Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-02-27
seleeted Myiseellaug.
THE CHURCH ROAD.
Burdett's Interview with the Railroad
Brakeman.

| oTdk6udu.
On the road once more, with Lebanon
fadi ne away in the distance, the fat passen-
ger drumming idly on tho window pane,
the cross-passenger sound asleep and the
tall thin passenger reading General Grants
Tour Around the World" and wondering
why Green's August Flower" should be
printed above the door of "A Buddhist
Temple at Bcnares To me comes the
brakeman, and seating himself on the arm Of
the scat, says
:" went TO church, yesterday"
Yesy' said, with that interested nflec-
ton that asks for more. "And what church
did you attend ?"
(Which do you guess Z" he asked
"Some union mission church ?" haz.
arded
Now" he said, al don't like to run on
those branch roads very much. don't often
go to church, and when do, want to run
ON the main line where your run is regular
and you go on schedule time and don't have
to wait on connections. | don't like to run
on branch. Good enough, but | don't
like it,"
Episcopal? 2" guessed,
bimitcd express" he said, call palace
cars and two dollars extra for seat; fast
time and only stops at the big stations. Nice
line, but too exhaustive for brakeman. All
train men in uniform, conductors punch
and lantern silver-plated, and no train
boys allowed. Then the passengers are al
lowed to talk back Mt the conductor and il
makes them too free and easy. No could
not stand the palace cars Very rich road
though. Don't often hear of u receiver be-
ing appointed for that line. Some mighty
nice people travel on ii, too.
Univeraist?" suggested
Broad guagc," said the brakeman "does
too much complimentary business. Every
body travels on a pass. Conductor doesn't
get fare once in fifty miles. Stops at all
flag stations and won't run into anything
but union depot. No smoking car on the
the train. Train orders are rather vague
though and the train men don't get
along well with passengers. No, don't go
10 the Universalist, though | know some
awlully good men who run on the road"
Presbyterian p asked.
Narrow gauge, eh?" said the brakeman,
pretty track, straight rs rule; tunnel
right through a mountain rather than 90
around it; spirit level grade; passengers
have to show their tickets before they get
in tho train. Mighty strict road, but the cars
are "a little narrow; have to sit one in seat
and no room in the aisle to dance Then
there is no siop-over tickets allowed, got to
go straight through to the station you're
ticketed for or you can't get on at all When
the cars are full, no extra coachcs; cars arc
built at the shops to hold just 80 many and
nobody else allowed on. But you don't
often hear Of an accident on that road It's
run right up to rules.
Maybe you have joined the Free Think.
ers p said.
Scrub road" said the brakeman, "dirt
road bed and no ballast; no time card and NO
train dispatcher All trains run wild and
every engineer makes his own time, just as
lac plcases. Smoke il you want TO; kind Of
n go-as-you-plcasc road Too many side
tracks, with the switchmen sound asleep
and the target dead out Get ON NJ you
please and get off when you want to.
Don't have to show your tickets, and the
conductor isn't expected to do any thing but
amuse the passengers. No, sir, WAS offered
a pass but don't like the line, don't like
TO travel on a road that has no terminus.
Do you know, sir, asked "A division super
intendcnt where that road run To, and he
said he hoped Ia die il no knew. | asked
him II the general superintendent could toll
me, and he didn't believe they had general
superintendent, and il they had, he didn't
know anything more about the road than
the passengers. | asked him who he re-
ported 10, and he said nobody" | asked a
conductor who he got his orders from and
lie said he didn't take orders from any liy.
ing man or dead ghost. And when asked
the engineer who he got his orders from, ho
said he'd like 10 zee anybody give him or.
ders, he'd run that train 10 suit himself or
he'd run it into the ditch. Now you see
sir, I'm railroad man, aud ! don't care 10
run on road that has no tine, makes no
connections, runs nowhere and has no super
intendent 1t may be all right, bot have
rtilroaded TOO long " understand H."
"Did you try the Mcu.ndistY add.
Nov you're shouting he sad, with snno
enthusiasm. "Nice road ch 2" fas. time
and plenty Of passengers. Engines carry A
power Of steam, aud don't you forget il ;
steam guagc shows hundred, and enough
all the time. Lively road; when the con
ductor shouts "sll aboard you can hear
him b. the next iiation Every train light
shines like a headlight ner-vvcr checks
given ON all u -e'sf tfckeis passenger can
5r,n -sno Train rs be likes. do Tho s,a,,N'
! soor Three days and hop -. the pex, ~
N'Val Tram that come tnundaring -
Good Misrepresentation ain, ""B.
in the c sS where The passen',sr' ROAD oi
m9P f,,,',, No passes; every " ',s ioel
'u'' traffic rates iorhis iIct os'y passenger