Ol' Thirty-Three

Okay, I know that this blog is supposed to be about airplanes and flying, so I apologize to the 1-2 people that give me the time of day. However, if you've been reading, you will know that I am interested in all things mechanical and engineerish. Planes are #1.....but trains are a pretty close #2......So, yesterday, I'm sitting in the control room looking at agitator speeds and pump flowrates and other stuff and I HEAR IT. The musical harmonies of a real, honest-to-goodness STEAM WHISTLE! This was no normal air horn from a diesel-electric locomotive! I jumped up, ran out of the control room, grabbed my camera, and booked it out to the railroad tracks running behind my place of employment.

Joy of joys.....wonder of wonders....could it be true? It sure was! Ol' 33 was doing some speed tests down the Ohio Central mainline in Coshocton. It was about 25°F out, so the steam was aflyin' - it looked really cool. Was I made fun of? You betcha. Did I get to stand 25 feet from a huge steam engine going "phffff-phfff-phff-phfff-phffff"? You bet your shorts I did! Man....Kendall and I decided at that moment we were going to quit our jobs, move out west, and be REAL engineers for the Union Pacific....hauling some big loads over the mountains. Pull the big trains, see the wild country, fight off indians, rescue pioneers, shoot banditos....it was gonna be great. Snap back to reality....what time is it? Time for another decant! Hey, Kendall.....is the steam on yet? Stupid freezing temperatures....