Mary E. Hanshew - "The Riddle of the Frozen Flame"

Robert Kerr - "A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels, Volume 16"

Thomas H. Ormsbee and Richmond Huntley - "If You're Going to Live in the Country"

Anonymous - "The Latin & Irish Lives of Ciaran"

Anonymous - The Traveling Engineers\' Association

A >> Anonymous >> The Traveling Engineers\' Association



THE
TRAVELING ENGINEERS'
ASSOCIATION


To Improve The Locomotive
Engine Service
of American Railroads


EXAMINATION QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS


For Firemen for Promotion
and New Men for Employment :-:


Copyrighted by W. O. Thompson, March, 1911
Revised January, 1919

* * * * *




=PREFACE=


It is the policy of railroads to employ firemen who will in time become
competent locomotive engineers. This requires that a man should have at
least a common school education, good habits and be in good physical
condition. He should be alert, with good reasoning faculties and a man
of sound judgment. Having these qualifications, advancement will come to
those who are conscientious in discharging their duties and who devote
some of their leisure hours to study.

As an aid to this end, and that the railroad companies may derive the
highest efficiency from the man employed as a locomotive engineman, a
code of questions is given him, and it is expected that the preparation
necessary to correctly answer the questions will indicate how well he
has progressed.

The list of questions is also intended as a guide to the matters on
which he should be correctly informed, both during his term of service
as a fireman and for future promotion to engineer.

When a man is first employed as a fireman he will be given a list of
questions on which he will be examined at the end of the first year;
having passed this examination successfully he will then be given the
examination questions for the following year; having passed this
examination satisfactorily, he will be given a third and final set of
examination questions on which he will be examined before being promoted
to engineer. All these examinations will be both written and oral. The
third year examination for promotion will be before the General Board of
Examiners. At any of these examinations, if he fails to pass 80 per
cent. of the questions asked, another trial, not less than two months
and not more than six months later, will be given him to pass the same
examination; if he fails to pass by a percentage of 80 per cent. he
shall be dropped from the service.

Where the examinations consist of both air brake and machinery, the
candidate must pass 80 per cent. in each to be successful.

Firemen passing the third and final series of questions will be promoted
in the order of their seniority as firemen, except that those who pass
on the first trials shall rank, when promoted, above those who passed on
the second trials.

Engineers employed who have had service on other roads, will be required
to pass the third series of questions before entering the service.

It is not expected that the man will pass these examinations without
assistance, and in order that he will understand the use of locomotive
and air brake appliances properly, he is expected to go to the Master
Mechanic, General Foreman, Road Foreman or Traveling Engineer, also Air
Brake Inspector or Instructor, or any other official, and ask them for
such information as may be required on any of the questions or on any
points in connection with the work. He is not only invited, but also
urged to do this, as the more knowledge of his business a man possesses,
the better will be the results obtained. He will have ample time to
study each set of questions; there is no doubt that with a reasonable
amount of study each week, supplemented with close observation of the
working of the locomotive, the information necessary to answer
satisfactorily the entire list of questions can be easily mastered in
the time given. In regard to breakdowns, it is advised that he carefully
inspect each breakdown or disabled engine that comes to his notice, see
where the parts have given way and in what manner the work of blocking
up it done. It is not expected that all the breakdowns which may happen
to a locomotive will occur on the engine that he is with; therefore it
is good practice to observe how other men care for these breakdowns. In
connection with these examinations the work done by the fireman during
the year and how the work compares with that of other firemen in the
same class of service will be carefully noted; his record as to the use
of coal, supplies and attention to duty will be taken into
consideration.

It is hoped that he will give everything in detail the consideration it
merits and realize fully that it is by looking after the little things
that a man succeeds. It should be borne in mind that by filling well the
position he holds he becomes entitled to the confidence that makes
better positions possible. It is understood that those who conduct the
examination may ask any question or questions bearing on any subject of
this examination, in order to determine how well the persons being
examined understands the subject. A mere memorized answer will not be
sufficient. The full meaning of each answer must be understood.




=EXAMINATION QUESTIONS=

FIRST SERIES


1. Q. What do you consider essential for your success in regard to the
use of fuel A. I deem it essential to my success to be as economical in
the use of fuel and supplies as is consistent with the work to be
performed, exercising good judgment in my work, harmonious co-operation
with my engineer, and showing a willingness to learn and practice the
best methods in my work.

