Re: Coal...and books on firing.

One is of the International Textbook Company called "Firing Of Locomotives". That is one book out of a huge set.
The other is copyright 1917 by Charles F. Lockhart. It's called "Lockhart's Practical Instructor and Reference Book for Locomotive Firemen and Engineers.
My dad also has many many others but I will read those some other day when I feel like digging through them all.
The International Textbook Company stuff is great. Setting valves, an entire book on valve gear which includes everything about them including forging rods. Stokers, air brakes, compressors, injectors. Entire books about each appliance mentioned, and more. Then there are a few other books my dad has in his collection that are a couple hundred pages that are titled "Loocomtive Appliances".
Gosh...some times I forget that I have this HUGE wealth of information in my basement. I need to read more of these.
It can be hard reading because it's not like reading a story where there is voice and where you can easily read the words and it goes much faster. These things are like doing homework almost. Basically they are textbooks. I a reading comprehension problem any way so I usually read each chapter maybe twice or more. I don't know what they covered paper with 60 years ago...but these old books smell great! Such a sweet smell.
Kevin Bush