Lets Talk Coal

As a former pro fireman from the West Coast where oil is king, I have never fired a coal burner, (other than a few scoops at the C&TS when I was 15). I know the principal, how boilers work and whats going on in the firebox, water management etc, but its the benefit of experience and even basic training in coal firing that I am lacking.

What I want to know is the basics firing coal? How do you keep from over firing and covering the crates with too much coal, or likewise under firing and getting holes in the fire? I'm sure there is a pace to firing, but how do you know?

How far ahead of the engineer (railroad) are your firing? Do you back off on the coal for the upcoming down grade or do you fire to the top and fill it with water on the way down?

How do you manage klinkers? Oil burners get them too, but they don't cover the grates and kill your fire. I know you can shake the grates and work out most issues, but are they ever major issues on the road?

I'm not going to say oil is the easy way out, it has its challenges too, but coal is a mystery to me.
Some basics would be great.