The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-06-18
RUNNING A LOCOMOTIVE.
Some Peculiarities of the Iron Horse and
Its Driver.

Its Driver.
San Francisco Chronicle.
ITO a man who knows as little about a loco
motive as the ordinary run of people, and who
understands few of its needs aud requirements
and how the mind and body of the engineer must
be exerted to meet Them there is nothing about
running an engine that looks difficult, but there
are those who have been in the business for
years and who are still not the right men for the
position. 1t not only requires a man of peculiar
ability, but one also must be of a certain tenn
permanent. l didn't used to think so years ago
but the idea has grown Stronger with me of late"
These remarks were made by locomotive en-
gineer to a reporter recently, as the former
leaned up against the side of his iron steed
which was breathing so loudly that the voice of
its master had to be raised considerably to be
plainly heard
nervous man should never be intlusted with
the care of an engine and of the lives and prop
erty under his keeping continued the driver,
''and a man who is liable to fly off the handle
at any moment, or is careless or neglectful of
the machinery, could not be placed in a situa
ton more dangerous to the lives of travellers, I'M
less he might be a professional train wrecker or
a drunken swltchtnan. Half OF the care and re
sponsbility of an engineer is in the engine itself
looking after it and closely examining weak
points at every opportunity. Strong as it may
SEEM there are portions of the mechanism of a
locomotive that are as delicate and frail and
easy of disarrangement as those of many finely
constructed stationary machines. In this class
of engine it is necessary to compress all the ma
chinePy into the closest possible bulk, and the
result is not advantageous to one who has
charge of it."
docs an engine get out of order frequently"
''Many of them do and others will run long
time without repairs A skilled engineer knows
by the feel of an engine whether there is any
thing the matter with it or not, and u man must
Away be watchful of these things if he does not
want the locomotive to go to smash on short
notice. Another thing, when there is a starting
of tiues, leaking of pipes, loose, packing or
heated Journal one has to make haste to stop
the mischief, or time will probably be lost, and
the fear of loss of time is perpetual source of
worriment to the engineer"
Referring to other matters that require the
vigilance and care of the driver of the iron
horse, the speaker said ION freight trains a
skillful hand is often required in switching
and similar work, and although the life of a
freight engineer is slow and easy one beside
that of ,nnan in the cab of an express engine,
still there is a grave responsibility attached to
the former. How often is the killing of brake
man, who is knocked down by a sudden and
expected start-up of the train, or other similar
accident, laid at the door of the locomotive
gineer-often, may say, with good cause
though such accidents generally the result
of pure carelessnessW
The difference between engines even of the
same pattern and maker, was spoken of, and the
kind of locomotive most in favor with engineers
was described To be strictly first class and
satisfactory, an engine must be capable of 'pick
ing up train in good style-thatis, getting UNI
der full Roadway in a short distance. A rather
slow and smooth going engine is of course, pref
cradle to an unsteady and jerky one which can
not be depended on for great number Of miles.
The promptitude of an engineer in observing
signals of different kinds is considered valua-
BILE quality and these, with the many other du-
ties of everyday life must be attended to without
any show of negligence, if driver is DESTROYS of
nsuring his reputation. Train orders must be
read with great care and their instructions care
fully followed, and it is here, more than at any
other point, that the drunken engineer is liable
to commit an error, which, though small in
itself, may lead to disastrous results. Bad spots
in the road must be looked out for, time cards
must be rigidly followed, steam must be kept
up, crossings and whistle posts must be noticed,
and, above all, the track ahead requires close at
tention, as the eyes must not leave it more than
at few seconds at time.
"a competent fireman. said the driver, 'is a
great blessing to an engineer and may relieve
him of considerable of that continual strain on
the nervous system which most of us are obliged
to undergo; but lazy fellow "a careless man
a green hand must be placed in the category Of
the ills of the life, and big item it is too
How long do engines generally run before
being discarded as uselessl"
We'll, their average life may be placed at