My father was a fireman based at Derby the smoke and noise are iconic wonderful.

Given how much black smoke you see constantly coming out of heritage railway trains, this video should still be used for training.

Gosh I didn’t realise it was so complicated and involved. Fascinating video. I’ll be looking out for the colour of the smoke on the steam trains at my local heritage railway, the GCR

Clive Groome (RIP) said that it's not all that hard to learn to be an engineer (driver), but it takes much time to learn to be a good fireman. He was of the opinion that, even though the driver gets all the glory, it is the skill and savvy of the fireman that is of utmost importance.

This method of firing actually works for stationary boilers too, I've done it. It works best if the load is relatively constant.

Those firemen must have been strong, and look at the early British locos when many had no cabs at all.

Its the way he says it.......wonderful!

fascinating subject. Just goes to show how involved the job was in those days. Far more complicated and demanding than driving a diesel. A fireman could make or mar an engine's performance - and what  a handsome one was involved in this clip. Quite a dish

It is interesting to see that all bridges over the rail lines are heavily sooted in areas immediately above the rail lines.

Great video shows how the firemen did his job

Fascinating, thank you.

Thanks for this video.  I thoroughly enjoyed it. Hard work for the fireman handled with such finesse.

Sorry to hear that Clive Groom has gone. Saw him several times in dvd's.

This is such an awesome channel

I love this video.  Great info and insight into firing a steam loco.

I was always trying to find this video in full length! Always trust your local Volunteer Railway if you get to know the staff.

I was a b.r.fireman.thid is a true description of firing.however not all locomotives were the same even the same class.i.e jubilee s.6 p some would steam better with a bi one under the door .p.s.best job I ever had I  my live life.

Never fired a loco with the front damper open, except for going tender first. As for the little and often worked only when the loco was in tip top shape. in reality this method was rarely used.

I am here for a refresher course.

Grief, so arriving at and leaving a station fireman had to go thru all that palaver? Incredible.