Jeff Taylor Wrote:
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> Learning how to fire an oil burner can be a
> challenge. Learning how to fire an oil burner that
> has never burned oil before is even harder.
>
> Looks like Stathi firing to me, he is arguably the
> most experienced at firing oil on the C&TS. If I
> was in his shoes I would want to be the first to
> fire 489. It is very possible that he didn't
> realize the fire was out. If 89 is barking load
> enough, and the atomizer is still making noise,
> and folks in the cab are talking it could be hard
> to hear the fire go out. Cut em some slack, the
> folks with the most experience firing an oil
> burning K-36 are in Durango, and that loco has
> only been running for a few weeks.
>
> It takes time to learn what a locomotive likes or
> doesn't, how well it performs or doesn't after
> just a shopping add in an oil conversion and it
> just gets harder. Again cut them some slack.
>
> Blow backs can be some what common when learning
> how to fire. A good fireman and engineer who know
> their loco and route who communicate with each
> other, or if the fireman knows the route and
> engineer well enough can anticipate what the
> locomotive needs and what the engineer is about to
> do. That level of skill can take years, among the
> results is no blow backs. In other words this
> overall is not a common sight with experienced
> crews.
>
> This is all meant to be complimentary to Stathi
> and the shop crews in Antonito. They will get it
> figured out.
> 493 wasn't perfect the first time out, adjustments
> had to be made.
Thank you Jeff, appreciate this post! I'm with you and share your sentiments 100%.
William
aka drgwk37
