See that the valve and steam connections are tight, and do not blow the steam through the safety valves or cylinder cocks. If drivers will only book all engine defects in the repair book and see to it that the shed staff do their share in carrying out repairs, the above loss could be wiped out. There is nothing more discouraging to a good fireman than an engine that will not steam properly; to a poor fireman, however, it is a somewhat more serious matter. A badly steaming engine causes him to forget everything he has ever heard or known about the correct principles of firing, and makes him believe that he is no longer a fireman—merely a heaver of coal, and he acts on that belief. The average man, overtaken by the feeling that he has a good excuse for making a failure, fails with ease.

It is essential to stop steam leaks. Steam waste includes not only that which is wasted past the piston and valve glands, packing rings, valve rings or seats, but that steam which is wasted because of poor valve setting and excessive engine friction.