19. Q. Is the injudicious use of the blower particularly injurious on an
oil burning locomotive?

A. Yes; the injudicious use of a blower is injurious to any boiler. The
cold air drawn through the fire-box is hard on the sheets and flues and
will cause them to leak.

20. Q. Is the blower more injurious when a light smoke is emitting from
the stack or when a dense black smoke is emitting?

A. It is most injurious when a light smoke is emitting.

21. Q. In drifting down long grades should the fire be shut off or
burned lightly? Why?

A. The fire should be burned lightly and not permitted to get low enough
to allow the fire-box to lose its temperature, as this will contract the
flues and cause them to leak.

22. Q. How should the fire be handled when switching?

A. The fire must be regulated to meet the requirements of the work the
engine is performing on each move and to protect against any possibility
of the fire being drawn out by the exhaust.

23. Q. Would not some fuel be wasted in this way?

A. Not necessarily. A waste of fuel can be avoided by close attention on
the part of the fireman when switching as well as when running.