Big Boy

[John Ashworth]

While idly surfing the web on a humid evening in Juba, southern Sudan, I couldn't resist this picture of a Big Boy.

Link

[Dylan Knott]

Hand fired?

[John Ashworth]

Now that would really test Nathan's hand-firing skills (and stamina)!

[Mike Haslam]

I saw a real one at the railway museum in Green Bay (Wisconsin). They really are huge. Looking into the firebox was like looking into a huge cavern, you could hold a fine party in there, hiding from the loco foreman.

In the cab, there were lots of taps, dials, levers... I would guess that pretty much everything was automated. No fireman - even Nathan, would be able to fill the fiery maw of one of these giant ladies if having to use only a shovel.

I have found a place where they have and even run, steam locomotives! By good fortune there was even a short video of it on one of the TV channels last night. Coal fired locomotive too, though by watching the fireman, he was either new (fireman trainees and firemen who teach them know what I mean) or the loco does not care where the coal goes!. Only problem is the 8 hour drive to get there! One day soon........

[John Ashworth]

Go for it, Mike!

I fired 15CA 2056 for one leg of the Witbank Marathon outing last year and she seemed to be a locomotive where it didn't really matter where you threw the coal as long as you threw lots of it. Not like our Dolly and 24 where you need to place it scientifically (or maybe artistically is more like it!).

[Nathan Berelowitz]

Now did I ever tell you about the time I fired a Big Boy, single handed, using a desert spoon I had in my "blik", 'cause I left the shovel in the car? Well, it was a dark and stormy afternooon.........

[John Ashworth]

Desert (or even dessert) spoon? Luxury! When I were lad firemen were firemen and they fired Big Boys with their bare hands...

[Tom Macrery]

Notice to Mike: Revell makes a Big Boy model kit. It's in their 2008 catalogue. Tried to get it here in SA but no luck. It should be available in the States, if you are interested in such things.

[Jonathon SchÃœltzer]

Hand fired?

no, They were stoker (I think that is what it called) fired.

[John Ashworth]

Another one - in repose, this time: RailPictures.Net