Re: Sumpter Valley's Heisler #3

Earl Wrote:
=======================================================
> I have heard a couple of stories - including one
> from a direct relative of it's victim - that a
> Heisler can roll itself off it's trucks when
> starting a heavy train. This stems from the
> centerline drive and the truck side bearings being
> rather close to the center bowl of the bolster.
>
> I remember running Westside #3 at Roaring Camp and
> having to start on the 8 1/2% grade a couple of
> times. This was a
> "wide-open-from-a-standing-start-and-hope-it-moves
> " deal. You could feel the locomotive heel over to
> the right as she dug in, made a couple of quarter
> slips and walked away with the train.

Amen to that...experienced near the same thing with the
90 ton West Coast Special model at Mineral, Wa once while starting a
train on a grade. She waddled back and forth a lot until the
cutoff was shortened and speed picked up. If you could start a
train with a Heisler, you were usually off to the races, figuratively
speaking of course.