Talk about work!
When I took the fireman's school last fall, I learned a few things I did not expect. Placing coal on the left side of the firebox is easy if you're right handed. Placing it just where you want it on the right side of the firebox was considerably more difficult! Getting it down towards the front right corner was the most difficult of all. When the train was stopped, or was not working particularly hard, I'd sometimes try to get ahead and toss in a scoop or two toward the right front, since it was my weakest area.
I know what you mean about getting it right in advance. The first time my class fired up the hill, I was not properly prepared. I watched the steam gauge and water glass drop like stones, along with my pride. I shoveled coal as quickly as I could (altitude permitting) while trying to avoid putting too much on too quickly. Unfortunately, my inexperience hindered my ability to place the coal right where I wanted it to go. We kept the water level within a good range, but I was behind on the pressure gauge all the way up the hill. We were pulling a short train of empty freight cars, and I can only imagine how much worse it would have been had we been pulling a full train of passengers. I felt awful by the time I handed the scoop off to the next student. The fire I left for him was in a pretty rough state and I was exhausted to be able to fix it.
The second time I fired up the hill, I was certain my fire was well sorted before we turned a wheel. I made certain my fellow student kept on top of the water, and I stayed on the fire so I could keep up with the injector. I tossed a few scoops in (better placed than before) often enough to keep things burning properly, but not so often that I over-fired or prevented the fire from settling in properly.
The first trip was a very hard lesson, the following times I fired, while by no means easy, were far better. I imagine that with some decent time, experience, and further training, it could go far better. Despite all of this, I would move across the country and do that every day if I could.
It's great to see the crew and equipment working as a well-oiled machine. Thank you to the folks in the shop who work so hard to keep things in good shape & the MOW crew who keep the track in good shape to run on! All of it takes good training and practice, and all of it is hard dirty work.
