, 1892-03-10
A WRECKING TRAIN.
HOW RAILROADS OPEN THE TX;
AFTER AN ACCIDENT.

The Train Is Made Up of = Locomotive.
n Derrick Car, a Box Car with Heavy
Appliances, and = Tool Car-Tbese
Cars Contain Everything NeedfuL
Accident to train No. 16, engine 40.
Engineer A. Jones, Conductor L. Wat
son."
1t is a dispach like the above that the
superintendent of a railroad breads most.
He may have provided a most careful
system of signals, may have perfectly
trustworthy trainmen and competent
switchmen; yet, despite all this, smash
ups will occur, trains will collide, tracks
will be blocked and traffic stopped some
times for hours over his busiest line.
1t is to prevent the stoppage of bust
ness that every railroad keeps on hand
several wrecking trains which are ready
at a moments notice to go to any part
of the system, clear away wrecks, tenn
porarily repair tracks and to put engines
and cars in sufficient good order to reach
the repair shops.
The moment a wreck occurs the tele-
graph operator at the nearest station
sends a dispatch like the one above, fol
lowed by numbered answers 30 the fol-
lowing questions, which are copied on a
blank at the superintendent's office:
/. Place of accident?
2. What caused it7
3. Were any. persons injured1 II 80, what
persons and to what extent2
L. Is main track obstructed7
8. Is the track or roadbed much damaged?
g. Is a side track near the obstruction which
can be used to pass trains around7
Z. VIII section force be sufficient TO clear OBJ
struction2 If not, how much greater force Is
wanted2
8. How long will it take to clear the track SO
trains can pass7
8. Is engine Off the track or damaged7 What
position Is engine IMP
10. How many cars are broken or off the
track
IL. How many cars are wanted, and what
kind, to transfer freight in7
IL. How many car trucks are needed7
ID. Remarks of any nature concerning the
accident.
This is made out in full and signed by
the conductor.
HOW AN IS REPORTED.
Surprising it was a freight train that
was wrecked. 1t is bound west, and
IN account of a broken rail the train
was thrown from the track, and sew
eral box cars and "hats' were piled up
on both tracks. The conductor would
fill out the blank, and when received by
the superintendent would read some
thing like the following: Engine 46-En-
gineer, Jones; conductor, Watson; l.,
near ~Brownville; 2, broken rail; 8, none;
A, yes; 3, yes; 8, no; z, wrecking train;
8, five or six hours; 8, yes, slightly; 10,
seven; II, five; ~, four; 10, approach on
southbound track.
AS soon as this dispatch arrives at the
Office a spare engine is attached to the
Urapkin0 train q gang nf man ara haa-
tily put aboard, the conductor gives the
signal and the train speeds away to the
scene of the disaster.
The train is made up of three cars, the
first q fiat car with a small and powerful
derrick and a few spare car trucks.
Next behind comes a box car well loaded
with blocking, which is of value as tenn
porary foundation for a r whose trucks
have been smashed or torn from under
them. In the anne car is an ample sup
ply of large and small hawsers, chains
and canvas covers to protect ~perishable
freight from rain and snow.
The tool car is last, and this indeed
is a most interesting one. Some are
divided into two or three rooms by par
titions running from side to side at diff
ferent points in the interior. In the CEN
ter compartment of a three room tool
car, where the wreckers remain when in
transit, is a cooking stove and all uten-
sils connected with a range, and hard
by is a small pantry in which is stored a
big supply of canned meats, coffee and
utensils to prepare a hearty meal. Ad-
joining is the foreman's room with desk
and all material for writing and the
keeping of reports, telegraph machines,
batteries and electrical supplies.
The latter supply m in handy at
the wreck. Wires are carried up from
the car top to one of the railroad wires,
connected, and the force is in communi-
cation with the whole railroad system.
A COMPLETE EQUIPMENT.
Everything which experience has sug-
gested as likely to be brought into use in
removing derailed cars and freight is to
be found in these rooms. Along the
sides are q score or more 'jacks," some
of them SO powerful that a single man
can lift to a height of several inches
anything weighing from 1000 pounds to
twenty tons; there are also wrenches,
rope, lanterns, axes, saws, hammers,
light and heavy; crowbars, torches.
drills. hatchets and numerous other ap-
pliances. Some new appliance is being
added every time The train goes out, and
all new things introduced in the work
are added as oon as they are out.
1t is very seldom that any tool is called
for during the work upon a smashur
that is not to be found in the
of the car, all of which are accounted
for by a man who keeps a record OF
every piece taken out and returned.
Upon the arrival of the train at the
wreck the men are put to work in charge
of an experienced mechanic and fore.
man With startling rapidity the wreck
is Strengthened out. The locomotive at
tached to the train is available to fur.
nish power in case any hauling is to be
done, and if the engine of the wrecked
train is unframed and on the ~"steel," it,
too, can be brought into similar use.
In the handling of costly passenger
coaches careful work is required; while
in the case of overturned locomotives,