Re: Leaking packing, CM story, NNG

Cafky`s statement regarding the non-replacement of the slide valves on CM 205 (L&A 425, Comite Southern 425) is in error. Even in his book, as in other later photos all photographs of the 425 in service show the engine with "universal" piston valve replacements as well as direct outside admission steam pipes from the superheated header. The resemblance of the "universal" piston valve assembly to a slide valve and its ability to bolt on to replace a slide valve undoubtedly caused the confusion. Now, whether or not the piston valve conversation was done by the CM is unknown as no photos of the converted engine on the CM appear to exist, but it would have been a part of the normal conversion process, so that there is no reason to assume that the CM did not do the valve replacement as well.