He should know the length of his section, the location and degree of each curve, the number and location of each bridge, trestle, cattle guard, crossing, and culvert, the weight, brand, and age of all steel and its location, the number of panels of snow fence, the height of bridges from the ground, the location of whistling posts, the- numbers of all frogs, and any information which can assist a foreman in making out correct and prompt reports to the roadmaster. When it is necessary to cut rails in putting in switches, or in repairing track, the rails should be full drilled and bolted at every joint. A joint but half bolted is sure to sag in a short space of time. When lining disconnected track that has been washed out, always commence at the connected end, else it' will be practically impossible to get the track in line. The cut of the chisel should be a continuous line extending entirely around and square across the rail.
Iron rails require deeper cutting than steel rails.
To break off a rail at the cut, lift up the end nearest the cut and let it fall across a piece of rail laid on a tie. If but a short piece of the rail is to be broken off, a sharp blow from a sledge is the surest way to break it. Hard steel, if cut too deep, is liable to become softened by the battering of the chisel, and in breaking leave a rough, unshapely end on the rail. A spike maul should not be used to strike the head of either chisel or punch, as it is 1151 sure to destroy the face of the maul and split pieces out of the head of steel tools. A sledge of suitable weight, made for the purpose of striking hard steel tools, should be used instead.