The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1883-01-24
Life on the Rafting Rail-.

We had occasion TO speak, last week,
of the brave lads whose life is upon the
Iron Rail.-whose steady nerve and
clear, eye, are our chief reliance and Sc
curity. day or night sunshine or storra.
as we whirl along the %throbbing arte-
ries of trade and travel. The exLaordi-
nary number of shocking accidents du-
ring the past ten days gives emphasis
10 our remarks. While it is true that
all Il e Train-men, including the eX-
express. and mail messengers are expos
ed to continual peril. seen and unseen,
the Engineer is lin the forefront OF the
battle. !" and often he heads the For
lorn Hope" In moments. OF sudden
danger. when all others are leaping for
safety, he must first pull the brake, and
the moments delay frequently costs him
uestle is to be crossed, he lead. the way
on his heavy engine; and very often goes
| down. while the remainder Of the train
remains upon the track. Scor of cases
of collision are reported. in which the
engine and fremen alone are hurt. In
short. the life of an Engineer is so peril
Gus. his duties SO oneroUs, SO taxing to
the mental and physical strength, and
so poorly paid, that one wonders there
should be so many men willing to fol-
low the profession.
The explanation. we suppose, may be
found in the commingled risk. excite
ment, and responsibility of the Life.
Moreover the continual presence ofperil
familiarize the mind with them until men
are no longer conscious of its existence.
We recollect reading in a Charlotte pa
perlast spring that seven engineers had
been discharged for being a few minutes
'.behind time; and we remarked that this
was poor management. The roads were
bai-it wa. the rainy season,-and the
schedule too fast. 1t would be proper to
, discharge an engineer for running too
! fast; but not for being behind. Because,
as is well known, the tendency of his
mind il to crowd on steam. Engineers
are usually young men. and their ambi-
ton is to rush forward-to get over the
ground,-to finish the job, 10 reach their
journeys end,-as quickly as possible.
Did ever any man who had a long dis
lance to travel, enjoy a slow horse?
Would he be apt to allow the animal to
Jog along, picking his steps, in a pokey
way, when a single touch of the spur
would send him at a swinging gallop!
Well. the engineer who is used to his
engine and the route, is far more apt to
run too fast than too slow. In the ex-
element of careering through the air,
lie loses sight of the swinging coaches in
rear.
We never witness a locomotive In
motion without recalling the Leviathan
of Revelations who-'Rides upon the
whirlwind, and laugheth at the STORM"
Assuredly it may be also said. with the
Prophct,-"And 10 J, the spirit of a Liv-
ing Creature was in its wheels ~ Old
engineers generally come to regard their
engine as a living creature, or something
more than a mere arrangement of wheels
and pipes. 1t is truly an ''Iron Horse"
to him. He studies her shane, her gait,
her food, her good and bad qualities, just
as ou do your favorite horse. If an old
engineer on a settled route. he takes an
interest i'll my engine, SECOND only to
that which he feels for his wife or sweet
heart. Me aud her-you may hear
him say. with manifest pride,-..hes
run thi. road nigh unto twenty year,
an we know every foot of it-know it
like a book. You jes' wait till we git over
the Mangum rise. and strike Il straight
streak o track. and then You'll see the
old gal let out her legs! Shes q waltzer.
she is =
The .fenainiae nomenclature is even
carried into the details of the machinery.
She has her "petticoat," her Shoes
her boot her collar her ''hoops."
~ = W.. aiIi 'Nti Nh5HuCNi hhoh -
actly what IS ment by these terms.
Each engine has its own individual
reputation, and pecu!iarities which are
well recognized by all the employees of
the Road. There's old Ninety-two.
.nortin' as usual." s.Twenty-one has
gone out. She's stubborn as a mule,
but she knows Ben L. and when he
says got she gifts, you bet! They
say when there's a bend in the track he
just cuts across through the bushes, but
l don't hardly believe it." ssThat's
Thirteen's whistle She's an ugly old
brute! Killed three or four men already,
a if she can get her fore-foot on a fellow
he's as dead as a door nail!'
This idea of wickedness." stubborn
nes-." etc. on the part of engines often
amounts to q superstition, and some en-
gineers wouldnot undertake 10 run GER
tain engines. You'll have to watch
her,"-one engineer will say to another
--''she1l play a trick on you eff she
can.D