OGR Webmaster posted:Many years ago on the Union Pacific, before Steve Lee came on the scene, the 8444 (as it was numbered then) was ALWAYS smoking up a storm. I seem to recall a statement from someone in charge back then that they liked to make smoke, or something like that. Whenever I saw a picture of the 8444 in that era with a towering column of smoke above it, I cringed.
Jack, you know more about the history of the UP program than I do...does this ring a bell?
Absolutely, Rich. For one thing, the "steam program" was under the Mechanical Department, and thus most times the Engineer was Frank Acord, CMO. In my opinion, Mr. Acord was NOT the "best" Engineer, and generally did NOT understand proper use of the reverse gear in association with throttle, especially when not at full throttle. Thus, whomever was firing , was always "forcing the fire" in order to maintain steam pressure, while constantly running the Worthington Feedwater Pump.
In addition, back in the days prior to Serve Lee, the UP was still using the "heavy fuels", i.e. Bunker C., or some "nasty stuff" from Sinclair, who was on on-line shipper out in Wyoming.
