The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-22

matte giant. We had passed the middle Of
the tunnel and were ascending the bank at
the other end of it,
Looking through the glass In the cab, not
withstanding the dew-like moisture which
obscured it, I could dimly perceive a tiny
far off point of light shining like a star
through the impenetrable gloom For a
long while it appeared to hover quite sta
tionary; then it appeared to slowly but
surely approach, enarging and gaining in
brightness; a kind of sickly green faintness
came stealing into the blackness and a
moment later the engine, putting like a
creature nearly spent with its exertions,
emerged into the daylight again, with the
driver holding his watch in his hand and
shouting out to me, with a triumphant eX-
preston Seven minutes and half
The frequent shoveling has made great
inroads into our supply of coal by this time,
and it IS about half gone. Occasionally
the fireman puts the long-hooked poker be-
twixt the fire doors and adroitly plies 1t,
L notice that he does not stir the flaming
mass about, but always draws it toward
him. Inquiring the reason of this 1 am in
formed that it is impossible to maintain
steam in a locomotive unless the corners
of the fire box are kept free, and that the
most effective results are produced by heap
ing the furnace into a glowing cone in the
center of the CRATE. So that even the APP
parently simple task of stocking requires
knowledge and experience.
We slip through West Drayton, and al
ready the sky is beginning to wear that in
describable sallow appearance which be-
tokens that we are nearing London, whilst
the clear, frosty atmosphere takes a faint
Of
furnace doors wide open and closes the
damper so as to draw down some of the
ardor of the glowing mass, for the heat of
the furnace is so prodigious that l find it
impossible to look straight into the opening.
Yet, Notwithstanding this. We whirl through
Southall and Hanwell at a speed which
renders it quite impossible to decipher the
names upon the station boards. 1t is down
hill now all the rest of the way to Padding
ton-a very gentle gradient, it is true-and
the drop of the pressure gauge from $50
pounds to $50 pounds to the square inch
makes no appreciable difference in our We
locity BY this time 1 am in a deplorable
condition of CRIME and oiliness, and be-
ginning to experience a slight singing SEN
sation in the ears from the ceaseIess mod
ulated roar of the train. And yet the in
terval since we steamed out of Newport
station, nearly three hours ago. seems to
have gone amazingly fast, which is no
doubt due to the novelty of all have seen.
AS we glide through the cresent-shaped
station of Westbourne Park the vacuum
brake begins to squeak and grind against
the tires The back of the houses with
their dingy windows feebly catching the
pale, Watery sunshine, which struggles
through the yellowish haze look uncom-
monty squalid after the freshness of The
leagues of open landscape across which
we have been whirling; but London houses
always look squalid from the railway. The
wide span of Paddington Station opens be-
lore us, and we run smoothly in, and as the
splendid locomotive comes to a standstiIl
the driver points triumphartIy up at the
hands Of the big clock, which indicates
twelve minutes past l.
Ihree minutes ahead Of time, sir" be
eXclalms. Il know what they always saw
when they see the courier arrive: Here
comes that little Welshman again before he
is due Are you going back with us? We
shall be working the 5:35 express down to
Bristol