Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1892-03-17
A WRECKING TRAIN.
HOW RAILROADS OPEN THE LiaI
AFTER AN ACCIDENT.

Accident to train No. 10, engine A8
+ Engineer a, Jones, Conductor! II, Wat
SON.
It is dispach like the above that tn
superintendent Of railroad breads most
He may have provided most earefu
system of signals, may have perfecti!
trustworthy trainmen and competen
switchmen; yet, despite oil this, smash
ups will occur, trains will collide, track
I. will be blocked and traffic stopped some
times for hours over his busiest line.
It's to prevent the stoppage Of busi
ness that every railroad keeps on hant
several wrecking trains which are ready
at moments notice to go TO any par
Of the system, clear away wrecks, tenn
porarily repair tracks and to put engine'
and cars in sufficient good order to reaca
the repair shops.
The moment q wreck occurs the tele
graph operator at the nearest station
sends q dispatch like the one above, fol
lowed by numbered answers to the fol
lowing questions; which are copied ON /,
blank at the superintendente Offices =
/. Place Of aecident9,
a.cWhat caused i2
8. Were any persons intured2 IL 30. wha
persons and to what eItenR
4 Is main track obstfuctedfS.
8. Is the track OF roadbed much damagedi
Q. Is side track near tho obstruction whicl
can be used 70 pass trains around2 49,
Z. VIII section force be sufficient TO clear OBJ
a. ~ hnx- yInh fnS "
wantedf
8. How long will It take to clear the track Q.
trains can pass3
9. Is engine of tho track or dannageda Wha
position Ia engine LAP
TO- How many cars are broken or or th'
tracki
II. How many cars are wanted, and wha
kind, to transfer freight inf
L. How many ear trucks are needed
Is. Remarks Of any nature concerning tn
accident.
This is made out in full and signed BY
the conductor.
HOW AN ACCIDENT IS REPORTED.
Supposing it was q freight train thai
was wrecked. It is bound west. ani
on account Of broken rail the trai1
was thrown from the track, and sew
eral box cars and flats were piled W
on both tracks. The conductor would
I'LL out the blank, and when received by
the superintendent would read some
thing like the following: Engine 46-En
gineer, Jones; conductor, Watson; 1
near Drownville, g. broken rail: 8. none
4, yes; 5, yes: 9. NO: Z. wrecking train
8. five or six hours: ., yes. slightly; 10
seven; II, FIVE: l2, four; l3. approach or
southbound track.
As soon as this Dispatch arrives ut ths
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 70 thu
scene of the disaster.
The train is made up Of three cars, tht
first fat car with 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 unde,
them. In the same car Is an ample sup
ply of large and small hawsers, chaini
and canvas covers to protect perishablt
freight from rain and snow.
The tool car Is last, and this indeed
is a most interesting ona Some art
divided into two'or three rooms by par
tiions running from side to side at diff
ferent points in the interior. In the cen
ter compartment Of q three room too
car, where the wreckers remain when II
transit, is cooking stove and all uten
sils connected with range, and hard
by is a small. pantry in which is stored
big supply Of canned meats, coffee and
utensils to prepare q hearty meal. Ad
joining is the foreman's room with desl
and all material for wiring and the
keeping of reports, telegraph machines
batteries and electrical supplies.
The latter supply comes in handy al
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 II
removing derailed cars and freight is tx
be found in these rooms. Along ths
sides are score or more ajacks," some
Of them 30 powerful that single mar
can lift to q height OF several inches
anything weighing from !. 200 pounds tt
twenty tons; there are also rwrenches
rope, lanterns, axes, saws, hammers
light and heavy; crowbars, torches
drills, haSchets and numerous other ap
phances. Some new appliance is: being
added every time the train goes out, and
all new things introduced in. the worl
are added as soon as they are ont.
It is very seldom that any tool is called
for during the work upon q smashul
that. Is not to be found in the resources
| Of the car, all of which are accounted
for by man who keeps record ot
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 bt
done, and If the engine Of the wrecked
train is unhar1ned 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
which weigh from thirty-five to eighty
tons, the WORK of righting and replacing
them on the tracks is NO small job.
Oftentimes q few hundred dollars vii
cover all damages for what looks tos
novice like wreck involving q loss o.
thousands Of dollars. In most caset
wrecked coaches and freight cars can b
repaired at comparatively small e1
pense. Locomotives can also be smashed
on the exterior to quite an extent with
out costly or irreparabae damage.-aev
/