Berkshire in the Pit

This incident occurred at the Bitter Creek Western on February 16, 2008. The locomotive is the one featured in Live Steam built by Jack Bodenmann for Peter Nott. Amazingly, the only damage was a drawbar, pilot, and the ashpan. The engine is equipped with a superheater and a slug of water got past the throttle and became uncontrolled expanding steam as he was preparing to enter the turntable. The brakes did not hold the powerful expanding steam and the result was one Berkshire in the pit. It was a bit worse for wear but back running the next day. The photo shows him putting out the coal fire with a hose. Within two hours, it was back on the rails.

Thanks to some of the guys at LiveDiesel, a Yahoo Group, for the pictures.