Re: WP&Y #81 on the SVRy

Engine 19/81 normally pulls a good sized consist with very little smoke beyond a little brown grey haze. The ground crew would radio the cab to indicate whether the photographers wanted smoke or not. Usually they did. We ticked off at least one local along the line with smoke drifting up to their house. To make a lot of smoke, you can starve the fire for air by leaving the main damper shut, leave the atomizer lower than normal and over fire a bit with the oil valve. It is hard to force yourself to do this as a fireman strives to burn a clean stack at all times.
Soot build up was sufficient by Sun. midday that when Paul and I got to Sumpter (Paul firing and I running) we were low on steam and not blessed with excess water in the glass. Paul and I switched places for the 2nd run by comming off the steep area below the new depot and I could hardly gain press. standing. We sanded the flues on the back up move and it fired fine till early evening when we were putting the cars away and it was steaming less than idealy. I am sure once the flues are cleaned 19/81 will be back to it's usual easy steaming self! It was a fun weekend for the crew.