Steam & Excursion > Pit stop at Granger

On Monday the UP steam special made a service stop at Granger, WY, en route from Evanston to Rock Springs.  Granger is where the UP's original transcontinental line and Oregon Short Line routes split.  The UP station and yard office building doesn't appear to be in use any more.  In 2010 the census listed Granger's population at 139, but for an hour on Monday that probably increased by a factor of four.  I was able to get a few shots of the engines as the lubrication crew did their work.

Dave

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Three really good shots Dave!

Larry W. Grant
(olddude41)
Dallas, Texas

While realizing that which is displayed in the number boards is moot........if the UP team wanted those displays to be historically accurate, then 844 should display "x-4014".  And, if that is the most serious complaint, then..............well, fill in your own words.  It's a relief to me that it went this well.

AA

Stanford White
Carmel Valley, CA

Really like that first photo, Dave. Really illustrates massiveness.

Where is, and what is, the "pie plate" that some folks here hate?

Jim Lee
Lake Hopatcong, NJ

Bucyrus-Erie Wrote:
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> Really like that first photo, Dave. Really
> illustrates massiveness.
>
> Where is, and what is, the "pie plate" that some
> folks here hate?
>
> Jim Lee
> Lake Hopatcong, NJ

I have not notuced any "pie plates", usually mounted on the front of the engine, on this trip. The only adornment that I have noticed are the flags on the pilot, which I personally do not mind.

-Fred-

Nice shots - can't get enough of these beauties.

I noticed on 844 the second wheel of the pilot truck and the first driver are discolored (looks a lot like rust) - it seems to be from the piston packing issue.  Is it rust from the constant saturation of steam, or is it just discolored from minerals in the steam?  Any steam heads care to comment?

rbenko Wrote:
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> Nice shots - can't get enough of these beauties.
>
> I noticed on 844 the second wheel of the pilot
> truck and the first driver are discolored (looks a
> lot like rust) - it seems to be from the piston
> packing issue.  Is it rust from the constant
> saturation of steam, or is it just discolored from
> minerals in the steam?

There are no "minerals" in steam.

 Any steam heads care to
> comment?

What you are seeing is the valve oil (sometimes referred to as 'steam oil') residue which is being blown out with the steam leaking past the piston rod packing. Not a big deal, as it shows that the valve oil is indeed being supplied to the valves and pistons on 844, and is thus doing its job. Liberal use of mineral spirits will remove that residue quickly, and then burn up those "oil rags" in the firebox.

You hit it out of the park on your #1 !!   Thanks for posting it.  --Kelly

That #1 shot really shows that when that fellow wrote “big boy” he did it for a good reason

Posted from iPhone

HotWater Wrote:
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> rbenko Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> >
> > I noticed on 844 the second wheel of the pilot
> > truck and the first driver are discolored (looks a
> > lot like rust) - it seems to be from the piston
> > packing issue.  Is it rust from the constant
> > saturation of steam, or is it just discolored from
> > minerals in the steam?
>
> There are no "minerals" in steam.

Yeah, that's a big "duh" on my part!!  I realize now that was a pretty dumb question.  Thanks for the correction and follow-up!