Re: Tri-cocks, Tri-cocks, Tri-cocks!

I wholeheartedly agree with Mr.Kelsey. Nearly every book about locomotives written before 1970 states to never rely on the water glass, and to regularly check the water level with the tri-cocks. Every time you open them you are basically blowing them out and reaming the walls of the valve clean of lime or other matter.
Unfortunatly because of the second water glass required by the FRA, many locomotives were forced to give up their tri-cocks in order to make room.
As one old Sumpter Valley head commented to me,"You can blow up just as easy with two water glasses if you don't blow them out."
I think it's safe to say that the tri-cocks should never be underestimated.
Your thoughts...