Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1880-05-27
The Capers OF Il Locomotive.

10 arp)rter Of tho San Francisco Bulletin
an engineer OF The Central Pacific Railroad
said:
lis o q Iccr thitg. There's my cnsino in
pa1iec. order. and QUO Of the best 10 the Slate.
She's only two I've years cd, and able to run or
pull With the tcss of them. A month ago
hadn't tho least bit cf trouble 10 making time,
no matter Row the track was or Tho weight Of
the train. She was ready ut tho word. held
her steam beautifully, and she seemed to No.
derstand every wo:d said. To-day she is
down IN tho round house, growing aod snut-
tetiug, aod C Jog as il sho wanted To- mex
iuSs with gravel pit."
"Auything Gu! OF gfar2'
Not thing. Shes been looked tvcrtw:c,
and We out iud the least txous, for her con.
due. Sho Is simple sukiog, tho Same as
child or woman. BIT know what started il.
Three weeks ago, while on my run cut with
the light express. she wanted to light lust out
Tor oil sho was worth. She took tho Bit like
running horse, and if hsdn't che k,d her off
she'd htv1 beaten tho schedulo timo by twenty
inmates. She acted mad right away, and in
running twenty miles she give me moro trouble
than L had Cver had with her 10 q run of three
hundred. She los! stoam. tried 10 foam over.
clokcd her pipes, ard when | wanted moro
steam sho'd slide on her drivers. She wont
right back 90 me that light, aud has BIZ en- sulk.
irg ever since. -
IAN locomotives do not do that, | puoaa,"
said an engineer of tho Now York, Lake E;ie
aud Western railroad. to whom tho above
c)nVcrsnllon was repeated. IL have heard
these Tres ks Of locomotives, but mrgt Ct lbom
ar Mother Goose stories. have run On cur
road thirty eight years. and if o locomotive
docs not lun two days alike it il eas;lV
accounted for. Tho fault los ALWAYS
10 the character Of the labor to which it il al.
lotted. The locomotive is al perfect to day az
yesterday. but ono day sho my bo led with
good fuel. Will, at others il NAV bo
!adulterated ore day tho c1rs will BIO
10 good running order, 90 wind and LIGHT
load; another day, heavy load, head winds
some pow cars or new wheels uudor the oars
OF 1t may DO new brake shoes rubbing agairst
the wheels, all Of which will cause change 10
the motion OF tho locomotive. Az ouginc that
mas regular man who lakes care of his oppipe
FEVER ilads her in tho sulks. But let a new
hand lump into tho cab, and his troubIc
beRlcs almost Immediately. He docs not
Ret me manher OF pumping her a. ouoo, and
gets her little too full Of water, cuts n q
valves, tho extra amount of friction being
uoic 'i!ah tIc ect tc:cWH 10 tho ecconirics
can stand, they $ ilFen, then tho engine be-
comes three legged. CT lame, as it is called
Tho ftci of the valves bciog cut c,usrs
le,kaga OF steam, which makes The engine blow
very much resembling wheezy ho.s.. An an.
CINE 10 do good service should ba in the care of
the same engineer continually, and locomotive
will demand as faithful daily service 10 in,u-e
uniform behavior IS is necessary to preserve a
Grst-clsss trolling horae.'
An English engineer Of Toronto on b ,ire AJAX. !
cd what mileage locomotive could mako with. |
out repairs, said tia. he knew of one running
i t. CGl miles in five years. But the endurance
OF an engineer is something wonderful. One
man for several years rode i7G miles Der dsy,
or .to5 miles per week. or 4.5IG for month Of
t~enty.si1 working days, or total of 55 O.s
miles for one year Of :.3 working days.
As to the responsibilities of o passenger en-.
glneer, another said, those of the American have
been increased ten fold in the past few years b.
the adoption of the air brake Now be can de- !
pend on no one in time Of trouble, nor can he |
lay blame On any enc. The entire train is under
HIS control, and ho has often, unknown to the |
passengers. sverted serious acc dsnt by the
QUICK applia7ce Of tho brakes.
BATTLES WITH IEDIAN5,-Disn,tchea from,