AVR REPORT AT TRAIN MOUNTAIN FROM JUNE 4^th to 11^th, 2004

Friday June 4^th Bill was taken to the Winnipeg International Airport for a departure to Victoria at 6:35 p.m. The flight left on time for a stop in Saskatoon and then on to Calgary where planes were changed and a continuation of the trip to Victoria. In Victoria Bill took the shuttle bus down to the Empress Hotel where Jean Taylor, Bill’s step mother picked him up.

On Saturday morning Bill and Jean watched family pictures and AVR pictures of this year's construction. At noon Bill walked over to Cliff Plumpton’s and was met by Cliff and his wife and father in law but not allowed to see the "The Lady" until Cliff deemed the moment appropriate. Shortly Bill was allowed his first look at her and she was just lovely. There the Pacific in CPR colours but lettered for the ASSINIBOINE VALLEY sat proudly on the movable dolly in Cliff’s work shop. Cliff had previously run her at the Victoria club and was now thinking of ways to improve combustion and heat in the fire box. He had decided that an air flow arch would improve the heat distribution. This needed to be built and installed. Bill had come on a training visit and wanted to be taught as much as he could from Cliff on how to run and maintain this fine piece of equipment.

Cliff then taught Bill how to remove the running boards and walkway in order to remove both the propane burner and the above burner grate from the fire box. The procedure is simple once you know and remember the order in which it occurs. Cliff took the needed measurements and fabricated the arch and welded some support brackets on to the above burner grate and the components were re-installed into the locomotive. We then went for dinner with Jean and her son Jim at a Chinese restaurant. After supper Cliff and Bill started loading the locomotive and tender into Cliff’s van. This was another opportunity for Bill to study from Cliff as it was intended that the Pacific would travel to other club meets and it was necessary to know the best way to tie down the locomotive. By midnight she was secured and other supplies were stowed. Bill slept over at the Plumpton’s so it would make it more convenient for a quick getaway as a reservation had been booked on the 7:00 a.m. ferry.

On Sunday morning our other member of the party, Michael Wegerif was picked up and the three men proceeded to the ferry and the mainland. Sunday was a day of travel as we spent the next twelve hours driving through B.C, Washington and Oregon arriving at Train Mountain about 8:00 p.m. Cliff had arranged that we would stay in the bunk house in the main station. The spring meet had been held the previous week so this magnificent facility, a gift to the live steam railroading community by Quentin, was available for us to enjoy and put the Pacific to the test. For Bill it was his third visit to Train Mountain and would be a place to learn how to handle a steam engine. On previous trips Bill had run 3001 up and down the hills but now a steam engine was to be tested on this fabulous railway. Bill had run steam before at St. Croix and at the AVR but they do not compare to the challenge of taking a fully loaded train down miles of down and up grades. A whole lot of new rules were about to be learned and Cliff knew how to do it in a safe way.

On Monday morning we unloaded "THE LADY" and got her ready for the first run. We borrowed a propane car, riding car and tool gondola from TM and got up steam. After carefully grooming the locomotive we were ready to go. Bill sat behind his teacher, Cliff as we backed out of Crisp Yard and onto the main line. We decided that we would run down the Klamath and Western division first as we would be close to the station if we needed to return but as we got close to the Serpentine, Cliff got bold and it was decided to go down the hill to Midway where we could practice some loops on the Midway circle. We stopped and groomed the locomotive once more and then Cliff had Bill take the controls and make a loop around Midway. The next two trips Bill made solo with Cliff watching from a bench. Then Michael had a turn and it was time to climb the hill back to the station with Cliff at the throttle. We stopped for lunch and in the afternoon Cliff decided that Bill needed to practice how to remove and service the master break cylinder. Together we removed the running boards and right hand walk way. We then took off the lubricator and piping and took the brake cylinder out of the locomotive and checked the piston and made sure all bolts were tight and secure. Bill felt this was a most useful exercise as maintenance needs to be done over the years and what better way to learn then from the builder himself. The locomotive was made ready for her next trip and for this we went to the Main Yard and selected five fully loaded gondolas to add to our consist. We then proceeded down the outside curve which is a challenge to any train. Bill always found this to be hard work even when running 3001. Cliff took the throttle and brought us down the hill in a safe manner keeping constant control of the train all the way down to Midway and back up the Serpentine. Back at the Main Yard we took the whole train through the weigh scales in the maintenance shop. We calculated the weight of the locomotive, tender and the whole train. Back to Crisp Yard and the steaming bay we went and tied up for the night. We blew down and cleaned up the locomotive always under the watchful eye of the master. We went off for supper, watched some pictures and went to bed.

