Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1892-03-03
A WRECKING TRAIN.
HOW RAILROADS OPEN THE LINE
AFTER AN ACCIDENT.

Ar 6R AN ACClDENT.
Tho Train Is Made UP of Locomotive,
a Derrick Car, Box Car with Heavy
Appliances, and a Tool Car-These
Cars Contain Everything EeedfuI.
Accident to train No. is, engine As,
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 trainnen and competent
switchmen; yet, despite all this, smash
ups will occur, trains viii 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 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 dispatch like the one above, fol-
lowed by numbered answers to the fol-
lowing questions, which are copied on q
blank at the superintendent's office:
1. Place of accident?
2. What caused it?
8. Were any persons injured? If so. what
persons and to what extent?
4. Is main track obstructed7
5. Is the track or roadbed much damaged?
6. Is a side track near the obstruction which
can be used to pass trains around2
7. Will section force be sufficient to clear OBJ
struction? II not. how much greater force is
wanted?
8. How long will it take to clear the track SO
trains pass2
0. Is engine off the track or damaged? What
position is engine in?
10. How many cars are broken or Off the
track?
IL. How many cars are wanted. and what
kind, to transfer freight in?
IL. How many car trucks are needed2
l3. 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, ami
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; /,
near Brownville; 2, broken rail; 3, none;
4, yes; 5, yes; 6, no; Z. wrecking train;
s. five or six hours; 8, yes, slightly; 10,
seven; II, five; IL, 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 a flat car with small and powerful
derrick and a 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-
sis 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 hearty meal. Ad-
joining is the forenan'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 commune
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 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 soon as they are out.
1t is very seldom that any tool is called
for during the work upon smashup
that is hot to be found in the resources
of the car, all of which are accounted
for by man who keeps a record of
every piece taken ont 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
ulftll- w I'LL oVtii lllu9 ldpltAJ1 lllc NICCh
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 il the engine of the wrecked
train is unharlned and on the '.steel," it.,
too, can be brought into similar use.
In the handling of costly passenger
coaches careful work is required: while
III 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 few hundred dollars viii
cover all damages for what looks to a
novice like Il wreck involving loss cf
thousands OF dollars In most cases
wrecked coaches and freight cars san be
repaired at u comparatively small ex-
pense. Locomotives can also be smashed
on the exterior to qnite an extent with
out csatly or irreparable damage. New
York World.
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