The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-02-18
The Lightning Express
BY LIEUTENANT MURRAY.

Did the reader ever ride on locomotive
at toy speed 1t is a queer experience, es
pccially to one not at all accustomed to
that peculiar mode of travelling, and is cal
cuatcd, under some circumstances, TO try
the nervous system TO its utmost tension.
If you would realize the power and ire
sistible force of a locomotive under head
way, step on the rails fui moment, on
dark night, and look up the long line of
perspective ut an on-cnming engine with its
blazing signll lantern in front, like the eye
of Cyclops. and it roar, echoed by the
trembling earth, ike some tabled giants
breath. Ii is the very epitome of mechan-
ical power harnessed to the service of hui
man intelligence What frigbtfu mears
of sacrifice, what marvellous agent for
good
Again, stand on the platform of side
station while the express train passes at its
average speed of thirty miles an hour, and
YOU have another example of the amazing
power of steam. Your nerves will invol-
UNFAIRLY contract themselves as the train
rushes swiftly by your eyelids will close
mechanically, and you almost gasp Tor
breath as the air-vacuum surrounds you,
caused by such huge and rapid atmospheric
displacement.
but III was upon all CllBllc ltScll that inc
experience of which we write was gained,
and though some years have now inter-
vened it is as fresh in the memory as tho
it had occurred but yesterday.
1t was on a cold winters evening that we
were to start from Burlington, Vermont,
for Boston. Tie January thaw had failed
to put in an appearance that year, and the
cold in that northern region had been in
tense, bedding the frost to great depth in
the soil. After purchasing our ticket for
the lightning express, as it was called, and
placing valise and wrapper safely in one
of the passenger cars, we had strolled
about the depot, until we finally paused be-
side the large and powerful locomotive
which was to draw the train on its down
ward trip, 1t was a superb piece of me-
chanism, with its bass mOuntings as bright
as patient toll and inccssant care could
make them, while the iron and steel palts
conveyed sense of enormous strength
even at glance. The huge engine seemed
almost endowed with animal life as it paus-
ed there with restrained power, like a
thoroughbred horse champing impatiently
at the bit which curbs him. The engineer
and fireman were both in their places quiet
ly awaiting the signal which should start
the train for the south. A sudden thought
struck me, had never ridden upon To-
comotive it would be a new sensation
Was it possible to do so tonight? | ask
ed the engineer, who shook his head, but
still answered me pleasantly
There is the superintendent, yonder
ask him.
Seeking the individual designated as the
superintendent, / was both pleased and
surprised to recognize in him an old friend
with whom, years ago, had been on init
mate terms. finally told him that hat
singular request to make, and expressed
my desire to ride with the engineer.
He somehow reluctantly assented to my
desire, but not without numerous cautions
and the remark that it was quite excep
tional to grant such a privilege to any one
Walking TO the side of the locomotive
the superintendent introduced me to TIT
engineer, and gave him directions to &C
commndate me us it regarded the intended
purpose.
Five minutes later the signal bell wa
rang, the shrill whistle sounded, steam wa
gradually let on to the cylinders. and til,
train rolled out of the depot into the dark
ness, which for moment was rendered
more dense by contrast with the wel-light
ed depot left behind. at once bestowed
myself so as not to be in the way of tn
engineer or fireman, ond curiously watche,
the novel scene Immediately about me, TO
that was all that could possibly see.
"Never on a locomotive betore?" sug
gested the engineer.
"No."
"Cant see much such a night as this"
"No: it's as dark as pocket | re
piled.
sofa nice summers day its all yer
WELL" continued the engineer, "but of
dark night-well, | don't think its yer
jolly" All the while he was lookin
straight-ahead, with his hands on the valve
TO shut off steam and to whistle "dow
brakes" at an instant's notice.
SLOW far ahead can you see?' | asked
"About couple of rods such a night q
this, unless a strong signal lantern is show
then we can see farther
1.-TWO rods would be Of no real advar
tage if we were to encounter an obstacle o
the track" l suggested
"Well, no; you cant stop an EXPIRE,
train much inside of quarter of mi
with the style of brakes we now have"
SAY, that's it. gu require more pow
crfu sort of brake is that what | unde
stand you to mean?"
"Exactly; one that will act with great,
power, and yet not bring train up a
standing. as it were. That would be a
most as bad as to run into an object dea
ahead, replied the engineer.
Something of the sort will be invented
"Oh, yes, one of these days; I've awa,
said so."
In the meantime the lightning EXPIRE
was rushing on its way straight into the i
tense darkness, which, if possible, was no
rendered more apparent by fleccy fall
snow, which was packed all about us
reason Of the great speed at which we we
running. l could not but admire the pc
feet GOODNESS of the two men who were n
companions, though my own senses we
in a constant state Of ner, Gus exctemeI
The intense darkness, the binding snc
into which we drove, as it seemed to \
not knowing whittier, kept my senses
the alert. could not divest myself of t
feeling that there was perhaps somethil
in that darkness just ahead which we we
sure to run into and wreck the train
nally, my excited brain began to recall
the railroad accidents of which | had ev
read or heard, until, as i mad just arriv
at the hight of miserable anticipation,
suddenly exclaimed
"What is that?" on hearing somethi
like prolonged whistle ahead.
"Your ears are quick" said the engine
calmly "That is the Rutland accomm
dation train; il will pass us in momen