Dog House on modern N&W steam

[nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org]

What I have been told by my old conductor friend who worked the Peavine
the doghouses were very cramped and working on a switch list was almost
impossible.  The steam heat was controlled by an ordinary valve so heat
was ON or OFF and not moderated by a thermostat. Opening the door meant
that cinders or coal dust flew back into your face when underway.
Consequently, one baked or froze in the winter, your choice, and baked
in the summer, only choice.

 

Since the head end brakeman was cut off from communicating with anyone
when the train was moving, climbing on to the tender deck over the coal
pile was common, but one had to be very aware of the open stoker screw
channel in the tender if the pile was small.  

 

As to riding on the tender deck or coal pile, "the hill gang', the
Cincinnati Terminal switching/shifting crews 

 working west of Clare Yard up into Hyde Park, Norwood, Idlewild and
down to Berry Yard and Ivorydale, rode the tender tops as look-outs as
the Y-2's or Y-3's on transfer runs would frequently be run backwards in
one direction of the move.

 

The tracks from Clare to Berry Yard had a switchback at Idlewild due to
the ravine the N&W tracks had to follow back down to Berry from Idlewild
and the adjacent right of way of the Cincinnati, Lebanon & Northern
(PRR).  The N&W would sometimes use two Y-3's on either end of a
transfer cut, take the cars up to Idlewild where the N&W had to cross
over the CL&N and set the train off on one or two sidings on the west
side of the CL&N.  With this move the trailing engine was now aimed down
the ravine to head to Berry Yard.  The "front" engine would cut off and
head back to Clare.  If one engine was used, the train would be pulled
on to the N&W sidings where the engine cut off, switched over to the
CL&N tracks to run around the train and couple back on to the end of the
train and head to Berry.

 

Because of the switchback move, engines moved 'forwards' half the run
and 'backwards' half the run.  The head end brakeman was essential to
look down the track for the backward move as this run crossed many city
streets at grade.  The brakeman frequently sat on the end of the tender
during the summer or stood as close to the open doghouse doorway with
the steam heat on full during the winter.  

 

Unfortunately for us N&W fans, the large railfan community in Cincinnati
rarely photographed this activity although they watched it a lot.

 

Gary Rolih

Cincinnati

 

-----Original Message-----
From: nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org
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Sent: Tuesday, April 11, 2006 9:50 PM
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Subject: Re: Dog House on modern N&W steam

 

Dog houses were heated by a steam pipe (about 2" outside diameter) which
made several loops under the seat in the dog house.  The pipe almost
laid on the floor (deck of the tender.)  There was a steam shut off
valve on, I beleive, on the fireman's side.

 

The fireman usually took the water, but I have seen the brakeman take
the water if the fireman was busy working on the fire.

 

Of course, as the coal was worked further back in the tender, the
brakeman's services were generally required to "cut down coal" (move it
forward) for the fireman.

 

-- abram burnett

 

	-------------- Original message -------------- 
	From: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org 
	
	> Question: How were the dog houses on tender for head brakeman
heated? 
	> Question: What instructions were issued about standing while 
	> locomotive was in motion? 
	> Question: Was access to cab permitted by climbing over the
coal pile? 
	> Question: Where can i go for anecdotes about riding in this
location 
	> and in cramped space? 
	> Question: Did the brakeman ever take water for the fireman on
the road? 
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