I know there are a few folks here (like Hot Water & Rich Melvin) who have spent lots of time firing or running steam, but for train goobers like the rest of us, the opportunity to operate a real hissing, pounding, smoking steam locomotive is an incredible thrill. We had just that opportunity on Monday and spent an hour at the throttle of WM 734. I can't adequately describe the feeling I had when I managed to smoothly start all 300 tons of engine, tender, and caboose up a 2 % grade and then to stop and do it again many times. A little more challenging was backing down the same grade, keeping the speed fairly constant by manipulating the brakes while also keeping the steam pressure to the cylinders fairly constant. Kevin, our engineer instructor (that's him on the photos) was a great teacher for us first timers and helped to make this a fun time. I say we, because my incredible wife also ran 734 up and back down the same grade, although she generously gave me the lion's share of our hour.
Our time "at the throttle" passed way too quickly and as we drove away afterward, Jean said "I want to do that again". Me, too!
If any of you ever have the opportunity to run a steam locomotive, do it, you'll be glad you did. Here are photos of each of us in the cab.
