I distinctly remember someone last week challenging us to post some steam (or something steamy)... or it might just be that messed up old brain of mine making things up... Just to cover the bases, here's something really steamy - a working replica of an 1840s steam loco, one of the first in Canada, the John Molson: IMGP9812A_John_Molson by Mike VE2TRV posted May 13, 2016 at 5:49 AM Lots of shiny brass and stuff, and it smells wonderful - like camping! I did mention it was a replica, and here's the builder's plate: IMGP4312A_2-2-2_John_Molson._bldr_plate by Mike VE2TRV posted May 13, 2016 at 5:46 AM I wonder if it would make wheelies...
Here is an oldie. Work train cleaning out cuts and getting ready for rainy season. My dad was the hoghead on #970, an F1, 2-10-2. This was East of El Paso and Tornillo, Texas circa 1950. The 2-10-2 was working the other part of the job, spreader I think. This image is an MK5 Mike with the "lighter load". #970 hard at work with the spreader... Hope you enjoy, Carl
Speaking of wheel bearings, I have an interesting bit of trivia. I will first see if anybody else knows what this is and what it does. The arrow points to the device where it is embedded in the upper part of the housing for the roller bearing which is located in the truck side frame.
I see a retaining clip and what looks like a "relief valve" for lack of a better term. I recall a lot of greasing where you'd keep pumping in the fitting until fresh grease came out the relief
Oh yeah, mo steam. The "Flat Driver Express" limps into Hearne, Texas on April 17, 2012. (The locomotive with it's brakes locked up had been pushed down the tracks 1/4 mile a few days earlier by an out of control diesel.)
Mike, that was me, and I thank all of you who posted steam pics. Kawasaki? Here's one I took from the train as we were crossing the Columbia River from Oregon to Washington in 2012 on 4449's last excursion prior to her 1472/15 inspection.
I would guess hot box detector, but roller bearings did not set off the stuff in journal bearing boxes. Hot bearing alarm?
Yup. If the bearing overheated, it ruptured a glass vial of really offensive chemical odder. Kind of a "Stink Bomb" that would alert the passenger car crew. As there was no longer a wad of oil soaked waste of the old brass journal boxes to smoke up the joint, this was a comparable warning for roller bearings.
A lovely photo, and with no infernal combustion engined beast in sight...844 proves once more that she don't need no help from no stinkin' diesel!
