Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-08-06

II q Locomotive Gets . Had Name Her
Fate Ia Sealed Engineers Are Hravs
hat Superintendent Engine That
Was Troubled with Nervous Pros
trstton.
LOCOMOTIVES become deranged and
maniacal, like human beings, said John
Bowcher, the oldest express engineer on
the Big Four. Bowcher was, 20 years
ago, one Of the best known locomotive
engineers in this country. He had the
fast run on the old Bellefontaine line, be-
tween that town and indianapolis. lao
miles, and made il in about three and
one-half hours, including stops IL was
a remarkable run on a single track road,
necessitated by the many connections
that had to be made with other roads.
He has the superstitions common to
nearly all men in his business.
Il assure you," Bowcher continued,
that locomotives require regular rest,
constant attention, even nursing when
they don't feel right An engine viii
take spells when nothing you can do viii
make il act properly. Then the shop is
the only place for it, and there my ma
chine has got to go, or ! quit the service
of the road.
do certain engines get bad characters
develop some unexpected faint in the
blood, so to speak, after being in use a
while?" was asked by reporter who met
met Mr.. Bowcher at a reunion of locomo-
tive engineers.
"They certainly do grow unmanage-
BILE sometimes. Generally this is from
overwork. Engines are like thorough
bred horse in that particular respect.
They will get off their feed'-by which
mean that they viii not pump up right,
the furnace viii clog, and the efficiency
of the fuel will not be obtained. They
suffer from a lack of energy. You are
liable to stall on an upgrade. They will
act badly on the curves, manifesting
decided inclination to mount the rails or
TO take sudden starts that endanger the
couplings. Old No. that used to make
the best time with, when she was right,
had an annoying habit of starting with
an awful jerk. 1t didn't matter how
carefully opened the throttle, how
thoroughly understood the condition OF
the steam, away we jumped every time.
1t seemed as il the steam gathered itself
somewhere and, after it got ready, let
itself go. That old monster has been
broken up, and am glad Of it. She was
the last Of the seven footers.' The num-
Der Of seven foot driver wheels now in
use are very few. / do not personally
know Of any. Six feet seems to be about
right But, recurring to the temper OF
locomotives, they are affected by the
weather, which is readily understood,
but dull, heavy sky or dense atmos-
phere has q like effect. This / can not
explain in any way whatever. Why,
Mart Smith, who was strict church
man, couldn't do anything with one of
his engines during Lent. After Easter
Day the disinclination to make time dis
appeared. She would hustle whenever
called upon. Sounds very absurd, doesn't
It? But it's true. The grip is the only
dstemper 10 which can liken locomo-
tive such as Mart's was. When a machine
gets so, tell you, she must have treat
ment--the best scientific overhauIing.
She needs masseur-needs galvanism.
when once a locomotive has lost force
regain t?" was asked
Generally not, said Bowcher, medi-
tatiyely, "but / know a recent case in
which an engine recovered from stroke
of this paralysis and became, as she is to-
day, the best on the road. When engine
No II, on the Louisville, New Albany
and Chicago Road came out of the shop.
brand new, a little more than ayear ago.
she was successfully put into the hands
of half dozen of the best engineers on
the road TO make the run from Lafayette
to New Albany. After a fair trial every
man. without exception, pronounced No.
n an utterly worthless piece of machin-
cry. The general superintendent heard
of the engine and ordered her condemned,
but the master mechanic blurted out to
him:
She doesn't like the run. 1t is
d--d mean run, and she knows il as
well as you do
"You see the master mechanic wanted
the locomotive 10 have another chance.
Well, she got it, and tell you it was to
have been her last one. She'd have been
sold for scrap iron or run off the track
into forest and converted into the mot
i've power for a sawn1ilL No. II was
sent up to Indianapolis and put on
the run to Monon. went to the round
house and looked her over, for I'd heard
Of her and am very curious. was asked
what / thought was the matter spent
an hour over her and everything ap-
peared to be right. / took an of day
and ran down so miles on her. She
made great time. To-day she is the fast
est on the road and the most reliable
She can pull vestibule train Of five cars
a mile minute. Now she's the pet, the
banner engine Of the road. A month
ago she was in fair way to be turned
out to die, but now nothing is too rich
for her blood. She has the best engineer
and fireman and the best attention Ia the
shop. Ask your Indianapolis correspond
ent to go and see her. She's worth look
ing at, is No. -.
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Fatal Nfefnnkn1