Well it's different to most but what i was told is to "study the road." Meaning that you have to know when that bgg hill is coming up so you can have enough steam for you to get up it. Know the engineer!? You guys are the team running the show and by knowing if he (the engineer) likes her hot or not or likes to run the engine hard you have to fit to the way he runs. He's the quarter back and your suppling the ball. I have never done it as a job but I asked the same questions through out time. Don't be seating there waiting for him to tell ya what to do because a engineer sometimes gets to big headed and for the rest of the trip it can be hell. They can do some mean stuff and make you work like a dog if your on there bad side. No engineer can say they never made someones life tuff on a new fireman.
" /> Enjoy the job!
PS There are plenty of trick to each locomotive. Ask the other fireman thats been there awhile on were she likes the fire. Against the door, horse shoe or in the middle, more than likely if really want to know they'll tell you
K28DRGW