Re: Once a poor steamer, always a poor steamer?

While this isn't NG it fits right in the "poor Steamer" thread.
The Q ran a Hot-Shot from Centralia, IL to N.St
Louis. From Shattuc which is about 4 miles N of
the yards in Centralia they ran on the B&O tracks to E. StLouis. The B&O was fussy about them taking too much time on their tracks.
One trip Dad was breaking the head end and they were running way late.It was the practice for the regular fireman to fire about half way and the brakie would fire the rest of the way. They were using the O1A's and when they went in the hole at O'Fallon for a B&O passenger Dad took over the firing.
He got his fire all set up and went over to the engineer. He said,"Look, we aren't relatives, we
aren't friends. In fact, you don't even like me. Now let's go!" Dad said when they got to N.StL
the conductor came up to the engine and asked,
"What happened back there at O'Fallon?