Steam & Excursion > "Headin' Home" with 8444 -- a series 6 of 10

Stopping in a rural area clear of admirers, the 8444 created this spectacular sight with a blow-down to clear the boiler of mud and sludge. At the station stop in Bryon-College Station, TX our MoPac hosts, thinking they were being helpful, greased the rails to ease the 8444 through a tight curve. The engine slippped when it hit the grease, spinning the drivers. After I'm sure was great effort and colorful language in the cab, the 8444 finally got its feet and pulled us out of town. Later when I saw engineer Steve Lee he was still grumbling about the incident.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/17/18 14:31 by Copy19.

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Nice John. I always enjoy the photos with the human factor included. That is Steve at the throttle with Art Lockman and Ron Tabke on the ground.

Bob Krieger
Cheyenne, WY

Thanks Bob for IDs on the guys.

I thought that looked like Ron but didn't realize he was part of the staff in 84. This trip is the first time I ever saw the 8444. I was on the south side of Lincoln waiting on that cold morning. I remember you could see the plume of steam exhaust before you could see the yellow headlight.

Steve

wpjones Wrote:
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> I thought that looked like Ron but didn't realize
> he was part of the staff in 84. This trip is the
> first time I ever saw the 8444. I was on the south
> side of Lincoln waiting on that cold morning. I
> remember you could see the plume of steam exhaust
> before you could see the yellow headlight.
>
> Steve

Steve, Ron and Griz were on the crew back then in Cheyenne. The rest didn't come along until later.

Bob Krieger
Cheyenne, WY

John if you remember on the trip south pulling the hill into Palestine some other MP MOW folks grerased the curve just before the deport and 8444 almost stalled but again pulled the hill. After that everyone. In MOW was warned about grease on the rail.

I don't recall anything near Palestine, but I do remember reading that several areas were "prepared" by local MoW people.