The record-union., 1896-05-10

when lard was used as the 1ubricator of
car journals, and one Of the most inter-
esting of them was spun by NateWebp,
foreman of the truck department.
In the early sixties Booth & Go. re-
ceived a consignment Of thick, fat pork
from the East by the way Of Cape Horn,
which, owing to the roughness Of the
passage, was considerably damaged by
the contact of ocean brine. 1t was an
elephant on their hands until specu-
lative railroad genius suggested that 1t
be utilized for the purpose Of oiling
journals. The suggestion was tried ana
proved practical success, at the same
time relieving Booth & Co. from the
grave responsibility of disposing OF
large amount of damaged pork.
The pork was cut into strips and
chucked into the oilers, giving ou.
plenty Of grease. But the matter did
not stop there. Mr.. Webb at the time
was foreman Of gang Of men en-
ployed upon the snowsheds in The
mountains which were then being con-
structed, and many times during the
winter severe storms would completely
block all traffic and the snowshed gang
at time. On more than one occasion
provisions ran short and grim wan-
stared the gang in the face. At the
time under consideration only hard
tack remained, and not much of that,
and the men began 10 scowl at one an
other and make mysterious motions
toward the member of the party who
carried the greatest load of avoirdu-
pois, which happened to be Mr.. Webb
himself.
But one day one Of the men made
discovery. There was pork in the jour-
nal boxes of the cars which lined the
side tracks-damaged pork, it was true,
but pork just the same, and a general
rush was made for those cars. In
short time pork was being boiled and
stewed and fried and eaten raw, and,
concluded the narrator, 'it was not
half-bad, and went very we'll with reg
ulation hard tack, so that we blessed
the day Booth & Co.'s pork was broached
by old ocean while rounding the Horn y
To each truck there are necessarily
two end sills to which part of the brake
gearing is attached, and which mate
rally add to the uniform strength of
the entire structure.
Then there are four safety beams to
each truck which run from the truck
transom to the end .sills to which the
axle safety straps are attached, which
are contrivances to prevent the axle
from falling on the track in case of an
accident to any of the top supports.
From the top of the journal box a
broad, strong strip of iron, called an
equalizer, extends to the next journal,
making a sharp down curve in doing
so. On the lowest part of the bow rests
a heavy spiral spring which connects
with the wheel piece above; equalizer
and spring thus allowing slight rise
or fall of the wheel while passing over
inequalities of the track without dis
turbing the equilibrium Of the car.
Each and every Pullman car is fur
nished with eight leaf springs which
rest upon the truck holsters. The
springs are thirty-six inches long and
five inches wide, and are composed Of
three leaves, which for means Of classi-
fication are called "triplets." They are
tempered with the greatest nicely, and
the fact that leaf is seldom broken,
and the further fact that the weight of
the car is about $4,000 pounds, speaks
volumes for them.
The centerplate holds a prominent po-
sition in the truck-very prominent. 1t
occupies the very highest position, but
is handicapped somewhat by another
centerplate which is fastened to the bot
tom of the car fitting onto it..
The two plates are then bound together
in very close ties by a king-bolt which
q or ire
car and truck blending the
two in one harmonious whole"
Trucks for all classes of cars are
built at this shop, including those for
caboose, freight, passenger and Pull
man sleepers, and the average weight of
each class of truck is about as follows:
Caboose, 13 80 pounds; freight, 4,15O;
passenger, 1920; sleeper, "a 300.
Here you will see a giant travelling
crane, which is extensively used in
raising trucks to remove or replace
wheels The crane is very easily handled
by two men, and is so constructed that
1t may be trundled about to different
points in the shop, thus its name. In
earlier days this work was done by
means of hydraulic Jacks which neces-
STATED the use of large quantities of al
cohol, thus entailing considerable ex-
pense in keeping them in order. The
crane now used does all the work Of the
hydraulic. jack, and does it in a much
more satisfactory manner
In the early days men were employed
to push trucks and cars around the
shop, but all that is now a dead letter.
In 1878 the foreman submitted to the
Master Car Builder that a horse might
be utilized for the purpose to advan-
tage. This, like every innovation, was
looked at askance, but a trial was or
dered. An old lame horse, whose joints
had to be bandaged and which had a
habit of falling down at uncertain peri
DDS was pressed into service, and very
easily performed the labor of a dozen
men. One day while watching the old
horse at his work, Governor Stanford,
turning to the foreman, said:
Take good care OF the old horse {!
Treat him we'll! / love a horse"
1t need not be stated THAI the old
fellow was treated like a prince for the
remainder OF his days, but he was soon
afterward supplanted, and to-day
the horse that does the work Is the fin
est equine specimen to be found in the
State, weighing 2.200 pounds.
The truck makers are kept constantly
al work building new and repairing
old trucks, and when 1t is considered
that the trucks constitute the most
vital part Of car, 1t is easy to see
that those connected with the work
must thoroughly understand their du-
ties down to the most minute detail.
The men employed in the depart
ment, and upon whom such grave re-
sponsbilities rest are:
Nate Webb, foreman.
Z. Dundas, P. Douglas.