Photograph as originally submitted to this page in the Historical Marker Database www.HMdb.org. Click on photo to resize in browser. Scroll down to see metadata.

Photographer: Craig Swain
Taken: July 25, 2008
Caption: Locomotive Repair
Additional Description: Another interpretive marker inside the roundhouse:
Before entering the roundhouse for maintenance, a locomotive's fire was dumped. A fireman using a long-handled clinker rake pulled ashes and burning cinders from beneath the firebox grates. He then dumped the ash pan contents onto the ground between the rails or into a water-filled cinder pit.

Once the ash pan was dumped, the engine was driven into the roundhouse. If the engine was to remain out of service for an extended period of time, the fire was left to die. On the other hand, if the locomotive was scheduled for a run, the fire was maintained in the fire box.
Submitted: June 13, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.
Database Locator Identification Number: p66937
File Size: 0.868 Megabytes

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