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

dave2-8-0 Wrote:
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> OK so the consensus on the actions to take are:
>
> 1: Center the JOHNSON BAR
>
> 2: Open the CYLINDER COCKS
>
> 3: Set the BRAKES Hard
>
> 4: Reduce the BOILED PRESSURE
>
>
> SO.... Now the question comes to.. What is the
> best way to reduce the boiler pressure the
> fastest? 040Porter suggested using the blow down.
> You would have to watch the water level close,
> Fire up both injectors full?, blow the whistle?
> How about dropping the fire? 315 and 168 style
> locos can't just dump the fire box ( grates don't
> rock much). Squirt hose the fire?
>
> Or other ideas?

Swap 2. and 3. for 1.

Adding water is the best and safest way to reduce usable steam. Blowing down will loose water and create a bigger problem.

315 and 168 can dump the fire. If the grates don't tilt enough to dump then how do you clean out a dead fire? From in the cab you can only move them part way with the short hole in the floor and the shaker bar. If you get the loco stopped you can pull the grate shaker lever all the way down and dump the whole fire into the pan. If you cant stop the loco, dumping anything helps. You could probably hang off the side(if you strong enough and crazy enough) to reach the lever to dump the grates or maybe use the shaker bar upside down to push the lever down through the trap door in the floor.

Another option would be to dump what you can a rake the rest.

Jeff Taylor
CRRM curator of equipment and rolling stock.