National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1870-11-11
RUNNING A TINE TABLE.
A BRAKEMAN's STORY.

have been railroad man for a
great many years-have, as the expires
sion goes, grown grey in the service. |
am certain, however, in all my expert
cnce. | never saw road that was the
equal of the Valley Air Line, upon which
was. at the time of the incident about
to be related. brakeman.
The Valley Air Line was one Of those
roads that spring up suddenly out Of
the imagiuations Of few men. One
cannot say that it sprung from their
purses. for if they had the seed in them
to GROW anything, it was never put in the
Valley There was, as nearly rs | can
now remember. a capital stock. which was
ueycr paid mp little town and village
credit. and large amount of preferred
stock. first and second mortgages, etc.
A. result the road was built. in a man
ner, grades were bad. road-bed was poor
bridges and culverting were thrown to-
eether IN the worst possible manner
iron was light and frail mass, manufac-
tured in England especially for the
american market, while the rolling stock
had been worn ont in services on other
roads and sold to the Valley Air Line on
credit and long time
The reader will see from this truthful
statement that the Valley was not the
safest road for travellers i'll the country.
It WAS not Innumerable were the acci-
dents We had, and it is wonder to me
that none of them were serious While
We had many narrow escapes, We still
managed through sheer good luck. slow
ump and great care, to get on without
breaking bones but positively assure
yu -lmt time did not accustom us to the
road and We never ran into the depot at
night without feeling thankful that we
were alive. When | say we, | mean the
conductor, engineer, baggageman. fire
man and myself How the passengers
felt | do not know, but ! do know they
ought TO have felt rs thankful rs the road
men that their bones were in good con
dlton to allow them to walk from the
depot to their homes. Ignorance may
have been perfect bliss to them, how
ever.
The engineer of our train-the Light
'nG ENprcsS-was one of the most sober,
careful, thoughtful and industrious men
that ever handled a throttle. He pos
soSsed more than the ordinary share of
thoughtful prudence, of his class. and II
was owing to this fact that SO great de-
gree Of good fortune came to MS.
\ few moments before the train was to
start one morning Gardiner, the engi-
ecr, called me to his cab He appeared
unusually downcast that rorning. though
at the best he was by N, : cans ." gay
fellow.
Bob said Gardiner after n few
seconds talk about general matters,
Bob want you to be very careful to.
day, know You're good fellow and
always do your duty well hut to-day
want YOU to do more. ] want You te
stand by your brake every second of the
trp-not to leave it for moment. and
when | signal | want YOU to set them NJ
aS you never did before, and promptly
too know you will do it for me, won
you, Bob ?"
was too nstonishcd TO speak for q
second, and then | asked "Why, what
under the sun is the matter with you
Gardiner? You know the brakes are Sc
nearly worn ont that it is impossible tC
set them up. and You know too
:" know it all. Bob. and that is the
reason why | want You to he careful
am going 10 try and make the time
thle to-day If il is possible, ] Will dt
So. | feel Just as though something wa'
going to happen, and am more than hal
sorry that | promised but I'll do !
though Now promise me, Bob, and of
to your brakes"
promised and took my post, not
mule mystifed at Gardeners words
looks and actions.
We left the depot and went rattling ot
over tho iron. Passengers looked n
'ach other in surprise and wondered
What under the sun wns the matter witt
the Valley il il had suddenly awakened
Iom its long sleep, and now proposed t.
oo railroad in earnest.
When the conductor cnme through tn
Uiln and came along by me. asked
-" What is the matter with Gardinc
this morning p
On, wns the reply. "ho and the ol,
man have had blow out this morning
,on see our train never makes connec
uons--passcnRers always lay over and
o' course, they growl. This mornin
,ne old man called us into the office IN,
,he whole thing was out. Gnrdine
mixed like n father 10 them. and M h
grew excited, he said thnt II was crimina
running the road in the condition IL was
tie told them the time table as made n
was fast even for first-class road, and
we undertook TO run II, frightful acci
"ent could not he avoided When Gai