2. Q. What are the fireman's duties on arrival at enginehouse previous
to going out on a locomotive?

A. He is required to examine the bulletin board, guards on water and
lubricator glasses; try gauge cocks to find true water level; then
examine grates, ash-pan, flues and fire-box. Put fire in proper shape;
see that a proper supply of firing tools, water, coal, oil and waste are
provided, that all lamps and markers are filled, cleaned and in proper
condition; and to perform such other duties as may be required by the
engineer to assist him in getting the engine in readiness.

3. Q. What pressure is indicated by the steam gauge? What is meant by
atmospheric pressure?

A. The pressure per square inch inside of the boiler. Atmospheric
pressure is the pressure represented by the density of the atmosphere in
pounds per square inch, which is at sea level 14.7 pounds.

4. Q. On what principle does a steam gauge work?

A. The steam gauge pointer is actuated by a flattened or bent round tube
to straighten itself under the pressure of steam against the water
inside of tube. The gauge pointer receives movement from suitable
mechanism connected with the tube.

5. Q. What is the source of power in a steam locomotive?

A. Heat is the source of power in all steam engines. It is necessary to
have fuel and water. When fuel is burned, the water coming in contact
with the hot sheets evaporates and becomes steam, which is then used in
the cylinders to force the pistons back and forth.

6. Q. About what quantity of water should be evaporated in a locomotive
boiler to the pound of coal?

A. From five to seven pounds of water. For example, one gallon of water
weighs eight and one-third pounds, therefore 100 pounds of coal should
evaporate from sixty to eighty-four gallons of water.

7. Q. What is steam, and how is it generated?

A. Steam is water in the condition of a vapor and is generated by
heating the water above the boiling point.

8. Q. What is the purpose of the water gauge glass and gauge cocks?

A. To indicate the level of water in the boiler.

9. Q. What would indicate to you that the boiler connections of water
gauge glasses were becoming clogged?

A. The up and down movement of the water in the glass would become slow
and inactive, or it would not register correctly with the gauge cocks.

10. Q. At what temperature does water boil?

A. At atmospheric pressure, which is 14.7 pounds at sea level, water
boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit; the temperature, however, increases as
the pressure under which the water is boiled increases. At 200 pounds
boiler pressure the temperature would be 388 degrees Fahrenheit.

11. Q. What is carbon?

A. Carbon forms the greatest part of all kinds of coal; the higher the
per cent. of carbon, the higher the grade of coal.

12. Q. What is the composition of bituminous coal?

A. It is composed of carbon about 75 per cent. and many gaseous
substances, as is shown by its burning with a large flame and much
smoke. Anthracite, on the contrary, is nearly pure carbon and burns with
a small flame.

13. Q. What is combustion?

A. Combustion or burning is a chemical process, it is the action of fire
on inflammable substances and is the union of the oxygen in the air with
the carbon in the fuel; this is called rapid combustion. Slow combustion
is the decaying of wood or iron by the elements.

14. Q. Is air necessary for combustion?

A. Yes.

15. Q. About how many cubic feet of air is necessary for the combustion
of a pound of coal in a locomotive fire-box?

A. About 300 cubic feet of air must pass through the grates and fire
for complete combustion of one pound of coal.

16. Q. Why must air be heated before combining with coal?

A. Air, like coal and its gases, must be heated before they will unite
to form what is known as combustion and so as not to reduce the
temperature of the fire-box below the igniting point of the gases.

17. Q. Why is it necessary to provide for combustion a supply of air
through the fuel in the furnace?

A. In order to supply the oxygen necessary for combustion.

18. Q. What is the effect upon combustion if too little air is supplied?
If too much air is supplied?

A. If too little air is supplied, combustion is not complete, and only
one-third as much heat is obtained. If too much air is supplied,
combustion is complete; but the excess air must be heated, resulting in
a lower temperature. If twice the amount of air required for complete
combustion be supplied, the temperature of the fire-box will be about
one-half as high.

