The morning times., 1896-12-06
By the Rev. V. L. whitechurch.

half realize the work there is TO do, or
the responsibilities of the "footplate."
often think, myself, the difference
there is between us chaps and the captain
of channel boat. l used to think of !t
more when 1 was ON the Sou Western"
running the Continental train to South
ampton. Maybe had a couple of hundred
lives in tow; but I'll venture to say very
few of them thought of the man who had
them and the train in sole charge, for
though the fircman's along with you, the
driver is responsible for everything, in
Guiding him. Yet when the passengers
stepped aboard the channel boat, if they
got glimpse of the captain they'd look
at him with a kind of awe.
i don't say all this out OF jealousy, but
I've often thought if we had uniform,
with gold lace round our caps and col
lars and an engine worked on our SHOULDERS,
folks who were going a long Journey
would think more Of us, and say: That's
Our driver Just as YOU hear them re
mark, That's our captain"
Still, as say, l wouldn't change. There's
charm about the foot plate and a
pride in your engine that only driver
knows.
Why. I've seen men get quite affectionate
over Il favorite engine, and almost cry when
they were changed To another. Adventures?
Well, the life's full of adventures, more or
less; not very interesting to the general
public. perhaps, but exciting enough 20 US.
Stop, though. / cantell you one adventure
had years ago, which will interest you
about the most remarkable thing that ever
happened to me, and about as curious an
affair as you could find in the history Of the
line, l reckon. 1t was when was on the
Sou Western and before became a regu-
lar express driver.
Before YOU can quite understand il l must
tell you something about the line itself
From Clapham Junction 10 Hampton Court
there are four lines or rails. two OF them
used for up and down fast trains, and
the others ior up md down SLOW. You
have the same sort of thing ON some Of the
other lines: the London and North West
ern, for instance, has -four lines as far as
Ruade, beyond BletciIley, only they are
worked differently TO the South Western.
The London and North Western run their
up and down fast trains on the two left
hand lines of rails from E9stoa, and the up
and down slow on the two right hand, so
that. when two trains are going IN the same
direction, there is always line of metals
bet wcen them. But from Clapham to
Hampton Court Junction the outer left hand
rail is used for slow and the next 10 it, the
inner lett hand, for Iast, the outer night and
inner right being used for up slow and fast
respectively. The up slow extends all
the way to wokiug, bua this has nothing 10
do with my story.
Thus you see, if one train passes another
going in the same direction. the trains are
close together. Sometimes i have known
two trains travel alongside eacn other al
the same rate for two or three minutes, and
more than once | have sruk.n from my
dry at ~
given or received \ bit of 'baccy when we
were going at the rate of forty or nifty
miles an hour. The Northern system rs
generally considered to be the better o1
the two, but the Suutt-W estern stiii stick
To the other plan.
one day in the winter of 1sS-, there
had been Il special cheap excursion from
Portsmouth TO Waterloo: forget what The
occasion was: but. anyhow, was detat!eJ
on duty to take this train back 10 Ports
mouth. We were to start at S:21 and as
far as Hampton Court Junction to run ol
the outer or slow line.
The last tram before US was the 8
O'Clock. So You see we expected a clear
run. We were not TO stop anywhere be
fore reaching Portsmouth.
The train was a heavy one, as good
number of people had taken advantage oi
the excursion, and it seemed that we
should hardly get off to time As matter
utes late in starting, and were soon bowling
away merrily towards the south.
The boat express to Southampton leaves
Waterloo at 9:35, and runs from there L
Basingstoke without a stop, travelling I,
Hampton Court junction on the fast line
We had Just passed Rayne's Park wheI
j heard the approaching roar of the eX
press coming down behind us. We wer
travelling a good forty miles an hour a
the time, and the other train began {
pass ours very slowly. Presently the eN
press engine was alongside ours, and tn,
driver sang ont CHEEKY What hoi mate,
as the two cabs came together Creepin,
gradually past us, the carriages of tn
boat train became visible, and as
glanced at them l could distinguish th
passengers plainly Five coaches had al
ready passed us, when | stood well ol
the lefthand side of the oot-plate, fur
thcst from the other train, to allow III,
fireman TO perform his office.
At this moment nay engine put on
little squirt, and the two trains were run
ming exactly at the same pace, the 9TH.
just slightly gaining. happened TO glanc
vermyshouldcr, when, 10 my astonishmcnt
] saw man in the other train dcliberatcl
opening the door ofhis compartment, whic
was Just drawing opposite to the cab G
my engine. Before could recover from IN
surprise he had stepped out on the foo
board OF the carriage, andln another secon
he sprang upon the foot plate OF my engine
Clutching the rail on the cab, while the doc
of the carriage ne had left, obeying III
motion OF the train, shut with slam.
In an agony of terror, my mate and
Seized him and dragged him into positic
of safety, while the other train spurtt
forward and passed us. For a moment
two neither of us spoke i was the fir
TO recover my prcscncc of mind, and u
habit Of duty mastered my curiosity +
the instant
Held on. here shouted. Jim, III
her Up, man; wait till we get throuc
Wol:ilg then we'll see to him. Stead
sirl Keep over in that corner please al
th,nk Providence you're not a dead man
Mad, / should think" said my fir
man. as lie set to work again shovcl.:
Oh the Goals. while l riveted my attensi.
to the mass OF red and green lights we we
ever and anon approaching and passing
at Hampton Court junction we we
switched On to the fast" line, folloAyi
the hoat-eXprcss by about six inmate
and in half an hour or so we were throu,
Woking. and then turned to the strang,
He was n young man, clean shavcn, NJ
well dressed; deadly pale and trembir
clutching hard at the support The 70,
plates bit shaky to a novice.
Are you mad sir? Do you know you''
had fearful escape? What, in the nan
OF all that's wonderful, do you mean l
it,"
''N-no. I'm not mad. IL was forced
do ~
Forced to do il? Why, you were alor
I'm the carriage. as far as ] could see.''
YES yes: know that. But / was dc
perate. I'll explain everything
.sWait a minute or two; j can't after
now. Tell me when were through Gull
ford.''
How he started as we entered the Gull