The state capital., 1891-08-29
LIFE OF A BRAKEMAN.
r. Is Much Pleasanter Now Thar
in Former Days.
Air Brakes and Automatic Couplers Have
Lightened His Task-The Pay Nearly
Double What 1t Was a
Few Years Ago.

tighten the Durdcn Undt Hills oll oho
human muscles as in the appllca-
ton of the air-brake system to railroad
cars. 1t is only some twenty years
since the air brake was first introduced,
and in that period all the hard, disa-
greeable labor that fell to the lot OF the
passenger brakeman has been done
away with, while the task of the freight
brakeman has been greatly hghtened
In the olden times, before the Miller
coupler and buffer and the air brake
were introduced, the lot of a brakeman
on passenger train was anything but
q happy one.
His duties required that he remain on
the platform for the greater portion OF
the time, and this was in many case
equivalent to death warrant, for with
the old-fashioned platforms and coup
ling apparatus in case of collision
| telescoping was certain to occur, and
the poor brake twister was invariably
| ground into fragments between the
ends of the cars as they crushed to-
gether.
| 1t was necessary, too, for him TO
ssknow the road" thoroughly. That is,
he must know all the grades and
bridges and each point where it was
| necessary to slacken the speed OF the
train. and he must put on his brake
and let it off again exactly at the proper
moment without waiting for the signal
| from the locomotive.
The slightest inattention to duty was
bound to insure a very bad flve-mln
utes' interview with the engineer at the
end of the run, and if repeated too often
with the superintendent, or ''old man,
as he is called in railroad parlance.
Approaching each station there were
landmarks which must be learned, ant
before passing which the brakes mus
not be touched. The thorough brake
man scorned to make a slow stop, bu
delighted in manipulating the wheel ST
that the train came to quick halt ex
actly in the same spot every time
II took muscle to do this, and many
a crew had trained themselves to act II
such concert that they could invariabl,
bring their train to halt in very llttl
more space than is now required witt
the air brakes.
4
thev were, of course, not SO perfect a
they are now. An attempt was mad
to induce the old broad gauge Erie raj
road this was during Jim Fisk's life) t
adopt the system. A train was equipped
and with it was sent crew which ra
on one of the express trains.
Signal flags were set up, and tn
promoters of this air brake plan wer
allowed several trials to show jus
how quickly they could stop a trai
going at full speed. After they ha
done their best the new brakes weI
disconnected, and the crew of brake
men were given chance to displa
their skill.
The result was that they stopped th
, train in every instance in less distant
), than was used by the air brakes. AS
consequence the old system was r
tanned for years and until after man
! improvements had been made IN tt
air brakes
The old passenger brakemen was
!. man of muscle, the continual twistir
of brakes producing a development
the biceps that might have been e
viod by many modern pug" Arm'
with no other weapon but lantern,
]. thought nothing of standing off, la
! a dozen tramps or engaging gang
: roughs that sought to run things.
:. The writer was braking on ira
!. once upon a time when adispute arc
! in which a rough made an effc
= to draw a revolver. Grasping the mar
:. hand with the pistol in it just as he W
drawing it from his pocket with t
other hand the heavy lantern was rails
!. and with swing dashed full into
: face.
! The pistol-drawer fell as if shot, a
one or two blows in addition stretch
j him senseless on the floor His co
I. panions came to the rescue, anotl
4 brakeman happened in, and for #
minutes there was a lively row.
!. the lanterns got the best of it an(
= wholesome lesson was taught.
i The brakeman of to-day, however
SO only in name. Rarely does he tor
the brake wheel, but his duties are c.
! names of stations, helping people
and off the train, and flirting with
pretty girl passengers.
Is His nerves are not kept at the high
Of tension, on the qui vive for the shc
al sharp whistle which commands him
" lump to the brake and exert himself
er the utmost
ed He looks after the valve that opera
as the brake, but beyond that his du'
ld do not resemble in the least those
OF the old-fashioned brakeman. He 6
q. better pay, too, than the old-time br;
ets twisters. Forty dollars to fifty doll