Nickel
The
N. Y. C. &
Examination For
Fireman
First Series of Questions
Notice
Preface
It
is the policy of railroads to employ men as locomotive firemen, who will be
capable in time to become locomotive engineers. This requires that a man should
have at least a common school education, good habits and be in good physical
condition. He should also be quick and alert and a man of sound judgment.
Having these qualifications, advancement will come to those who are
conscientious in the discharge of their duties and who devote some of their
leisure hours to study. As an aid to this end, and in order that there may be
derived the highest efficiency from a man engaged as a locomotive fireman,
there is placed in the hands of every man who is employed as a fireman a code
of questions and it is expected that in the preparation necessary for correct
answering of the questions a course of study will be necessary which shall fit
him for the work which he is expected to perform. His answers to the questions
will indicate how well he has progressed.
When
a man is employed first as a fireman, he will be given the questions on which
he will be examined after the first year. Having answered these questions
satisfactorily he will be given the questions for the following year. Having
passed this one he will be given a third and final set of questions on which he
will be examined before being promoted to engineman. It is nor expected that a
man will answer these questions without assistance and in order that he may
understand the properly there has been established a school of instruction in
the use of the air-brake to which all employees are invited, he is also invited
to ask the master mechanic, general foreman, also air-brake supervisors (or
instructors) or any other official for such information as may be required on
any of the questions or on any points in connection with the work. He is not
only invited but is urged to do this as the more knowledge the firemen possess
the better the results which can be obtained. He will have ample time to study
each set of questions, therefore there is no doubt but that with a reasonable
amount of study each week the information required to answer satisfactorily the
entire list of each series of questions can be easily mastered in the time
given.
In
connection with this examination it will be noted carefully the work done by
the fireman during the time of his service and how the work compares with that
of other firemen engaged in the same class of service; also his record as to
the use of coal, oil, etc., will be taken into consideration. It is hoped that
he will give everything in detail the consideration it merits and realize fully
that it is by looking after the little things that a man succeeds. It should be
borne in mind that it is only by filling well the position that one has, that a
person is entitled to the confidence that makes better positions possible.
The
following describes the method and time of holding these progressive
examinations.
When
a man is employed as a fireman, he shall be given the First Series of questions
and notified that after the first year of service he will be required to pass a
written and oral examination thereon, under the direction of the division mechanical
officer or his representative, and air-brake supervisor (or air-brake
instructor).
After
passing the First Series of questions, he will be given the Second Series of
questions and notified that after another year of service he will be required to
pass a written and oral examination thereon, under the direction of the
division mechanical officer or representative and air-brake supervisor (or
air-brake instructor).
If
a man fails to pass the first or second examinations, he shall be dropped from service.
If
a man has passed 80 per cent or more in all examinations, he shall be given a
diploma.
When
he has passed the Second Series of questions he will be given the Third Series
of questions and notified that before being promoted he will be required to
pass a written and oral examination before a general board of examiners.
At
the third examination, if a man shall fail to pass 80% of the questions asked,
two more trials, not less than two months apart, will be given him to pass the
same examination. If he then fails to pass by a percentage of 80%, he shall be
dropped from the service.
Firemen
passing the third, and final series of questions, will be promoted in order of
their seniority as firemen, except that those who pass on the first trial shall
rank, when promoted, above those who pass on the second or third trial, and
those passing on the second trial shall rank above those who pass on the third
trial.
Enginemen
employed shall be required to pass the Third Series of questions before
entering the service.
NOTE A. After passing each examination the applicant
will return the question book he has had previously to the division mechanical
officer, such books are to be considered the property of the Company.
FIRST
SERIES OF QUESTIONS.
1.
What do you
consider essential for your success in regard to the use of fuel and supplies?
2.
What are the
firemens duties on arrival at engine house precious to going out on a
locomotive?
3.
What pressure is
indicated by the steam gauge? What is meant by atmospheric pressure?
4.
What is the
source of power in a steam locomotive?
5.
What is steam and
how is it generated?
6.
What is
combustion?
7.
Is air necessary
for combustion?
8.
Why is it
necessary to provide for combustion a supply of air through the fuel in the
furnace?
