Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1884-02-14
A Brakeman's Life.

A long freight-train came to stop
on the siding near Richards, small
station in Dakota, on the northwest
ern railroad. One of the brakemen
entered the little Office where we were
trying to send message to Fargo.
But the wires worked badly, for it was
bitter cold, nearly ten below zero.
We turned to the brakeman, and with
nod, said, "A chilly night p
How would you like to swop places
with me?' he asked Nice cool ride
between here and Junction
With little more interest in the
man, we asked, You don't mean to
say you're going to ride to Junction
on the outside p
'Factp said he, emphatically, There's
nothing easy about brakeman's life,
/ tell you! Folks think it's softjob
to ride all over the country for nothinN
But let 'em try it on top of freight
train, such night as this, and they'll
prefer Raymond's FIVE hundred dollar
excursions =
We should think SOP we replied,
seeing he was in talking mood But
how win you keep from freezing to-
night?'
Rum he answered, laconicallv
Run up and down the train. Comm
down from the crossing, ran the
whole length of the train dozen
times
Isn't it dangerous?'
We'll, no,-not if you're used to it.
The worst time is during snow
storm, or just after the rain has frozen
on the roofs of the cars. A cat with
ashes on her feet couldn't keep from
slipping then
Did you ever slip?'
"Once l did. We were going a.
bout fifteen miles an hour, one dark
night, and just as we rounded a curve
my foot slipped in jumpin' onto the
car next the tender. Down | went |
between the two, and for a minute / |
thought I'd reached my terminus. But |
l caught hold of one of the iron steps !
as | went down. If | hadn't, the |
whole train would have gone ovcrmc.
We had fiat cars on mos tly that night |
loaded with railroad IRON
He spoke with the air of one talk
ing over a reminiscence, shaking, as
he talked, the icicles from his shaggy
cap.
DO YOU work all day and all night,
too?'
Pretty much. This is the first rest
I've had to-day. We're waitin' here
for the SIS mail to GO by us, and then
we run on to the next siding, sixty
two miles, to Billings
What is the pay of a brakeman in
your placer
well, the company gives me a dol
lar and half day. But I'm doin'
some night-work.'
DO you brakemen have any homes
of your own, or any holidays, such as
Christmas, New Years or Washing
tons Birthday 2
Haven't had home since | went
onto the road, six years ago. You see,
we don't stop long enough in any one
place to get acquainted, and l cannot
even find time to court a girl long e.
nough to get coupled to her. An as
for Christmas and New Years and
Washington's, why, / Isuppose freight
brakeman is shut out on those roads.
he nalnt the right O. way, or
at least, the connections on these
routes is mighty onsartin'. But here
comes the SIS. Didn't know / was
talkin' so much. But when | get oil
ed up, / run pretty smooth if the
tracks clear. Good-night!'
He went out into the bleak night,
and we shivered for him.
We have always had respect for
brakemen since that talk, and have
written this sketch to create consider
alton for a brave, uncomplaining class
seldom heard of in song or story, yet
worthy of honorable mention.