The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-07-15
LlFE ON A LOCOMOTIVE.
The Experiences OF an Engineer on Fast
Running Train.

The other night reporter sat in the mod.
modest though veteran engineer employed
on leading railroad. For twenty-five years
he had pulled the lever of locomotive on
the same road, and, but for his modesty,
could reel off yarns of thrilling experiences
by the yard.
This reminds me, said he, alluding to
the storm which was prevailing, F" of night
number of years ago when very strange
circumstance happened ON the train was
running. l only mention it to illustrate the
extreme forethought which is continually
necessary for the engineer to exercise. As
we pulled out of the depot noticed storm
gathering in the west. Before we had got
far beyond the city limits we were into it.
1t was gruesome night, with the lightning
flashing necessarily, the thunder crashing
and rolling, and the wind blowing q hurri-
cane. suddenly thought that, ten chances
to one, at some point on the road I would
be likely to run across some stray freight
cars, for the wind was strong enough to
blow them from the switches on the main
track. The thought made me cautious and
/ kept a sharp lookout ahead. Ny fears
proved correct, for we had not gone far
when bright fash of lightning brought
into bold relief against the black sky num-
Der of freight cars which the wind had car
ried off side track and piled up promiscu-
ously ON the main track. But being ready
for just such an emergency pulled up in
time to avert catastrophe.
This brings to my mind, " he continued,
IAN incident, and a very strange one at
that, which occurred while we were stand
ing waiting for the wreck to be cleared
away. Suddenly binding flash of light.
ming, accompanied by tremendous crash
of thunder, leaped out of the inky darkness.
The bell of the engine was rung several
times, and looking up discovered that the
bell cord was severed. An examination dis
closed the singular fact that the thunderbolt
had struck the railing of the platform of the
last car ut the place where the bell cord was
tied. Such was the force of the blow tina,
he lightning tore the entire rope clear out
of the train, and there was not vestige OF
| il left in any of the cars, neither could we
find any of it lying about though diligent
search was made for itn
| q Do you find engines in these days easier
to handle then when you first took hold of
the leyerp"
"Oh, yes. There have been so many i'm
provements of late years that locomotive
is much easier to run. The use of coal in
stead of wood tends to this result, and then
the patent injector is great improvement
over the old pump. The automatic air
brake is great help, and there are many
minor improvements being constantly
brought forward-all of more or less utility
which tighten the labor OF an engineer
Some roads use patent bell ringer which
is run by steam, but never took kindly tc
it. 1t proved scource of annoyance more
than anything else"
E" suppose there has been great change
of style in engines in the last twenty years ?"
Yes; they are much heavier for one
thing. In the old days locomotive had
to pull only three or four cars. One with
stroke, weighing twenty-eight to thirty tons,
was sufficient. Now trains are made up OF
fifteen to twenty cars, and the weight of the
locomotive has been increased to about
forty-eight tons, with an eighteen-inch cyl.
inder and q twenty-foui-inc stroke. An
engine with the tank oil loaded and ready
to start on q run will weigh seventy-fye
tons.s
Have engineers improved as much aa
the engines ?"
Decidedly, yes. In the old days an en-
gineer was nobody unless he was one of the
boys. He was expected to be hail fellow,
well met with everybody and the amount
of whiskey first class engineer could con-
sumo in night was something fearful to
contemplate. Now, however, drinking is
absolutely prohibited. While the boys
were good in their day there are many who
would not do for these times. They are
better educated class of men in these days
than they were formerly, for they do not
spend their spare time in carousals. But
still you will find them n jolly net withal."
=