Gary Hunter Wrote:
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> Wasn't it during the reverse move to SJ that the
> 2472 scored (?) the trailing (normally) axle ? As
> I understand history, the 2400 Pacifics used to
> have to shove their tanks ahead of them leaving
> the stub at Los Gatos, so it would seem they were
> okay to do that if everything was mechanically OK.
> There was no wye until Vasona Jct. so they had no
> choice. Was Neil Vodden at the throttle on that
> run?

From what I remember, one of the bearings (I don't
remember which) was usually rinning warmer than the
others. The cause was she was out of tram, because
something -- I don't really remember what --was not
adjusted perfectly. We finally adjusted whatever it was
and no more running too warm. None of her bearings
were scored.

IThe '72 does not have cenering mechanisms on her
trailing truck, so she is supposed to be limited to 20 mph
while reversing. Centering mechanisms would help to make
it easier for the engine to track around curves when reversing --
and there are few curves on the SF-Gilroy run.

I remember that Bill Stetler was running the 2472 that day
for at least past of the trip. He ran her in reverse to San Jose,
and may have run more. I just don't remember now.

We never used her again to pull the Garlic Train because
It was a lot more costly to have the 2472 on the train that it
was to run without her, and most of the passengers did not
care what was pulling the train -- all they cared about was
the festval.