Re: Good Business and bad Karma

If you want to experience running a steam locomotive but can not (for whatever reason) be like Coker or Earl, or even Dan M., try a live steam loco.
You do not get to experience learning brake systems with long trains on a steep grade and shoe leather can still stop a train (if needed), but tending a fire and learning the throttle and trying to get injectors to work will be similar to the prototype.
My own experience, I had a used battery powered 1.5" scale model of SV 101 (D&RGW #50). The crank pin on the right rear driver came out, the drive rod fell, caught a tie and bent into an interesting shape.
A few years later when I was riding behind Eureka (on the D&S in 1999) and Dan lost something (cotter pin maybe?) on the Eureka that kept the nut on that held the side rod on, I was holding my breath because of first hand experience. Dan got us home albeit a little late. The tourist / passengers were upset at not getting home on time, the just did not realize the possible severe outcomes that could happen.