The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-06-25
LIFE ON THE RAIL.
There Is a Mighty
Difference Between
Fact and Fancy.
SCENES At LOCAL OFFICES.
Some of Old-time Conduc-
tors Everybody
Knows.

conductor,
To the railroad man, there are num-
erous ways of looking at the honor
and every ounce of pleasure is weighted
down by pounds of bitter working eX-
periences and the red tape waded
through in getting the position. one oil
the old time railroad men of this city
talked with Spy man recently about
the destinations the life of railroad
man has for younger generations and
ever for the employees.
Scores of we'll educated young men
seek employment in the local offices OF
the New York, New Haven G. Hartford,
Boston & Albany, Boston & Maine and
Fitchburg railroads. At this season OF
the year the railroad man sits in his
office with the same feeling In his
bosom that fills the editor as he waits
for the appearance of the spring poet.
in local offices recommendations as
to the best method of procuring en-
ployment can be given, but conductors
and brakemen are appointed through
the general offices. A Spy man spent
day with an official of one of the
railroads, and if the applicants for
positions could have walked in front of
a mirror they might poke fun at them
selves.
The first aspirant for railroad honors
toyed with his hat at he walked into
the office. He wanted to become con-
ductor and very anxious to begin run
ming in a few days. He had been over
the route he wanted to run on hundreds
of times and knew every flag station
and crossing. After he had made his
speech the official referred him to the
general offices Of the road. The Spy
man watched him Chamber down the
stairs, and then the official said
Its as plain as day that he would
never make a conductor. OF course he
would have to pull good strong wires
to get on as a brakeman, but 1t is safe
betting that they would not take that
fellow if they needed a man."
"Why?" asked the reporter. He was
we'll built, intelligent looking young
man."
The official smiled and said: "Well,
In the first place. the fellow was too
stout. He had an unhealthy look about
him, Notwithstanding his stoutness.
He also smoked cigarettes, and that is
something no railroad man will do.
Then l noticed he had a fondness for
jewelry. All railroad companies want
neat looking conductors, but giddiness
in dress signifies tendency on the part
of those so afflicted to makes them
selves popular. No railroad company
wants men who are too popular. Men
must be civil, yes, and polite, but they
must not be of the sort that attract
strangers too much"
The next young employment seeker
was a dapper young fellow who
claimed to be an experienced brake
man, having been employed on local
line running out Of Boston. He had
mastered the art of walking in rail-
road style, which is something after the
method of cake walkers only the rail-
road man never uses his body to bal
ance himself, the legs and feet being
placed so as to preserve the straight
ness of the body, even when the train
is going over the toughest roadbed
The official looked him over and ques-
toned him concerning his connection
with the other road. The young man
said he left because he was promised a
promotion which was mighty slow in
coming" The official did not even re-
fer the fellow to the general office, but
said: Il know there Is no chance of
you getting place on this road for
Out of about Is applicants 4 were
to the general office. The
the official explained, had
faults that could not easily be cor
rected. Some appeared too conceited,
others too unassuming, some were
dressed too dudishly, and others looked
slOvenly. The railroad man explained
that he did not like to encourage any
young fellow to seek railroad employ
ment unless the applicant could not be
satisfied with any other kind of work.
After the man has worked for years
as a freight brakeman, he may be
fortunate enough to get on as brake
man of passenger train. Then it
means a few years, sometimes 10 or Is,
before he Is placed in charge of train.
Then he is in a heap Of trouble for a
few months.
If he is under As and tries to be po-
lite, some female passenger will stamp
him as horrid fiirt, and report him
to the company. When he gets called
TO the general Office and is reprimand-
ed, it makes him feel kind Of shaky
about going out of his way to be po-
lite. Then some grabbed passenger is
sure to report him as being surly if
the conductor requests him to take
8 or 10 bundles out of the seat
and make room for another passenger.
A few years ago it was a comm on
occurrence for conductors to Zoe laid
off as the result of being reported, but
nowadays, a reprimand and discharge
If the case is a serious one, follow re-
ports of incivility. A conductor on pas
senger train has one great dread. 1t is
fear of coming in contact with the
class known to railroad men as the
incurables." These are not necessarily
men addicted to the use of liquor, but
men, and more often women,
who would ask questions that
no one can answer. A partial
list of the kind of questions that ag-
gravate a conductor, was furnished the
reporter. Who was that woman in
pink waist that got off al the last sta
ton ?" rs my sister on this train?'
DO you suppose anything will hap
pen so the train will be late?"
There are, of course, hundreds of
conductors who have gone through the
stormy paths of train life and are now
who are not physical wrecks or
grabbed because they have spent many
years in the service.
Harry Adams, passenger conductor
on the Boston nand Albany, has run
over Is years. and there is not better
known or more universally popular
railroad employee than he yet his pop
MARTY is not of the kind that befalis
Younger men, it is more in the nature
of deep respect for the sterling guam
ties he possesses and daily exhibits.
John Sherborn, passenger engineer on
the Fitchburg road. has served p years
in that capacity, and is known to be
as proud Of a smooth running engine
and neat cab as he was at the begin
ming of his career.
George Partridge, another engineer
on the same road, will soon round out
o Years of continual service. Both have
cosy homes in Winchendon.
Henry Alger of the Boston & Albany
is the pioneer of all. For over forty
Years he has been in the cab, and dur
ing that time has been associated with
scores of conductors, none OF WHOM