Fireman Jake Pothering is hard at work breaking the bank of CNJ #113 in Minersville, PA on the early morning of December 11, 2022. In the engineer's seat is fellow volunteer Colin Williams studying the progress. Banking a locomotive at the end of a day was a common and standard practice during the steam era. Depending on the size of the firebox anywhere between 40-60 scoops of coal are used to create a heel or mound in the rear of the firebox. This coal will burn down overnight and coke over to maintain heat with the firebox and the boiler. In the morning the fireman, after completing his inspection, will break the bank and utilize the still burning coal from the bank to create a fresh new clean fire. This reduces the stress on the firebox and boiler of the locomotive versus firing up a "cold" locomotive.
Trains don't run themselves--they're ultimately run by people. This album showcases the hardworking folks that make railroads work, as well as emphasizing the size of these great machines in comparison to their masters. All photos must include a visible h
