One of the big reasons steam didn't hang in there was the tremendous infrastructure needed to support them, such as water towers and coal towers. Here's a shot of an operator on a water tower---wait, could that be? Is that?? Yes! Our own Ironhorseman, Bill, taking care of feeding water into Yreka Western steamer No. 19, about a week ago. Photo by Michael Christy (Satokuma)
No, Bill, I wasn't there. My (internet, we haven't met) friend Michael Christy was there and put that photo on his site. I told him to send it to you and didn't know if he did or not so decided to post it. Michael goes by "Bearcat" and "Satokuma" on the net, and has his own web page. We keep missing each other at NW steam events. Hey, it's a good shot. He caught you in the act of work.
That's WORK? I thought it was a shot of the Manor Lord overseeing his estate and the serfs laboring thereon.
Well .. that's partially correct Hank ... and it's the best way to get away from the heat of the firebox for a few minutes. It's gonna be miserable running the ol tea kettle tomorrow (July 10th) .. the forcast is for temps of 103 degrees. I'm thinking about wearing my shorts instead of stripes!
An engineer wearing shorts...... too wierd to imagine I'd recommend putting a small electric fan in the cab, but it would probably be like p****** on a forest fire- wouldn't do any good. And it's been getting about 100 or so here in the Steptoe Valley lately. One ice chest filled with Gatorade oughta do 'er.....
All a fan would do is blow hot air at us! The weatherman messed up .. it has been 111 degrees in the shade for the past two days! There's a little cloudiness moving in this morning .. maybe it will cool down to 105 or sumthin! LOL
