The engine room crew consisted of only three men - the watch engineer, a fireman/watertender, and an oiler-wiper. In addition to serving as the engine room watch officer, each of the engineers had other duties. The first assistant engineer oversaw all of the maintenance work performed by the engine department. The second assistant engineer was typically responsible for the ship’s fuel and fresh water supplies as well as for caring for the boilers, and the third assistant engineer was responsible for maintaining the auxiliary machinery. While on watch the fireman/watertender was responsible for the operation of the ship’s boilers. It was critical that the fireman/watertender generate the correct amount of steam while maintaining the proper water level in the boilers and ensuring that the fuel was burned cleanly. Generating black smoke could give away the ship’s position endangering the entire crew. The work of the oiler was also critical, lubricating all of the machinery and checking bearing temperatures to ensure that nothing was overheating. There were also members of the engine department who did not stand watches. These included the deck engineer who maintained all of the deck machinery and the wipers, who cleaned and painted the engineering spaces and assisted with any repairs that were required.
Explore this Station's Gallery
Next, you can visit the No. 1 and No. 2 Cargo Holds that feature the ship’s Museum. Take the ladders back up to the Engine Room Entrance. As you exit, turn left, then left again to proceed down the long hallway until you reach the first exit on your right. Step onto the main deck and turn left. Proceed forward to the sign pointing to the Museum entrance. Take the ladder down. At the bottom of the ladder to your left, you can peer into No. 3 Cargo Hold, which is restricted to crew only.