The Traveling Engineers Association | Page 7

in fuel while the engine is in his
charge; should know that throttle valve is securely closed, reverse lever
in center of quadrant, cylinder cocks open, and if equipped with
independent brake, it to be applied; in fact, it is an excellent
opportunity for a mechanical officer to judge the ability of the fireman
and future engineer.
63. Q. Is the engineer responsible for the fireman's conduct while on
duty and for the manner in which the fireman's duties are performed?
A. He is. The fireman is under the direction of the engineer, and the
fireman's duties are to be performed in accordance with the engineer's
instructions.

64. Q. What is the duty of the superheater damper, and how does it
operate?
A. The duty of the damper is to control the flow of gases through the
large flues, thereby protecting the units which are contained therein
from being overheated after throttle is closed. The position of damper
when the engine is not working steam, is closed.
65. Q. What will be the effect on the steaming of the engine if the
damper does not open properly?
A. Engine will steam poorly for the reason that there will be no draft
through the large flues. The steam will not be superheated because
heated gases cannot come in contact with superheated units contained
in the large flues.
66. Q. How may steam failure be avoided in case the damper fails to
operate?
A. The counterweight may be tied up, thereby opening the damper.

=AIR BRAKE QUESTIONS=
1. Q. What is an air brake?
A. A brake operated by compressed air.
2. Q. How is this air compressed?
A. By an air compressor on the locomotive.
3. Q. Name the different parts of the air brake as applied to the
locomotive.
A. The air compressor, compressor governor, automatic and
independent brake valves, distributing valve, triple valve, auxiliary
reservoir, brake cylinders, main reservoir, air gauges, angle cocks,

cut-out cocks and the necessary piping.
4. Q. What is the purpose of the main reservoir?
A. It is used for storing a large volume of air for the purpose of
promptly charging and recharging the brakes. Where the engine is
equipped with either the E. T. or L. T. type of brakes, main reservoir air
is used to supply the air to the brake cylinders on the locomotive.
5. Q. What other appliances use main reservoir air?
A. It is used in the operation of the power reverse gear, sand blower,
bell ringer, water scoop, air signal, fire door, water sprinkler and other
devices.
6. Q. What does the red hand on each of the air gauges indicate?
A. The red hand on the large gauge indicates main reservoir pressure;
on the small gauge, brake cylinder pressure.
7. Q. What does the black hand on each of the air gauges indicate?
A. The black hand on the large gauge indicates the equalizing reservoir
pressure; on the small gauge, brake pipe pressure.
8. Q. What pressure is usually carried in the main reservoir?
A. Ninety pounds in freight and 130 pounds in passenger service. But
where freight engines are equipped with duplex compressor governor,
the low pressure top is adjusted to ninety pounds and the high pressure
top to 130 pounds.
9. Q. What pressure is usually carried in the brake pipe?
A. Seventy pounds in freight and 110 pounds in passenger service.
10. Q. What must the air pass through in flowing from the main
reservoir to the brake pipe?

A. Through the automatic brake valve.
11. Q. Name the different positions of the automatic brake valve.
A. Release, running, lap, service and emergency positions. The brake
valve used with the E. T. and L. T. equipment has still another position
known as holding position, which is located between running and lap
positions.
12. Q. Name the different positions of the independent brake valve.
A. Release, running, lap, slow application and quick application
positions.
13. Q. How many kinds of triple valves are there in use?
A. Two; plain and quick action.
14. Q. How is the automatic brake applied? How released?
A. The automatic brake is applied by a reduction of brake pipe pressure,
and is released by restoring the brake pipe pressure.
15. Q. When the independent brake valve handle is placed in
application position, are the train brakes affected?
A. No; only the brakes on the locomotive are applied.
16. Q. What controls the pressure in the main reservoir?
A. The compressor governor.

=EXAMINATION QUESTIONS=
SECOND SERIES
1. Q. What, in your opinion, is the best way to fire a locomotive?

A. To carry a nice, level fire on the grate, or it may be just a little
heavier at the sides and front, so the air cannot come through it near the
sheets