How do they survive?

[pbjwilson]

They were real men...and they liked it.

[Don Gibson]

The 14 tunnels asending the front range were quite short, wheras the long Moffet Tunnel had huge blowers. Tennesee Pass I don't know.

It was a problem on the Denver & South Park's infamous 'Alpine' tunnel.

[Jetrock]

After seen many D&RGW DVD's I wonder, how do the crew survive in the tunnels? There are smoke everywhere. The cab's must be sealed, right? In one of the DVD's I saw the crew open all windows after coming out of a tunnel.

That's exactly why the Southern Pacific used cab-forward locomotives on the Overland Route. Diesel locomotive cabs are fairly enclosed, steam locomotive cabs generally not--so yes, people were exposed to lots of coal smoke. Unpleasant, yes, but generally survivable.

[chad thomas]

It's not really a problem these days. Just close the windows. Some railroads like Montana Rail Link do supply oxygen masks though just in case.

[Virginian]

I don't think I would want to breathe main reservoir air much more than smoke unless it was seriously filtered.  I would like to know just what engineers and firemen did do besides put a cloth over their face.

[marknewton]

They probably had respirators, supplied with main reservoir air from a valve on the backhead.

Cheers,

Mark.

[electrolove]

After seen many D&RGW DVD's I wonder, how do the crew survive in the tunnels? There are smoke everywhere. The cab's must be sealed, right? In one of the DVD's I saw the crew open all windows after coming out of a tunnel.