Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1884-11-08
PERILS AND PHANT0MS.
Which Harass the Knights of the Locomo-
tive.

There has been considerable discus
sion recently in some quarters as to the
advisability of pilot for fast trains who
would ride upon the front of the loco
motive and thus relieve the engineer of
the task of lOokin" on, ahead. and give
him more time to attend TO his engine.
A railroad man, of many years expe.
rience, claims that the position of the
engineer should be in cab located OH
the font platform or bumper Of his cn-
gine, as nearly all the locomotives OF the
present day are 50 constructed that the
view of the engineer is confined to line
straight ahead. On most engines Low
running the engineer, being Oh the right
hand side, cannot see the track fifty feet
ahead of him on left hand curve. 1t is
claimed that there is no officially what
ever about placing the engineer in tn.
position on his enGlue that will Obviate
all thi risk OF accident that arises from
all imperfect view of the track. Ross
w illauc VI DdlIiiuOIC Olllt du SiIelIlC IOl
the Reading Railroad company, to baui
passengers trains, that had the cab on
the front platform, and the engine build
er who breaks through the present pre-
judice and puts the engineer in the prop
er place on his engine will take a step
that will not only pay, but will add to
the safety of the engineer and the train
behind him"
Engineers cannot 90 at the business
too young, for the company must have
mature men; and they cannot stay IN it
until too old, for the company must have
men in their prime. So with hard work
constant danger, never ending RESPONSE
bility and the certainty of soon being
displaced by younger man, these engin-
eers ought to get pretty good pay, one
would think-about 800 per week. per-
haps, to give him chance to save up
something for the wife aud babies. But
the simple fact is that, as rule, when
one of them makes SO or 81 a day he
considers himself well eff. Al d he goes
on through all his working life, carrying
his dinner along in tin pail, wearing
greasy, slouching clothes and running a
big risk of breaking his neck. The right
hand man of the engineer is the fireman
correctly speaking he isan apprentice to
the trade or profession of locomotive en-.
gineering. for it is understood that when
he accepts the position of fireman he
means to qualify himselffor running and
taxing care of an engine after reason
able term of firing. The cleanliness o.
locomotive cabs and their contents and
certain exterior parts of the engine de
pends much upon the interest the fire
man takes IN his occupation. His duties
are, indeed, many. He has many little
things to do, such as filling oil cans, wip
ing them of, keeping tools in place
cleaning and filling lamps, etc. He Ii
supposed to help his engineer when tie
latter has ANYTHING of importance to dc
on his engine. If the fireman means tC
become a capable runner he must at al
times strive to relieve his chief of al
much work as he can conveniently man
age. for while he is fireman he should
learn 20 do engineers work and require
the sleight of hand of doing it rapidly, 81
as to avoid all delay on the road. 1t il
an unfortunate fact, however, that many
firemen seem to Geter all Spportunitie
for learning the profession of locomotive
engineering until they are promoted t.
the position of engineer. A good man,
engineers, or such they call themselves
are men who have fired few weeks o
months, or have worked about a railroad
shop as a machinists' help, hustling o
perhaps wiping engines. They know
how 10 pull throttle, open and shut
off, which way to throw the reverse leve
to move ahead or back, and some httl
about carrying water, and they may ge
along pretty well as long as it is smootl
sailing. but ii light wind springs u
thev arc lost and in cas- of a break dow
or other emergency they are completed
broken up. Ifengineers were licensed
not only would it have the advantage
being permanent letter of recomenda
ton for them, but it would prevent
great many worthless and incompeter
men from obtaining employment as CT
gineers who now through their ignoranc
and carelessness, cause the loss OF man
: lives and throw an evil reflection owe
: the name and calling o. an engineer i
the eyes of the public. ..-.
"Is it safe to let the fireman run tn
engine?" asked the writer ofa vetera
= engineer with whom he was conversir
the other day.
n "That depends" was the reply, aft
| they have been with you for three or fo'
;. years they generally know as muc
s about the engine as any one. But son
: of them are careless. They know tn,
y will not be held responsible, and son
of them don't care what they do" p.
q rrJr