Oil or coal?

I would be interested to see what people say here. The only steam machine I have ever been on/around was wood fired (Reeves traction engine) and the operator just tossed wood in there without much concern for how it was arranged.

I have never even burned coal myself but I didn't know the fireman had to pay attention to how the coal was loaded. I thought you just shoveled the coal in and got on with it

I've fired three coal burners (if you also count a steam crane) and one oil burner.  The oil burner required much less sweat but didn't eliminate the diligence.

On a coal burner you should keep the fire as level as possible, watch for clinkers and holes in the fire.  The back corners of the firebox tend to need a little more attention because you can't directly see them, even with a stoker.  You check by seeing how well it illuminates the face of your trusty #10 coal scoop.

Basically, you mentally divide the firebox into nine sections: Left front, center front, right front, left side, center, right side, left rear, center rear, right rear.  Add coal as needed.

Each locomotive (or crane) presents slightly different challenges to keeping a good fire.  And oh yeah: You're also paying attention to what the engineer is doing, the pressure gauge, the water glass and the right of way ahead.

Rusty

I see. I didn't realize having a level fire mattered so much (as opposed to avoiding piles of coal).

I haven't had the chance to work a steam engine yet, but I understand from someone I volunteer with that an oil fired locomotive makes it harder for the engineer to be a jerk to the fireman by using more steam than necessary.

@naresar posted:

I haven't had the chance to work a steam engine yet, but I understand from someone I volunteer with that an oil fired locomotive makes it harder for the engineer to be a jerk to the fireman by using more steam than necessary.

Sorry but, you have just backwards, i.e. with an oil fired locomotive it is far easier for the "Engineer" to be a jerk and cause the Fireman a LOT of problems!

While there is certainly more romance with coal (and the aroma can't be beat!), oil firing is far superior on quite a number of levels.