Re: The life of machinery

Coke is right on the money with his observations regarding machinery in general & GCR 18 specifically. If you'll indulge me in relating a short story about her.
On Father's Day, 1999, 18 went to the Canyon with a big train. The Consolidation was on the head end with one of the Alco FA's along as a helper. Engineer & fireperson were both somewhat new at that time to those positions.
They got to the Canyon, unloaded the passengers, then serviced the power on the tail track of the wye. Later that afternoon, when they put the power back put on the train, the diesel would not MU from the steam engine. With only one crew and being some 400 tons over 18's rating for the Southbound trip, a call went to the WMS shop for a mech. One was dispatched and the crew was directed to leave on schedule. It was all downhill 'till the old station site of Coconino, then up something like 2.2% through Coconino Canyon to the Summit @ Apex, now renamed Imbleau. Loaded down with something like 1100 tons, 18 slugged it out for miles & staggered to within sight of the Apex sign board There she stalled with 190 lbs. of steam in her cylinders. She never slipped once...and all this with a new engine crew. I hostled her that nite & she was none the worse for wear. That shop & management knows how to take care of it's machines!
PS The mechanic met the train @ Apex & shortly
fixed the MU problem.