At the Oregon Rail Heritage Center, we’re all about steam locomotives. You wouldn’t think boiling water could be that complicated, but when it comes to steam locomotives, it is! This is our first podcast of what will be an ongoing series of discussions with people who maintain steam locomotives and the challenges to do it right (meaning, don’t blow up the boiler).

Pat Tracy brings his years of experience with the 4449 to the microphone to discuss “cold steel,” the term for a cold boiler, and the right way to safely bring the locomotive’s boiler up to steam.

In upcoming podcasts, we will talk with chief maintenance officers from other restoration railroads and compare procedures. This fascinating series will be available here on orhf.org and Spotify Podcasts.