Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1882-02-04
Stories, Sketches, sc.
THE BRAKEMAN AT CHURCH.

On the road once more, with Leb
anon fading away in the distance, the
fat passenger drumming idly on the
window-pane, the cross passenger
sound asleep, and the tall, thin pas
senger reading General Grants
Tour Around the World" and won
dering why 3" Green's August
Flower" should be printed above
the doors of a +" Buddhist Temple al
Benares." To me comes the brake
man and seating himself on the arm
of the seat, says: q 3ls f37
Z" went to church Yesterday
"Yes Z" l said with that inter
ested infection that asks for more
Sand what church did you attend ~
81" Which do you guess ?" he asked
Some union mission church, !
hazarded. IN sse ~
"Naw," he said, 81 don't like to
run on those branch roads very much.
l don't often go to church, and when
I 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. Good
enough, but don't like it,"
"Episcopal 7" guessed.
"Limited EXPRESS" he said, Gal
palace cars and two dollars extra fol
a seat, fast time and only stop Al
the big stations. Nice line, but too
exhaustive for brakeman. AL
train men in uniform, conductor
punch and lantern silverplated, and
no train boys allowed. Then thu
passengers are allowed to talk bach
at the conductor and it makes then
too. free and easy. No, | couldn't
stand the palace cars. Rich road
though. Don't often hear of q
receiver being appointed for thai
line. Some mighty nice people trave
on it, too" a ens
j Universalist - / suggested.
abroad guage," said the brake
man ); "does too much complimentary,
business. Everybody travels on ;
pass. Conductor doesn't get far
once in fifty miles. Stops at all fla!
stations and won't run into anything
but union depot. No sm0kin!
car on the train. Train orders ar
rather vague though, and the trail
men don't get along well with tn
passengers. No, don't go to tn
) Universalist, though | know som
awfully good men who run on tina
road.'
presbyterian I" asked.
Marrow gauge, Ell 7" said th
brakeman, "pretty track, straight a
a rule, tunnel right through a noun
tain rather than go around it; spirit
level grade; passengers have t,
show their tickets before they sc
on the train Mighty strict road, bu
the cars are little narrow have t,
sit one in a seat, and no room in th'
aisle to dance. Then there is III
stop-over tickets allowed; got to g,
straight through to the station your,
ticketed for or you can't get en- a
all. When the cars are full no extr;
coaches; nobody else allowed OH
But don't often hear of an acciden
on that road. 1t is run right up t,
the rules"
/ "Maybe d you joined the Free
Thinkers 7" | said.
"Scrub road,v said the brakeman
Il "dirt road bed and no ballast no tim
card and no train dispatcher. AL
trains run wild, and every enginee
makes his own time, just as he pleases
Smoke if you want to; kind of
go-as-you-please road. Too man.
side tracks, and every switch wild
open all the time, with the switch
men sound asleep and the target
lamp dead ont. Get on as you please
and get off when you want to. Dom
have to show your tickets and tn,
conductor isn't expected to do any
thing but amuse the passengers
i No sir, T was offered a pass, but
don't like the line. l don't like t.
travel on road that has no termi
nus. Do you know, sir, asked ;
division superintendent where tina