Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-05-12
NERVE IN RUNNING AN ENGINE.


Comparative CaBa1nity - Loeonstivs
Eneinsszs and 1GaeAinists.
Comparing the capability Of locomotive
engineers and machinists In the actual run
ming Of an engine, m old and experienced
railroad ofacial the other day said:
The best engineers We have arc those
who have been advanced rom the nre-
mans side of the engine to the coveted seat
ON the righthand ode OF the cab Tney
know how to handle the machine as well
az an experienced horssman can handle his
racer, and are imbued with spirit foreign
to fear. They don't know the weak points
of an engine - well - the machinist
might, but this fact IL an argument in
their favor and one against the claims OF
the machinist. Ihave seen the experiment
tried, and the result II an almost invariahle
failure on the part Of the machinist to meet
the requirementa They lack the nerve.
points, do not dare to take the risks the
fireman, who has been promoted, knows
nothing Of, nor does he, a. . rule, care to
know. It would be utter folly to take .
machinist out Of the shops and put him on
fast train. He couldn't pull it. his
nerve would fail him and he would be com
PEELED to give 1t up, while the engineer.
who has gained his knowledge in the cab,
readily assumes his new duties and handles
the throttle without thought Of fear en-
tering into the discharge Of his duties"
Can you cite incidents!" asked the 70
porter.
Yes" responded the official at would
be manifestly unfair to give the name Of
man who made failure, but there is an
incident I wildly recollect where ma
chinist was ambitious to become an engi
neer. He finally succeeded In getting
freight run, and did SO well there that he
was transferred to q passenger. The change
was marvellous. His train was nearly
always behind time, the conductors
were fretful, and innumerable complaints
were made The machinist-engineef, .
good, reliable man, by the way, was finally
brought before his superiors, and when
questioned, frankly admitted that he was
afraid of his machine. 4 can't do it, he
said, his expression of countenance verify
ing his words. 1t makes me dizzy, and
lose my confidence every time attempt to
make time. I'll have to give it up.
wouldn't run . locomotive forty miles an
hour for fortune. Icouldn't. It would
make me gray in q years time"
isn't it little peculiar that the
man who builds an engine can not run it
as well as one who has learned merely the
operating of the machine in the cabs'
@Not at all. The machinist knows how
delicate the mechanism Is and knows Just
where the weak points are 1t Is this knowl-
edge that unnerves him. On the other
hand the fireman gazes with pride upon
his powerful courser, and all he cares to
know is the delicacy of control which will
induce the iron steed to make the best
time or pull the heaviest load. He sees
only the strength Of the engine, and does
not permit the weak points to prey upon
and unman him. It Is like any other bust
ness. The machinist knows how it ought
to be done, but the engineer who was once
fireman by his experience has learned
how it is done, and feels as much at home
with his hand on the throttle as the ma
chinist does in grinding his lathe. Chi
cago Times.