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Fireman Greg. (I don’t know his last name.) -
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Rich signals the engineer. -
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Conductor David Brightbill. -
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Fireman Travis Wheeler shovels coal into 473’s firebox. The fireman’s job is to maintain pressure in the boiler. Firing a steam locomotive is an art. Each one fires differently–even those of the same type–-and an inexperienced fireman can use a lot more coal than an experienced one. It’s the antithesis of the digital world. -
This is Ben Fearn in the caboose cupola. Ben grew up in Silverton, a small town at 9,288 feet in elevation. Silverton doesn’t have a lot of year round residents, and Ben was one of only eight students in his high school class. He’s wanted to work on the railroad ever since he can remember. Now he does. -
On Tuesday Rich had the luxury of using the conductor’s desk in the combine car. -
Jeremy Garcia, locomotive engineer. -
Tommy Garcia cleans the ashes from locomotive 487’s firebox–part of the morning ritual of preparing the engine for the day’s run. -
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A fireman swings the Cumbres water standpipe into position to fill 487’s tender.
Fireman Greg. (I don’t know his last name.) Rich signals the engineer. Conductor David Brightbill. Fireman Travis Wheeler shovels coal into 473’s firebox. The fireman’s job is to maintain pressure in the boiler. Firing a steam locomotive is an art. Each one fires differently–even those of the same type–-and an inexperienced fireman can use a lot more coal than an experienced one. It’s the antithesis of the digital world. This is Ben Fearn in the caboose cupola. Ben grew up in Silverton, a small town at 9,288 feet in elevation. Silverton doesn’t have a lot of year round residents, and Ben was one of only eight students in his high school class. He’s wanted to work on the railroad ever since he can remember. Now he does. On Tuesday Rich had the luxury of using the conductor’s desk in the combine car. Jeremy Garcia, locomotive engineer. Tommy Garcia cleans the ashes from locomotive 487’s firebox–part of the morning ritual of preparing the engine for the day’s run. A fireman swings the Cumbres water standpipe into position to fill 487’s tender.