Steam & Excursion > Polson Logging #2, or adventures in firing a lokie

Having retired from the Portland & Western Railroad, I had the stated wish to learn how to fire and run steam engines.  I'd been fortunate over the years to put my hands on the throttle and firing valves of several steam engines through the good grace of friends like Jim Abney and Jerry Hellinga but that was just moments of trying to not screw up while being watched over by said friends.  I wanted to learn more!  And I got my wish by volunteering with the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad last week, firing Polson Logging #2. 

After the fact, I had lots of questions.  The discussion about the aftermath of the fire in Durango in this forum had me pose questions to another TO.com member, who very kindly and thoroughly answered them and then provided more insights that I hadn't asked about.  The images I took and posted here are in response to his answers, to see what I was dealing with on #2, which is a truly fine locomotive, if anyone wants to know.  As I said one day, happiness is a half-glass of water, clear stack and 180 psi on the gage.

So the images:  We filled the tender twice a day, the first time was after the second run of the day and then at the end of the day.  Filling from a fire hydrant isn't very authentic but does the job.

Polson #2's boiler backhead.

And lastly, my view of the world.  Great view, isn't it?



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 07/15/18 11:43 by roustabout.

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Go to Poland. There are classes where you can drive and fire an actual working steam hauled commuter train. It's called the "Wolsztyn Experience."  While personally I have no interest in driving or firing, it looked like a blast.

andersonb109 Wrote:
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> Go to Poland. There are classes where you can
> drive and fire an actual working steam hauled
> commuter train. It's called the "Wolsztyn
> Experience."  While personally I have no interest
> in driving or firing, it looked like a blast.

Fortunately, Garibaldi is only 115 miles from my house and I have always been more interested in smaller or geared steam that was used in logging operations, which is most of what OCSR has.

andersonb109 Wrote:
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> Go to Poland. There are classes where you can
> drive and fire an actual working steam hauled
> commuter train. It's called the "Wolsztyn
> Experience."  While personally I have no interest
> in driving or firing, it looked like a blast.

Not everybody has the funds to do that...

...looks like a blast........A really bad pun ! (but probably very true !)

I go to the Georgia State Railroad Museum on a somewhat irregular basis and relieve the fireman in the afternoons when they run steam. An 0-4-0 is not that hard,just hot, and it's fun.

462pacific Wrote:
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> ...looks like a blast........A really bad pun !
> (but probably very true !)

As the gentleman in the next post up said, it's hot - but so much fun, I really enjoyed myself.

andersonb109 Wrote:
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> Go to Poland. There are classes where you can
> drive and fire an actual working steam hauled
> commuter train. It's called the "Wolsztyn
> Experience."  While personally I have no interest
> in driving or firing, it looked like a blast.

Why if you dont have to pay to do it?

Posted from Android

I note with interest that the 'Backhead' on this locomotive is " Lagged"   it was my understanding that most logging locos had unlagged backheads.    Very nice photos.

Malcolm
New Zealand

roustabout Wrote:
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>And I got my wish by volunteering with the Oregon Coast
> Scenic Railroad last week, firing Polson Logging #2.

Hey, Lou, that's great news!  I had no idea you were contemplating that move.  I just got home two hours ago from four trips on Polson #2 today, the first two running and the second two firing for JJ.  It was a whole lot more pleasant on the Coast than cooking in the heat of the Willamette Valley.  I'll be there again the next two Sundays and am really looking forward to the Lerro charter in October.

At https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?10,1473079,1473079#1473079 roustabout is running steam when I had the privilege of sharing the throttle with him eleven years ago on the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad.  I shall always be grateful to him for his changing to the UPRR radio channel to make a timely call which just barely saved me from making mincemeat out of a HUGE clothes-less lady sitting between the UPRR rails just north of Davidson Street as I was in full throttle leaving Albany, Oregon on AMTK #500.

MMD Wrote:
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> I note with interest that the 'Backhead' on this
> locomotive is " Lagged"   it was my
> understanding that most logging locos had unlagged
> backheads.    Very nice photos.
>
> Malcolm
> New Zealand

It wasn't lagged, Skip lagged it a few years ago.
Luke

Posted from Android



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/16/18 14:59 by LJohnson.

"Lagged"
I assume that means something like a firewall maybe?

pt199 Wrote:
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> "Lagged"
> I assume that means something like a firewall
> maybe?

Lagged indicates insulation under the sheet-metal boiler jacketing. Back in the bad old days, that "lagging" was asbestos insulation blocks, with gaps filled in with bagged/powdered asbestos, mixed with water just like cement. The asbestos "mud" was then troweled into all the seems/joints of the big blocks. The blocks were generally held in place with bailing wire, until the sheet-metal jacketing was installed.

I noticed that you ran Sunday and that you did a really good job of shutting it down that night.  We had 50 psi on the guage Monday morning and a half-glass of water.  That run on Hammond #17 certainly did help plant the bug to do this. I have a couple more fireman trips and then should get over to the right side and hope that I can run with either you or George.

Jim700 Wrote:

>
> Hey, Lou, that's great news!  I had no idea you
> were contemplating that move.  I just got home
> two hours ago from four trips on Polson #2 today,
> the first two running and the second two firing
> for JJ.  It was a whole lot more pleasant on the
> Coast than cooking in the heat of the Willamette
> Valley.  I'll be there again the next two Sundays
> and am really looking forward to the Lerro charter
> in October.
 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/16/18 15:58 by roustabout.