19. Q. Give a practical definition of the igniting temperature.

A. In all ordinary combustion there is a definite temperature, called
the ignition or kindling temperature, to which combustible substance
must be heated in order that it may unite with the gas in supporting the
combustion. The burning substance must not only be heated up to the
kindling temperature, but it must be kept as high as this temperature,
or combustion will cease.

20. Q. State why such temperature is necessary and at what place in the
fire-box it is most required.

A. The center is the hottest part of the fire-box. There is a much lower
temperature in the fire-box at the sides and end sheets, due to the
water on the opposite sides of the sheets being of a lower temperature
than the fire-box; therefore if we get as high a temperature as possible
at the side and end sheets, we will increase the steam-making efficiency
of the boiler. The gases which are liberated from the coal as soon as it
becomes heated must attain a temperature of about 1,800 degrees
Fahrenheit, known as the "temperature of ignition," before they will
unite with air which must also be heated up to that point.

21. Q. How is draft created through the fire?

A. Exhaust steam escaping through the stack reduces the pressure in the
smoke-box below the pressure of the atmosphere outside, therefore the
air tends to force itself into the smoke-box through all openings; with
everything in good condition, the easiest and largest passage for it is
through the grates and other openings into the fire-box and from it
through the tubes into the smoke-box and up the stack.

22. Q. Is smokeless firing practicable?

A. Yes, but it is necessary in order to obtain good results that boiler
and fire-box be in good condition, coal broken to the proper firing
size; then, with the hearty and intelligent co-operation of both
engineer and fireman, smokeless firing is both economical and
practicable.

23. Q. In what condition should the fire be in order that the best
results may be obtained from the combustion of the coal?

A. The fire should be as light as the work being done by the engine will
permit, evenly distributed over the grates and free from clinkers.

24. Q. How should the blower be used?

A. A blower should be used very lightly, being careful not to draw too
much air into the fire-box and through the flues, especially when fire
is being cleaned or thin on grates.

25. Q. What is the result of opening the fire-door when the engine is
working steam?

A. It will cause a cooling effect in the fire-box and is liable to start
the flues leaking.

26. Q. What is the effect of putting too many scoops of coal on a bright
fire? Is this a waste of fuel?

A. It has the effect of temporarily deadening and cooling the fire,
causes emission of quantities of black smoke, as only a limited amount
of gas can be burned in a fire-box at a time; all in excess of that
amount escapes from the stack and is a waste of fuel.

27. Q. What effect has the fire upon a scoopful of coal when it is
placed in the fire-box?

A. The heat from the fire drives the gases from the coal and they are
ignited by the hot flame as they pass over the bright fire; the coke
which is left burns where it is.

28. Q. In what condition should the fire be to consume these gases?

A. A bright white coke fire, almost incandescent.

29. Q. What is the temperature of the fire when in this condition?

A. It must not be less than 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit to consume the
gases liberated from the coal, and it only requires from 750 to 900
degrees Fahrenheit to burn the coke that remains on the grate; as coke
burns from the outside, less heat is required to consume it.

30. Q. How can the fire be maintained in this condition?

A. By adding coal to the fire in small quantities, spreading it over the
grate surface and no faster than it is burned.

31. Q. What is black smoke? Is it combustible?

A. Black smoke consists of small particles of carbon suspended in the
gases of combustion and indicates incomplete combustion. Black smoke is
not combustible, it is like lampblack and cannot be burned after having
been produced. The production of it can be prevented by suitable
arrangements and manipulation.

32. Q. Should the gas not burn in the fire-box, will it burn after it
enters the flues? Why?

A. Gas will not burn only a short distance in the flues of a boiler, as
the water absorbs the heat so quickly that the temperature of gas is
lowered below the igniting point.

33. Q. What is the effect on the flow of air through the fire from
opening the door? What on the burning of the gases? What on the flues
and sheets of the fire-box?

A. When the furnace door is opened, the flow of air through the grate is
stopped in proportion to the amount that passes through the door. The
vacuum will be filled from the quickest source and the door is closer
than some parts of the grate. The gases mix with the air from the door
and pass out through the flues; no combustion takes place, as the air
is not hot enough to unite with the gas. The flues and sheets of the box
will be caused to leak on account of the rapid contraction.

