Re: NNG: SRC's Long John Limited

Earl Wrote:
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> The N&W's 4-8-0's were of the "M" class and were
> nicknamed "Mollies". 475 is of the era when
> locomotives were designed with little to no
> thought given to ergonomics or comfort to the
> crew. Such locomotives were generally known as
> "Hogs" or "Pigs". 475 ranks among the most
> awkward locomotives I have ever run or fired. But
> she is a wonder to behold, as she wumps her soggy
> soak exhaust skyward every day. After 12 July
> hours on that hot old hog, you go home feeling
> that you have really accomplished something......
> you survived to tell the tale.
>
> Hence:
>
> "Mollie The Wonder Pig"
>
> 475 was one of the first ones built. She had
> Stephenson gear and piston valves as built.
> Unlike most "Mollies" , 475 was never superheated
> and has spent her last 111 years sucking up lots
> of water and coal. There are a few Mollies still
> around, one on display at Abingdon VA, and the two
> that survived in a Roanoke junk yard. I do believe
> she is the only 4-8-0 running. The long frame,
> Baker gear was designed for inboard valve stems
> and the arm coming out the front of the valve gear
> (don't know what you call that on Baker gear) has
> a nice nearly 90 degree bend in it and ties onto
> the valve stem.
>
> The 'Burg boys converted all the oil holes in the
> valve gear to soft grease. There are over a dozen
> grease fittings on each side of 475, mostly on the
> valve gear. As we use a soft grease with quite a
> bit of molybdenum in it we refer to it as "moly
> grease". Mollie likes her Moly grease too......
>
> Satisfied?
>
> And.....NO. I am not sorry I went home to PHX for
> the winter...

Thanks for the information Earl!

Mike Wilson
Michael J. Wilson Photography
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