The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-04-06
PERFEorING THE LOCOMOTIVE.
The Improvements Secured by the Special
 Ization of Work.
tFrom tho New York sun.l

ization of Work.
 From tho New York Sun.l
 Twenty-Five years ago it was general
 ly assumed that no man could become
 a flrst-class locomotive engineer until
 he had passed years in the great repair
 shops of the country. A young man
 not only served a long probation as
 fireman, but, under the rules of the great
 railroad systems, he was also compelled
 to serve an apprenticeship in the shops.
 His first work here was generally as
 one of squad of from six to & dozen
 men. Under the foremanship of the
 gang boss he was made acquainted with the struoture of the lucomotive. An engine in the shop for general over hauling offered field of observation and study for the helper, as he IS gen orally called. A general overhauling
 usually meant several weeks of steady employment on one engine. The loco motive was first stripped of all her up- per works, including the Jacket When If new flues or 0 crown sheet were re- quired, the boiler shop was her first des- titution. Here it received such repairs as the boiler maker could give and was then put upon the transfer table and taken back to the machine shop. There in due time 1t was practically rebuilt, painted and was then ready for the road. The apprentice during this per iod of probation saw the process or fastening to the boiler the heavy ham mered frames. He assisted in attach ing the cylinders, parallel rods and side bars, witnessed the difficult and intri- cate task of fitting valves and eccen- tries, and thus learned exactly what to do in an emergency when in charge of road engine. From the erecting hoor where he had seen the locomotive prac- tically reeonstructed, the apprentice was transferred to the wise floor, where the various parts of the engine were perfected Here he made a study of the brasses and wedges and learned the necessity of exactness. Working with men who were experts in their way he learned the mysteries of the pis- ton rod and the valve, and was made to understand how the wheel press brought together the immense driving wheels and axles.
 After serving two years in the shops, the usual practice was to assign him as a fireman, either on a road or a switch engine. Once in the cab, under the supervision of an old and experieced runner, the apprentice reached the first stage of probation. He began to look forward to the day when he should look out of the front window from the en- gineers seat, In many instances fire men passed many years of hard work before reaching the goal. The final elevation depended largely upon ability, quickness and judgment, three char acteristics always closely watched.
 There has been great change in the manner of selecting engineers in the past twenty years. It is no longer con- sidered necessary that men should sub- ject themselves to the training of form CT days. William Buchanan master mechanic Of the New York Central | and Hudson river railroad, who has | been connected with the company since | ls47, and continuously employed in the | machinery department, says that the | chief requisites are sobrlety, coolness, | good judgment, and thorough know | ledge of the road Few men not in the | employ of the line are appointed as | engineers. They are not required to | serve an apprenticeship in the machine | shops principally because of late years | men have become specialists. The com pany in the first years of its existence | had eight repair shops, whereas now, with its increased traffic and larger equipment two are amply sufficient | Tn centralizing the work the company has saved money and time. and now |