Haha.
Went REAL well. We both talked each others ears off. He's also easy to fire for. Just have to keep an eye on him because the throttle comes out fast and far. He doesn't mess around. Luckily the 110 steams as well as it does. The first trip of the day I wasn't ready for the run that he makes for tin mill hill (5% grade) just out of town and I got a little behind (about 15 pounds down from where I like to be - she pops at 200) We stormed through the first crossing, the johnson bar still in the corner (and he left it there almost the whole way up the hill - remember its a compound). Most guys hook it up 4 or 5 notches and when I looked over and saw that, my eyes widened. I sanded her out and opened the dampers back up and when I sat down and looked at the pressure I had 195lbs! I turned my gun on and the pressure still climbed. The safety started howling just a little bit and then shut up. I actually probably over fired it a little. I had just the right amount of water as we crested the hill.
The second trip went even easier. I had to use less oil. We use Penberthy injectors (and not just any Penberthy's - 2" - biggest i've ever seen) and I had a little trouble getting it to pick up all the way when we were coming west back to Hill City on the first trip. The second trip Jerry gave me a tip and said try and hold your pressure around 185 and 190 and see how your gun does. So I backed off on the oil just a tad and turned the atomizer down SLIGHTLY and let it down to 190, then adjusted my fire so it'd start making steam again, then turned my gun on. Picked right up...problems solved. They must not like the few extra pounds...after all they are not locomotive injectors.
Jerry hired out for the Northwestern when he was 17 working in the roundhouse and hostling in Rapid City in 1951. Working in the roundhouse from 5pm to 1am and going to school at the same time. Occasionally firing when they were short. Then we he graduated from high school he went to full time fireman. Did that for a year I think and then went to Korea. When he came back steam was gone. He worked up to Road foreman before he retired in '94. He was a riot to work with. Cab just reeks of calogne and cigarettes. He brings his own seat pad from the C&NW that is held together with a belt and duct tape. Has two pairs of white gloves. One dirty for use when oiling around and the other strictly for grasping the throttle. Little observations of mine. One thing that helped firing for him was how much of a scene he makes when pulling on the throttle. I was told he was going to do it and they weren't kidding. He grabs it with both hands and clenches his teeth. The man just loves railroading no doubt about it. One thing I thought was funny too was how I was hot and went through two gallons of water and i'm 19. He's 75 and all he drank was coffee. Two POTS of coffee, and he didn't even look tired.
I was real nervous before leaving town on the first trip but once I got him figured out I was relieved to see that it's going to be an alright summer. That's if we don't break anything. They pulled the air on us leaving Keystone yesterday on the second trip. Still never figured out what happend. I don't know if they even told Jerry. Jerry's first reaction was "HOLY **** We must have broke in two!!" I looked back at the train and saw everything was O.K. We stopped in the middle of a turnout so I thought that MAYBE we snagged a hose on the points or something. I don't know...
Kevin Bush
