I Am Now...(the Official 4449 Thread)

[cabman701]

Andrew... will this be you one day?

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=308360

[AndrewFields]

You never know...they say if you put in enough time working on her, you're likely to be invited for a cab ride.

[AndrewFields]

Suppose I should update this thread on my adventures.

On Sunday (the 27th), I actually got to get my gloves a little dirty as they continue to put the '49 into hibernation for the winter. I showed up around 11 AM on Sunday and found Doyle to be the only one there, moving a big metal cabinet and table by levering it off the floor with a piece of wood. I helped him move that and then we proceeded to drain the water out of the boiler. Imagine draining the oil out of your car but with a much larger wrench and with water. It took us about five minutes to find the wrench Doyle had fabricated especially for this task but once we located that, the whole job took about three minutes. It really is a two-man job; one guy holds the bottom of the wrench on the drain plug while the other guy beats it with a hammer. Once you get it free, stand back and loosen it by hand and let the water come pouring out. An old staybolt came out with the flow, kind of a cool surprise.

The second task we had to undertake was done after lunch. It also required the help of '49 fireman Pat Tracy who came in as Doyle and I finished eating. As many of you know, when water is boiled into steam, it becomes purified but once it returns to water, it does not like to remain pure; water loves minerals. The steam that is trapped in the superheaters when the fire is put out will eventually return to water and absorbs the minerals in the superheater pipes. If this water is allowed to remain, it becomes what is known as hungry water and will chew through metal faster than many drills. The task at hand is to push the hungry water out of the superheaters and pump treated water in its place. This job took about twenty minutes and 4449 gobbled up three and a half barrels full of the treated water which looks and smells just like pink automotive coolant.

I also got to help fireman Pat Tracy open up the access hatches on the tender to let them air and completely dry out. Walking on the tender of 4449 is not for those who don't have a sense of balance or have a fear of falling from a great height. The surface isn't perfectly flat and there is nothing to grab on to in order to steady yourself. The only rails are about 6" off the deck and even those would be a million-to-one grab if you were to fall. Your best defense is to keep your stance wide, watch where you put your feet, and get off as soon as you're done!

A little news for the spring...Doyle has managed to locate an original cast Daylight whistle! It is currently in the process of being cleaned and restored. As soon as that is done, it will be mounted in its rightful place next to the stack on top of the 4449. For those that don't know, the 4449's original whistle was stolen when she was on display at Oaks Park. The whistle she currently sports is a Hancock short-bell 3 chime off an SP&S Challenger.

I hope you guys enjoy my encounters as much as I enjoy posting them. I'll be sure to get some photos in the near future.

[cabman701]

I hope you guys enjoy my encounters as much as I enjoy posting them. I'll be sure to get some photos in the near future.

Very much so... keep them coming!

[AndrewFields]

Well today was another action-packed day at Brooklyn. I arrived to learn that DLMX (Daylight Locomotive Works) #231 (built as Amtrak 231) is being leased out to a commuter rail service in Montreal, Canada. The deal is they will get to make use of the unit for almost nothing (the usual fee is $500 per day) as they will be replacing the engine, turbo, performing some much-needed maintenance and painting it. We had to jostle around a string of cars to get 231 in a position to be removed from the area come sometime next week. I'll let the pictures do the talking....

This is Doyle's Alco RSD-5, the fictional Nickel Plate Road 324. It was built as Utah Railway 306 and purchased by Doyle in 1994. It is used mostly for moving around strings of cars.


A blurry photo of me hanging out with the '49. I usually wear steel-toed boots but was in a hurry to get out the door and forgot. I'll probably just start keeping them in my car.


A few obligatory '49 pictures...

[cabman701]

It is pretty awesome that you get to be so up close and personal with her. Remember all the fanfair over the summer when she made the trip to Michigan? People would die to be able to get a picture like the one's you just took.

[AndrewFields]

I really do count myself lucky. I love being around her.

[luke]

Any word about the SDP40F your guys own?

[AndrewFields]

Any word about the SDP40F your guys own?

Are you referring to #644, the blue and silver former BNSF/Mærsk locomotive?

[bnsfc44]

I think that's what he was asking about. Is it still leased by Portland & Western?