The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-01-09

After He Has Had an Accident.
SO far as the training of locomotive |
engineers is concerned, railroad COM |
panies are certainly very careful in |
looking out for the safety of their pas
sengers; for it takes a longer time for
a man to perfect himself in this voca-
tion than to prepare for any one of the
professions.
For several years the boy, or young
man, learns how to fire" a stationary
engine. When he is competent at this
work he becomes a stationary engineer.
After this he must become a fireman
on locomotive, working in this capac-
ity for from three to eight years. Each
railroad company has it's own rules in
this particular; some railroads only re-
quire three years service as u fireman,
and others four, six, or eight-eight
years being the highest. During this
long course of training, the young man
has become practically familiar with
the mechanical construction Of the To-
COmotivc. He can name the different
pieces of machinery and describe their
| use. He is considered competent to
run locomotive, that is, some locomo-
| tives; but he has to wait for an open
ing.
1T is an employment" said an en-
| gineer where you certainly make
haste slowly. Your first engine is moth
ing more than what is called a shifter,'
which is used in the train yard to shift
around cars from one track to another.
| You must do this kind of work for at
| least n year. Then you get a position
on freight train, or some slow passen-
| ger train. If you are the right kind
| of man you may in course Of time be-
! come engineer of one of the more i'm
| portant trains or a through express
| train.
| QUALIFICATIONS NECESSARY.
THE qualifications necessary to make
successful engineer are something
more than mere mechanical knowledge.
Hundreds of engineers can run an or
dinary train when the track is clear
and there are no special instructions to
follow. But before a man can be put
in charge of one of the flyers he must
pass strict examination not only with
reference to the mechanical part of the
work, but with the idea of discovering
if he has good judgment, a strong,
nerve. cool, clear head. The COM
The engineer must know what to do
in case Of an accident or sudden emer-
gency. His examiners suggest to him
all sorts of difficult situations and ask
him what he would do under the cir
cumstances. He must show them that
he is man capable Of thinking quick
ly and acting promptly"
An engineer is never the same man
after he has had an accident, even
though he may escape unhurt. 1t is
said that all railroad men agree to this
theory. \ certain engineer on one of
the fast eastern trains, which he had
run for years without having an aCci-
dent, met with disaster. He was not
hurt, but the terrible strain of those
few seconds broke him down, and he
would not touch an engine for a year
or two. When he forced himself to go
to work again he had another accident,
not a serious one, and this broke him
down so completely that he was never
able to run even slow local train
and eventually he had to quit the busi-
ness.
WHY HE REMAINED.
One old engineer, in speaking about
: a mans sticking to his engine in the
face of an inevitable collision cruelty
destroys an illusion of the novel reader
and a man who believes everything he
, sees in the newspapers. 1T is sup.
posed" says this engineer, that the
man stays bravely in his cab because
of his devotion to his trust. This may
: be the case sometimes; but self-preser.
walton is the first law of nature. Some
though not the majority, of engineers
~, r1, p 90
!. ing injury or death in a collision
though small under any circumstance s
=, are better in remaining in the ca
= than in jumping. Others adhere to tn
belief that the chances of escape al,
infinitely better in jumping. Many {
man who has been written a hero fo
bravely sticking to his post and en-
= deavoring to save the lives of his pas
. sengers, unmindful of himself, stucl
u to his post solely because when he nat
exhausted all of the resources ac hi
- command to stop the train. he fount
y that he hadn't time to jump, or tha
he would be killed If he did"
Engineers who have charge of III
{ fast trains receive the most pay wnel
the pay depends on the number a
miles covered. Many men, however
do not seek such positions, on accoun
- of the responsibility connected wit
= the work. and the wear and tear o
- the nerves An engineer must hav
: had many years of training and hav
:, waited a long time to secure such
:, position where he will earn from 81 &c
" to $1,000 a year. His pay is sometim"
y, increased by making extra runs. bu
=, these opportunities are offset b
- changes and delays, so that il is rar