The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1901-08-14
ia RID ON THE NERVES
RUNNING TRAINS OVER MOUNTAIN
ROADS IS RISKY WORK.

ho'N'NlNd lhRlNS OVER NOUN AIN
ROADS IS RISKY WORK.
IL Takes Youth and Strcngth and
courage TO Hold an Engineers Job
ON On" of These brain WhIrIinu
NerN" Hacking Runs.
"one of the greatest difficulties of
Tie real mountain roads, like the Colo
RADIO Midland, the Rio Grande Western
Hnd the Denver and Rio Grande, is in
getting engineers" said the city pas
henger agent of the Rio Grande West
trn road. This gentleman is familiar
with all the lntcrmountaln ronds,
where the trains have to all but fly to
reach some of their destinations
"One might suppose that all roads
would look alike to the experienced en-
ginecr. hut they don't. Along some, of
the prairie roads an engineer can take
run on any new track almost as'.well
as on one he has travelled for years and
knows with his eyes shut. But here In
the west 1t is different Down In Colo
RADIO, where are some of the greatest
| monuments to the railroad builder that
have ever been erected, an engineer
has 70 travel over the roads sometimes
for weeks with old experienced engi-
neers who know the track before he
will be trusted with Il train. 1t isn't a
question of engineering ability; merely
one of experience.
1t Is enough to take n fellows nerve
TO sweep around some of those noun
tain curves and passes for the first
time Some good men never take more
than their first ride. | have seen engi-
heers come from the east, men of gilt
edge character ana ability, who lost
their nerve with the first trip and took
the first train for n natter country.
Dizzy reverse curves. trestles that
seem to totter In the wind, precipices
that seem to yawn for "A fellows life
and grades that are n revelation OF
horror to the newcomer crowd in be-
wildering confusion on the view, and
unless II fellow Is us stolld rs an OK or
nervy as the mischief he is apt to lose
his head.
You would be surprised mt the num-
Der of young engineers who are on the
mountain roads. For one thing, a man
does not last there as he does on less
picturesque, more prosac run. 1t takes
youth and strength and courage of a
rare order to stand 1t all The compa-
MES are the most appreciatlve In the |
world, for they realize how hard 1t is TO
get good man, and they treat good |
man right royalty. But even this does
not attract n surplus of the right sort.
THE principal dangers are IN the |
heavy grades and In the sharp curve
though landsldcs are far from un-
known. one must know his train and |
his road Ike bool, to get through |
with his life on the Marshall pass, for |
instance. where you seem to plunge
headlong down the mighty hill. A rock
on the track, Il broken wheel, II runa-
way ear or n failure of the brakes to
work would end in smash up that
would startle the whole country. The
hill might be Il glare of Ice or frost, It
aalolat LA Il-4t - AalAIAl Izaii= got
the airhrake too hard 50 ms to start the
wheels to sliding down the hill you 20
like gigantic toboggan, with death
and destruction at the end of the ride.
The management of the nlrbrake and
knowing where the CurVps and danger
GUS places are is the greatest part of an
engineers education IN the mountains.
For my own part. knowing the dan
gers ms do, | feel nervous after riding
100 miles over the widest parts of the
roads even rs a passenger rode
through the Royal gorge on the engine
n few weeks ago and was glad when
the ride was over. II makes fellow
feel trembly Ike to think what might |
be, though the worst rarely happens. |
Such Is the care taken In equipment |
and IN getting the best men that the |
mountain roads have as small n proper
tion of losses ms the dead level roads of
the plains. But II takes man of nerve |
to pilot train through some of the |
wilder regions.
"A freight train Is the worst, In that |
1t Is much heavier than n passenger |
and is expected TO make almost the |
same time. All the heavy stock trains |
going east. % to 30 ears, make passcn-
ger schedule. A freight is SO loosely !
coupled as to bc very Interchangeable at |
critical points The stock trains are the |
terror OF the engine drivers and ali the
tralnmen.
"a fellow isn't necessarily II coward |
when he throws up his job as engineer |
over the mountain roads, after seeing |
what the dangers are. Not one passcn-
ger In 10000 would assume the same |
danger. The position calls for absolute
ly steady nerve, and one who feels that |
lie Is likely to get ratified ~ dangerous
to himself, to the company and to all
who ride behind him A man must
think and act like lightning In the face |
Of so many dangers that he must be
sure Of his ability to stand the strain.
No one stays any great number of
years 1t is beyond ones power to do
so and be safc. A man may be brave
and willing aud all that, but these are
not enough. lie must be sure and proof
against stampede. Such man Is worth
every thing to the companies, and they
treat him like prince. lutte Inter
Mountain