Well, I debated about telling this.......
During the first few years of opertion after getting the 346 running, 1960 or '61, we had the 346 on through the 3-way switch with the lead truck and first 3 drivers on the ties, #4 driver was still on the main.
Why? To start off:
1. Track department was using a transit to check alignment of the tracks leading to the switch.
2. We had been running the engine lite and had put on a recently cleaned and oiled C-6 reducing valve (from Burnham) that mal-functioned as we were coming down the hill. We blew the whistle to warn the track guys.
3. We horsed the engine over but got too much throttle and spun the drivers. It is amazing how fast the speed can get on even that little bit of 4%!
4. By the time we stopped, she was bouncing on the ties.
5. The funniest part was as we were coming around the curve where the single track came into view (from the right side), the transit was set up in the middle of the (lead) track. All I could see was a hand attached to an arm reaching in to grab the transit similar to how one grabs a chicken by the neck. The only difference was, at least the transit legs weren't kicking!
6. She would not back her self back onto the iron because of being stopped on dead center on one side. Once the tow truck got us started, she came on by herself.
7. And yes, it did take a bigger tow truck as the smaller one did not have enough clutch on the cable drum to take the load.
8. Embarrest? Of course! But as the air shop foreman from Burnham said,
(because they didn't have a spares for repairing B or C-6 valves, it was OK when it left the shop and maybe you ought to consider putting some more modern valves on such as C-8's or better on the engine.
9. RWR at the time, was posting items on the bulletin board and when he heard the whistleing, looked out the window, saw the engine go on the ground and then proceeded to remove the thumb tacks that he had so cleverly gripped tightly in his hand! Ouch!
10. Needless to say, The track foreman came to the gangway and started to chew us (me) out, but when told that the independent failed (at that time the automatic only worked on the tender) nicely backed off as it was "just an accident".
11. No damage to speak of. Except for the removal of the rally stripes in shorts.
12. Of course, everything has operated perfectly since that time!!!
Anyway, just so you know, S--t does happen!
Chris
