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In the early coal burning days on Prince Edward Island, new train workers would almost always have disastrous first runs when learning how to fire the steam engine. This work was done by the fireman, whose job was to keep a bright and even fire ignited. He also had to keep the water level in the boiler at an exact placement in order to maintain speed through different terrain, including flat roads, hills, and curves. A new fireman most often found it impossible to even position himself on the sliding cab of the train, let alone pitching an even bright fire and taking exact readings of the water glass under these conditions. (Lowell Huestis)

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