Re: The art of runby smoke

I take great pride is doing a good runby. It's like nailing a perfect guitar solo. It makes one smile from way down inside. Different engines require different techniques. Obviously different fuel, requires an entirely different technique.

Some coal burners are real tough to make smoke on a runby when the engine is working real hard (497 comes to mind) Others simply need a few extra scoop straight up the middle of the firebox (where the fire is coolest) and the added fuel just makes a bunch of smoke. Lifting the safety valves is frowned upon, so you need to start the injector early and keep the pressure 10 lbs or so below maximum. Passing the photoline with the pops roaring pisses off the video and audio guys.

Runbys on level or downhill is a a bit tougher, you need to drag enough air to keep the engine working hard enough to lift the exhaust over the train and not obliterate the countryside.

With oil burners I find closing the down the dampers restricts the air enough to put some color into the exhaust without it getting silly looking. Adding into it a few well placed scoops of sand, makes a good show.

On a stiff upgrade, it's hard not to put on a good show.

Now, getting the Eureka to smoke on a runby is something I've yet to see accomplished.