work needing to be done on locomotive

[Spencer M]

Perhaps it is too early but what the battle plan for the 353 this summer?

[fordlover58401]

Hay guys i took the steam school course 3 years ago and i would like to come and learn how to be a fireman on a steam powered train is this possible?

[James Maxwell]

Spencer,
I know how you feel. Going through the same thing with our number #12. NOW is the time to get ready because running time will be here before you know it. I know we need to re-install a washout plug, and rebuilt some injector checks. It's tough being one of the young guys but make it count!
Keep steamin

[M Kerkvliet]

Hay guys i took the steam school course 3 years ago and i would like to come and learn how to be a fireman on a steam powered train is this possible?

I know this has been asked in the past... sorry I didn't see it (or one of the RR guys) until now.

Speaking for the WMSTR RR Dept. (and that is dangerous) I think it is safe to say that they are more than willing to teach anyone the trade. There are however many in line, and you cannot just show up at showtime or for steam school and assume your going to run an engine. The "Regulars" on the 353 and the Porter, and for that manner any engine on the grounds are people who spend, or have spent literally hundreds of hours on the exhibits themselves doing the not so glamorous work on them, and in the case of the RR... the track work.

I know you guys understand this already, but there are some who may be curious as to what it takes to get a shift on an engine.

Show up as much as you can during the summer and work your tail off for these guys, and I am sure you will be rewarded! We also understand that some of you have to travel a great distance and that makes it more difficult for you. In that case you will have to talk to the RR guys and see what it will take for you to get a shot on the engine. There are a number of them who watch this forum... Ken, Jerry, Vern??? I hope they will respond with some more detail for you!

[Kenronsberg]

Mark,
You explained things very nicely. We are always keeping an eye out for qualified fireman and those willing to learn. The railroad as a group tends to warm up a little more to those who are willing to do some of the not so glamerous work with some frequency.
Our work weekends are a little different. If it's a weekend, there will be work. We tend to believe that those who have spent time driving in spikes, and shoveling ballast doing track work on the ground have more of a success rate shoveling coal on a moving Locomotive. The same can be said for the engineers chair. Once you've done a lot of the training mentioned above. Thanks to some of our equipment, track work is not as bad as it was years ago when it was all done by hand, and we try to have fun with it.
The other advantage to doing track work, is that's when we discuss when we are going to run.
Ken Ronsberg