Re: Tonnage train in a storm on the C&TS

The small brass handle you see me mess with a lot is the sander valve. They had the sanders set up different than on most engines. Usually pushing it forward gives you the front sanders, pulling back gives you the rear ones. The 480's in Chama were set up with all forward sanders - the front sanders ahead of #1 Drivers, the rear sanders ahead of the #3. Both sets pointed to the rear for forward movement. The valve was modified so pulling back 1/2 way got you front sanders, all the way back got you all 4 sanders. When things start to come apart in the traction department, you seldom see me turn the sanders off.

One that I remember about that day is I could not get 487 to settle down and pull, even with the sanders on. The throttle was just at the wide open point, or a bit less. The bar was only down a couple of notches from the Company Notch, or the highest notch she would run. Dropping her down, just made her slip worse, so we slogged along hooked up pretty high. Whe she'd slip, I'd ease the throttle in a bit to catch her then sneak the throttle back out to wide open.

I don't remember what trouble Tom was having back there, but you see me look back with a "how 'bout some help back there" look on my face.

One thing for certain, I can now tell my doctor exactly when my torn rotator on my left shoulder started.