My first cab ride

The cab ride

As the Production Editor for Trains Magazine, I got to participate in my very first cab ride, the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway steam locomotive No. 1309, located at the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad this past fall. If I had to describe the experience in only one word, I’d have to say — magical.

I felt strangely comfortable in this dark industrial setting. It made me feel completely removed from the stress and hustle of everyday life. Time stopped and my senses went into overdrive. The mountains in the distance appeared small yet majestic, the sweet aroma of burning coal was new to me yet oddly familiar, the space was incredibly warm yet not overpowering, and the people controlling this Jurassic-sounding beast were gentle not harsh.

Had you asked me six months ago what it felt like to ride in a locomotive I could not have fathomed the slightest response to that. Now that I know what it’s like to ride in one, I can’t wait to ride in another.

Away we go

I was very nervous climbing up into the cab at first. It’s a high stretch from getting into the everyday vehicle I’m used to. Once I was up there, I had no clue as to where to put myself, but a crew member kindly surrendered his seat behind the engineer. This allowed me the necessary adjustment time to figure out where I was in time and space. And since time was about to stop as I knew it, I needed to get grounded.

Jon Jaros, the man in front of me, was a guest engineer that day, Jaros was relaxed yet focused. I asked questions and made comments on things as I experienced them — like that of a child. As we forged ahead, he had something to say to each one. My favorite moment in our conversation was when I said the steam coming up felt like a spa treatment, and he agreed without skipping a beat. Now I knew there was no way this guy really thought that. He was gently poking fun at me, commenting in return on how bougie it always is inside a steam locomotive’s cab. This from a man whose face was covered in soot and cinders, not exactly what you’d expect from a stereotypical bougie spa-goer.

In fact, it was the opposite of bougie. It was authentic, dirty, sweltering, and intense. I struggled with knowing where to put the limbs of my body so that I wasn’t in anyone’s way. But this crew was great. They moved about me with such ease, and we laughed about ridiculous things as the No. 1309 trudged contently down the tracks.

Going through Western Maryland Scenic Railroad’s 914-foot Brush Tunnel was probably my favorite moment of the trip. The locomotive pushed through the tunnel pulling these amazing steam clouds with it as we emerged. It felt victorious. Every moment unique leaving me with this overwhelming feeling of gratitude. Not everyone gets to do this I thought as I looked out at the sea of photographers waiting to capture a perfect image of this locomotive.

After about an hour, I could feel the crew growing tired. I watched as the fireman periodically shoved coal into the firebox — although No. 1309 has an automatic stoker hand-trimming the fire is still a necessary chore. This machine could eat. In fact, I think we all needed to eat. It was about lunch time when our trip in the cab came to an end. Our sense of adventure was certainly fed as we graciously climbed down from the engine and hopped back into the passenger train. With cinders in our hair and appreciation in our hearts, we sought lunch.