e burner readily, it must
be heated. Open the front damper and put on the blower strong enough to
create the necessary draft, open the atomizer valve long enough to blow
out any water that might be in the steam pipe to the burner, then close
the valve and throw a piece of burning waste in front of the burner and
open the atomizer valve enough to carry oil to the burning waste and
open the regulating valve slowly until the oil is known to be ignited.
Watch the ignition through the hole in the fire-box door, then regulate
the steam and oil supply to suit. Be sure that no oil is wasting below
the burner or an explosion may result that will prove disastrous.

11. Q. Should the fire go out and it is desired to rekindle it while
bricks are hot, is it safe to depend on the hot bricks to ignite the oil
without the use of lighted waste?

A. No; depending upon the heat from the firebricks to re-light the fire
is dangerous and forbidden.

12. Q. What is termed an atomizer, and what does it perform?

A. The atomizer is a casting containing two long ports with an extension
lip; the upper port is for oil and the lower one for steam. The lip aids
the steam in atomizing and spreading the oil, which, when properly
mingled with the air and ignited, will produce combustion. The atomizer
is located just under the mud-ring and pointed a little upward, so the
stream of oil and spray of steam would strike the opposite wall a few
inches above the bottom if it would pass clear across the fire-box.

13. Q. In starting or closing the throttle of the locomotive, how should
the fireman regulate the fire, in advance or after the action of the
engineer?

A. In starting an oil burning engine the oil should gradually be brought
up as the throttle is opened and the movement and amount of oil should
be kept slightly in advance of the action of the engineer in order to
prevent an inrush of cold air as the engine is working, which would
result in injury to the fire-box and flues. When the throttle is to be
closed, the fire should be reduced very slightly in advance of the
closing of the throttle. This is to prevent the engine from popping off
and black smoke drifting back over the train.

14. Q. Is it necessary that the engineer and fireman on an oil burning
locomotive work in perfect harmony and advise each other of intended
action at every change of conditions?

A. Yes; they should work in harmony with each other on any locomotive.
The fireman s