I put a soldier with fixed bayonet on the footplate to see that the driver held to his post and did not play tricks with the train, and started on our journey.
The engine was about six inches wider than the tender, and the corner of its footplate would not pass the corner of the newly overturned truck.
A probable partial stapes with a robust footplate and slender shaft is preserved on the right, just anterior to the cone-shaped structure (above).
Length/height was determined with a locally constructed length board on which a model, non-expandable tape was fixed between the footplate and head bar, on one side of the board.
One might say that speculators from the ticket office to the footplate are in for a real bonanza.
The fact is that there were engine-drivers who were almost afraid to go upon the footplates of their engines because of their unsatisfactory condition.
