46 ROUGH-AND-TUMBLE ENGINEERING 



^et out in the field as we do and get some of the kind 

 of fuel we have to burn, and sec bow you get along." 

 Well, I am aware that you will have some bad o>.il. It 

 is much better to handle bad coal in a good way than 

 to handle good coal in a bad way. Learn to handle 

 fuel in the proper way and you will be a good fireman. 

 Don't get careless and then blame the coal for what is 

 your own fault. Be careful about this, you might give 

 yourself away. I have seen engineers make a big kick 

 about the fuel and claim that it was no good, when some 

 other fellow would take hold of the engine and have no 

 trouble whatever. 



Don't allow any one to be a better fireman than your- 

 self. You will see a good fireman do exactly as I have 

 stated. He fires often, always keeps a level fire, never 

 allows the coal to get up to the lower tubes, always puts 

 in coal before the steam begins to drop, keeps the fire 

 door open as little as possible, preventing any cold air 

 from striking the tubes, which will not only check the 

 steam, but is injurious to the boiler. 



It is no small matter to know just how to handle your 

 dampers ; don't allow too much of an opening here. You 

 will keep a much more even fire by keeping the damper 

 down, just allowing draught enough to allow free com- 

 bustion ; more than this is a waste of heat. 



Get all out of the coal you can, and save all you get. 



