The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1893-01-17
A WRECKING TRAIN.
HOW RAILROADS OPEN THE LINE
AFTER AN ACCIDENT.

The Train Is Made Up of a Locomotive.
Derrick Car. "a Box Car with Heavy
Appliances. and . Tool Car-These
Cars Contain Everything NeedfuI.
Accident to train No IS, engine As,
Engineer A. Jones, Conductor L. Wat
son."
1t is dispach like the above that the
superintendent of 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 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-
AOWlllS Qu0SI1OuS, HO1CA diC CODAC0 OAA a
blank at the superintendent S Office:
l. Place of accidentP
2 What caused it?
B. Were any persons injured7 II so what
persons and to what extent?
t. Is main track obstructed?
s. Is the track roadbed much damaged?
g. Is side track near the obstruction which
can be used to pass trains around?
!. Willsection force be sufficient to clear OBJ
struction9 II not. how much greater force Is
wanted?
9. How long viii it take to clear the track 50
trains can pass?
Q. Is engine off the track or damagedr what
10. How many cars arc broken or OF she
trackf
Ii. How many cars are wanted, and what
kind, to transfer freight in?
Il. How many car trucks are needed!
ID. 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 a freight train that
was wrecked. 1t is bound west, and
ON account of a broken rail the train
was thrown from the track, and sew
eral box cars and s'dats'' 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; 0, yes, slightly; 10,
seven; IL, five; f2. four; 13. approach On
southbound track.
AS soon as this dispatch arrives at the
office a spare engine is attached to the
| wrecking train, a gang of men are has
| IL, a-I l1a he
signal and the train speeds away to the
scene of the disaster.
The train is made up of three cars, the
first flat car with a 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 too
car, where the wreckers remain when IL
transit, is cooking stove and all uten
sils connected with a range, and hari
by IS small pantry in which is stored {
big supply of canned meats, coffee and
utensils to prepare hearty meal Ad
joining is the foreman's room with desl
and all material for writing and th'
4 keeping of reports, telegraph machines
batteries and electrical supplies.
The latter supply comes in handy a
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