Anybody else smell smoke?? With PM 1225 and her train stopping briefly between run-bys to discharge a cab rider, I decide to take the opportunity to shoot a portrait of her in the golden, pre-sunset light. When I put the camera up to my eye, I noticed something very odd in the form of a very dense, sooty plume emanating from the ash pan area under the firebox and curling up just in front of the cab. This went on for perhaps 10-15 seconds, with just a little fire visible at the forward end of the pan. For a moment, I wondered if the crew was aware of it....and then it dawned on me what was likely happening here. After firing for effect on numerous run-bys in the previous 30 minutes, it is quite likely that the crew had a firebox full of crud that was probably starting to strangle their fire. I think that the plume you see in this photo was likely generated by the Fireman shaking the grates in an effort to drop the loose ash and get the fire breathing again. It's something I see often during morning servicing, but this is the first time I can recall seeing it out on the line, particularly in golden hour light. Sure enough, the plume rapidly went away just seconds later, and the 1225 began backing up to begin a spectacular series of sunset runbys.
Images from two Lerro Productions events, 10 years apart: 2009 and 2019. The 2009 featured a 31-car freight and NKP 765. The 2019 trip showcased just the 1225 with the Steam Railroading Institute's passenger consist.
