The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1901-08-16
HARD ON THE NERVES
RUNNING TRAINS OVER MOUNTAIN
ROADS Is RISKY WORK.
IL Takes Youth and Strength and
Courage To Hold nm Engineers job
ON One of These Drain WhirIing.
Nerve Hscking Runs.

Courage To Hold nm Engineers job
ON One of These Drain WhirIins.
Nerve Rscking Runs.
zone Of the greatest difficulties of
the real mountain roads, like the Colo
rado Midland, the Rio Grande Western
and the Denver and Rio Grande, is In
getting engineers" said the city pas
scnger agent OF the Rio Grande West
ern road. This gentleman IN familiar
with all the intermounta0 roads,
where the trains have 10 all but fly 10
reach some OF their destinations.
"One might suppose that all roads
would look alike TO the experienced en-.
glneer. but they don't. Along some OF
the prairie roads an engineer can take
run OH any new trnck almost as well
as on one he has travelled for years and
knows with his eyes shut. But here In
the west IL IL different Down IN Colo
RADIO, where are some OF the greatest
monuments 10 the railroad builder that
have ever been erected, an engineer
has 10 travel over the roads sometimes
for weeks with old. experienced engi-
neers who know the track before he
Will be trusted with n train. II isn't a
question OF engineering ability; merely
one Of experience.
1T Ia enough 10 take n fellows nerve
20 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 ene-
a
edge character and ability, who lost
their nerve with the first trip and took
the first train for hatter country.
Dizzy reverse curves. trcstlcs that
seem to totter In the wind, preclpices
that seem 10 yawn for a fellows life
and grades that are "A revelation Of
horror 10 the newcomer crowd In be-
wllderlng confusion on the view. and
unless fellow Is as stolld ns an OK or
nervy as the mischief he IL apt TO lose
his head.
"You would be surprised at the num-
ber of young engineers who are on the
mountain roads For one thing. a man
does not last there as he does on n less
picturesque, more prosalc run. IL takes
youth and strength and courage Of n
rare order TO stand II all The compa-
pIes are the most appreclative I'm the
world, for they realize how hard II Is TO
get good man, and they treat good
man right royalty. But even this does
not attract surplus OF the right sort
"The principal dangers are In the
heavy grades and I'm the sharp curves,
Al. Ill (nr
known. One must know his train and
his road like a book TO get through
with his life on the Marshall pass, for
instance, where you seem 10 plunge
headlong down the mighty hill. A rock
on the track, n broken wheel, n runa-
way car or failure OF the brakes TO
work would end I'm n smash up that
would startle the whole country. The
hill might be n glare OF Ice or frost. Il
might be wet or snowy, and II you set
the airbrake too hard so as TO start the
wheels TO sliding down the hill you go
like gigantic toboggan, with death
and destruction at the end of the ride.
The management OF the alrbrake and
knowing where the curves 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 n passenger. i rode
through the Royal gorge on the engine
few weeks ago and was glad when
the ride was over 1t makes fellow
feel trcmbly like TO think what might
be, though the worst rarely happens.
Such Is the care taken In equipment
and I'm getting the best men that the
mountain roads have rs small proper
tlon of losses rs the dead level roads Of
the plains But Il takes man OF nerve
TO pilot train through some of the
wilder regions.
"a freight train Is the worst, In that
Il 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 10 be very unmanageable at
critical points. The stock trains are the
terror OF the engine drivers and all the
trainmCn.
~ fellow isn't necessarily coward
when he throws up his job ms 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
he Is likely 10 get ratified Is dangerous
10 himself, 10 the company and TO all
who ride behind him. A man must
think and act like lightning I'm the face
of so many dangers that he must be
sure of his ability 20 stand the strain.
No one stays any great number Of
years. IL is beyond ones power TO do
30 and bc safe. \ man may be brave
hn6 willing and all that, but these are
not enough. lie must be sure and proof
against stampede. Such n man is worth
everything 20 the companies, and they
treat him like n prince. Inter