The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1901-03-05
SOMETHlN ABOUT WRECKS.
Wreeking Crews an important Factor
In Railroad Work,

Wrecking Crews an important Factor
In Railroad Work. -'
Everyone is interested in the great
railroad wrecks, accounts of which
are daily chronicled in the newspa
! pers of the country, but very few
know little if anything of the great
and mechanical genius which is
brought into action in the clearing
away OF these wrecks and the restor
ing OF the engines and rolling stock
to their original condition when they
are damaged and put out of service
as the result of these disasters. The
public is interested in these matters
only momentarily and very seldom
does it's knowledge of the affair ex.
tend further than an acquaintance
with the list of dead and injured, and
the delay of the trains subsequent to
| such wrecks.
or the wreck trains and the work of
the wrecking crews but little is
known, and yet their work is of so
great Importance that an account of
their operations can not but prove in
teresting. At most the division points
of the railroad systems where repair
shops are maintained, wrecking
trains are kept in readiness for in
slant use when a demand for their
services arises. Such train is kent
fully equipped at the shops in this
city and is under the direct supervis.
ion of General Car Foreman Fred
w. Wright, says the Great Falls
Leader. Mr.. Wright has been in
the employ of the Montana Central
as foreman of the car shops since
Feb. p, 1898. He is a graduate of
Cambridge (EnglanD university, and
entered the railway service in 1882
in st. Paul as car foreman for the
chicago, st. Paul, Minneapolis &
Omaha railroad, and the next wear
took a position with the St. Paul.
Minneapolis & Manitoba railroad.
now the Great Northern. In speaking
OF the railroad wrecks along the
line of the Montana Central, Mr..
Wright stated the following to the
Leader:
When a wreck occurs I am at
once informed Of the matter with a
description of the character of the
wreck and am furnished with an en-
glne ana train crew to convey the
Wreck-train to the scene OF the acct
dent. The Wreck-train consists of a
steam derrick car, tool car, car
OF blocks, a protection car and a car
OF extra trucks. All possible speed is
made to the point of the wreck,
and our first object is to open the
main line and to clear away the wreck
SO that the track or bridge may be
made passable and traffic resumed.
This work. of course, continues re-
CARELESS of night, day or meal hours
All rolling stock is saved from injury
after the track is cleared as nearly
as is possible, but it is an after con
sideration and much property is sac
rlticed in order to get the track
cleared. The picking up of the wreck
age is usually done during regular
working hours. The steam derrick
is used altogether in handling such
cars and tenders that are within
reach and lakes quick and COMPARE
lively easy work.
with locomotives, whether turned
over or not. it is usual to put in
what is known as the dead man.
This is a hole II feet long, 2 IL feet
wide, and from to 5 feet deep. In
this hole are buried heavy timbers to
which is attached a heavy rope or
chain. TO the end of the rope is at
tached an especially heavy triple
block and similar block is attached
to the steam dome of the wrecked
engine. Then there is strung
through these blocks as much as is
necessary of a 2 1-2 inch manila
rope, 600 feet in length, and to this is
attached live locomotive which
furnishes power for rolling or lifting
the dead engine. Before turning
the dead engine, however, it is usual
to lay flor of track ties. Upon this
fioor we sometimes place rails and
drop the wheels upon them as the
engine is turned over. Then when|
the engine is in perpendicular con-
dition with all wheels upon the rails
1t becomes necessary to do some
grading Ia accordance with the level
where tie engine may be and the
main line. Then track is laid
and the engine is pulled up by means
of the tackle used in pulling it into
position on the temporary track.
The big engine No. 500 which was
turned over near Basin recently was
taken NJ a grade of Is per cent af-
ter being righted.
THE general car or wrecking fore
man personally handles all wrecks
but is frequently accompanied by the
master mechanic, the train master
the general road master and the as
sistant general superintendent, who
of course all are Interested in get
ting the track cleared as soon as
possible At the recent Riverdale
wreck there was totally destroyed
four new 100000 pound capacity ore
cars. ore new way car, one caboose
and two box cars, These were de-
stroyed by fire originating from a
stove smashed in the caboose when
the car was struck by the engine"
The steam derrick which we use
is made by the Industrial Iron Works,
of Michigan 1t is nearly all con-
structed of steel and weighs 1872 1000
pounds. 1t is equipped with pair
OF 25-horse power engines has it's
own boilers and carries sufficient
supply Of fuel and water. It's lifting
is 10000 pounus.
Engine No. SIS which was in