Re: Learn to drive a steam locomotive (Get Away holiday)

[petan@ion.com.au (petan@ion.com.au)]

On Thu, 11 Feb 1999 07:22:06 GMT, petan@ion.com.au (petan@ion.com.au)
wrote:

> Been there, done that!!!!!! or at least my wife Sue did last year!!!!
>A lot better than just that pull this, touch nothing else.  Cost $125

Further to Peter's comments re: Driver for a Day ....  It was an
awesome experience.  One of THE best days.

Yes, we were posted out a wad of technical stuff but as Teddy pointed
out in his letter, you didn't have to read it but it helped make the
stuff we did on the day make much more sence.

There were two 'apprentice' drivers on the day I did it. We started
with a cold engine and had to light it up under the supervision of
Teddy and his fireman offsider. After we collected oil and kero we had
to clean the engine. A local lifestyle program was coming in the next
day so everything had to be perfect. A clean down with kero and a
followup of lard made the PB15 look great.

After smoko it was time for oiling, then when enough pressure was
raised we took her for a 'burn'. Actually it was really a burn as we
accidently set off a grass fire beside the track. This was fairly
quickly extinguished with the deck hose.  Once we had put on enough
'fire' to create a decent bed, it was time to cook lunch. This was
done by each of us on the shovel.  

After lunch, Peter (the other 'apprentice', not my Peter) and myself
took it in turns to either drive or fire the engine between stations
on the line.  I really enjoyed driving even if there is still a
discussion in this household about whether I went through a set of
points too fast at one stage (bl*&dy spectators! <g>). Fireing was a
different matter, enjoyable but trying to keep ones balance on a
rolling footplate while attemping to get all the coal on the shovel in
the right place in the firebox was a challenge.

At the end of the day the engine was bedded down in readiness for the
next days running.

And my final opinions?.... I was the dirtiest I had *ever* been, it
took me days to get the grease out of my fingernails, my boots still
arn't the same ... but would I repeat the experience?.... YOU BET!


Susan Cokley
(Peter's Other Half)