."