I love this one~

Thank you, kind sir. I appreciate the fave, too.

Bluetooth connectivity. Backup camera. Automatic lane change. Collision avoidance. Automatic parking. Navigation system.

Can't run without them!

:)

Hmmm. I thought there was a USB connector on that out-of-focus panel at the far right.

USB is probably too "old school" for this model :)

These handles control valves up at the steam dome atop the boiler. I think they are mostly shut offs for "auxiliaries"... turbo-generator, sanders, draft-induction blower, bell ringer...

Steam is not my forte... let's ask Zippy http://www.furaffinity.net/user/zippy/

What you are looking at here is indeed the USB - aka 'Universal Steam Bracket' aka distribution manifold. From here, the round red things, calledd 'valve handles' are rotated to distribute steam from the boiler to appliances on the locomotive, such as air compressors, electric generators (32VDC) , stoker motors, and other sundry devices. (heh, I'm just kidding about the USB)

But I've been informed that WMSR's locomotive 1309 will have modern devices, such as a axle bearing temperature monitor, whjch logs data. There will indeed be a USB port on that device that will enable the downloading of data for analysis.

So there!

One more point of interest. I was told long ago by men who ran these things- there is a reason for the varying sizes and shapes of the valve handles. A crewman was supposed to know these shapes, in case a steam line broke in the loco cab. They'd know by feeel what valves were to be shut off promptly with no visibilty.

Thanks for taking a few moments to deliver this lesson.
It's truly fascinating stuff to me.

I've also heard that some roads used round handles for valves that are normally open, and square handles for valves normally closed. Or is that...? Oops! :)

I think in case of burst pipe, most old-school steam men would bail out and find the nearest bar, before they would be dicking around fondling random handles!!! :D

NO USB IN STEAM LOCOMOTIVES. It's my new mandate :/

But I need some way to charge my iPhone...

"iphones carried by steam locomotive personnel must herewith be stored prior to movement of said locomotive. The sole acceptable storage position is lying flat atop the head of the rail, located between driving axles 1 and 2. Either rail may be used." -- Da Boss

^This...

umh.. carry extra batteries? Or better yet.. STOW IT and enjoy the ride!

^This... :D

I LOVE the composition of this shot. y e s.

Thanks so much for saying so. It took a couple tries to get it right.

this is a great picture....

V.

Thank you very much, kind Fox.

my son would probably know what they are for - he was a steam train engineer at Disney World for a time. I was very proud.

V.

BTW, IFM, this picture conveys the true brute-force tech that was a large steam locomotive.