Well not a long post here but I just had to tell someone. I got a chance to ride in the cab of a steam train today the only bad thing was I ruined my shirt as I got splattered with oil. Still it was good. [ 08. August 2002, 03:28: Message edited by: Paul Davis ]
Fantastic, Paul. A shirt seems like a very small price to pay ... I know of many persons who would be happy to donate parts of their anatomy for a ride like that, including me! Did you get any photos that could be posted?
Well I didn't get any photos as I didn't have my camera with me but I probably could get some in the future as the model railroad club I belong to is situated in the same place. I did find this post card of it though [ 08. August 2002, 16:31: Message edited by: Paul Davis ]
Paul, is that the locomotive that you got the cab ride in? Nothing quite like it, is there? And to think that engineers were once esteemed members of society and they actually got PAID to do that!!
Yes they do still get paid, at least down here.We have three or four paid shop men who are also enginemen. We run seven days a week in the summertime and to ensure that a crew is available, that requires paying some individuals. We also typically hire one or two trainmen for the summertime. Running a three car train thirty six miles a day takes a lot out of the crews when the temperature is 130 degrees in the cab with 100% humidity. The 979' tunnel only makes things more unpleasant as it sits at the top of the ruling grade and the locomotives tend to smoke it up. Add a load of miserable coal and you've got a bad day ahead. I should mention that this is on the Tennessee Valley Railroad at Chattanooga, Tennessee down in the Appalachian Mountain range. [ 09. August 2002, 04:44: Message edited by: Alan Walker ]
Don't they ever water the fire a bit to coke over the coals and kill the smoke before entering the tunnel and ride the expansion through?
Not that I know of. However, turning up the blower a good bit and working the locomotive a little will keep the tunnel relatively clear without any special effort. It also helps to run through at track speed. It was most miserable when we had a 10 mph slow order through the tunnel. Halfway through it got so smoked up that you couldn't see anything outside and just barely see gauges and handles in the cab. Safety valves lifting occassionally or having to fire the locomotive while in the tunnel made the experiance even more fun.
