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180. The Pile Up EP46: National Train Day & the Portland Transmission Spring Classic

180. The Pile Up EP46: National Train Day & the Portland Transmission Spring Classic

Car Krush May 20, 2026 76 min
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About this episode

GM’s data-privacy lawsuit takes center stage, with the hosts noting ā€œ$12.75 millionā€ tied to location data and describing it as ā€œthe largest everā€ under the California Consumer Privacy Act. The conversation then pivots to a Portland-area car event, where they define ā€œhot rodā€ as ā€œa fast, customized car.ā€ Guests also share a vivid railcar story about ā€œa 1941 train built by Lima Coach Works,ā€ and wrap with museum steam-locomotive details, including coal-fired operation and continued steam heating even after diesel.

Topics: hot rod
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Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Concept

hot rod

"Speaker: All right. Sweet, still young. a hot rod? [36.0s] Speaker 4: Yep, yep. It was grouped up with the Pinto, which, you know, I will say if you get rear-ended in a Pinto, good luck. [37.0s] Speaker: It's my favorite show. Yeah. So I get that. Do you dare disclose your age? 48. Did you forget? I did. I forget sometimes too. What is a hot rod? a fast, customized car. Love it."

A hot rod is an older car that’s been customized to be cooler and more fun to drive. People often think of classic American cars, and the exact definition can differ a bit from person to person.

Concept

drive wheels

"Uh, it used to run from, I believe, LA to San Francisco, and it's a 1941 train built by Lima Coach Works, uh, or Lima, you know... I think that's what it is, it's Lima Coach or Lima Engine or something. Um, and, uh, it's a big ass train. The drive wheels on this train are as tall as me. I'm 6'04"."

Drive wheels are the wheels that actually get power to move the vehicle. On a train, they’re the wheels connected to the power system that helps it pull forward.

Company

Lima Coach Works

"Uh, it used to run from, I believe, LA to San Francisco, and it's a 1941 train built by Lima Coach Works, uh, or Lima, you know... I think that's what it is, it's Lima Coach or Lima Engine or something."

Lima Coach Works was a company that built railroad vehicles. In this story, they’re named as the builder of a 1941 train.

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