Hi Ted - how much training and qualification would a volunteer have to complete before running the engine room on the O'Brien? Seems like a possibly apt comparison with smaller steam railroads since the operating schedule is occasional, and technical skills required are similar.

dave

Although the crew on the O' Brian are volunteers; they have Coast Guard licenses as Engineers or Mates of Masters when the Liberty Ship leaves the dock.

As far as I know this is also true of the John W. Brown in Baltimore.

Here at the Maritime Park, the schooner Alma sails with a licensed Master in Auxiliary Sail.

When the HERCULES steams she has a Chief Engineer in Steam and a Master also.

This is a National Park service requirement


The US Coast Guard is for ships what the Federal Commerce Commission?? is for steam trains.

in addition a pressure vessel vessel (boiler) is certified by the American Bureau of Shipping. They have a special team for historic plants such as the Liberrty ships or Hercules.

Hope that helps!

I wonder what kind of paper is needed to operate the locomotive replicas at Promintory National Historic Site?

Ted Miles

I actually applied for a job with NPS many years ago, when Steamtown was getting started in Scranton. I figured what with my work at Spencer in the beginning days I had some skills sets that might match their needs.

I got an application, including a test, for a mechanic grade GS whatever.

Nothing on the test related in any way to steam or diesel locomotives, railroad cars, or railroading in general. If I had worked repairing aircraft towmotors or driving bulldozersI would have aced it.

If my experience is average, I'd venture to say that NPS railroad sites are operated by heavy equipment drivers and maintained by towmotor and backhoe mechanics.

On the other hand, I personally know many of the people involved historically at GSNHS and some formerly at Steamtown, and can reliably report real railroad experience was there, and probably still is, although I haven't been to either in a very long time. Whether any or all of the people I know can fix a towmotor or operate a D9 I couldn't say with certainty, but I somehow doubt it.

Which makes me question the NPS hiring practices to say the least.

I think it would be hard to be more insular than GSNHS, or more bureaucratic than NPS, so the reality of the situation can only be imagined.

Maybe somebody who really works there can shed some light?

dave

I was an engine room volunteer on the O'Brien in 1982. I was on summer vacation and volunteered nearly daily, working up many hours. I was able to put in one full day as oiler on a steam exhibition day. Since we did not leave the dock, I believe formal licenses were not required or enforced. I believe most of my supervisors were licensed. A ship like the O'Brien has lots of entry level jobs such as oiler. I think the licensure requirements for oiler are very minimal. Also, I think the Coast Guard issues special licenses limited to a single vessel. I suspect these have reduced certification requirements. I have looked at the certificates posted on a few vessels, and occasionally I will see one that lists only the one vessel. The real professionals will have a certificate valid for any vessel of a certain tonnage.

Licenses are gained by sitting for a test. Education also is required for a license such as engineer. The license is not ship specific but is for a horsepower rating and steam or diesel. or steam and diesel.

for instance. This is a license for a person I know.

Unlimited horsepower steam and diesel.

Deck apes are another story.

Licenses for bridge crew are issued for tonnage and area to be operated in.

For instance, a license can be any ocean any tonnage. or a license can be 500 tons and then specify an area that the license holder can navigate a ship in.

I current hold an ocean operators license for 100 tons, my area on the license is Point conception to Purto Eugenia Mexico and 100 miles from land.

Softwerkslex,

You are quite correct the people who have the licenses are the ones who train the new folks.

On Ship board you have to be an oiler before you become a water tender or an Assistant Engineer.

Yes there are also restricted licenses given to people who serve aboard museum ships; the steam tug Baltimore has a certificate that allows her to steam North of Pier ??? in Baltimore Inner Harbor.

I don't know if there is a better way to do it but that is the way it get done when you operate a ship as large as a Liberty Ship in the US.

By the way both the Liberty Jerimiah O'Brian (from San Francsico) and the Lane Victory (from San Pedro) just steamed down to San Diego for a Fleet Week celebration. No problems and a lot of happy passengers and delighted visitors!

Ted Miles

This confirms it. Straight from the O'Brien website: