> 
>        dd if=boot.fs of=/dev/nrmt0 
> 
> 	Here's where I seemed to run into trouble. It accessed the TK50 drive, but
> then went off into LaLa Land and never returned. Ctrl-C had no effect other
> than to echo ^C to the terminal.
> 
It seems loke you have bad luck. I often do the same myself and I do not
have any trouble normally. 

You could try to do "mt status" after "mt rewind" before you starts
dd'ing to the tape, and see if something turns out better.

-- Ragge