Opening the upper gauge cock will let in the air, and it should not be closed again until enough steam has been got up in the boiler to expel the air again, or in other words, until steam begins to issue from it.
The grate bars and ash pit should be cleaned of clinker, ashes, etc., and it should be seen that the tubes are clear of ashes, etc., before the fire is laid; if the grate is a shaking one, the lever should be applied to see that the grate will shake properly.
To light the Fire—In the case of anthracite or hard coal, as it is sometimes termed, first cover the bars with a thin layer of coal and then put in pieces of lighted greasy waste (if it is at hand) distributed about the furnace, taking especial care to light the fire at the fire-door end and in the corners, because the fire will spread from the front end towards the back easier than it will from the back end towards the front.
The fire should light from the bottom and not from the top, hence the thinnest pieces of the wood should be put in first.
If there is any soft coal at hand, a small quantity of it will accelerate lighting the fire, as it burns easier and quicker than hard coal.
Before putting on the coal the wood should be well lighted, the bottom portion of it having ceased flaming.
This causes the lighted wood to spread over the bars and the fire to light evenly.
Charge the coal lightly, first covering the places that have burned up the most.
Firing.—The fire door should be kept open as little as possible, as it admits cold air that is detrimental to the combustion, as well as to the draught, hence firing should be done quickly.
A good fireman will maintain as even a temperature as possible in the fire box by charging the coal lightly and quickly.