Thoughts from along side the ROW

The green boiler jackets look fine, particularly on a nice, clean locomotive. But, after enduring the past summer's discussion here on NGDF, I have decided that green boiler jackets aren't really needed other than for once-in-a-great-while special occasions, and then only if HC (historically correct). It also appears likely that we'll never know the exact shade of green.

When I consider the San Juan Extension in its later days, it brings to mind squat, black, grubby K-36s and K-37s working their way over the line and doing what they were designed and purchased to do, and doing it pretty well considering the attitude of the owners toward the narrow gauge.

Now, many folks here weren't even born in those days and never got a chance to see the ng as it really was, and even many of us older generation never saw the green boiler jackets which were applied to K-class engines by the Rio Grande.

So, I say, IMHO, leave 'em black with a little white or silver trim (whatever is HC), clean 'em up regularly so they're easier to maintain, give 'em regular TLC and fix what needs fixing when it needs fixing, leave the flying Rio Grande on the tenders and run 'em right. A green boiler jacket on 489 or red counter weights on 483 for special purposes is OK, but shouldn't be a regular thing.

Understand, I'm not wanting to start another argument, simply giving my view from along side the ROW. Your perspective many be entirely different from mine, and there's nothing wrong with that.

Ed



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/29/2009 06:02AM by Ed Stabler.