Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-08-22
DEATH OF THE LOCOMO-
TIVE.
A Machine Which While wear
ing Itself Out is Tenderiy
Guarded.

A correspondent of the Boston Herald,
writing from Altoona, Pa, with regard
10 the great workshops OF the Pennsyi-
vania Railroad and the wear OF loeomo-
tiyes, saws: The engine, once IN service,
is by nc means lost sight OF. Its move
ments are as thoroughly noted as are
those of an ocean steamer. In MI
Fly's Office in this city there is an i'm
mense board covered with little pegs,
upon which hang small round, coloreo
disks, from the under part OF which mas
been cut small portion. These pegs
and disks are numbered from to ,zoO'
Each number corresponds with an en-
CINE. On one part OF the board the pegs
are numbered consecutively: LOOKING
at this part for any particular engine
that may be desired, and ON the qis !,
will be found "Pigh," an. Y: or "Pp
&c. This refers you to the division on
the board and finding the number on
the engine, another little disk, by means
of its color, will tell you just what con-
dition the engine is in. II the disk is
pure white the engine is in perfect order'
II the disk is bordered by red line the
engine needs only such slight repairs as
NAV be made without withdrawing IL
from the service. If the disk is covered
one-half with red, repairs are required
of a very slight nature, but Tor when
the engine must proceed TO the shop.
II the entire disk is pale gray, repairs
of a most important character are need
ed, though still deemed slight: A DISK
entirely blue denotes a machine that
needs very substantial repairs. One
half black and half white indicates the
machine being built over. A disk all
black denotes an engine dead, unfit save
TO be cut up or sold. The record is
changed every week and is so complete
as to enable any one to see at glance
lust the condition of the motive power.
Repairs are never undertaken II they
will cost over $1,000. For that a new
standard boiler can be built, and unless
an engine is of the standard pattern she
is never built over. For the company
does not wish to perpetuate odd engines,
and to pay more than $1,000 would not
be so economical as to pay the interest
on the value of new machine. Here,
again, true economy steps in to change
the practice of blind conservatism. An
engine on this road is always most care
fully used. After the locomotive is
placed in the hands OF an engineer 1t is
cared for with the watchfulness OF
parents ELECTION. A most accurate
record OF its performance is made, kept
and compared with that OF other en-
gines. As freight is paid for per ton
per mile, so the cost OF an engine Is
reckoned. The amount OF coal con-
sumed per car per engine mile being
calculated it is easy to see, by dividing
this by the tonnage, just how much coal
it takes to move ton of freight one en-
CINE mile. And the engine thatdoes
this most successfully is the cheapest.
Finally, after having travelled many
thousands of miles, having safely haul
ed millions OF human beings, our loco
motive is sent to the shop condemned,
dead. 1t is ANONYMOUSLY bundled oil
in n corner to stand with lot OF others
until cut up or sold off. Its immediate
neighbors may be others like itself, worn
out, perhaps "died in the harness, or
again victims of the vain wrath and as
sassinlike communism OF Pittsburgh
rioters. The little disk that records In
the SUPERINTENDENT office its physical
condition has turned to black. There
is no hope. Tomorrow committee OF
inspection will condemn it to be cut to
pieces. Into the furnace the parts will
90, to emerge, like the mill where old
men were ground into new, rejuyenated,
ready to take place in some new mon,
ster with steel heart and transmigrated
soul.