Re: Good steamers

I've never had the opportunity to work with the C&TS locomotives, but did have last summer to work with the D&S power.
The two best steamers were the 478 and the 482. I believe both had just recieved new tubes in the recent past. The 480 and 481 were a close second to 482. The 481 was a bit of a rough rider and tended to hop (valve timing) when shoving the train back up to 12th street in Silverton. I fired the 480, 481, 482, and 476 out on the road, and tended to all of them in the yard and house. the 482 was a bit of a pain right after you clean it. Just about every day I had it for the road I would be waiting for the highball with water at the very top of the sight glass and hadn't yet warmed the shovel. It was hard to keep cool in the house. We watered the table with all three safeties one night. The 481 had a tendency to get that loud bass hum very easily after cleaning the fire.
The worst of the bunch was the 473 last summer. But it was due to have flues, and has been reflued since then. I remember spending 45 minutes with the 473 trying to clean it and keep pressure (with a couple marginal flue leaks, mind you), and then having the 479 cleaned and ready for it's inspection just 10 minutes later!
If the fire was young enough, the 478 would sit in the house all day with just a half dozen scoops of coal all hour.
Hope this was interesting!
Ryan