Wow Jim. You kicked in some memory files I hadn't accessed in a long time.
I now vividly recall "sanding the flues" when I was a Fireman/Engineer for a steam powered tourist line in NW AR back in the mid-to-late 80's. If I was firing that day, my job would be to slowly pour the sand in the funnel I'd placed in the peep hole of the firebox. If I was running that day, it was my job to really gouge on it and make the old hog suck some serious draft... which in turn would make the stack sound like a shotgun! Those summers on that tourist line were simply some of my most enjoyable railroading, ever. Steam engines are so much more interesting to run and require far more skill than diseasles. Ah... to be young again. Andre
