>- Quoting Paul to Ed on 12 Jun 97  02:28:09 
 >- Re: Railfanning 
 PRC> On every occaision, the "talker" reported the "hotbox" at the
 PRC> "fifth  axle", which makes sense if you think about it for a
 PRC> 2-8-4.  Pilot  axle is one, drivers are two, three, four and
 PRC> then it gets warm, fast,  over axle five!  Everybody got a kick
 PRC> out of it, hearing it on the radio.  How come they never had to
 PRC> kick the conductor out the door to do a  proper "train
 PRC> walk?":-)
Maybe the conductor was busy attempting to figure out the odd number
of axles it reported :)
As for detectors, I wish I'd brought an audio level meter with me
yesterday. It was the first time I'd ever heard a 4-8-4 at speed
coming up a grade with two tenders and 20 cars in tow. That animal was
sure barking away! When it went under the bridge I was standing on
there was a very noticable bump in my feet, almost as if the bridge
had been hit by a speeding truck from underneath! I'm glad I was on
the end of the bridge instead of directly over the tracks. I'm still
picking cinders out of my ears. Now if only the ringing noise would
stop :)
  Mr Ed     Bethel, CT ... average annual rainfall: 48.15 inches.
... A job is nice but it interferes with being a railfan.
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