Rough day for the 734 yesterday(Sunday Nov 1st) After 3 stops on the way to Frostburg due to a bad load of coal and wet leaves causing the drivers to slip we finally got help. Fireman told us that she can normally handle 7 cars without a helper, on this day she had 8 and no helper, until the last mile.
We arrived in Frostburg at 4pm, train is usually back at the Cumberland depot by 330pm. We had 3, 30 minute stops. The word was because of the bad coal that she couldn't maintain the proper boiler pressure.
We were in the last car before the hack and that caboose was full of kids. I would have liked to seen the looks on their faces when that big diesel hooked up to them from the rear It was a pretty good jolt. Still a great day considering the trouble and the massive amount of cinders flying around. I think the diner car ran out of everything.

happens to the best of us. that's a fine looking locomotive! thanks for sharing.

734 is one of the ex Lake Superior and Ishpeming ore hauling 2-8-0's (formerly #34). They are spread across the country now: Arizona, Colorado, Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio, New York, and Maryland - and I think Texas. Might be some pieces of #32 still left on the bombing range near Eglin AFB in Florida as well.
Still surviving: #18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 29, 33, 34 (734), and 35. Quite a large group.

John
(used to fire on one of them, #23)

This message has been edited. Last edited by: John23,

The helper pushed on a caboose full of people? Isn't that against the law? Apparently not in that state.

On the BN back in the 1970s we were not allowed to ride in cabooses when there were helpers behind and some states had laws against it, and that was for crews.

Wyhog

They had issues last year when they got stuck in the leaves near the top.

Is this were you want the Anthrasite coal as opposed to regular coal? The one burns much hotter than the other.

Jamie

From the looks of the firebox, this locomotive would burn soft coal. Anthracite requres a special firebox, bigger than one used for soft coal, in order to generate sufficent heat. We burned anthracite to heat the house when I was a kid and if I recollect correctly, it was appreciated more because it was a clean burning coal as opposed to burning hotter than soft coal.

It may have to do more with the quality of the coal. We were told this was coke when I did a cab ride in July 5 2008.



Stoker and steam jets set properly should distribute the coal evenly with exception to the two back corners of the fire box. These corners have to be hand feed to maintain even drafting through the entire fire box.



Once the engine stops, (A spin appeared to require the throtle to be closed to stop the slip), the drafting stops and the fire is much cooler. If the coal is wet with out drafting it may burn poorly.

quote:

Originally posted by Wyhog:
The helper pushed on a caboose full of people? Isn't that against the law? Apparently not in that state.

On the BN back in the 1970s we were not allowed to ride in cabooses when there were helpers behind and some states had laws against it, and that was for crews.

I'm curious to hear the answer to this question.

I think the "pusher" actually pulled them back down the hill.
I'm surprised they left Cumberland without assistance.

quote:

I think the "pusher" actually pulled them back down the hill.

This was the case. It was a little strange seeing the 734 going backwards down the mountain and the caboose right behind the diesel as we were heading back to Cumberland.

quote:

Originally posted by bazonkers:

quote:

Originally posted by Wyhog:
The helper pushed on a caboose full of people? Isn't that against the law? Apparently not in that state.

On the BN back in the 1970s we were not allowed to ride in cabooses when there were helpers behind and some states had laws against it, and that was for crews.

I'm curious to hear the answer to this question.

It is not against most state laws, and, in most cases not forbidden by the rule book. However, Division Special Instructions in steam days not uncommonly forbade this practice -- if not totally, then at least behind wooden waycars. Or, when not forbidden, the crew was sometimes required by instructions to vacate their caboose in favor of the helper engine.

Santa Fe did not forbid it, instead expecting crews to use good railroading practices and common sense if shoving behind a waycar. Around 1985, however, they realized that they were beginning to run low on Engineers with well-honed skills and good sense, and instituted a Special Instruction that the rear end crew being shoved would ride the helper engine. Today, of course, everything has to be spelled out, as Generation X and Y railroaders are contitioned to receive training instead of to learn by initiative. It is not a bad thing, just a reflection of a changing society and the railroads providing what is now needed.

My two cents' worth (as an Engineer on Cajon Pass for years): The waycar always "dog tracks" when being shoved, especially if it has end of car cushioning devices. A gentle hand on the throttle of the helper and a lot of patience is better than shoving like a bull-of-the-woods. Keep the cab window open and pay attention to anything you see, hear, or smell.