Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1880-03-23
connections. I don't like to run on a
branch. Good enough, but ! don't like

time and only stop at the big stations
Nice line, but too exhaustive for a brake
man. All train men in uniform, con-
ductor's punch and lantern silver plated
and no train boys allowed. Then the
passengers are allowed to talk back at
the conductor, and it makes them too
free and easy. No, | couldn't stand the
palace cars. Rich road, though. DON'T
hear of a receiver being appointed for
that line. Same mighty nice people
travel on it, too"
"Universalist?" ?" suggested.
"Broad guage," said the brakeman
"does too much supplementary business.
Every body travels on a pass. Conduct
or doesn't get fare once in fifty miles.
Stops at all stations and won't run into
anything but a Union depot. No smok-
ing car on the train. Train orders are
rather vague, though, and train men
don't get along well with the passengers.
No, don't go to the Universalist,
though / know some awlully good men
who run on that road"
"Presbyterian?" | asked.
marrow gauge, eh?" said the brake
man, "pretty track, straight as Il rule,
tunnel right.through mountain rather
than go round it, spirit level grade,
passengers have to show their tickets be-
fore they get on the train. Mighty
strict road, but the cars are little mar
row have to sit one on seat, and no
room In the aisle to dance. Then there
are no stop 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 full no extra coaches {;
cars built at the shops to hold just so
many, and nobody else allowed on. But
you don't hear of an accident on the
road. It's run right up to the rules"
"May be you joined the Free Think
ers?" | said.
"Scrub road" said the brakeman +;
"drt road bed and no ballast, no time
card and no train dispatcher. All trains
run wild, and every engineer makes his
own time, just MS he pleases. Smoke if
you want to; kind of a go-as-you-plcase
road. Too many side tracks, and every
switch wide open all the time, with the
switchman sound asleep and the target
lamp dead out. Get on as you please,
and Off when you want to, Don't have
to show your tickets, and the conductor
isn't expected to do anything but amusc
the passengers. No, sir, | Twas offered
a pass. but don't like the line. ] don't
like to travel on the road that has no
terminus. Do you know, sir, asked n
division superintendent where the road
ran to, and he said he hoped to die if he
knew. | asked him If the general su-
pelintendent could tell me, and he said
he didn't believe they had general SUI
perintendent, and If they had, he didn't
know anything more about the road
than the passengers. | asked him who
he reported to, aud he said nobody
| asked conductor who he got orders
from, and he said he didn't take orders
from, any living man or dead ghost.
And when asked the engineer who he
got his orders from, he said he'd like TO
see anybody give him orders; he'd run
that train to suit himself, or he'd run
her in the ditch. Now, you can see, sir,
Pm railroad man, and don't care to
run on road that has no time, or makes
no connections, runs nowhere and has
no superintendent. It may all be right,
but have rNilroaded to long to under
stand Il"
"Maybe You went 20 the Congrega-
tlonal church?" said.
popular road" said the brakeman,
san old road, too; one of the very oldest
IN this country. Good road bed and
comfortable cars. Well managed road,
too; directors don't interfere with dlvi-
sion superintondcnts and train orders
Road's mighty popular, but its pretty
independent, too. Yes, didn't one Of
the division supeiintcndents down East
discontinue one Of the Oldest stations on
this rood two or three years agoS But
lt's n mighty pleasant road TO travel on.
Always has such splendid class of pas
sengers.
"Dld you try the MethodlstY" | said.
"Now you're shoutlng,n he aid, with
some enthusiasm. Nice road, chg Fast
time and plenty Of passengers. Engi-
neers curry II power Of steam, and don't
You fosgct It.; steam gauge shows hun.
drcd aud enough all the time. Lively
road, when the conductor shouts ull
aboard you can hear him nj the next
station. Every train light shines like u
headlight Stop over checks givcD on
all through trains; passenger can drop
OH the tram W Often MS ne likes, TO the
station two or three times, aud hop on
the next revival train that comes thur
dorng along. Good. whole souled, COM
panionablc conductors; ain't road IN
the country where the passengers feel
more at home No passes; every pat.
songer pays full traffic rates for his tick
et Wcslean mir brakes on VII trains
too; pretty safe road, but didn't ride
over II yesterday"
perhaps you tried tho Baptlsti" I
guessed once more.
,Ah, hat said the brakeman, "Hho's
q daisy, isn't she9 River read, beautiful
curves; sweep anything to Keep close TO