THE TITLE BEGS THE QUESTION: WHAT ARE THE PARTS THE STEAM LOCOMOTIVE IS GREATER THEN THE SUM OF?
ON A RECENT FRIDAY MORNING, THE MUSEUM’S ACTIVE STEAM LOCOMOTIVE, THE VC-2, WAS BEING PREPARED FOR THE WEEKEND PASSENGER TRAINS TO PERRIS. THE OLD MACHINIST WAS PLAYING HOOKY FROM THE MACHINE SHOP TO INDULGE HIMSELF IN PHOTOGRAPHY AND OBSERVED SMOKE RISING ABOVE BARN FOUR. TWO THINGS CAME TO MIND. SMOKE MEANS FIRE AND EITHER BARN FOUR WAS ABLAZE OR THE VC-2 WAS STEAMING UP. EITHER WAY, THE PHOTOGRAPHIC OPPORTUNITIES WOULD BE GREAT. IT TURNED OUT THE VC-2 CREW HAD JUST BEGUN THE LONG PROCESS OF RAISING STEAM. SLOWLY, THUS MINIMIZING THE THERMAL GRADIENT STRESS ON THE BOILER. THE PHOTOGRAPHS INCLUDED HEREIN ARE THE PRODUCT OF THE MODEST PHOTOGRAPHY SKILLS OF THE OLD MACHINIST AND HIS SINCERE DESIRE TO DO AS LITTLE REAL WORK AS POSSIBLE.
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- THE VC-2
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- VITAL DETAILS
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- CROSS COMPOUND AIR PUMPS
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- COUPLER, TRAINLINE, AND DRAFT BOX
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- WALSCHERTS VALE GEAR
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- ECCENTRIC FOR VALVE GEAR
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- POLING POCKET ON BUMPER BEAM
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- CROSSHEAD, PISTON ROD, AND VALVE GEAR LINKS
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- ROD AND ROD BRASS
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- CHIME WHISTLE
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- A REAL BRASS BELL
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- HEADLIGHT, GENERATOR, AND SMOKE STACK
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- BUILDERS PLATE
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- TRUCK, WHEEL, AND AXLE BEARING BOX
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- TANK CAR, COUPLER, AIR LINE, AND DRAFT GEAR
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- WAITING FOR THE NEXT TRAIN
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- THE TIES THAT BIND
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- ALSO WAITING FOR THE NEXT TRAIN
