The record-union., 1896-09-13

Then the engine is placed upon the
turntable and backed into one of the
twenty eight stalls of the round d-house.
where the boilers netting in the front
end, ash-pans, CRATES and all parts of
the engine are thoroughly inspected by
men skilled in that line of work
Repairs are then made according to
the report of the inspectors, the boilers
washed out, and the engine thoroughly
cleaned and overhauled ready for her
next trip. Every article of engine fur
niture is examined each trip, and any
thing missing must be accounted for to
the Master Mechanic.
After everything has been put into
frst-class condition the tank is filled
with water, and shortly before her hour
of departure the Smith kinder is
put in use to get up steam, which is
done by using crude oil instead of wood.
About l 200 locomotives are fired up IN
this manner during each month, and
about 800 gallons of oil are consumed.
The Smith fire kinder before men
toned is one of the most modern i'm
provements in the method of firing up
engines, and it's use is great saving to
the company.
equipped with all the modern appli-
ances for the handling, repairing and
testing of engines. Here are stalls for
twenty eight engines and drop table
" orlzed by hydraulic pressure where
driving wheels can be taken out from
even the largest engines, and the larg-
est engine weighs about 1I5,OO0 pounds.
There is also drop table for remov-
ing engine truck and tender wheels,
which is operated by compressed air,
with the use of which the work is done
III one-quarter of the time formerly
consumed by the old method. Three
lines of pipes run the length of the
roundhouse. The first of these carries
300 pounds hydraulic pressure to the
inch and is used for testing boilers The
boiler Of each engine is tested once in
three months. The second is line Of
steam pipe capable of giving 40 pounds
pressure to the square inch and is used
as a blower for engines, boring out
cylinders, etc The third is line of air
pipe carrying go pounds pressure to the
square inch, and is used for blowing out
fues and running air calking flues,
hammers and staybolt drilling ma
chimes. When an engine comes into the
house to remain but short time and
requires washing out an ejector is
used to wash out the boiler with hot
water, and then to fill it with the same
10 make steam, thus obviating the ne
cessity for long walt. The shop en-
pIoys about eighty men exclusive OF
engineers and firemen who are con-
nected with the department.
The men who take charge of the loco
motive when it leaves the roundhouse
for the road are class apart from the
worlxmen in the shop, but it would be
extremely interesting to watch under
their care the iron king as it swings
into level stretches, dashes down grades
and around sharp curves, speeding its
load to it's destination. 1t would also
be interesting to watch the changes
rllr1g into the engineers face as he
PASSES the hours upon his box watch
ing with experienced eye every effort
made by the engine, patting it lovingly
as it overcomes obstacles and express
ing his discomfort does it chance to
sulk. In short, it would be instructive
as well as interesting to take a trip in
the cab and see all that the engineer
and his assistant sces-to share with
them the post of danger and response
blity and ask various questions upon
matters so simple that one would be
laughed at. But it is the province OF
the oniooker merely to look and won
der. for the cab is sacred ground and
must not be invaded, and the engineer
zealously guards his charge.
The workmen at the roundhouse are
careful men. and while their work is
diversified. it is always well done.
Their names follow:
j. v. Clarke, Foreman.
c. l.. Young, Assistant Foreman.
J. IT, Richardson, Night Foreman.
John Macarthur, Timekeeper
Machinists.