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Facilities aboard "Super Power" Steam
https://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=30994
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Author:  TheQualifiedEngineer [ Tue Mar 08, 2011 12:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Facilities aboard "Super Power" Steam

Greetings all,

I understand several more modern-era "Super Power" steam locomotives were equipped with engineman's *achem* facilities. Can anyone shed light on this truth or myth?

Author:  J3a-614 [ Tue Mar 08, 2011 9:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Facilities aboard "Super Power" Steam

I know of only one steam locomotive that had a toilet on it, and that was a rebuilt PRR K4s that was streamlined for the Broadway Limited.

There may have been others, but I am not aware of them.

The Virginian Railway was installing electric water coolers on quite a number of engines in the late 1940s. Did anybody else follow this practice?

Author:  dinwitty [ Tue Mar 08, 2011 10:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Facilities aboard "Super Power" Steam

I tend to think that with plenty of stations enroute, there was no problem finding a place to go, but out in the boonies if your stopped at a field, mother nature rules.

Author:  Gary Gray [ Tue Mar 08, 2011 10:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Facilities aboard "Super Power" Steam

Back in my youth during the couple of summers I spent on the old "Southern" Steam Program, we just stepped back into the tender and used the coal pile. Tough to do on an oilburner, though.......

Author:  sbhunterca [ Tue Mar 08, 2011 11:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Facilities aboard "Super Power" Steam

That's what the coal scoop was for...

Steve Hunter
Cardinal, ontario

Author:  softwerkslex [ Tue Mar 08, 2011 11:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Facilities aboard "Super Power" Steam

Recall that in the age of steam the "100 mile" day was the norm. One of two scenarios ensued: either the run was fast and the assignment only a few hours long, or the run had numerous stops offering some strategy for bathroom breaks.

The diesel changed all this. It allowed longer runs (no water stops, no ash dumps), and it had a fundamentally cleaner work environment that did not allow use of coal piles or shovels as toilets.

Author:  Ed Kelley [ Wed Mar 09, 2011 12:58 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Facilities aboard "Super Power" Steam

Why do you think there's a nice bunker of sand in the cab, cleaning flues and giving the frothers nice 'pitchers? ;)

(And if the stories from old SP heads are to be believed, the traditional scoop-and-throw disposal method gave more than one brakemen an—achem, [insert certain word that rhymes with "city"]—day.

Author:  TheQualifiedEngineer [ Wed Mar 09, 2011 9:18 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Facilities aboard "Super Power" Steam

.

Author:  Kelly Anderson [ Wed Mar 09, 2011 11:02 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Facilities aboard "Super Power" Steam

.

Author:  Dennis Storzek [ Wed Mar 09, 2011 2:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Facilities aboard "Super Power" Steam

Kelly Anderson wrote:
I suggested installing a toilet in place of the right hand seat box. At the beginning of the run, the engineer could drop trou, have a seat, and be good for the whole division. I wouldn’t want to be the one who had to change the distributing valve on that engine though...


That's where the "Westinghouse Steam/Air toilet" comes in, Kelly. The air moves the contents of the hopper to a chamber just outside the blowdown valve, and the steam...

Author:  co614 [ Wed Mar 09, 2011 4:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Facilities aboard "Super Power" Steam

We have completed the conceptual design for a new ladies lavatory which will be installed upon the rear high porch of the 614's main tender ( where the head end brakemans " doghouse" was often carried).

It will be fully air conditioned, have surround sound, plasma 42 inch tv,and the latest in terlits.

This way 614 will be fully compliant with the new equal employment opportunity requirements and sufficiently " PC" to carry her well into the 21st. century.

Oh yea, it will be off limits to the male gender!!

Ross Rowland

Author:  Becky Morgan [ Wed Mar 09, 2011 9:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Facilities aboard "Super Power" Steam

Hmm. An all-female relief station would admit of a fuzzy seat cover and no need to return the seat to the upright position :)

Author:  JimBoylan [ Thu Mar 10, 2011 10:54 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Facilities aboard "Super Power" Steam

In another thread, the public wondered about the facilities in the "dog house" on the back of some more modern steam locomotive tenders. I asked if calling the occupant the "head brakeman" had anything to do with the nautical term for a sanitary device and referred to the contents of his shelter.

Author:  Hillcrest [ Thu Mar 10, 2011 3:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Facilities aboard "Super Power" Steam

Becky Morgan wrote:
Hmm. An all-female relief station would admit of a fuzzy seat cover and no need to return the seat to the upright position :)


Or more to the point, no upright position at all...the fixed position seat as it were...

Cheers, Dave

Author:  Frisco1522 [ Thu Mar 10, 2011 5:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Facilities aboard "Super Power" Steam

We gave a Microphor a try on 1522, but it didn't work out well. Fireman complained too much as did the pilot.
First attempt, somebody connected a steam line instead of a cold water flush line.

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