Re: NNG: Steam in the East

425 (or "Four And A Quarter") is Pennsyltucky's Rock Star. It puts on a show wherever it goes, and is a great thing to watch - once you can get past the blue paint.

They run her like there is no tomorrow. The way they run here you easily forget she is a little light Pacific. The regular fall trips are about 13 cars and an SD50 "helper" which is used only when a stall is eminent - or perhaps has already occurred . I have a recording made last fall from the top of the tender of her down on her knees at about 7 mph, wide open in the corner, treading sand - and the diesel is still idling. In fact the only time you hear the diesel at all is getting the train out of Jim Thorpe (because the train is surrounded by parked cars and they don't want to bomb the train with cinders and valve oil) and you hear it in dynamic braking going down the hill into Port Clinton.

She is well worth the effort to see in action.

Joe Bob gives her two thumbs up.