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- Tobacco cam
- Basic fact I learned only later in life
- Put a Lid on it!
- Pinstripes in the Tower
- Sound enhancement
- 3438 in '38
- Second Career
- Their days are numbered
- Only the Sensor
- Train control mechanism
- Rarest of the Rare?? & Classy 3400 Class
- Control Mechanism
- Those standpipes
- Wrenches
- International D-40 I believe
- Job prospects
- You had me at Train
- Land of the free
- Broad-Exchange Bldg
- Parking innovation
- The old block
- "Peck turned a sweet propeller"
- National Bank Building
- Notch shot
- Straight ahead (right, left, left, right)
- Ship lifespans
- New service
- You Say Station, I Say Potato ...
- Iron Age
- Thank you, Cornelius Vanderbilt
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Fire in the Hole: 1943
March 1943. "Albuquerque, New Mexico. Men working on the firebox of an engine in the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad locomotive shops." Medium format acetate negative by Jack Delano for the Office of War Information. View full size.
Water, and More Water
Besides being high maintenance, the AT&SF had another good reason to replace steam engines with diesels as soon as they could. Steam engines require lots of water to make steam. The AT&SF often had to haul in water to fill water tanks along the line in the dry Southwestern desert. At 8.34 pounds per gallon, that was a lot of weight to haul and therefore a lot of expense. Diesels eliminated the need to bring in all that water.
How many?
Have any of our pedantic followers counted the rivet holes?
Some assembly required
That boiler is getting a major rebuild. Looks like new rivets, new firebox and will receive thousands of new staybolts. Just about as torn down as you can get. Meanwhile, I'm sure the running gear is in another shop bay getting totally rebuilt.
Working on steam locomotives isn't for sissies. That shop building is still there, but empty with lots of broken windows and junk inside. Fascinating stuff.
Starting Over From Scratch
After seeing how much maintenance went in to keeping these steam locomotives operational, it's no wonder the railroads converted to diesel-electric power when they had the chance.
It's Alive
While it may not be this exact boiler, a large and handsome Santa Fe locomotive has been restored to service in Albuquerque.
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