The Topeka state journal., 1900-06-06
FIRST COMPOUND ENGINES.
Engineers Had No Use For Them
When introduced.


The big ten wheeler had just pulled
the fast passenger train into the To
peka station yesterday. 1t was un-
coupled from the train and backed
down to the round house. After being
run into the stall the engineer Chamber
ed down out of the cab and entered the
round house foreman's Office. He call
ed for the repair book and made the
following entry:
No 499. Safety hanger for eccentric
blade wanted.
After the above entry had been made
he turned around and met the stare of
half a dozen men. Immediately there
was chorus of How DO you like her?"
Did she run smooth 7'' etc. The engi-
neer reached for and pulled a handker
chief from his pocket and wiped mis-
face before replying: "She is all right"
This was the signal for a general con-
versation in which all Joined in Engi-
neer B. w Client who had been an at
tentive listener now spoke up. He said:
I probably know as much about that
old steamboat as any one. In 1890 a
consignment of six engines were receiV-
ed by the Santa Fe. The 499 or rather
the 44O as it was then known was one
of the six. Under the cab windows
the word compound appeared. In
those times engineers thought that any
one who would make a compound en-
gine was fit subject for the mad
house.
She had a high pressure cylinder on
the leIl SlQe, size, l9XZb lncneS anu q
low pressure cylinder on the right side
that was 30x26 inches. The li-se steam
went through the left cylinder and was
then used again through the right cy-
Under. In the pipe connecting the two
cylinders an intercepting valve Cor the
hOOdOO was placed. This was supposed
to let live steam into both the cylinders,
but in starting only. The lever which
worked this valve was connected with a
handle in the cab. This handle laid
very close to the boiler. To unslcilled
operators the action of that valve was a
puzzle. Some times it would move and
some times it would not, and it would
take about five minutes to start the
train. When the engine was once start
ed there was no power which could stop
it short of 100 feet.
mo one seemd to want the engine.
About this time she was given to Frank
McKeon on trains Z and 8. At this
time No. was the fastest heavy train
in the country. When the train was
late she would always give the most
trouble in starting. Frank would then
open the throttle, stick his head out of
the window and wait for her to go. If
the drawbars held she would eventually
get out of town and would bring the
train in on time.
THE first time Frank wanted to lay
off seven engineers were called before
one was found that would go. That
/ engineer was myself. Old 440 and
seemed to work together as harmonious
/ as q mule and a darkey.
About this time she was sent to the
round house and Overhauled. After this
! she was sent west to haul passenger
train No. out of Dodge City. BY this
| time some of the engineers began tC
/ like her.
Later she was sent into the shops
and rebuilt. She now has a high pres
sure cylinder on both sides, and has
/ been given the number '499.'
! She used to fool the tramps in great
! style. She only exhausted half as many
1 times as an ordinary engine and wher
the tramps heard her coming. woulf
think she was running awfully slow
! and would run down the track further
so that the danger of being put of
| would be less. BY the time the trair
| caught up with them it would be goins
! so fast that they would not dare at
| tempt catching the train