Running A Steam Locomotive

Produced in 1979, this encyclopedic overview of how a steam locomotive is constructed, operated, and repaired, will put railroad buffs in Casey Jr. heaven. The old Iron Horse steam locomotive which makes the Monticello-Sangamon Valley run for museum visitors in Monticello, IL, is the beast under dissection. And a more thorough dissection is unlikely to be found, as Charles Daigh and Tom Scott Jr. guide viewers through the firebox, steambox, smokebox, and cab, while explaining the significance of wheel arrangement, demonstrating the Johnson bar, and giving viewers insight in to the more common (about 25) whistle signals and what they mean. Although many general viewers are likely to lose interest in the technical details--that's not the fault of the tape. Anyone who is curious about what makes a steam locomotive run, will learn it here, and a whole lot more. Entertaining and educational, this program is recommended for public libraries (and highly recommended for libraries where railroading is a popular subject). (Available from: Head of Steam, 104 Wool St., San Francisco, CA 94110.)