Los Angeles herald., 1892-03-31
A WRECKING TRAIN.
HOW RAILROADS OPEN THE LINE
AFTER AN ACCIDENT.

The Train Is Made Up of Locomotive.
a Derrick Car. n Box Car with Heavy
Appliances. and Tool Car-These
Cars Contain Everything Needful.
Accident to train No. 16, engine 49,
Engineer A. Jones, Conductor L. Wat
son."
1t is dispach like the above that the
superintendent of a railroad breads most
He may have provided 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 busi-
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 wreck occurs the tele-
graph operator at the nearest station
sends a dispatch like the one above, fol-
lowed by numbered answers to the fol-
lowing questions, which are copied on
blank at the superintendent's office:
|. Place of accident2
Q. What caused it?
Q. Were any persons ipjured? If SO. what.
persons and to what extent?
4. Is main track obstructed?
8. Is the track or roadbed much damaged?
g. Is u side track near the obstruction which
can be used to pass trains around?
T. Will section force be sufficient to clear OBJ
struction? Ii not, how much greater force is
wanted?
g. How long will it take to clear the track SO
trains can pass?
o. Is engine off the track or damaged? What
position is engine in?
10. How many cars are broken or off the
track?
II. How many cars are wanted, and what
kind, to transfer freight in?
IL. How many car trucks are needed?
IL. Remarks of any nature concerning the
accident.
This is made out in full and signed by
the conductor
HOW AN ACCIDENT is REPORTED.
Supposing it was freight train that
was wrecked. 1t is bound west, and
on account of broken rail the train
was thrown from the track, and sew
eral box cars and FLATS" 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;
4, yes; 5, yes; 6, no; z, wrecking train;
s. five or six hours; 9, yes, slightly; 10
seven; II, five; 12, four; 13, approach on
southbound track.
AS soon as this dispatch arrives at the
Office spare engine is attached to the
wrecking train, gang of men are has
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 fiat car with a small and powerful
derrick and few spare car trucks.
Next behind comes box car well loaded
with blocking, which is of value as tenn
porary foundation for cars whose trucks
have been smashed or torn from under
them. In the same 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 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 three room tool
car, where the wreckers remain when in
transit, is cooking stove and all uten-
sils connected with range, and hard
by is 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 comes 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 score or more "jacks," some
Of them so powerful that a single man
can lift to 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-