34. Q. Can the firing be done more effectively if the water level is
observed closely?

A. Yes, in order to know how much water there is in the boiler and
whether it is necessary to hurry the fire; if the boiler is full, it is
possible to prevent the pops opening by delaying the fire.

35. Q. How should the fire and water be handled in starting from a
terminal or other station?

A. The steam pressure should be near the maximum and there should be
sufficient water in the boiler to last until such time as the fire is
burning well so that the pressure will not be reduced when water is put
into the boiler. There should be a moderately heavy bed of fire well
burned and distributed evenly over the grates. After the fire is burning
well, the injector should be started lightly; the feed being gradually
increased so as not to cause any decrease of steam pressure.

36. Q. What is the purpose of a safety valve on a locomotive boiler? Why
are more than one used?

A. A safety valve is used to limit the maximum pressure in the boiler by
opening and allowing steam to escape. More than one safety valve are
used as additional protection against excessive pressure; one is set at
the maximum pressure and the others are set at two or three pounds above
the maximum pressure.

37. Q. What is usually the reason for steam being wasted from the safety
valve? What can be done to prevent this waste?

A. Careless firing, careless running. Both engineer and fireman work in
harmony to obtain the best results.

38. Q. What is the estimated waste of coal for each minute the safety
valve is open?

A. About fifteen pounds. The estimated waste of steam when an engine
pops equals every second all the heat obtained from a quarter pound of
coal. Safety valves usually remain open about half a minute, resulting
in the loss of about eight pounds of coal.

39. Q. What should be the condition of the fire on arriving at a station
where a stop is to be made?

A. On approaching the station where a stop is to be made, firing should
be stopped far enough back to allow the carbon gases to be consumed
before the throttle is closed, so there will be little or no black smoke
from the stack and yet have sufficient fire that it will not be
necessary to feed the fire again if a short stop is to be made until the
train is started and the engine cut back or nearly to the running
cut-off.

40. Q. How should you build up the fire when at stations in order to
avoid black smoke?

A. Put in small quantities of coal at a time, have the door slightly
open and have the blower on lightly; good judgment must be exercised by
the fireman.

41. Q. Why is it that if there is a thin fire with a hole in it the
steam pressure will fall at once?

A. Because too much cold air is drawn into the fire-box and through the
tubes, retarding combustion and cooling the fire-box and tubes.

42. Q. If the injector is to be used after throttle is shut off, how
should the fire be maintained?

A. A sufficient quantity of coal should be placed on the grates to
maintain the maximum steam pressure and the blower used to keep the fire
burning brightly.

43. Q. What would be the result of starting a heavy train or allowing
drivers to slip with the fire too thin on the grates?

A. The fire would be pulled off the grates and into the tubes, leaving
the fire bed full of holes and some of the fire remaining on the grates
turned over. Large quantities of cold air would be drawn in, resulting
in a rapid decrease of temperature and pressure. The tubes would
possibly start leaking and the fire would be in such condition that it
could not be built up properly in a long distance. Possibly the grates
would become clogged up with green coal--an excellent opportunity for
forming clinkers. In this condition, the engine would fail to make steam
for the entire trip.

44. Q. Where should the coal, as a rule, be placed in the fire-box?

A. As a rule, more coal is burned along the sides and in the corners
than in the middle of the grates; the fire should consequently be kept
somewhat heavier along the sides and corners than in the middle.

45. Q. How is the fire affected by and what causes clinkers?

A. A clinker shuts off area of grate surface according to its size, and
thereby shutting off that much of the air supply and interfering with
proper combustion. Clinkers are caused by firing too heavy in spots,
which prevents sufficient air passing up through these spots and allows
the coal to run together, melting the ash, and sand; running a hoe or
slash bar through the fire will bring the points of melted sand
together, thereby causing a clinker.

46. Q. How can you best avoid their formation and dispose of them?

A. Light firing and occasionally moving the grates lightly is the best
preventive. When once formed, they should be removed if possible by
firing around and burning them out.

47. Q. How can you explain the slower burning of the coke and how
understand the proper manner of supplying fresh coal?

A. The gases of coal are lighter than air and will pass away whether
consumed or not. The slow burning of the coke is due to the fact that it
burns from the outside only. When a fire reaches a white or incandescent
heat it indicates that the gases are burned and a fresh supply of coal
should be added; this is to be done as light as the service performed by
the engine will permit.

