Steam Weekends

[Ray Davidowski]

Hi guys,

I'm planning my first trip to New England, probably for next summer or fall.  I figured I'd hit the Mt. Washington Cog if they're still running some steam, the WW&F, and the Valley RR in CT.

The picnic in August would seem to be the no-brainer to visit the WW&F, though I am considering a trip in the foliage.  I checked the operating schedule on the website, and if I'm reading it right, it looks like steam only operates regularly until the beginning of September? (beginning of school/end of primary tourist season I guess?)  Does steam run during any of the fall events?

[Dave Buczkowski]

Hi Ray;
    Steam should be operating Columbus Day Weekend and for our Halloween trains. Columbus Day Weekend is an excellent time to visit us as it is one of our two work weekends. Hopefully we'll be laying some rail. If the weather holds there will be upwards of 80-90 volunteers doing all sorts of things. Stop in and say "Hi"
Dave

[Bill Piche]

Hi Ray,

I can't speak for the WW&F guys' steam schedule, but Maine Narrow Gauge is running a bit of steam in Sept (most weekends in Sept will be both Sat & Sun steam ops as well as 3 days on the Labor Day weekend).

The cog is still running some steam. I believe that they run the first train of the day (get there VERY early in the foliage season to compete with the leafers and steam nuts) with steam and all subsequent trips with those ....things.... they call locomotives.

Conway Scenic also ramps up their steam schedule after Labor Day. If you're in the area of the cog, you might as well head down to Conway while you're at it. Last I heard, they weren't doing any major work on 7470, so she should be good to go by then.

If anybody else has anything to add/correct, feel free.
Bill Piche

[James Patten]

I can make a guess at next year's steam schedule.

We cut back on steam this year not because of the economy, but because of steam crew availability.  I don't forsee the number of licensed steam crew changing between this year and next, as it takes 2 years to go through the program and we have 2 or 3 guys starting out this year.  So my guess is that our steam schedule next year will resemble this year's. 

[Ken Fleming]

Is having a boiler license a State of Maine requirement or an insurance policy requirement or the museum rules?  I've operated on many steam tourist lines, as regular crew, and none of them had this requirement.  I have shown steam tractors in public for over 50 years and only the boiler was licensed and not the operator.

[James Patten]

Because we are not under FRA we are under State guidelines.  I don't know if it was a requirement or we just wanted to have an overseer.

[Jason M Lamontagne]

Boiler operator's licenses are required by state law for our operation.  Once we cross a road, taking us out of state jurisdiction, we may still require this as a minimum, to ensure we maintain the same level of qualification as now.

Jason

[Ray Davidowski]

Thanks for the heads up.  Along the lines of steam crew availability...the mission for this year's vacation is going west to Sumpter Valley to do their Egr for a Day program (with a train) before 19's inspection expires next year.  I've been trying to decide whether operating a steam locomotive would be something I want to shoot for someday in my (lack of) spare time, or make a career switch for.  Sumpter Valley's deal sounds like the most comprehensive experience from which to say "Once was enough" or "Let's do it again!".  Watching and admiring them, understanding how they work, and respecting the technology is one thing, but taking the reigns and operating safely within rules and the railroad environment would seem to be completely different - the difference between Flight Simulator and flying the real thing.  Though it's easier to rent an airplane...

btw - what's involved in getting a boiler operator license?  It's a state thing, right?  and does it transfer from state to state, or are each's requirements vastly different?  (FRA and organization-specific training requirements aside; I just mean for any boiler)

[Bill Piche]

btw - what's involved in getting a boiler operator license?  It's a state thing, right?  and does it transfer from state to state, or are each's requirements vastly different?  (FRA and organization-specific training requirements aside; I just mean for any boiler)

The state of Maine requires a "High Pressure Boiler Operator's Liscene" to be allowed to operate any steam pressure vessel above a certain amount of steam generative capacity (I believe). The liscense is only valid in Maine, but some states have similar liscenses. To get the Maine license, you need to apply to the state office in Augusta for a "High Pressure Boiler Operator's Permit". Valid for 1 year you need to hold it for at least 6 months before taking the written license test. About 95% of getting your liscense is taking the test, but getting time in on steam while you have your permit is important to them, too.

I'm not sure how the bigger tourist railroads work it, but Maine Narrow Gauge only requires that the engineer have a license. The fireman and his apprentice/helper don't need a liscense, but should be working on it if they ever want to be an engineer.

As for operations, it depends on if the railroad is under FRA guidelines or not.

I believe that some railroads require that their engineers go through actual classes with CSX (or their local freight railroad) as part of them being certified, but I'm not entirely sure.

[Ken Fleming]

The State of Maine has a online license database with a good search engine.  The URL below shows all of boiler license information for WW&F Ry Museum.  Interesting to search for other operating, non-FRA, 2 foot engines.  It appears that the MAINE NARROW GAUGE RAILROAD CO. engines without a Form 4 and on lend to elsewhere seem not to appear in database.  At least I couldn't find them.


http://pfr.informe.org/almsonline/almsquery/ShowDetail.aspx?CLIENT=1&BOARD=4520&GP=CO&LN=1185 

[Stephen Hussar]

We were talking just today about that list... as it is wrong, or incomplete. There should be at least 8 names listed.

[Mike Fox]

Wow, that is a short list. I wonder if someone in the office neglected to put the other names on when the list went to the online database.

[Gordon Cook]

The State of Maine has a online license database with a good search engine.  The URL below shows all of boiler license information for WW&F Ry Museum.  Interesting to search for other operating, non-FRA, 2 foot engines.  It appears that the MAINE NARROW GAUGE RAILROAD CO. engines without a Form 4 and on lend to elsewhere seem not to appear in database.  At least I couldn't find them.


http://pfr.informe.org/almsonline/almsquery/ShowDetail.aspx?CLIENT=1&BOARD=4520&GP=CO&LN=1185 

That list is clearly wrong. Not sure how they came up with that list. 

[James Patten]

I checked all our engineers and they are all listed, but not everyone has the WW&F as their "employer".

[Ed Lecuyer]

Sounds like an issue for a database adminstrator for the State of Maine government.
Know any, James?