MEMORIES OF A FORMER STEAM LOCOMOTIVE FIREMAN

Abstract

For the English abstract and full text of the article please see the attached PDF-File (English version follows Russian version).ABSTRACT The author of the article has been dealing with transport underground facilities for a long time; in particular, he studies the «behavior» of tunnels in zones of seismic activity. But professor Kurbatsky began his work as an ordinary fireman at a locomotive furnace. Today, very few people know about the intricacies of this profession, without which no railway train, headed by a locomotive, could do. The work of a fireman required very good physical training and skill. In addition to the constant casting of coal into the furnace, the fireman had to take a staff at each station. This procedure ensured the presence of only one train at a station. Sometimes this was done at full speed. At all stops at any time of the day a fireman was obliged to lubricate axle boxes with fuel oil, to fill a locomotive with water. About this first and distant stage of his railway life, the current doctor of science recalls with particular warmth, as it should be for a hereditary transport worker. Keywords: history, railway, steam locomotive, staff, axle box, fireman, memories.