Re: Cleaning a fire

Kevin, on a coal-fired engine the fire can be cleaned by shaking the grates. In some instances if the fire has become real heavy, this can involve dumping the fire and putting in a new one. If this is needed, it is usually done in stages, dump part of the fire, lay in fresh coal, rake part of the existing fire over to start the fresh coal, then go one to the next section of grates.
On an oil-burner, the burner will sometimes need to be cleaned. This is usually done with a saw blade or other suitable object to clean and open the ports of the burner. Carbon will occasionally build up on the floor of the firebox and obstruct the path of the flame. This can sometimes be removed with a long bar or rake to break the carbon loose and push it out through the air opening in the fire pan. Other time, the fire will need to be shut off, the engine allowed to cool, and then a man can get inside the firebox to clean out carbon and any residual sand left in there from sanding the flues.
Hope this helps.
Ted Krumreich