The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-04
WHAT MR.. sANDERsoN SAID.
Detailed Testimony of Santa Fe Official
at ssDouble Header7 Hearing.

The testimony of 2. P. c. Sanderson,
assistant superintendent of machinery
Of the Santa Fe, before the Texas Com
mission on the double header" ques-
ton, which was mentioned in the State
Journal Tuesday evening, is of Suffi-
cient interest to Santa E'e employees to
be given in detail
Mr.. Sanderson introduced prOfileS of
the Norfolk & Western railway to show
that it traVerSed rolling country and
level country and that dOuble-header
trains are used over all that road. He
has also personally ridden in engines on
double-headers and said that they do
not increase the number of accidents
Said that there was trouble in getting
the men accustomed to dOuble-headers
but that after they have a little expert
ence they work in unison and there is
no trouble, and further that jerking
only occurs where the train is over
loaded. Said the practice of the first
engine starting the train and controlI-
ing the air is perfectly proper and that
the second engineer can assist in stop
ping the train or even stop the train en-
tirey. Testified that the crew on the
second engine can see as well as the
first engine crew except the track i'm
mediately in front of the first engine
and that the air-pump on the second
engine is an additional safeguard. Con-
tended that dOuble-header could stop
in the same distance a single-header
could, because each car has its own
brakinG power and the momentum
would not affect that result Took the
position that the effort of two or three
engines on a curve is more evenly dis
tributed and is much safer than if the
entire weight were concentrated at one
point by a large engine. Thought the
automatic coupling between the engine
and tender is made very strong and is a
mere matter of detail as to it's strength.
Said a dOuble-header train can make
better time than a train with the same
motive power conferred in one single en-
CINE, because if the power failed in the
latter instance it would not likely weak
en- in two engines. He stated that two
/ engineers receiving orders doubles the
/ security Told the commission that the
men requested the double headers as
| preferred runs because thev did not
/ ksep them away from hons as long as
/ single-headers. and does not believe
/ them extra hazardous.
! On crOss-eXaminatiOn by Mr.. Camp
/ bell, witness had been sent here by the
! superintendent of machinery at the re-
! quest of Mr.. Polk Did not know that
/ the Atchison had adopted double-head-
! erS generally since the election of J. NJ
Barr as vice president. whose hobby is
dOuble-headers. Acknowledged that
| there was an increase in accidents at
| first in the Introduction of dOuble-head-
| ers, but that as soon as the men became
| skilled there are less accidents. Was OF
the opinion that the second engine crew
is more liable to injury than the first
| crew. Said that the second engine crew
are not very much affected by the
smoke, dust and cinders. Assumed the
! position that a skilled engineer car
handle a train of go cars going down
grade as easily as he can 80 cars. SaiC
each engine had its own dangers, and
! acknowledged placing two engines to-
gether doubles the danger.