To start the fire, push a small forkful of dry straw into funnel in fire door, leaving the small end of funnel pressed full; then touch the match to it. Begin at once to push in the straw regularly, a small quantity at a time, being very careful not to clog the main flue, and allowing ample time for straw to burn.
The fire should be raked down frequently, as the burned straw leaves a charred mass over the grates. This should be done when the funnel is full of straw, thus allowing no cold air to pass through the funnel into the main flue. Clean out the ash pan frequently, so that the natural draught may not be checked. Do not open blower until gauge shows ten or fifteen pounds steam pressure.
After steam is raised to the necessary pressure, the feeding should be regular, using small forkfuls of straw, keeping the funnel full all the time, and raking down at short intervals. Use as dry straw as it is possible to obtain.
The above will apply to any style or make of straw-burning engines.
After fire is well started with wood, throw coal into the center of grate, and do not disturb it until it is well ignited and burning briskly; then break the fire down and put in a shovel or two of coal, and so continue keeping the grates covered with a thin layer.
Always aim to put in fresh coal on a rising head of steam pressure. Never pile coal against the flue sheet or keep the fire box too full. Nothing is gained by the latter, but much is lost.
Q. Which is the more economical to burn, wet or dry coal?
A. Dry. If your coal is wet, you simply have to evaporate that much more water, which goes out of the stack instead of to the engine.
Q. How much water will one pound of coal evaporate?
A. One pound of coal will, under very favorable circumstances, evaporate twelve pounds of water, but the average evaporative power of anthracite coal is 9½ pounds of water, and semi-bituminous coal is 9⁹/₁₀ pounds.
Q. If cold air is allowed to strike the flue sheet and flues, what is the result?
A. It will eventually cause them to leak.
Q. How should a fire be regulated in case of temporary stoppage by accident or otherwise under full head of steam?
A. Close the damper and keep the fire door closed; then open small door in smoke box or the damper in chimney.
