The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-12-27
THE CAB OF A
LOCOMOTIVE.
Exciting Ride With the Engineer
of an Express Train.
What Novice Felt and How He Felt When
Going at the Rate of Ninety Miles
an Hour.

There is considerable difference in the
feelings Of man who rides on locomotive
for monthly salary and the man who rides
for the fun" of the thing or to see how
the n achine works. About one ride, if it
is fast one, generally satisfies man who
is not in tie business. Goodness rersOnified
is the railroad engineer. He never gets ex-
cited. never loses his head, and the least I'M
usual noise in the cab no matter how faint,
reaches his ear. He is continually on a
strain, and watches the track far ahead as
well as the gauges, the valves and the throt-
ties i'll easy reach inside the cab. So well
trained is he that without turning his head
he can reach out and touch the part OF the
machinery that needs his attention. One
OF the best rides on any indianapolis line is
on the Peoria and Eastern, between
this city and New Castle. The road Is a
straight one for over forty miles. not curve
except one just east of the Belt road and
another close to the capital of Henry County.
Thus 1t is what might be called plain sail
ing There was not in former years very
much fast running on what is now the Peo-
ria and Eastern. 1t was not safe. There
is plenty of it under the present manage
ment. Yesterday west-bound train No. II,
hauled by engine 557, Engineer Cole in the
seventeen minutes late at New Castle. A
News reporter climbed on the engine at
that point and started for Indianapolis. The
engineer wanted to make up his time and
the reporter wanted to be Oh hand when he
did it.
"She isn't holding steam very we'll to-
day" remarked Engineer Cole, as he wiped
the nose of a leaking oil-caD with a bundle
OF waste; but | guess we can get into town
all right"
IT WAS NOT MANY MINUTES
Before the machiue was "wdeppen" and
81 was pounding the track with roar.
The engineer hung out Of the window,
calmly chewed tobacco and rested his left
hand on the lever. The track was as
smooth and as level as an asphalt pavement
and 81 was dragging five ears along at about
mile minute. The firemen fed in the
coal and more steam was registered. The
iron joints creaked and t c big engine
grOaned as if asking: what do you eX-
pect of a fellow in II minutes?" Did you
ever sit in an engine cab and see a man on
the track ahead of you? the whistle toots
and the bell rings; the man does not turn
his head, but keeps right on, as If unaware
that death in horrible form was DASH
ing upon him.. Nearer comes the ira n.
The spectators heart begins to feel
heavy and cold chill begins to creep
over him. Will the man never hear? What
does he mean? Can he be deaf? He must
be awfully deaf not to hear the wild scream
OF that whistle. You glance across the cab
at Engineer Cole. He has changed his posi-
ton. One hand is on. the lever, ready to
reverse. You begin to feel sick as you i'm
agine human being beneath those terrible
wheels The distance between life and
death is small. loot. toot, foot. toot. foot;
clang, clang, claug. You shut your eyes.
You cannot bear to see the man run down.
There is n Kissing of air, quivering of the
train. then a "releaSe"-the engine bounds
forward and you open your. eyes. The man
stood few feet from the side of the track
waving his hat and grlnning like an ape
He was one Of the class of smart Alexis
who like to see how long they can stand
on 4 track without being struck by a train.
Far. far down the track is a dark spot
over which hOvers great cloud. The en-
gineer sees 1t, hauls out his watch, glances
at 1t, then resumes the business of
LOOKING OUT OF THE WINDOW.
He was to meet all eas-bound freight at
that point. He did not know if the switches
were in place; he did not know but the pas
senger train would dash into that freight
and tile death OF many people follow.
There was no way for him to know except
that it was the duty of his fellow-employes
to see that the switches were right. lie did
not slacken his speed: Rapidly the huge
moCul on the sde-track doomed up A roar
and dash, and NO. III flew past the wait
ing freight, passing within three feet
The train was running at terrific speed.
The reporters watch showed that several
lilies were Hldut DIT tue Idl6 Oh ninety miles
an hour. At almost every cross-road the
train stopped, and between stations the run
ming was simply awful Tho few gray hairs
on the reporters head stood straight up and
almost pushed off his hat. A dog crossed
The track, turned around and emitted an
unearthly yell. He was frightened-with
good cause. The curve near the Belt was in
sight. The whistle sounded, the air Missed
again, and the train came to standStili. A
few seconds wait-puff! puff! puff enough
and "557'' started down the tracks to the
Union Station. The fast running was over.
Soon the bell changed in the Union Station.
The cars stopped and the passengers alight-
ed. little realizing the dangers that the en-
gneers had brought them through.
How is your time?" asked the white
faced reporter as he climbed out of the cab.
Made it up. Two minutes ahead of
time" was the CHEEKY response.
a gain OF nineteen minutes in forty-four
miles with five heavy coaches is pretty good
running, even in this fast day and age
iu;iiauapolis News