Checkin' the oil. Valley Railroad locomotive crew members perform a quick check of the lubrication system on the trailing truck of New Haven 3025 during a brief break between their daylight Santa Special trips. On a steam locomotive, maintenance isn't just frequent, it's CONSTANT. Even when the engine is in motion, the engineer is always watching and listening to his machinery. Every pause in operations is taken as an opportunity to top the oil cups, check bearing temperatures and in this case, check on a funky foam block that soaks up oil in the journal box and keeps the axle of the trailing truck properly oiled. Moments after this photo was taken, Engineer Bruce Edgerton (left) was back in the saddle and coupling up to his 8-car consist for another on-time departure.
