Re: What to do for a "Run away" loco

Our WH Eccles #3 Heisler with Stephenson valve gear will run nicely with the Johnson Bar centered once you are up to speed. This is a good place to run to avoid overworking the fireman, but doesn't result in as much draft if he is needing more to keep his fire going. Obviously a saturated Heisler doesn't have a dry pipe, but some sort of mechanical issue could occur jamming the throttle. I have heard stories that regular rod engines with Stephenson will sometimes work well at speed one or two notches behind center. This is splitting hairs because an engineer familiar with his engine will know where he has to put the Johnson bar to make it go lame.