Part of our efforts at preservation is maintaining the knowledge and skills of operating a steam locomotive. This is not an easy task. In July 2026 Robby Peartree observed social media video where a locomotive equipped to burn oil lost the fire and then an attempt was made to relite the locomotive off of the firebox brickwork. A significant fireball was then captured on video as a result of this decision. Reports indicate that no one was hurt from the firebox explosion. Unfortunately there is some social media commentary stating that this situation is “normal”. It is important to state that both the Atichison, Topeka, & Santa Fe and the Southern Pacific in their instructions to enginemen spefically expressed the reasons for not using hot brick to relite a locomotive. It is imparative that all of us continue to increase our knowedge and skill level everyday we work around railroad equipment.

As an effort to help those looking for this historic material we are begining by scaning the Southern Pacific firing manuals for the Pacific lines for 1928 and 1947.

More material will be scanned in the future.