Re: Postcard From Maine 32, Rare Encounter

Dan Markoff Wrote:
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> Stewart,
> back in the late 1990s I had Eureka at the Nevada
> State Railroad Museum in Carson City. Also in
> attendance was a horse drawn fire pumper from
> Watsonville, California. I was steaming along
> the narrow gauge track where there was an ancient
> wood boxcar on the siding. I did not realize that
> the metal roof had been removed off the boxcar.
> Anyway, I repeatedly went chugging by it. At some
> point a person yelled out "the boxcar is on fire."
> Sure enough the wood roof was in flames. The
> guys from Watsonville saw the fire. Fortunately,
> their pumper was under steam and there was a
> supply of water nearby. The firemen put the
> intake hose into the water and turned on the
> pumper. In no time at all the fire was
> extinguished, The boxcar was only slightly
> damaged. I was absolutely amazed how far that
> pumper could shoot water
>
> I guess I am probably the last guy in the then 20
> th century to start a fire with a 19th century
> locomotive that was put out by a 19th century
> horse drawn fire engine. A dubious honor.
>
> Dan Markoff

Thanks Dan, neat story.