Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1892-05-27
LIFE WITH A BRAKEMAN.
BESET WITH DISCOMFORT AND
DANGER ON ALL SIDES.
A Nicely OF Judgment Required-Perilso of
slippery Roof-Going Back to
Fiag-How He Is Usually
Promoted.

and flremen-are the most nu.herous
and prominent class. as the number OF
freight trains is much larger than that
OF passenger trains.
Among this great throng the brake
men form the ma ority, as there are
TWO or more on every train. while
there is but one OF the other classes.
AS the ranks OF the passenger train
service are usually recruited from the
freight train men. it follows that the
freight brakeman stamps his indi-
viduality on all the circles through
which he moves as promotion carries
him forward. A brakeman has his
wits sharpened by peculiar expcr-
fences, and, though he may not pos
sess any intellectual training worthy
OF the name, still his contact with
the world in the calling he has chosen
tends to develop qualities that are ele-
waiting to the Individual, if he chooses
TO make them go.
The disagreeable features of a
freight brakeman's life are princi.
pally those dependent upon the
weather according to the Philadel-
phia Times A man would have but
little cause for compliant if in winter
he could perform his duties in South
ern California. and summer ride
through the picturesque northern Sec
tions of this side of the continent.
He would, however even if permitted
his choice in this direction. have to
encounter that noble army Of tramps
that abound North. South East and
West. and which in many cases proves
a positive danger In the milder
climates these gentlemen OF leisure
will persist In riding in or on the cars
and it IS the trainman's duty to act
according to directions and keep them
Off.
This is no easy matter when gang
armed with pistols takes possession of
the train and dictates where they shall
be carried. One or two specimens
armed with heavy sticks are quite
enough to tackle it is matter of nc
little moment when it comes to por-
suading them that their room is pre-
ferred TO their company.
The hardships of cold and stormy
weather are most serious. but because
OF the test of endurance involved and
the extra difficulty in handling the
train. The Westinghouse automatic
air brake. though in use on all pas
senger trains. is only in use on GER
tain lines for freight trains, as it was
necessary to adapt and cheaper it in
order to make it available on long
trains OF freight cars.
Braking by hand is still the rule.
and unless ascending a grade or 60
ing very slowly the brakeman must
be in his place on top of the car for
rs "a rule there are not more than four
mon on one train, and each must be
at his post as they dash down grade.
or with high speed tear across some
level stretch ready Mt a moment to
apply the brakes on the great mass of
from so 10 !. 900 tons that must be
made to como under their control. In
descending steep grades only the most
constant and slillful care prevents the
train from rushing at breakneck speed
to the foot OF the incline or to curve
where it would be precipitated over
oi Oh iuollCu W DlcCCS.
1t requires IL wonderful nicely of
judgment this breaking by hand. for
before all the cars have crossed the
summit the forward part OF the train
has gained u velocity. and will thus
by Its weight exert n terrific pull on
those cars still crawling up the hill.
II one of the couplings chances to be
weak it brea':s and in many cases
AVA rushos the engine and the for.
ward petition. while the center left
without n brakeman. comes tearing
down the grade, dragging the rear
cars with it. The engineer then
has the cA,ice OF slackening up
and allowing the unmanageable cars
to collide violently with his portion.
or TO increase speed and run the risk
OF overtaking the train ahead of him.
TO avoid this breaking in two the
brakeman must be wide awake and
see that the brakes are frightened be.
fore the speed even begins to eludo
control Imagine when al this has
been done that it is discovered that
some of the brakes are set too tightly.
The friction heats the wheels and this
break must be released and some oa
o; her cars applied instead. 1t does
not matter If tbs WIND is blowing a
gale or the thermometer has fallen
many degrees below zero. T.eso de.
tails must be attended to i,i such
weather as we'll as under more favor
able circumstances
Think OF st finding on top OF one
OF those MOVING cars with rain aid
sleet fall nc on fac, and hands the
brake coated with ic, and the roof
slippery as glass Add to this the
danger OF stepping from one car to
another, ovcra gap OF twentysoven
or thirty inches on dark night when
the cars are constantly moving up
and down on their springs or swayin g
TO one side or ano;he. every few
seconds This stepping or jumping
across is something absolutely appall-
ing in its dangerous features when tho
roof are so slippery that even walk
ing on them is attended with the
greatest possible risk. A high wind
often compels the brakeman TO
crawl from one car to another in
order to avoid being blown off.
As onviable Us their lot appears in