48. Q. When and for what purpose is the use of a rake on the fire bed
allowable?

A. The rake should be used on the fire very seldom, because raking the
fire bed tends to form clinkers, especially when the rake is plunged
down through the fire to the grate. It may be used when necessary to
rake the fire lightly when on the road for the purpose of breaking the
crust, which may be found as a consequence of too heavy firing.

49. Q. Within what limits may steam pressure be allowed to vary, and
why?

A. Pressure should not be allowed to vary more than five pounds from the
maximum for the reason that too much expansion and contraction will
take place, which many times is the cause of flues leaking, cracked or
broken side sheets and stay bolts.

50. Q. Has improper firing any tendency to cause the tubes to leak? How?

A. Yes; if the pressure is not regularly maintained, the fluctuations of
temperature cause constant contraction and expansion to take place. If
the fire is not carried level, but is carried heavy in some parts of the
fire-box and light in others, holes will be worked in, cold air drawn
through, lowering the temperature, chilling the tubes and causing leaks.
Carrying the fire too heavy in some places, causes clinkers to form. If
the door is open too long, too much cold air is drawn over the fire,
causing the tubes to leak.

51. Q. What do you consider abuse of a boiler?

A. Careless or improperly supplying water to the boiler, improper firing
or allowing steam to vary from high to low pressure, causing unnecessary
expansion and contraction.

52. Q. Does the stopping up of flues affect the steaming capacity of the
engine?

A. Yes; obstructed flues reduce the heating surface, reduce the steaming
capacity of the engine, and, as a rule, result in causing the flues to
leak. They also cause an increase of speed of the gases through the
remaining flues and a poor steaming engine.

53. Q. What causes honeycomb over the flues?

A. Honeycomb on flues is usually caused by the draft through the fire
picking up the sulphur and molten clay which is in a molten and sticky
condition in the fire; as it passes on its way to the stack, some of it
strikes the flue-sheet and sticks or passes through the flues, clogging
up the netting in the front end.

54. Q. How would you take care of a boiler with leaky tubes or fire-box,
and why?

A. Keep a bright, clean fire, especially up next to the flue-sheet, and
as even a pressure of steam as possible and not use the blower any
stronger than is absolutely necessary.

55. Q. Why is it very important that coal should be broken so that it
will not be larger than an ordinary sized apple before being put into
the fire-box?

A. In order to get rapid and complete combustion, coal should be broken
into small pieces; this aids combustion by exposing a larger surface to
the flame and can be fired more economically and better results are
obtained.

56. Q. Should rapid firing be practiced?

A. No; it should not be practiced for the same reason that heavy firing
is wrong. A few moments should intervene between each shovelful to allow
the fresh coal to get to burning and to maintain the high temperature in
the fire-box.

57. Q. When and why should you wet the coal on the tender?

A. Coal should be wet for the purpose of cleanliness to keep dust from
flying and because moderately wet coal gives out more heat for the
reason that there is not so much fine coal drawn through the tubes. It
should be wet as often as necessary to accomplish these purposes.

58. Q. What are the advantages of a large grate surface?

A. Greater heating surface, lighter fire and more complete combustion
are possible with the larger grate surface, because a larger amount is
burning at one time at a slower rate of combustion.

59. Q. Why are grates made to shake, and how, when and where should they
be shaken?

A. For the purpose of breaking any clinkers that might form and to shake
out all refuse from the grates. The best time to shake grates is when
throttle is closed, as there is no exhaust to carry the unconsumed gases
and sulphur through the flues into the front end, which is liable to
choke or clog up netting and cause a steam failure. Grates should not be
shaken while passing over bridges, near lumber or hay yards or through
prohibited territory.

60. Q. Do you understand that coal furnished represents money invested,
and should be fired economically and not allowed to fall out of the
gangway?

A. The fuel of locomotives is property and represents money invested the
same as do buildings, rolling stock, etc.; careless or inefficient
firemen who waste fuel destroy property as certainly as though cars or
engines were smashed up. The coal should be carefully raked off the deck
and in from the gangways; it should not be allowed to fall, as it is
wasted and dangerous to people near the track. The deck should be kept
clean for greater comfort and convenience.

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