The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-09-11
RAILROAD WRECKING CREW
HOW THEY DO THEIR Work IN
THESE MODERN DAYS.
Speed is One of the Essential Features-
what Wreeking Crew Must be Capa-
bic OF DOing-The Big job After the
JohnstOyvn Flood.

|
Johnstown Flood.
In the last few weeks a series OF
wrecks has occurred within short
distance of Pittsburg. While there has
been no serious loss of life, consider
able valuable merchandise was ire
trievably ruined. To cope with this
leak in the revenues Of the transpolta-
ton lines the several railroads have
equipped certain number of cars with
all the modern hosting and lifting de-
vices and trained crew of wreckers
The wrecking crew is always within
call, for their services may be at any
moment most important.
The derrick car, with its huge pro-
jecting beak reaching far beyond the
boundaries Of the car frames, stands
always ready to assist in throwing over
the bank derailed cars containing the
most valuable of commodities When
a wreck occurs on the lines leading out
of iPttsburg, the trainmaster Of the road
on which the accident happens to be is
at once notified. The first hot engine
is pressed into service and the wrecking
crew assemblies in haste. 1t may be
that the accident is caused by two en-
gines on the same track, but going in
opposite directions, trying to pass each
other, or a washout may have torn up
| the track ahead of the fast mali train.
| Whatever the cause, the wrecking crew
| is despatched to the location of the ac-
cident.
| The wrecking department of rail-
road resembles the fire department of
great city, In many instances. The
men composing the crew are all picked
mechanics whose versatility has COM
mended them for the wrecking service,
Engineers and conductors out on the
road seldom call for the wreck car UNI
! less the wreck Is serious The locomo-
tives and cabooses are equipped with
heavy chains, lifting jacks and other
appliances for retrackng derailed cars,
and when only a single car flies the
track the train crew places 1t without
the aid Of the rocking force.
Accidents that demand the wrecking
force are plenty, and when they occur
the conductor sends out a hagman
ahead to protect other trains, and noti-
ties the tIain dispatcher of the need of
the wrecking crew.
Each railroad has its own system of
handling wrecks. 1t Is usual for
railroad company to have stationed at
the terminal of each freight division a
wrecking crew. Sometimes as in the
case of branch lines, this wrecking out
fit may only consist of one derrick car,
with two derricks on it, one of which is
operated by a small hosting engine.
Where hand power is rel ed on the heavy
hosting is performed with the assist
ance Of the regular locomotive, which
pulls on a cable working the hosting
arrangements of the derrick car.
In addition to the derrick car the
train is made of tool car and q
"shanty" car The latter is used as
sleeping quarters for the men compos-
ing the wrecking crew, when out at a
wreck for any length of time. The
wrecking crew are engaged when not
at wrecks on work In the several round
houses. If a member of the wrecking
crew desires a day off he must notify
the foreman of his intention, and in
many tdStS Luz IiiSii hll bNttHAdDtt sun
stitute so that the wreck train may II
called upon for duty be at its full
strength. Some roads have the houses
of their wrecking crews equipped with
electric call bells or telephones but the
ordinary method of summonlng them
for wreck duty is by the call boy, who |
wakes the engineers and conductors on
the regular trains.
L. F. Loree, General Manager Of the |
Pennsylvania lines west of Plttsburg, |
in making comparison between the |
city Gre department and wrecking |
crew on the railroad said 1.-The value of |
service is greatly dependent upon the |
quickness with which the apparatus is
gotten to the place of the accident,
When the wrecking crew are notified |
every man hastens to his place and the
first engine and crew obtainable are
placed at their service. They are given
a clear track to the point of obstruc-
ton, other trains making way for them,
much as the street pedestrians and hea-
Wy teams seek the curbs and sidewalks
at the ringing -" the gong to make way
for the approaching fire engine.
Arriving at the wreck, the first thing
to be done is to set up telegraph office,
which gives direct communication with
headquarters. A man is placed in
charge Of the tool car to issue the tools
needed at the wreck, and to care for
hem when they are returned, He also
Keeps coffee boiling and serves lunch
If biscuit and canned meats when the
men require it. The Wrecking crew do
not aim as much to save damaged
rpio oh a q n clear the road |
he suspended traffic The obstructing
,ars are usually rolled over the bank,
o be picked up the following Sunday.
The trainmen calling for the wreck train
AVE given the tranmaster descrip-
ion of the situation and an estimate
# the probable time required to open
he road, If the time required to obtain ;
clear track exceeds four hours, freight
rains are not sent out from terminals.
The trains are, however, made up and
he yards cleared for the movement Of
he concentrated traffic that follows the
emoval of the wreck.
LESS than four hours detention
rains are moved as close as conven-
ant to the point of the wreck and stor-
d on sidings for rapidity of movement
When the lie is open. Where the road ,
5 closed for more than four hours, in |
IL probability arrangements are made
o defect the mail trains over foreign ! ,