My friends over on G Scale Central posted this earlier today. What an experience it would be ! I wonder if we have anything like it here.
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Very nice idea. Wonder how U.S. government regulations, insurance companies, and the legal profession would react to such a thing in this country?
yes we do. I believe the trend started here. Nevada northern has the Engineer for an Hr on their steam engine or diesel.
http://www.nnry.com/pages/Hands-On-History.php
There are several rail museums that will do Diesel engineer for an hour. Steam is a bit more tricky.
Having both fired (coal) and operated steam (as well as diesel and electric power), I personally found firing much more enjoyable and challenging. I'm not aware of any US operations that will allow someone to fire, with supervision. Plenty will allow "engineer for an hour" programs.
SJC posted:Having both fired (coal) and operated steam (as well as diesel and electric power), I personally found firing much more enjoyable and challenging. I'm not aware of any US operations that will allow someone to fire, with supervision. Plenty will allow "engineer for an hour" programs.
The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic RR offers Fireman and Engineer training programs. A person MUST successfully complete the Fireman's training program before he/she is permitted to sign up for the Engineer training program. Can't recall how many days each program is, but it sure isn't cheap! Not to mention getting a REAL workout as Fireman, on a hand fired narrow gauge 2-8-2 ascending a 4% grade.
Cumbria & Toltec Scenic had an excellent fireman trainee course, as mentioned, as well as an engineer for the day experience.
SJC posted:Having both fired (coal) and operated steam (as well as diesel and electric power), I personally found firing much more enjoyable and challenging. I'm not aware of any US operations that will allow someone to fire, with supervision. Plenty will allow "engineer for an hour" programs.
If one of our Operate-a-Loco customers had expressed a desire to fire, that would have been great! Only one person ever did, that I recall. Most people seem to prefer actually running the engine. They get more of a thrill out of being the "engineer."
smd4 posted:SJC posted:Having both fired (coal) and operated steam (as well as diesel and electric power), I personally found firing much more enjoyable and challenging. I'm not aware of any US operations that will allow someone to fire, with supervision. Plenty will allow "engineer for an hour" programs.
If one of our Operate-a-Loco customers had expressed a desire to fire, that would have been great! Only one person ever did, that I recall. Most people seem to prefer actually running the engine. They get more of a thrill out of being the "engineer."
Probably because that vast majority of those interested, have no clue whatsoever how to fire a coal burner, nor an oil burner. When trying to explain to visitors to the cab, what the Fireman does, the general follow-up question is, "How do you know what to do when?".
NKP 765 held a "Throttle Time" event on the CVSR this fall. The event offered opportunities to run and fire the 765.
Hot Water posted:smd4 posted:SJC posted:Having both fired (coal) and operated steam (as well as diesel and electric power), I personally found firing much more enjoyable and challenging. I'm not aware of any US operations that will allow someone to fire, with supervision. Plenty will allow "engineer for an hour" programs.
If one of our Operate-a-Loco customers had expressed a desire to fire, that would have been great! Only one person ever did, that I recall. Most people seem to prefer actually running the engine. They get more of a thrill out of being the "engineer."
Probably because that vast majority of those interested, have no clue whatsoever how to fire a coal burner, nor an oil burner. When trying to explain to visitors to the cab, what the Fireman does, the general follow-up question is, "How do you know what to do when?".
I'm not sure the vast majority know how to get an engine moving, either. But I guess it's easier to show them how to push the Johnson Bar forward, release the brake and pull the throttle. Running the engine has it's own skill set, but firing always seemed to me to be more of an intellectual challenge, especially since you were dependent on outside variables--like the skill (or lack thereof) of your engineer, fuel quality, railroad profile, etc. Yes, it's definitely "knowing what to do, when" that makes the work as challenging as it is.
