My actual inquiry was: Does a "day" in service always begin at midnight, or is it any 24-hour period? IE, if the engine is "under steam" from 2 AM one day to 1 AM the next, does it count as one day or two?
Originally Posted by Kent Loudon:
My actual inquiry was: Does a "day" in service always begin at midnight, or is it any 24-hour period? IE, if the engine is "under steam" from 2 AM one day to 1 AM the next, does it count as one day or two?
Yes. Any "fire-up" within a 24 hour period is considered a calendar day, even if it was only 5 or 10 minutes.
On the PBS program Ultimate Restorations there is a program on the rebuild of Sierra #3 (which aired in Los Angeles earlier this week.) A few minutes of the program were devoted to firing up the engine for the first time since rebuild. I found the program interesting and well done, didn't spot any of those glaring errors that make your eyes roll. Also had some scenes from it's many movie roles.
Somewhat off topic, but also mentioned earlier. Jay Leno has an interesting collection of steam cars. Several of the videos go over the process to fire them up. In this one, he goes over modifications to a Standley to make it steam better and then the fire up process:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Me8b0ed59s
The process is quite complex and technical. You don't fire it up for a five minute drive to the 7-11!
This one is about a 1925 Doble E20, which is much more automated.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUg_ukBwsyo
Leno also has videos on his steam traction and stationary engines. He appears to have an entire section of his garage and a couple of employees dedicated to steam. It is interesting that he hasn't gotten into a small locomotive. He also modifies and improves the cars, using modern materials, including space age metals and high temperature coatings.
Bob
I have an 1885 book titled "Locomotive Engine- Running and Management". Will have to re-read the chapter on "Raising Steam". In the beginning it admonishes the reader that the engineer is a "gentleman".
