As a nephew of two CPR engineers, and a narrow gauge rail fan, I have
longed to experience the chance to fire or drive a 1-1 steam engine. A chance
comment by a fellow live steamer last year lead me to experience the joys of
taking a fireman’s course on my favourite narrow gauge railway in North America.
I had, over thirty years of travel, visited both the Durango and Silverton
Scenic Railroad and the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad several times in
Colorado. Both are separated remnants of the Denver and Rio Grande Western
narrow gauge. Both are scenic mountainous lines. The Cumbres and Toltec at 64
miles is a spectacularly scenic line that on the east end at Antonito rises from
the desert to a 10,000 foot mountain pass at Cumbres; the other side at Chama
climbs a 4 percent grade before attaining the same pass. Guess which one you
start firing on…
I had spontaneously booked the trip in the spring and pre-paid, luckily,
seeing how our dollar went down since. Six places for both the engineer’s course
and the fireman’s course were open five times over the summer. One must pass the
fireman’s course before being allowed to do the engineer’s course. I received a
book on firing a few weeks before the trip, more comprehensive materials were
provided on attendance; the engineers already had that material the previous
year.
I arrived the night before the class began on September 6th. I had driven
five days to get there, and arrived with a head cold starting. It got worse as
the days wore on. Our first day was spent meeting the two groups, with lectures
on safety and railway terminology, and the dreaded test which if you paid
attention to the lectures, you would pass without trouble. Later in the
afternoon, we went out to inspect, climb aboard, practice fire and learn about
the K-36 Mikados-2-8-2’s which dated from the 1920’s. I was teamed up with two
other individuals- five on both courses had shown up instead of the booked six.
So we got to do more firing; yeah, I guess!
The second day, yup, was firing up the 4 percent grade out of Chama. The
consist was composed of a caboose, a boxcar with w/c’s, an open gondola with
seats, and an assorted group of freight cars as a train for the newly re-built
K-36, # 487. We had lovely hot weather that got cooler as we climbed-unless you
were firing in the cab which reduced me to a sweat-soaked lump of humanity…The
urgency was to keep the steam pressure up-watch the gauge, read the fire, holes
in the fire are a no-no, and of course, watch the water gauges- keep the crown
sheet covered with water, and oh, yes, don’t waste steam, coal and the fire by
allowing the safety valve to blow-it hurts one’s ears, if nothing else! The
previous crew in the cab had allowed the steam pressure to fall so I had the joy
of trying to get it back up on the 4% grade. For the only time, I was assisted
by the tutor fireman and the tutor engineer shovelling furiously-apparently not
unknown on the first day. I was pooped as the altitude needed getting used to.
It did not happen again in the afternoon, when we got to do it again…We got
up to Cumbres Pass on the first day, twice, with a provided lunch at Chama in
between. We operated as a work train and took sidings to allow the two daily
passenger trains to pass. In the days that passed, I have never drunk so much
water in my life, heat in the cab, altitude and sun demanded it.
The third day meeting was at 7.45 am, we went up to Cumbres, lunch at
Osier, and over the entire line to Antonito with the rotations on K-36 # 489.
Engine and train left there and we were given van rides back to Chama…With my
cold, I was in bed by 9 pm…Some of us were younger/fitter than others so it
was unspoken that we would take more firing than the less fit others who then
had the responsibility of watching the steam pressure and playing with the water
injectors to keep the steam pressure at a certain point. Did I say that I had
spent my summer expanding my garden railway and shovelling gravel…
The final day was a 5.30 am morning start, vans to Antonito and a departure
behind a real work train, lead by K-36 # 484 as we had added two flat cars with
ties to drop off before Cumbres. The normal rotations went on-one of my partners
had developed a bad leg which prevented him from riding in the cab so three of
us doubled up on the firing. The climb to Cumbres is not as demanding from
Antonito but it was a challenge and I was not upset when the safety blew
climbing one of the more demanding grades. We had adventures with cattle on the
line in an open range area, as well as viewing deer, herds of pronghorn
antelope, elk and even a daily chase of a young black bear outside of Chama. On
arrival back at Chama, a quick paper towel face wash ensued-we were coal stained
each day, and a diploma for all on the fireman’s or engineer’s course. On the
way that final day, each engineer had given a mile or two at the throttle to the
fireman -a bit of an incentive to come back for that course…
The cost is the equivalent of a medium price live steam model engine…a
bit of thought for that, of course. Steel toed boots, eye protection, cap and
good work gloves required along with overalls, long sleeved shirts and
sunscreen. If interested visit www.cumbrestoltec.com
Myron