Strasburg Railroad: August 5th, 2010: #90 At Sunset

After the 7 PM train returned, we went down to the station so we could see #90 do what she has to before going to bed on this sunny evening.

So watch and enjoy as she gets a drink from the water tower, and the engine crews put her to bed in the engine house after a long summer day of steam.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Strasburg
• Railroad
• 90
• sunset
• evening
• steam
• locomotive
• train
• RR
• engine
• coal
• smoke
• lancaster
• pennsylvania
• PA
• 475
• 89
• 7312
• 31

[murjax]

How long does it take for the engine to cool down?

[PRR4000]

@murjax What do you mean? They don't drop the fire if the locomotive will be used the next day. In the Summer, this RR runs trains every day until the day is done. So it burns all night, 24/7, if the steam locomotive will be used the next day. If it won't be used the next day, the fire is dropped (put out). It wouldn't make sense to put out the fire if it will be used the next day because it is alot of work to start a fire in a steam locomotive.

[murjax]

@PRR4000 That's interesting I always thought they put the fire out at night, but I guess that's not very practical since it probably takes a long time to start back up again. So do they have someone that mans the engine house all night making sure the fires stay hot enough?

[PRR4000]

@murjax No, on this RR, in the Summer everyone leaves at around 8:30 PM (the engine crew usually stays latest). And to answer your question, no, someone isn't there all night, that would mean someone has to be there for 12 hours. What they do is they give her a lot of coal before leaving so there is still fire in the morning. That's the reason the engine crew leaves later. They have to check things and ensure the steam locomotive won't need anything for 12 hours. So they have alot to do.

[PRR4000]

@murjax @murjax No, on this RR, in the Summer everyone leaves at around 8:30 PM (the engine crew usually stays latest). And to answer your question, no, someone isn't there all night, that would mean someone has to be there for 12 hours. What they do is they give her a lot of coal before leaving so there is still fire in the morning. That's the reason the engine crew leaves later. They have to check things and ensure the steam locomotive won't need anything for 12 hours. So they have alot to do.

[murjax]

@PRR4000 Oh, I see.