Trusty Teakettle:
A Railroad Story by Sampug394…

Little Did I know that my First Day as a True Locomotive Engineer would be one of the more interesting times of my career…

…As I stepped into the Roundhouse around 10:30 a.m., Shafts of light came through the large windows on the Roundhouse doors, Lighting up several of the giant Steam Locomotives sitting dormant in their Places.
My imagination conjured up an image of myself sitting in the Seat of one of those huge Locomotives, rolling down the Main Line at more than 60mph, when the Roundhouse Foreman appeared in front of me.
I told him of my recent promotion, and followed him into a small office, where he handed me a sheet of paper, and walked out.

It read, “Steam Locomotive Care Exam:”

After writing all I had learned about, from driving a Locomotive, to machining parts for one, the Foreman returned, read over it and motioned for me to follow. I began to Smile, and started imagining myself driving one of those giant Iron Horses again, and after walking a good distance behind several Locomotives, the Foreman snapped his finger by my face.

“Pull your Head out of the Clouds,” he Said, and pointed forward.
“That’s the Hog you’ll be driving for Now.”

Looking up, I expected to see a High wheeled 4-6-2 Pacific, or a Powerful 2-8-2 Mikado…
Instead, a portly Saddle Tank 0-6-0T humbly stood in front of me.

I was somewhat disappointed, but it was better than nothing, and I had heard Veteran Hoggers tell stories of the big personalities that these little “Teakettles” had. With that confidence in mind, I stepped up into the cab of the small engine, and got a feel for the Interior. After locating the Throttle, Brake Mechanisms, Injectors, and the Reverser, I was ready to go.

The Foreman had resumed to his normal activity in the Roundhouse, and had sent a newly hired Fireman to assist in the operations of my Locomotive. He was a Funny short man, and we soon became friends. We exchanged information and readied for our First Run…



Once the Fireman got some fresh Coal Burning hot in the Firebox, I checked the Water Gauge, and opened the Injectors, which responded with a Whoosh of Steam.
Then, I did quick routine Lube job of the Valve Gear, Side Rods, and Other moving Parts. Back in the cab, after checking the Steam Gauge, I rotated the Brake Lever from Emergency to Release. Seeing that the Turntable was already rotated to my track, I pushed the Reverser handle forward a Smidgen, and Opened the Throttle to “Notch 1.”

The Hissing of Steam was replaced by a series of strong, short chuffs as the Teakettle slowly waddled forward. I began ringing the Bell, and stopped the Engine as soon as it reached the middle of the Turntable Deck. After being turned to the Track that led to the Servicing Area, I moved the Little Locomotive towards the Water Tower. With a Huge Smile on my Face, I pulled the Whistle Cord twice, and the 0-6-0T let out two wonderfully loud blasts from its Whistle.

Upon arriving beside the Water Tower, the Fireman tugged the spout over to the porthole on the Water Tank, which Slung over the Boiler like a Horse’s Saddle, thus giving the Saddle tank locomotive its name. Once the Water gauges on the Back head of the Boiler filled up, I signaled the Fireman, and he jumped inside as I Pushed the Reverser Forward, and cranked the throttle to Notch 4.
The engine lunged forward, and picked up speed steadily. Tooting the Whistle again, I spotted the Yard Tower in the Distance.

The Yard Master was standing by the tracks, ready to hand me my first Waybill of the day. About a Minute passed, when I leaned out the Window, and Snatched the papers from his hand as he yelled, “Good Luck!”
I sat down on the Seat, and looked back out the Window. The huge Rail yard nearby was stuffed full with Freight Cars, and several smoke plumes rose into the sky. A long Freight Train nearby Whistled as it departed the yard, and I soon came back to the attention of my own engine.

Reducing the throttle speed, I peeked at the Waybill, which Read:

1. Bring 18 Tanker Cars from Siding 12 into Siding 15 by 11:40 a.m.
2. Set out 23 Empty Coal Hoppers & Caboose onto Siding 28 by 2:30 p.m.
3. Bring Three Side Dump Cars over to the Sand House by 4:00 p.m.
4. Couple 20 Boxcars to the Waiting Loco on Siding 43 by 5:05 p.m.



  Feeling confident, we soon passed under the Main Line via a track that dipped down underneath, and I stopped the Teakettle near the Mouth the “Bowl Tracks,” where incoming Trains were sorted. My Fireman jumped out of the Cab, and ran ahead, lining all Switches leading to Siding 12, and ran back to the Engine…
After successfully coupling 18 Tanker cars, I pulled the Train out of Siding 12, and Shoved it back into Siding 15. I was beginning to enjoy Shuffling the Cars around, because they would make all sorts of Banging noises when they coupled.