9.
How can you prove
that it is necessary to supply air to the fire box for combustion?
10.
What is the
effect upon combustion if too little air is supplied through the fire? If too
much air is supplied?
11.
What effect on
combustion has closing and opening the dampers?
12.
Is smokeless
firing practicable?
13.
In what condition
should the fire be in order that the best results may be obtained from the
combustion of the coal?
14.
How should the
blower be used?
15.
What is the
result of opening the fire door when engine is working steam?
16.
What is the
effect of putting too many scoops of coal on a bright fire? Is this a waste of
fuel?
17.
What effect has
the fire upon a scoopful of coal when it is placed in the fire box?
18.
In what condition
should the fire be to consume these gases?
19.
How can the fire
be maintained in this condition?
20.
What is black
smoke? Is it combustible?
21.
Can the firing be
done more effectively if the water level is observed closely?
22.
How should the
fire and water be handled in starting from a terminal or other station?
23.
What is the
purpose of a safety valve on a locomotive boiler? Why is more than one used?
24.
What usually is
the reason for steam being wasted from the safety valve, what can be done to
prevent same?
25.
What is the
estimated waste of coal for each minute the safety valve is open?
26.
What should be
the condition of fire on arriving at a station where a stop is to be made?
27.
How should you
build up the fire when at stations in order to avoid black smoke?
28.
Why is it that if
there is a thin fire, with a hole in it, the steam pressure will fall at once?
29.
What would be the
result of starting a heavy train or allowing drivers to slip with the fire too
thin on the grates?
30.
Where should the
coal, as a rule, be placed in the fire box?
31.
How is the fire
affected by a clinker? What causes clinkers? How can you best avoid their
formation? How dispose of them?
32.
How can you
explain the slower burning of the coke and how understand the proper manner of
supplying fresh coal?
33.
When and for what
purpose is the use of rake on the fire bed allowable?
34.
Within what limits
may steam pressure be allowed to vary economically and why?
35.
What causes
honeycomb over the flues?
36.
How would you
take care of a boiler with leaky tubes or fire box, and why?
37.
Why is it very
important that coal should be broken so that it will not be larger than an
ordinary sized apple, before being put into the fire box?
38.
When and why
should you wet the coal in the tender?
39.
Do you understand
coal furnished represents money invested and should be fired economically and
not allowed to fall out of the gangway?
40.
Why are grates
made to shake and how, when and where should they be shaken?
41.
Is it
objectionable to fill the tanks too full of coal, or spill water at stand pipes
or water tanks?
42.
What are the
duties of a fireman on arrival at the terminals?
43.
Is the engineman
responsible for the firemans conduct while on duty and the manner in which the
firemans duties are performed?
PERCENTAGE OF QUESTIONS
OF FIRST YEAR SERIES
AIR-BRAKE
QUESTIONS.
FIRST
SERIES.
- What is an air-brake?
- How is the air compressed for use in the
air-brake system?
- What are the essential parts of
the air-brake as applied to a locomotive?
- How many kinds of triple valves are there in use?
- What is the main reservoir used for and where is
it located?
- What is the usual standard train pipe pressure?
- What pressure us usually carried in the main
reservoirs?
- Why is it important that all air-brake apparatus
should be kept tight and free from leaks?
- Where does the air come from that operates the
sand blower, bell ringer, air whistle signal, or other devices?
- How should an air pump be started?
- How is the automatic brake applied and released?
- (a) How many positions are there of the brake
valve?
(b)
What are they?
RELATIVE VALUES OF ANSWERS
TO QUESTIONS ON
AIR BRAKES.
FIRST SERIES
No. Value
1
.. 60
2
.
. 50
3
100
4
..
90
5
.. 90
6
.. 80
7
.. 80
8
.. 90
9
.. 70
10
. 90
11
... 100
12
... 100
QUESTIONS ON
HEADLIGHTS.
LAMPS AND
SIGNALS.
- What are the requirements of the
- If the headlights, lamps and signals do not
conform to the rules of the
PERCENTAGE OF QUESTIONS
ON HEADLIGHTS, LAMPS
AND SIGNALS.
No.
Value
1
..
35
2
..
35