The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1893-07-01
An Expert Engineer.

BY universal consent the equipment of
the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Balti-
more railroad since it came under the
Pennsy lvania railroad system is one of
the best In the country. In luxurious
coaches we'll lighted at night, in
the smooth motion of the trains, rem.
dering it an easy matter for even old
eyes to read comfortably, and in all their
appointments the trains are first class
1t necessarily follows, that the crews
who manage the trains must also be
made up of attentive, careful and expert
railroad men. In this respect the p. W.
& B, is noticeable. Conductors and
engineers, firemen and brakemen, each in
his respective work constitutes a force at
once capable and reliable. We do not
pretend to assert that all the officers of
this road are equally capable, or equally
reliable but that the average is unusually
high We are led to make this COM
on Monday last, and which by the way is
not the only one we can recently recall.
Wishing to keep business engagement
in Philadelphia at p. IN. on that day,
we went to the station to take train No.
SO which is scheduled to leave Elkton at
2.35 p. m. and is due at Broad street at
347. The train was late aud left Elkton
II minutes after schedule time or at 81.
Specializing upon the probable time at
which we would reach Philadelphia, and
beingifamiliar with distances between sta
tions, watch in hand, we timed the train
as she smoothly glided along. At Newark
we slowed down almost to a full stop,
but recovering our speed, we glided past
Stanton, Newport and the West Yards
at Wilmington. reaching the station
there at 3 IA, making the run from Elk
ton in % minutes. We were scheduled
to leave Wilmington at 3.05, but lett the
station at 3.16 for straight run TO
Broad street. AS pleasantly as in rock
ing chair, we spid past CIaymont, Lin
wood, Lomokin and Thurlow slowing
down at Chester and gliding past Ridley
Park, Moores, and intervening stations,
landing at 21st street where We came to
stand still on signal, after run of 323
minutes from Win ington. A detention
of about two minutes occurred at 2lst
street, when finally we reached the
station six minutes late at 90. Leaving
the train, we hurried ahead, and King
the engineer in what time he maze the
run from Wilmington, he replied in 80
minutes, or within half minute of the
time We had taken on the train.
We have since inquired who ran No.
ga, as we took the NUM- Der of his engine
and ascertained that the engineers name
is Frederick Br oc!lman. WELL" we
said on learning his name, HE is
good one, and If he is as careful man
as he is good as runner we regard him
as an expert engineer, for no man could
take train from Elkton station to
Broad street, with less jar of air brakes,
and smoother Stacking up, and regainlng
speed imam ne ulu On ludG IIue. VIC
have since learned that Mr.. Brockman is
a comparatively new engineer On pas
senger trains, having spent number of
years on freights and shutters. That he
is devoted to his engine, often spending
hours on her after coming in, and before
dropping his oil rags. That he is care.
full, expert engineer, and we take pleasure
in making this note of him. Since see-
ing him, and we have 10 personal acquaIn
tance with him, ii gentleman who was on
No. 49, on the run referred to, and who
timed the train from Perryville to the
West Yards at Wilmington, told us that
the run was made in 81 minutes, and but
for the slow down on signal at Newark,
it would have been madc in 80 minutes.
We regard this as good everyday speed,
and while We don't pretend to say that
there is any record breaking about it,,
that such runs are only possible on good
road beds, with good engines handled by
| capable men. And one of these men we
| believe Mr.. Brockman to be.