Looking at my next assignment, I gathered the required number of Hopper Cars at a faster pace than before, and backed the Wobbly 0-6-0T over to the Caboose sidings. Spotting one that was Freshly Painted, we grabbed it and began pulling it out when the first Safety Valve suddenly went off!

I searched my Memory for the reasons why this would happen, when I remembered the Injectors had been shut off for a long time. My Fireman & I quickly opened them both, and a Huge Whoosh resounded through the Boiler. I wiped my forehead and spotted my Watch on my Wrist, which read “2:23 p.m.” Seeing the Time, my Stomach growled. I coupled the Caboose to the Hopper Cars, and parked the Engine on an unused Spur Track nearby. Applying the Brakes, I found my lunch pail, and my Fireman & I ate a Delicious Lunch.

We finished our Meal around 3:35 p.m., refueled the Teakettle, and by 4:00 p.m., had soon made Quick work of my third Task on the Waybill. We had some time to kill until my Last Assignment, so we parked our 0-6-0T in a Siding nearby the Mainline for some Train Spotting.

At First, a Westbound 2-8-0 Consolidation Clanked by with a Short Train of Stock Cars Stuffed with Mooing Cows. Then, 13 Minutes later, an Eastbound
4-8-2 Mountain Roared by, Whistle Wailing, with 20 Heavyweight Passenger Coaches. We soon heard another Eastbound Train coming, but instead of hearing the Systematic Chuffing of a Steam Locomotive, the Train Growled, and an Air horn Blasted in the Distance. Peering through the Window, we saw an EMD F-3 Diesel Locomotive Prowling the Mainline with a String of Refrigerator Cars.

“I heard some Veteran Hoggers say that those Diesels are Harbingers of Doom for our Steamers.” My Fireman said, scowling.
“I’d bet not,” I replied, “Our Steamers have been running Good for their Age.”





Seeing a Sister Switch engine Chuff by, I looked at my watch, which Read “4:52.” Somehow, time had sped by Real Fast, and I alerted the Fireman. He Shoveled Coal into the Fire, and I Injected some fresh steam into the Boiler as our Engine came back to life. I feared receiving Demerits on my First day as a Hogger, and quickly Cranked the Throttle and Reverser Forward. The Teakettle Leaped forward with a Roar, and I alerted other engines in the Yard with a Long blast from the Whistle.
The Powerful little Engine was more Fun to Drive than I had thought…

In record time, we had Gathered together 20 Different Boxcars, some of which were taller or longer than the others. We pulled & pushed the Train up the “Ladder” of Switches, and was nearing Siding 43, when the Train began slowing down. I checked all of the Gauges in the Locomotive, but to no Avail. The Engine was not out of Steam, but was Straining hard. Just then, the Six Drive Wheels on the Teakettle made an Awful spinning noise. I stopped the Engine, and started it forward again. Peering down at the Chassis, I saw the Drive wheels Spin around again with no Traction.

Now I was worried. Time was Vanishing quickly, and My Train was stalled. Thinking Quickly, I opened the Valve in the Sand Dome, and watched little piles of sand appear in front of the Driving Wheels. With a Boost of Confidence, I cranked the Throttle and Reverser to “Full on,” and blasted the Whistle. The Driving Wheels regained traction and the strong willed 0-6-0T began moving the train of Boxcars forward. After moving roughly 7 Feet, there was an Enormously Loud Bang from one of the Boxcars.

I jumped nearly a foot into the air as Train Sped forward. I quickly slowed it before it slammed into the Locomotive ahead, and coupled the Cars to the Engine. Backing the Teakettle away from the Train, we stopped in an empty siding nearby. Both the Fireman & I looked as if we had seen a Ghost. I pulled out my Pocket Watch, which read 5:04 p.m. Looking back at each other; we laughed our heads off, and had soon brought our 0-6-0T back to the Roundhouse. Upon arriving, we emptied the ashes from the Firebox, and did a Quick check up of the Locomotive.
Once all was said & done, I invited my fellow Fireman to some Dinner at my home. Walking towards the roundhouse door, The Foreman appeared, and congratulated our first day on the Job with our Paychecks. Looking back, I saw all of those Big Steamers, but now I thought differently of them. They were Amazing engines, but none of them would match the Personality of that Trusty Teakettle
0-6-0T…

The End…