Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-11-07

|
timore Il Ohio railroad instructors,
Saturday morning finished the work of
teaching local trainmen on the road the
workings OF the Westinghouse air
brake, with which all the passenger and
| freight cars in use by the company
are being equipped.
Messrs. Nieman and Harvey are in
charge Of special car, which was
| fitted up by the company at the Mount
| Clair shops 1t is provided with the
air brake equipment for Il locomotive,
tender and 81 cars and the air signal
| system for 10 cars.
The car, which was built for pas
senger coach, contains boiler, engine
air pump and connecting apparatus,
including pipes and rubber hose
connections, for the 21-car train. The
whole thing--car and contents-weighs
| 62,0 pounds. The boiler and air
pump is located in one end of the car,
and in close proximity four wheel
truck is fitted up. There are also two
locomotive drivers All the wheels are
| fitted with the regulation brakes which
work from the Westinghouse system of
air pressure.
Near the centre of the car are the
separate reservoirs, each one being
| provided with the same connections as
if it were ready to place und r the
car All are connected with the air
pump and the manipulations are regu-
lated by valves similar to those placed
in the locomotive cabs.
In addition to the brake equipment
a complete signal system for d 10-car
train is also arranged so as to be easily
understood when explained by the in
struetors, who are experts.
Aside from the train equipment,
which is intact, all portions of the APP
paratus are duplicated in sections; the
duplicate pieces giving cross section
views and showing the interior work
ings. This feature affords the men an
opportunity to sec just how the mechan-
ism is constructed and how it may be
repaired in case of mishaps.
The car has been all over the system
and just before it came to Wilmington,
which was last Wednesday. the train
men at the Philadelphia end of the line
were instructed.
A reporter of The Gazette entered
the car yesterday afternoon and had
the pleasure of listening to and watch
ing Mr.. Harvey explain to his class
the workings of the system. The mon
were drawn up in line in the centre OF
the car and the competent instructor
commenced at the beginning by eX-
planning to the men the construction Of
the apparatus from the cross sections.
Then Mr.. Harvey went to the . live"
equipment and demonstrated its work
ings by practical exhibition. HI
showed how to operate the system cor
rectly, both from the locomotive anc
from the cars, how to make and breal
the connections properly and showec
how mistakes have been made and how
to guard against them. The minutest
details were gone into in the explana'
ton, and when Mr.. Harvey was
I mitted to question him on any matters
in doubt.
The i&en are taught in classes Of
eight each. There are four classes .
day, at 8, 10, 1.30 and 3 clock, each
lasting for about an hour. The gentle
men in charge of the car are ex
perienced, each having made the ali
brake a study for years. They are EN-
ployed by the company solely for thu
purpose of instructing the men VIII
operate trains and to 60 from place tC
place and give any information tina
may be desired on the subject.
The car left Wilmington Saturda.
. afternoon for Baltimore, where it will re
main for about three weeks, and all o
the employees of the company Their
that is, those having anything to d,
with the brakes-will be put through
a course of instruction. After the en-
tire system is traverscd and all the mel
made thoroughly acquainted with tn
Westinghouse brake, tour of inspec
tion will DO made, the idea being t.
see that the cars equipped with tn
system are in good repair as far as tn
a brake goes. After tbs inspection i!
completed an examination tour will b
!. made, and tho men who are now beini
instructed will be called upon to answe
certain questions bearing on the sub
ject.
Mr.. Harvey stated that the averag
length Of time of absence from HON
is about month. Many time tn
car is away from Baltimore mucl
longer, but the men usually make j
convenient to visit their homes abou
t once month. Both the gentlemen
Y stop at hotels in the cities where the
Q arc engaged. Firemen to look afte
he boiler arc picked up whereve
the car stops