Tuesday morning Bill was up first as he was still on Winnipeg time. A nice walk around the fueling area and upper station was followed by breakfast. Before we fired Cliff wanted to inspect the smoke box so another chance to become familiar with the locomotive as we checked the front end where the throttle is located. Cliff has built this locomotive with a great deal of thought about accessibility because things need to be serviced and why make to so hard when that needs to be done. After servicing and grooming we made steam and left for a trip down to Midway via the outside curve. At Midway we chose to explore the new Camp Ground loop that Cliff had not experienced. Bill was given the gloves and took the train twice around the loop. It was his first experience at taking a loaded train down a 2% grade in a controlled manner. Things went well on both loops and Bill managed to co-ordinate all the extra pieces that are needed with steam that diesels do not need. One must always be anticipating water requirement. The glass must be looked at all the time remembering that the glass will be different going up than down. You want to keep the front tubes and crown sheet covered at all times but you also do not want to prime the engine. The balance between when to add water and when not to is critical and what to do if you have a problem. The next task is to work the throttle and break  just the right amount to keep the locomotive under control at all times. When pulling a heavy train you need to keep the drivers turning at all times without slipping. Last but not least you need to keep the heat correct with an eye to burner intensity, air flow and steam pressure. In short you want enough heat to make the steam you need without wasting it on the pop off valve.

After Bill did his two solo trips Michael took a turn around the camp ground and we stopped for water. Cliff took the train back up the hill and we had lunch.

Michael prepared lunch while Bill wiped down the locomotive. We then decided as Cliff and Michael had never been out to Elizabeth we would head out there via the outer curve and over a section called Walk The Dog. Cliff took the controls and was impressed by the new section that greatly added to the length of run at Train Mountain. We stopped at the lumber camp for Michael to get pictures and Bill took over the throttle after oiling the locomotive making a stop for water at Vertel Junction. Cliff and Michael remarked on how the new locomotive was extremely efficient with the use of water. It was decided at the moment that we should take a trip up and around the Vertel house and down the 3.4% grade. This would give Bill a real test by fire in bringing a train down in a safe manner. Cliff got out and slowly walked to help Bill judge the speed at which to make the decent and down we went.

Once out of Vertel Bill headed for the Serpentine and his first sustained assent of the hill with steam. Remembering when to add water, when to add heat and making sure that no slipping occurred. Most of the grade was around 1 to 1.5 % with a short section of 3.11%. We made it back to the station with still 1/3 of a glass of water and no incidents. Coming up the Serpentine Cliff hopped off and ran from loop to loop to watch his creation ascend the hill. Back at Crisp Yard we blew down and prepared the locomotive for the night. We went out for supper and then to bed.

Wednesday morning Bill was up first to work on this report. It was raining so we lingered over breakfast hoping it would stop. Later in the morning it slowed down so Bill serviced the locomotive and got steam up and Bill headed out with Cliff and Mike but as we neared the back shop to drop off our extra cars the rain started heavier so we pulled into the back shop to stay dry and talked to Art Crisp for some time. Mike and Bill got a chance to look at all the interesting equipment in the car barn. Bill fired up 2365 again and we headed for Crisp Yard. Mike made lunch while Bill blew down the Pacific and got her ready for departure. After lunch we loaded the equipment and eventually went to Meleta’s for supper and turned in early.

Thursday we were up by 3:00 a.m. and heading for Port Angeles and the ferry crossing. The three took terns driving and sleeping. We were 2 hours early so had time for a restful lunch at the Crab House. The crossing was rough but on time. Back at Cliff’s we dispersed. Bill went to spend the night with his step mother. Mike was picked up by his daughter and Cliff turned in early. It had been a long day.

Friday Bill arrived at Cliff’s by 10:00 am and helped unload the "Lady" Bill opened the smoke box for inspection and Cliff machined the coupler for the front. Mike transferred pictures from the trip. After lunch Bill was taken to the airport for the flight back to Winnipeg.

The trip was a success and 2365 performed like a real "Lady"