SOOT IN THE FLUES

'All of this, of course, makes for interesting reading. Maybe someone could clear this up for the record.'

The above came from THOMAS STEBRITZ, 1516 E. Commercial St., Algona, Iowa 50511.

DANIEL GEHMAN, 419 E. Church Street, Stevens, Pennsylvania 17578 dropped us a short writing as follows: 'Thank you for a great magazine! I wrote the article 'Learning to Fire the Boiler,' in Nov./Dec. '91 IMA. I have received lots of co respondence, helpful points and information. Thank you one and all. There are some great people in this world! I hope we can continue to read Soot in the Flues. If Anna Mae stops we will lose a great part of IMA. PS: I now can fire the boiler okay'.

'Hi, Anna Mae! I have a question for your column. Where is a good place to send pop valves for resetting, or rebuilding? I sent two to a company that was supposed to be a precision pump and valve service center near Charleston, West Virginia. I got them back with parts missing and a haphazard reassembly that rendered a serviceable valve worthless. We used to have a local fellow, now deceased, who did a good job on safety valves, but I need to find a good service center for the steam boys in my neck of the woods. (This comes from DAVID WHITE, Unus Road, Box 356, Route 6, Lewisburg, West Virginia 24901. Can you help him?)

I'm happy to receive a letter from an old friend, FRANK J. BURRIS, 1102 Box Canyon Road, Fallbrook, California 92028. It's been awhile since we heard from him. He writes:

'One good thing does lead to another in your wonderful column, consequently herewith is a bit of fine coal, which if fired lightly, will keep down any black smoke re: the excellent response of worthy engineer Thomas Stebritz contained in IMA Mar/Apr, page 13.

'My previous article, as mentioned, was intended only to reveal the drafting layout of a common type of radial valve gear, with comments concerning the objectives of utilizing this type as compared with shifting eccentrics, links, and simple Marsh. As commonly utilized, such gear permits 'hookin' up' without changing the lead setting of the valve. Now the question arises 'What is the practical advantage of hookin' up anyway?'

'Well, quite often there may be an almost un-measurable difference when we limit the discussion to our dear old traction engine. But have no qualms if you pose that question to the fireman for a good old-time railway engineer; for he will tell you very earnestly that it makes all the difference in the world regarding aching backs. And well do I recall the bitter complaining of some of these chaps who became unlucky to heave for a hogger who seemed to have little respect for either his fireman or the drain of water from the tender. I do recall one instance, at the end of glorious 'Teens', when one good fireman became so outraged at the engineers running 'down in the corner' and indulging in excessive blowing off to 'clean the boiler,' that he finally and desperately tripped the air-operated fire door and tossed his #10 scoop into the roaring firebox! Needless to say, without a spare scoop, that load of freight came to a rapid halt; and one engineer was chastised 'on the carpet'.