Re: Quick Salida Steam question

At least when you walk around a locomotive facility all you get is crunch from the cinder bed. We walked around several roundhouses in Europe where the engines burned oil, and our shoes were a mess from the crappy goo!!
The first time I rode behind an oil-burner was 8444 in 1968 before we went to the D&RGW. We had the heads out the vestibule most of the day, and were pleasantly surprised not be hit with cinders, only a mostly steamy spray. By the way guys on the try were timing mileposts and we were doing 90 on the way back to Cheyenne. No diesels or water cars back then!
So cinders are much better than oil.
I once sat on the tender seat and had my head above it looking over the top of Southern 4501 back in 1991. We went from a stop to over 40 mph, and I could hardly take the cinder-pelting. Its no wonder they wore bandanas(Coal pusher in the tender).
It's steam--Its all good!
Greg