You guys raise some good points, primarily that each locomotive and each different operation is unique, and will have unique requirements. For instance, an amusement park engine doesn't need to carry much, because you are usually within hollering distance of the shop. At Texas State RR, we carried the stuff I mentioned on the engine, and had a shop at both ends of the line (25 miles), but we also had a guy in a pickup who was better equipped following the train on the paralleling highway. In Guatemala (212 mile mainline), we had to survive somehow. There was NO PLAN B.
I didn't mention a shovel or fire rake, because oil burners don't need them, but everybody needs a jug of drinking water and ice, and proper water treatment. Everybody should also have a LARGE, WELL STOCKED FIRST AID KIT. This includes a snake bite kit, and bee sting treatment such as an epi pen (don't laugh, I was attacked by Killer Bees twice while working in Guatemala, and they have made significant inroads into the southern USA.) Everybody also needs a radio or cell phone, or more than one. And the longer your operation is, the more likely you are to need some rerailing frogs, wood blocks, jacks, and towchains. A jug of diesel comes in handy, too.
Repairs on the road ?? Well, it is of course better to fix everything before you sell tickets and load up the train with tourists. However, it's amazing what you can patch up when you have to (don't forget to bring some DUCT TAPE). I especially remember when the air pump quit on the first trip of our Guatemalan tourist operation, when we were 27 miles from the big city, with all the media on board. I had to ride back to town standing on the running board with a ball peen hammer, tapping the reversing valve housing EVERY STROKE of the compressor "tink ka-chunk ka-chunk, tink ka-chunk ka-chunk, tink ka-chunk ka-chunk" whenever the engineer made a reduction, used his straight air, or rang the bell. I was a bit irritated, but I got over it the next morning when I saw our picture on the front page of La Prensa every time I passed a news stand on my walk to work. It was a nice color shot of our train in a deep cut, lots of sunshine and black smoke, and the only person who could be seen was yours truly. Sometimes there IS justice in the world...
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Timesaver lapping compound - booklet.pdf [777.61 KiB]