The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-19
LOCOMOTIVES IN MID-AIR.
what the Elevated RnIIrond Company EH.
poets Of Hs EurIne Drivers.


An athletic, dark-featured. bright-eycd
man took a scat in ono Of the cast sido trains Of
the New York Elevated Railway last evening.
He held In his hand passage ticket and was in
clncd to talk.
IT'S rather mean business" he said. TO
make us pay for riding over tho road. Two
worked on II good many surface roads but /
never saw anything us mean rs this"
what department are you working in 2" was
asked.
I'm one OF the engineers" he answered.
" How many hours do you work2
"Thirteen. and it's the hardest engineering I
ever did You see it's long job. and no let up.
You can't take off your attention minute. but
must sit there cramped in n sweat box with
only chance to snatch bite Of food with ono
hand. while the other is on lever"
do you find much difference between work
ing here nnd on n surface roadr'
"a very great difference. You would think II
was easier here because there are no obstruc-
lions. On surface road there are lots OF things
getting in the way Cows and other animals
get on the track and you have to brighten them
of with the scream OF the whistle or hoist them
on the cow catcher. You have TO look out for
tramps. who are fond Of walking on the tracks
trying to steal rides in freight cars. But here
there is nothing OF tho kind. Yet the stations
are so thick aud tho trains SO numerous that
thore is plenty for n man 10 do"
is there much difference between the elo-
waited engines and the locomotives Of surface
roads ?"
Yes; these little things nrc so complicated
and have so many traps. and 80 much more to
look out for that n man has all he can do.
There's the njectors to watch the pans under
meath that are liable 20 get tnll and overflow
into tho street below: the breaks that must be-
constantly NVntrlpl md lns of that a.
quirc a llrst-class mechanic to keep them In
order" .,-,.,-,,,.
the occupants Of the second stories all shong the
route .,..,.,.
out having an opportunity to look ut anything
" How a6outthose breaks2 Doyou think them
n, Yes, IN warn, weather; but in cold weather
therc is danger"
When the wheels are held SO tight that they
do not move, does 1t not wear Hat places on the
RIM
begin to wear on these fiat places. thcv go very
fast Then new wheels must be put In. Some
roads have steel trimmed wheels. and when Hat
places are worn, the wheel is taken out and
turned OF So as 10 make II round again, But
they cannot do TINT with the chilled iron wheels.
] have known wheels TO get worn out and use
less In few weeks. The present system of air
brakes. although II permits train 10 be stopped
within short distance. IL very wearing on both
the Wheels and brakes. or course there would
he collisions II the brakes are allowed TO get out
Of order. To tell the truth. I'm getting sick Of
working NJ here In the mir. What chance has n
fellow to get on in case OF accidents On sur
face road. II you have u breakdown. You can get
of aud work away at repairs but here YOU run
the risk OF breaking your neck all the time.
dunit,ed in the street The thirteen hours are
too many for u nun 70 work in this kinu OF buSi-
ness. When he Eet5 through. he Is ready To lie
down and sleep. There Is no time for decent
mcals. much less tor recreation"
What - tho pay p
seven days in the wcek. IL Is not money enough
FOR skilled mechanic"
Is the company o'errnn with applicants for
the position 81 cnglnc'rf'
Not AZ an They take about every good one
that comes along " tn lair references. They
car get all they want Of really nrrt-cln-s mon
IN tine summer for tine wages Mry pay. Perhaps
they may do II in the winter. be- muse the sur
lace roads dIseharg" many men ~ the close Of
the rush OF summer travel. ana the mon are
glad o. take even job likcthfs 10 worry through
the winter But good many 81 the hundred
engineers on TINS road Will quit at the irst OBJ
portuniy. They told us at Hr-t the time would
be- only about eight hours "a day wucn they got
IN running order. but tncy are in no hurry To
reduce the hours, now they have cot US work
Ing thirt en-. feel every day us II would like
To- climb down the pillars and run"
Do these locomotive engineers require n Ii
"No but thcy must como very well recon-
mcnded from their last employers the company
Is vary particular about that"
How about the stvkcrs who are put on the
engines to help the rnl.ncersf Are they capable
OF managing the engines p
No; they don't know anything about an en-
gine; they are only common lHhOrcrS.'
They would not be- likr'y to take the place Of
the engineers in ease OF asirike -
i, No danger OF t1al. 1t takes skilled me-
chanic 10 run one Of those engines"
Inquiry at Police Headquarters corroboratcd
tn engineers story uS To- the fact that no
licenses are required oi them. Although the law
prscrihes that every ntlnnHry engine shall be-
reported To IN" police and ms pectcd. not one Of
The hundreds of these aerial locomotives s in
spected. and the companies may employ whom
sOcNer they choose 10 run them"