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Something else of interest it appears to be steam coming off the trucks and brake shoes. that was a detail of winter condition operation, drag the engine brakes, clear the ice and snow off the brake shoes, warm them up prior to switching.
Was the warming exercise especially important for cast iron brake shoes?
Yes, cast iron brake shoes needed “conditioning” and warm up. High friction composite brake shoes needed more to make them effective in cold weather. Winter condition railroading can be a challenge.
Hogger Doug’s remarks about brake conditioning are correct, but what we’re seeing in this shot is actually steam. 8463 is a dual service engine with a steam generator & they were keep running to avoid freezing up pipes.Even in 1980 & later,CP units were sometimes used to assist on trains like the Canadian when VIA needed a unit. I’ve coupled a few of these to a train where the steam pipe was protruding through the open hatch at the bottom & my glasses fogged up right away so I couldn’t see a thing. In this shot the steam pipes are behind the closed door hatch on the pilot so the steam is escaping behind the pilots at each end.