The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-06-04
Enjoyable Ride on an EX-
press Locomotive.
Easy to Hold Ones Breath
While a Mile is Covered.
Hard Work of the Stoker in Keeping
Up Full Head of Steam.

The number OF persons who have had
an opportunity OF riding on locomotive
drawing "a fast train is comparatively
small, but those who have enjoyed this
unusual sensation seldom or never forget
Il in after years. Not tnat the danger. OF
the position imprssses one, for that IS
never thought OF in the novelty of the sit
uation, but the fact Is, ride in the cab
of a locomotive is SO different from trip
in one of the coaches of train with
which one IS familiar tina. il leaves deep
and lasting impression. In the first place
the temporary soJourner In the cab is
given the seat of the stoller or fireman,
which is situated high up and on the left
side. Until one becomes somewhat ac-
customed 10 the unusual motion IL is
question with him whether he will be
able TO cling on or be landed over
against the engineer on the opposite
side, by the sudden gyrations OF the
machine es II strikes sharp curve
and whirls around It. The tempta-
tion is to cling with deathlike grip to
anything within reach. and this is kept
up until the f1ngers, hand and arm be-
come numb and painful from the unusual
tension. After while, however, one be-
CONFESS accustomed TO the motion ana
II hold on sustaining objects Is gradu-
ally released until finally the novice in
the cab ie able to sit with comparative
composure and complacence without
holding on.
1t is only when this point in his expe-
rience is reached that the individual in
dulging in his first ride in a cab begins
to take note of his surroundings or TO
really enjov the novelty OF the trip and
before he has arrived at this part of his
experience the locomotive has covered
eight, ten, or even more good miles OF metal
rails. Some years ago II was the Cos
siper's good fortune TO make the run he
tween Providence and Groton in tie
cab of the locomotive of the shore Line
express. That was before the big bridge
which now spans the Thames river was
built and while big ferryboat were still
employed TO transport the trains between
New London and Groton. The
Connecticut was the name of the locomo-
tive. 1t WAS not the first enc TO bear IL,
but the second, and in its time was
considered one of the best engines on the
road. Indeed, II you asked Charlie Vars
about ii then il is pretty certain he
would tell you the Connecticut had no
equal in this part of the country. For
Charlie was the en&ineer of the shore line
express ana he took as much pride in his
machine and groomed ii as carefully and
thoroughly as though IL were thing OF
intelligence, flesh and blood and not n
Gigantic fabric OF s1ron and steel and brass.
It was through the courtesy or Super
intendent Gardner of the Stonington rail-
road that the Gossiper was enabled to
make the journey under such novel and
enjoyable conditions. Just before get
ing into the cab, Mr.. Gardner told the
Gossiper to try the experiment of holding
his breath for a mile after the train had
got into good running condition. "You
can do IL easily enough" he said, "and as
for knowing whether or not you have ac-
complished the feat, why you will have
the mile posts TO guide you all along the
route" There was something OF
twinkle In the superintendent's eye
which, at the time, suggested mild
practical joke, and then, too, Just think
OF holding ones breath while he covered
. mile. The thing seemed impossible of
performance, that is, until one stopped