In your e-mail you ask me to write a few lines on my experience working as a 1st Fireman on the WP class of Locomotive. I Fired on these Loco's for about 2 years on Passenger, Mail's & Express Trains.

The footplate of these Loco's were very comfortable providing a very good platform to fire from.  However when it came to making the fire ie after one had been fireing about 4 tons of Coal and the firebox was getting full of ash and clinker, one had to rock the firebars and there were 2 sets on each side of the firebox. This had to be done manually on the WP, WG, & the CWD unlike the EM Class that had a Steam Donkey Engine connected to the firebars and also had a front drop grate through which one could push out the clinkers.  On the WP one had to remove any clinkers with the fire iron's of which we had two one small hook and one long hook and I can assure you it was very hot and hard work making fire after one had been fireing for about 4 hours in the heat. But I was proud to do this work it was a labour of love, the WP was a very nice Locomotive but was not looked after on the Northern Railway.

I remember the first WP's arriving in Saharanpur in 1948. I was waiting to leave Saharanpur to go to the UK with my Mother and Sisters and I was playing on a CWD in the E.I.R. Shed at Khanalampura known as KWT near Saharanpur, when the first 3 WP's came past with their whistle's blowing and in those days they had the sound of a big ship. I left India in Sept' 1948 and my family came back to India in 1950 as my Mother and Sisters did not like England after all they had lived all their lives in India. I went to School in Mussoorie and finished my education in 1955 passing the Senior Cambridge exam. I sat the Selection Exam for Grade A apprentice fireman and passed the Exam with out having to Bribe my way as things were not that bad at that time in India however they did get very bad by the time I left in 1962.

1) At no time is a Locomotive Driver's responsibility any less when he is driving a Steam Locomotive, shorter and lighter train, he is still responsible for the Locomotive the Crew the Passengers etc.

Drivers did not fire the Locomotive it was the 1st fireman and somtimes the 2nd fireman to get experience. Filling the tank with water, lubricating and making fire at every major stop was part and parcel of both fireman's duties. The Driver also had duties to carry out at major stops ie examining the Locomotive.

I  take offence at the insinuation that most Steam Locomotive Crew ie Driver's 1st & 2nd Fireman had a lesser level of education than these wonder men ie diesel and Electric Locomotive Driver's. My Grandfather Mr C P Hughes started as a Fireman on the N.W.R he ended up as Loco foreman ( GF ) Lahore before 1947 My Father Mr L.P.Hughes Started as a Rail Motor Driver Kalka Simla Railway then changed to fireman and became a Grade 4 Mail Driver on the N.W.R. My Uncle Mr E.A.Hughes started as a fireman Grade 4 became a Driver Grade 4 Mail Driver then Loco Inspector Forozepur Division then D.M.E. N.W.R.Lahore. They all had passed the Senior Cambridge Exam. Maybe after 1947 things changed: after all one had to bribe the babu's and all the officials taking the selection exams even when taking the Medical and eyesight test I can tell you a lot about the how bad things got on the Northern Railway  and I'm sure that it was as bad all over India.

Great pity the Indian Railways got rid of Steam short sighted look at all those people they have put out of work they did the same in the UK now look at the Rail System falling apart.

Regards

              Hal Hughes           (slightly edited to ensure continuity)