If you’re “Firing” the engine on the C&TS (not just a cab ride), you don’t have much time to be messing with a DSLR, 15-20 sec tops. Now on the 315 , the way the cab is played out, there is litterly no place to set a camera down, except on the water legs of the tender, where the space is shared with big tools, bits of coal, lots of fly ash, greasy/oily rags, water treatment chemicals, spare shovels, small sledge hammer (for breaking up big lumps of coal) and etc. You can always spot the fireman in “Crew Photos” he’s the dirtiest one in the bunch.
Now one of the big “K” units, thats a whole different story. They have room to hold barn dances in their cabs. Nice big chairs, fire box thats easy to load, and over firing won’t damage the engine. You can actually turn 360 deg. around with a shovel full of coal while inside the cab. On 315, we have to use a “Short” shovel and you figure out how to turn 180 deg, and be in a position to get it in the firebox where you want it. When the coal doors are closed (full load of coal) you only have about 4’ of space from the doors to the firebox, to maneuver.