Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-10-17
Price Two Cents.
GBe 9ailpg SPY,
TUESDAY, OCTOBER II, 1854.


RAILWAY SKErcH.-A week or two since,
on one OF the great roads, in our State, while
! the switch tender, whose house was ut the ex-
! tremity of a bridge on the track, was at dim
| ner, his little boy mentioned to him, that the
bridge didn't look right He went to 1t, and
| found that the timber beneath had broken
/ This quickness of observation, on the part of
the boy saved the company fearful loss, and
the accident columns of the press sad item.
By an improperly of movement, against the
occurrence of which, guard should have been
taken, two heavy trains had been driven over
it, in different directions, at the same time,
and the timbers just equal to the task of bring
ing both over safely expended all their ener-
gies in that. The load once over the fbres Of
the wood, yielded, and the next rool over,
would have been to ruin. There was no time
for long delay at that dinner. The trains
would be rolling along, at the precise minute,
and the engineer not think of checking his
speed for switch or bridge. But signals given
and track master summoned, and busy gang
of hands Immediately at work, and by the
force of abundant, and well directed labor,
the transit was soon safely made.
1t was one of the great numbers of escapes
from danger, which the annals OF management
of a railway train, are continually furnish
ing-and the occurance Of which, quicken to
intensity, the sagacity of those, whose voca-
ton it is to see that neither wood nor iron fall
ter in their duty.
have been told by an engineer, that after
a hard days service, in winter, in endeavor-
ing to force the locomotive through snow, or
other work, where his labor was far prolonged,
he had fallen asleep on his engine He said,
his mind did not sleep. The running of the
train never left his thought; nor did the re-.
currence of the proper stoppages escape him.
He would wake to give the signal, but would
as soon as the roll of the wheel recommended,
yield to humanity's great restorer. His fire.
man would vigorously throw in the wood, then
set himselfon the box and fall asleepin time
so brief, that that part of his experience, at
least many of us might envy. This place of
slumber, it is to be hoped, is not often chosen;
for while attaching all credit to the belief that
my engineer friend was mentally awake, the
dream of duty might soon pass away, beneath
the deep oblivion of exhausted nature.
The switch, in this railway day, is far more
terror TO manhood than in the severest days
of old fashioned semi savage schoolmaster, its
namesake, was to the offender. 1t is, the minute
before the locomotive comes in sight of that
white and black signal board, whose position
at once indicates whether the rail is in perfect
line by the proper and accurate set of the
switch, lit is at this moment that the heart of the
engineer sinks within him. In our comforta-
BILE seats we hear click extraordinary, as our
car goes over the place, and perhaps the jar
filings some pretty neighbors into your arms.
To us the passage of the, switch is rather
agreeable, a rose leaf of incident suddenly
thrown across our dreariness, but the glance
at the signal reveals to the engineer either safe
ty or terrible leap for life, if indeed this faint
chance even is given him.
If set wrong, it is an error, terrible error
not then to be amended The strength of
fearful motion is in the engine, and perhaps
! it may not be safe even to whistle for the
brake, as it could not bring the locomotive up,
and the sound would only call the brakemen
to most imminent peril on the platforms.
Men have talked about self acting switches,
but an engineer who realizes wisely what
climate is ours, with its contractions and ex-
pansions by frost and scorching sun, would
never move his engines beyond a cats walk
| ing place, up to switch, the safety of which
depended on a spring or cog. 1t is said it is
| bad to be a one-idead man, but that character
is precisely the one valuable and reliable, in
the responsible duty OF attending the switch.
One of our lively Americans would be plan
ming in the interval all manner of improve
ments in locomotion, and day and night rouse
to his routine only when the engine is upon
him. The duty is performed but at intervals
in the day. Long hours of leisure intervene,
but the minute, morn or night, he must be
there If he be not, desolation and disaster
will be-