Engineer Aaron Zorko busies himself with monitoring the boiler and working the levers that keep the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad between Garibaldi and Rockaway Beach moving down the tracks. He worked on a nuclear reactor aboard an aircraft carrier before being drawn to trains.

31 July 2007

On the Track of Nostalgia with
Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad

Rockaway Beach Oregon USA - We're swaying to the rhythm of the tracks... clickity clack... the deep bellow of the steam whistle clearing crossings and echoing across lillypad lined lakes.
 
It's all aboard for an hour-and-a-half journey into the past on the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad, riding shotgun in the cab of a 1910 Heisler steam locomotive with Engineer Aaron Zorko and Fireman Dave Proffitt as they make the round-trip by rail between Garibaldi and Rockaway Beach.
 
The locomotive pulls two open cars and a caboose. Passengers can buy tickets for everything from cab to caboose rides for the 10-mile round trip.
 
The locomotive was purchased at a logging auction near Mount Rainier in 2000. Owner and chief mechanical officer Scott Wickert said it was up and running in 2001, and was making its current route in 2003.
 
It's a "friends and family" operation in co-operation with the Port of Tillamook Bay and a variety of volunteers.
 
"More fire, Dave!" Zorko shouted to Proffitt above the roar of the boiler as they chug out of Garibaldi along Tillamook Bay. "We try to operate at 175 pounds of pressure," Zorko explained. "It's hitting 160 right now."
 
The well-tended engine can reach 20 miles an hour, but Zorko isn't in a hurry to try it. "It might be kind of scary," he said.
 
Zorko looks every bit the old-time engineer in his blue-striped overalls and a cap smeared with grease. He sits on a black leather-covered side bench that folds down from the outer wall of the train. Proffitt sits on an identical bench on the other side of the boiler.
 
Each has only his own thoughts for company, the boiler and track make chitchat near impossible.
 
Zorko and Proffitt keep watch out the front and side windows to ensure the tracks are clear, while working a combination of levers.
 
Zorko handles four levers. His left hand rides the throttle handle, which curves over the top of the boiler. Coming up from a giant gear on the floor is the Johnson Bar (reverse lever), back a little farther on the side of the boiler are two brass-handled brake valves.
 
The train trundles along like a famous home town hero, coaxing smiles and waves, rubber necking, and flash bulbs. The rhythmic rocking soothes any fast-paced tensions.
 
Zorko joined the Navy after high school and worked on nuclear reactors. He served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln out of Everett, Washington. During his six years in the Navy he served in the Persian Gulf and was there when the USS Cole was bombed. He left the Navy in 2002 and said it's hard to believe it's been five years.
 
He hails from Papillion, Nebraska, a suburb of Omaha. But when he left the Navy, he said, he made a beeline for Tillamook.
 
While in the Navy, Zorko had volunteered at the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railway. He'd never heard of Tillamook when he met Wickert, who had purchased the locomotive and was looking for help.
 
Zorko said working on the locomotive really isn't that different from working on a nuclear reactor. "They're still steam plants," he said. "The only difference is they use nuclear fire to boil water and we use oil fire. That's the simple version."
 
As we approach Rockaway Beach, Zorko tugs repeatedly on the wooden handle of the whistle, which dangles from what looks like a schoolyard jump rope.
 
"Dave, we need a little more fire in there," he called.
 
The train eases to a stop at colorfully painted Rockaway Depot near the beach. Visitors flock to the engine and begin peppering Zorko with questions.
 
"I love meeting the people," he said. "It doesn't matter what age, when they get around this, they are fascinated by it."
 
The locomotive burns recycled motor oil, which reaches thousands of degrees in temperature. It holds 1,200 gallons of oil and burns 200 to 250 gallons a day with its three round trips.
 
"That thing gets really hot," Proffitt said, pointing to the boiler, less than a foot away. "You have to watch where you put your arms." Riding in the cab, even on a cold day, is like riding a bench in a sauna.
 
The tender holds 2,000 gallons of water and boils off 900 gallons on a typical round trip. That's about 90 gallons a mile.
 
From a cold start, the engine takes about two hours to reach full operating pressure.
 
Zorko wishes he knew what drew him to steam trains. He makes his living working for the Port of Tillamook Bay as an engineer and conductor.
 
"That's the million-dollar question right there," Zorko said. "I've been interested in trains all my life. That's from my dad. He's an engineer at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo."
 
His dad has worked there since Zorko was 2. "So I come by this honestly, as my dad likes to say. Ten years ago, if someone would have told me I'd be sitting here doing this kind of thing, I'd have laughed at them. It's a dream job. Just one of those right place at the right time kind of things."
 
His main responsibility while operating the train, in addition to making sure the tracks are clear, is keeping the engine up to steam. He watches the boiler water as a backup to the fireman, while also monitoring pressure gauges for the braking system.
 
"And then, just listening to the locomotive as we go down the track," said Zorko. "It's pretty noisy up here, but after five years of running the locomotive, I can tell you what every little ding and pop is."
 
Every locomotive is different. "They talk to you if you listen," he said. "I've never heard anyone say that two steam engines run the same. Even ones built next to each other are different."
 
Added Zorko:  "My favorite part is I really enjoy firing the locomotive. She steams well, and it's nice while it steams to just sit down and let it do its thing."
 
As the locomotive backs its way into Garibaldi, passing below the bay windows of Pirates Cove restaurant, Zorko lays on the whistle. The windows fill with onlookers.
 
"It's like watching prairie dogs pop up," Zorko said with a satisfied smile.
 
He said the railroad eventually will have an engineer-training program.
 
"We're taking baby steps at this," Zorko said as the train rolls to a stop at the end of the line.
 
"Every year our ridership gets a little better. We're very happy with the way things are going. We're hoping some day this will be the full-time job."
 
For more information or reservations, call Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad at (503) 842-7972; or visit www.ocsr.net.