From one old railfan….WOW!! Yes, burnt tires are a mess & some poor slob will be given the unenviable task of cleaning the fire box. Long live the GP20’s & F3’s!
The heat in the fire box would have to be pretty low to only melt the tires. Once rubber tires start to burn it’s almost impossible to put out.All that would be left in the fire box is the steel from the belts and bead reinforcement.
No engine crew worth its salt would ever have burned tires in a steam locomotive firebox. They would never have run out of coal in the first place, water maybe, but not coal. And if, for some reason they had, they would have called to have some delivered by truck. I realize it’s a cartoon but I think, with his knowledge of railroading, Jim could have done a better job with this story.
cpalmeresq over 10 years ago
There’s still hope!
Neil Wick over 10 years ago
Yeah, we already knew that melted tires would have made an awful mess. At least they will be able to clean it up.
St. Pillsbury over 10 years ago
From one old railfan….WOW!! Yes, burnt tires are a mess & some poor slob will be given the unenviable task of cleaning the fire box. Long live the GP20’s & F3’s!
rmbdot over 10 years ago
Yeah, thought so about the tires and the firebox.
ewalnut over 10 years ago
Uh oh! Looks like that awful parrot is planning to come too.
gaebie over 10 years ago
With Jimmy’s illness, I am afraid this story will lead to him dying before he gets to ride his train.
Back_phil over 10 years ago
The heat in the fire box would have to be pretty low to only melt the tires. Once rubber tires start to burn it’s almost impossible to put out.All that would be left in the fire box is the steel from the belts and bead reinforcement.
ColonelClaus over 10 years ago
This is a feel good strip and storyline. Jimmy will get his train ride.
ronpolimeni over 10 years ago
No engine crew worth its salt would ever have burned tires in a steam locomotive firebox. They would never have run out of coal in the first place, water maybe, but not coal. And if, for some reason they had, they would have called to have some delivered by truck. I realize it’s a cartoon but I think, with his knowledge of railroading, Jim could have done a better job with this story.