What was the fireman's side cab of a Camelback used for? How did the crew pass signals to each other?

Not much. In #1187's case, in bad weather I'll bet that the fireman spent a lot of time in there, in between running back into the freezing rain and throwing twenty scoops of slack onto the fire before scooting back into the cab for a half hour.

On freight trains, I assume that the head end brakeman would ride in there. As far as passing signals, at least in the case of our #475 with her high arched cab, the acoustics are incredible, and you can hear the person on the other side of the boiler with perfect clarity.

Okay; I have to ask this question. Wouldn't the museum across the street from the Strasburg RR been a choice location for the Camelback ? Just wondering. I bear no favoritism for either museum but the Camelback was certainly more regional to Pennsylvania.

Kevin K.

Opinion: RMPA is a great display of static locomotives. If 1187 is to ever run again, AOS was the place to send it. And with full respect going before my next question, how did 1187 deteriorate so badly in the custody of the finest steam locomotive repair shop on the east coast?

Because the shop had a never-ending supply of paid work to do, from contract work for other railroads, to inspections/maintenance/operating their four operable steam locomotives, as well as work on 31/7312 as time permits - 1187 wasn't high on their list of things to do, unfortunately.

There was a comment in one of the threads that they wanted to but could never make the numbers work to justify the cost. That's one of the best reasons that they are one of the finest steam shops in the country - because they understand they're running a business.

I believe the locomotive also spent a fair bit of time across the street if I’m not mistaken.

A road foreman could use the fireman's side of the cab when riding the loco. When the DL&W 4-4-0 camelback at the museum near St Louis had its cab replaced during a cosmetic restoration it was found that the running board and cab floor on the fireman's side was six inches higher (IIRC) than on the engineer's side. That was something which hadn't been noticed before. I wonder if that is the case on this loco.

IIRC, the RRMPA was informed about our plan to sell #1187, and had no interest. Remember, they are a part of a state bureaucracy and have very little in the way of self-determination. All of the big decisions are made in Harrisburg by non-train people.

#1187 holds a lot of sentimental value for Linn, who remembers her running when he was a kid, and he was trying to justify a way to restore her (or trade her for #1223) right up until his retirement, plus, he is a bit of a hoarder.

My understanding, from numerous past conversations with staff there, is that the RR Museum of Pa. is officially not even allowed to WANT more artifacts, and that it is the responsibility of either outright donors or the Friends of the RR Museum of Pa. to make such acquisitions happen.

Therefore, if you went to the Museum, it wasn't going to happen. If you approached the FRIENDS OF The RR Museum of Pa. with a price in mind, on the other hand........

Very interesting. I wonder what the value of a unique locomotive in operation is? It’s an interesting question to ask.