The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-21
HERO OF TIE RAIL.
DANGEROUS DUTIES PERFORMED By
THE LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEER.

q NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. rseeutiai 10 Success-W WI a
i to DO When There Is Danger Ahead
Quick Decision-The Cloud Whi>h Hang
Over Engineer and Fireman.
The locomotive engineer is the popu
7 lar hero of the rail" and the popula,
estimate in this respect is substantially
, just. Others have to brave dangers and
4 perform duties under trying circum
2 stances. but the engine runner has tc
ride in the most dangerous part of the
train, take charge of n steam boiler that
may explode and blow him to atoms.
and of machinery that may break and
kill him and try to keep up vigilance
which only a being more than human
could successfully maintain. He must
be tolerably skillful machinist
he cannot be too good-and ha, ,
nerves that will remain steady under the
most trying circumstances. IL running
a fast express through midnight dark
ness over line where n similar train has
been tipped off precipice (and brother
runner killed. by train wreckers the
night before, he must dash forward with
the same confidence that he would feel
in broad daylight on an open prairie
But he does not theoretically grasp the
throttle in the face of danger. when the
throttle has been already shut. nor does
! he whistle down brakes" in order ia
add q stirring element TO the reporters
tale, when by the magic Of the air brake
he can, with turn Of his hand. applv
tvery brake in the train with the cfip
Of wise in less time than 10 would take
him to reach the whistle pull
when there is danger ahead thCr~ Is |
generally just one thing TO do, and that |
IS TO stop as soon az possible. An in |
slant sufiices Tor shutting of the steam |
and applying the brake. With modern |
trains this IS all that IS necessary or can
be done. Reversing the engine is neces-
sary on many engines, and formerly was
on all; this would. in fact. be done in
stinctively by old runners. in any case
bat this also is done in n second. After
taking these measures there Is nothing
for the engineman TO do but look out for
his own safety. In some circumstances.
as IN the case Of partially burned
bridge which may possibly support the
train even in weakened condition, it
may be best to put on all steam. The
runner Is then in dilemma, and right
decision IS matter of momentary inspi-
ration. Many lives have been saved by
quick witted runners in such cases. but
there isno ground for censure Of the en-
gineer, who, in the excitement of the (
moment decides TO slacken instead of
quicken his speed. The rare cases of J
this kind are what show the value of ex- !
periencc, and of men of the right tenn !
permanent and degree of intelligence to )
acquire experience lessons readily.
PROBABILITIES OF ACCIDENT.
But the terrible cloud constantly hang
ing over the engineer and fireman OF a 4
fast train i, the chance of encountering :
an obstacle which cannot possibly loo .
avoided, and which leaves them noalter- =
native but to jump for their lives. if in J
Iced it does not take away even that. /.
To the fact that this cloud is no larger g
han It Is, and that these men have sturdy ?
md courageous natures must be attIi- ,
,uted the lightncSs with which it rests
lpOn them. On one road or another. u
rom washOut or inefficient manage
nent, or a collision caused by an opera o
0rs IOrgetfulness, or some one of o score =
4 other causes. there are constantly oc- p
urring cases OF men heroically meeting \
cath Under the most heartrenling cir y
INSTANCES. Every month records q W
lumber of such, though happily they are "
OF frequent on any one road ),
On the best Of roads q freight train cl
rocked by broken wheel under O. Dor OH
owed car may be thrown in the path Of
passenger train on another track lust W
3 the latter approaches This has hap an
ened more than once lately. N0amount all
fidelity or fOrethOught Except in the AN
aker OF the wheels can prevent this "a
nd OF disaster There IS constant
niger on most roads Of running oT the
ack at misplaced switches, many
witches being located at points where a Z
e runner can see them only few sec We
IDS tafore he is upon them; but the ter
lance Is 50 small-perhaps one in ten br
hundred thousand-that the a !
erage runner f0rgets it, and il WI
only by severe self discipline "
at he can hold himself no tn
compliance with the rule which re- ou
ircs him 90 be on tic watch for every c0l
itch target as long before reaching il ga
he possibly can. lie find the switches be,
right and the road perfectly clear 30 TOT
guiarly, day after day and month after an'
NTH that he may easily fall into the str
are of thinking that they will always wo
SO. But, like other trainmen. tho thr
sineman finds enough more agreeable the
)ughts 20 ill his mind, and reflects tili
on tho hazards Of his vocation perhaps Z
llttlc.-B Is. Adams, Jr in Serb HOY
= H.,