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[quote user="gregc"] i'm reading <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Firing-Steam-Locomotive-Reading-Company/dp/1937684210">Firing the Steam Locomotive</a> by the Reading Company, 1947 i didn't realize the fireman is responsible to maintaining the "head of steam" that the engineer requires and must work with the engineer to anticipate the steam requirements.   The means building up steam when approaching a grade or when speed will increase, as well as, decreasing steam when going down a grade or coming to a stop. This involves maintaining the fire of proper depth, dealing with different grades and sizes of coal and preventing and dealing with problems, "<a href="https://results.searchlock.com/search/?q=clinkers%20coal&tbm=isch&sr=sb-serp&slr=1&chnm=js_225">clinkers</a>", that may form on the grates. i had thought that a fireman was just a strong back, but now i realize that a fireman must be constantly busy and requires a lot of knowledge about the burning of coal efficiently and understanding the steam requirements during a run.   <div style="clear:both;"> </div> [/quote] He also has to look out for obstructions, signals, misaligned switches people or animals on the track to the left of the locomotive.  You really cant see much around left hand corners from the engineers seat. The fireman is also the one who has to climb up on the tender (at stops usually) and shovel coal forward so that it can be reached.  Stokerless steam locomotives are quite a bit of work.
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