Re: Sand the flues

All of my run-by experience has been with the #3, and I have to agree with Earl and Bret that it isn't easy to make smoke with wood. About the only safe way is to have some slabs of pitchy wood like pine or fir that burn up quickly. It only takes a couple to make a satisfactory smoke. For one or two run-bys you can let the fire run a bit low and then throw on a fresh charge of wood about half a minute before the run starts. But if you have several run-bys in short order you will soon have a fire box full of wood and the safetys lifted.

I was running the 3 on our first two-train photo runs in 1996, and we had some cut up ties that would make lots of smoke. The problem was that it was hard to keep from over firing, to the detriment of the firebox and water supply. It also coated the smoke box with hazardous creosote soot. Burning old tires and such would have the same result, not to mention filling the fire box with wire.

One thing about it. If you have photographers close to the track you can set up the air, drop the bar down into the corner, and give it full throttle. After they douse their clothing, all but the most ardent foamer should be cured of wanting to see smoke.