Los Angeles herald., 1892-06-13
THE MAN IN THE CAB.
a VIEW At CLOSE RANGE OF THE
MEN WHO GUIDE TRAINS.

The Cab-what II Means to the Ameri.
can Engineer. Though His Enrlish
Brother nides In the Opcn Air-Ths
whistle and Its Individuality.
The average American engineer and
his fireman would think themselves yery
III used if an order were issued for the
abolishment Of the cabs-that friendly
retreat from inclement weather that ID
now considered an absolute necessity on
oil engines. And yet In civilized Eng.
land, on majority of the railroads. The
engines Ia use are built minus the cab,
thus forcing the operators to work with.
out shelter in all kinds Of weather. II
sounds inhuman, and yet in refutation
the railroad companies ask whether the
soldier should carry an umbrella when
it rains or the sailor be allowed to work
under an awning? The claim is that tho
railroad employees become Injured to So
vero weather and the absence of cover.
ing keeps them alert, SO that the posi-.
bility of danger from inattention to
duty is reduced to minimum. Subtle
argument, perhaps, but hardly tenable.
II this practice was adopted on some Of
ourwestern roads where the temperature
ranges from 20 to so degs. below zero,
how many engineers would live to carry
their trains from one station to the nextl
The objectionable sin in an engineer
is'to let the water get out Of the boiler
Of'the engine in his charge. No matter
what excuse he may offer, if he lives to
make his report in turn, his dismissal
will be peremptory, for by this action
he has proved himself incompetent and
unworthy Of future responsibilities. II
is better for an engineer that he had
never been born when he reaches this
stage of self torture. Fortunately such
cases are rare. The man on all well
conducted railroads must have shown
himself to be trusty and true before he
.is given charge Of an engine, and the
rigid inspection to which he is sub
jected before an engagement is guar
anteo Of future conduct.
One weakness. nearly every engineer
has, and that isa penchant for doctor
ing" the steam whistle on his pet engine
Every boy in ascountry town familiar
ICES himself at an early age with the
different "toots" that by day and night
wall through the unhappy village. He
can detect No. As whistle when the train
is five miles distant, and in like manner
the approach Of Nos. and 2 are herald.
ed to his keen ear. or course all whis-
ties are alike when they leave the shops,
but the engineer fills in the sounding
bell with piece Of turned wood that
fits snug and changes the tone to asbort,
sharp scream or an angry, impatient
howl, as his fancy may dictate.
Tho close observer may lie snugly in
his bed and yet be able to detect the
passing Of eithera freight or passenger
train. The engine on the former an
nounces its approach by emitting a
sharp, shr1l scream that is soul piercing
enough to waken the dead, while the
passenger engine, with due respect tn
the living freight it carries, sounds a
long, deep warning note that does not
bring the occupant of berth to his feet
."all standing = ready to curse the com.
pany in general terms and the engineer
in particular ones for such an act of
folly and inconsiderateness. On the
freight train q sharp. shrill scream is es-
sential, forit notifies the brakemen, who
are perhaps forty cars in the rear of the
engine and separated from the occupants
Of the cab by many ways Of ear piercing
sound, just what work is required at
their hands.
This whistle is to them what the cry
Of the call boy on the Thames steamboat
used to be to the engineer down below
before the advent Of electric bells.
Ease herl" the, captain would remark
in his ordinary tone Of conversation to
the small boy that followed him like a
shadow, and Ease her!' the youngster
would scream in his sharp. shrili STAG
cato down the companionway. "Stop
err "Turn 'er astern!" "Go ahead!"
would perhaps follow in rapid success
sion, and in this decidedly crude fashion
the London steamboat captains did their
steering by proxy only dozen years
ago. One wonders what has become of
those call boys. Perhaps they spend
their hours in spinning yarns to tho
younger cockneys of the past glories Of
steamboating in much the same manner
that our dethroned stage drivers Of the
west now regale the tenderfoot with
glimpses Of bygone acts Of heroism and
feats of impossible horsemanship. This
is somewhat Of depression from the
topic under discussion, but perhaps the
reader will excuse its insertion. One
thought naturally suggested the other.
As class engineers are usually good
natured, kind hearted, though bit
rough; deep, thinkers, due to their fixed
habits Of attention and long hours Of
enforced silence, and of good morals.
An engineer who drinks cannot hope to
hold his position long, for no master me-
chanic will tolerate confirmed tippling
in . subordinate whose duties are SO re-
spcnsible as those Of an engineer. He
must be abstinent, prompt at his post Of
duty, and ever vigilant II he hopes to
maintain his position. His hands may
be black and his face grimy, but that
his heart is all right was evidenced not |
long ago in . railroad terminus ON
the Pacific coast when tho engine,
putting and laboring from it's dizzy
ride over mountain passes and along |
dangerous precipices, was approached |
by . golden haired miss Of six, who |
patted one Of the huge driving wheels |
caressingly and lisping. "You dear, big |
black thing, how love you for bring
ing my sweet mamma and papa home to |