Re: 492

Carlos is right as usual. However, once I got the hang of it I LOVED firing 497. It was the easiest engine to get back up to steam if you got a few pounds low. It took a special technique to get coal through the low door and to the front of the firebox (where it loved it). Some tall fireman had a very hard time stooping low enough to sling the coal properly.
497 was also hard on the engineer as the throttle tended to need a lot of force to move it and at least during one season the Johnson bar was so difficult to move it wanted to throw you out the front of the cab when you tried to drop it down a notch. I spent one afternoon switching cars in Chama with the 497 and my arms were SORE when I went home...Still, my favorite engine behind the 463.