Atomic Systems

A throw-away line on another thread struck a chord.

'You must be 21 to be a driver (on the TR) but only need to be 18 to be a fireman, which is just as good really'.

Just as good? As an ex fireman and driver at Lieghton Buzzard NGR and ex fireman on the FR (both about 30 years ago!), I would say that being a fireman is better.

The fireman is in charge of the locomotive really. All your thoughts are on the machine and how you can make it meet the driver's requirements. The fire, the chimney, the injectors and the gauge glass are your domain and though you must know the road and what your driver is going to need, it is your empathy with the living beast that counts.

As a driver you have so many other things to think about (staffs, signals, whistles at crossings, timings, adding or taking off cars, etc., etc.,), that you are thinking about the operating the train and the railway far more than the locomotive (unless you have to!). Whilst you are always aware of boiler water levels and pressures you really don't want to be concerned about them - you want to be able to trust the other person to look after them properly.

In my opinion it comes down to whether you are are an railway operator or a steam locomotive junkie. As the latter, I'll go for the firemans job every day.

Any other opinions?

Martin G. (The Alco was my favourite. The Ladies had the job taped.)

Havign never been on the regulator i can only comment on the firing side of things.

From what I have seen. There is somewhat more skill in firing, on the narrow gauge there is definatley more of a mental aspect aswell, the job is not physical (average between 10-20 small shovels of coal on a trip) however with so many gradients and the engine being worked flat out at times, you have to be 5 mins ahead of yourself thinking about what your going to do.

Chris

With oil firing now the norm on both the Ffestiniog and Welsh Higland (and the Vale of Rheidol, but thats outside my experience) a lot of the physical work has gone out of firing but the mental side of it has increased somewhat. Your route knowledge has to exemplary in order to know just when to turn the fire up or down, in case the driver doesn't tell you! Of course on one of our engines (when it returns - come back soon Merddin) the fireman doesn't even have the injectors to keep him busy - they are both on the driver's side of the engine!...... A description from one of my mates who fires regularly up there was highly amusing (although it consisted mainly of squeeks and gurgling noises and impressions of hitting the driver with the single line token to get him to turn the injectors on and off - I wish I could reproduce it......)

John (not a fireman or a driver, but a regular Blodger and FR/WHR PWay bod)