Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1901-10-24
HARD ON THE NERVES
RUNNING TRAINS OVER MOUNTAIN
ROADS is RISKY WORK.


Courage to Hold an Engineers Job
on One of These Drain WhirIing,
Nerve Hacking Runs
zone of the greatest difficulties Of
the real mountain roads, like the Colo
RADIO Midland, the Rio Grande Western
and the Denver and Rio Grande, Is in
getting engineers" said the city pas.
senger agent Of the Rio Grande West
ern road. This gentleman is familiar
with all the intermountain roads,
where the trains have to all but fly to
reach some Of their destinations.
zone might suppose that all roads
would look alike to the experienced en-
gineer, but they don't. Along some OF
the prairie roads an engineer can take
q run on any new track almost as we'll
as on one he has travelled for years and
knows with his eyes shut. But here In
the west It 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 to travel over the roads sometimes
for weeks with old, experienced engi-
neers who know the track before he
will be trusted with train. 1t isn't a
question of engineering ability; merely
one Of experience.
1T Is enough to take 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. l have seen engi-
neers come from the east, men Of gilt
edge character and ability, who lost
their nerve with the first trip and took
the first train for q flatter country.
Dizzy reverse curves, trestles that
seem to totter in the wind, precipices
that seem to yawn for n fellows life
and grades that are revelation of
horror to the newcomer crowd IN be-
wilderlng confusion on the view. and
unless fellow Is as stolid as an OK or
nervy as the mischief he Is apt to lose
his head.
"You would be surprised Mt the num-
ber of young engineers who are ON the
mountain roads. For one thing. man
uOeS uOt iaoI thNlC iC NoNo VA - ANSS
picturesque more prosaic run. 1t takes
youth and strength and courage Of n
rare order to stand 1t all. The compa-
niles are the most appreciative In the
world, for they realize how hard 1t Is to
get good man, and they treat a good
man right royalty. But even this does
not attract surplus Of the right sort.
"The principal dangers are In the
heavy grades and In the sharp curves,
though landslides are far from un-
known. One must know his train and
his road like book 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, broken wheel, runa-
way car or failure Of the brakes to
work would end In a smash up that
would startle the whole country. The
hill might be glare Of Ice or frost, 1t
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 rs l do, feel nervous after riding
100 miles over the widest parts Of the
roads even as passenger. l rode
through the Royal gorge on the engine
a few weeks ago and was glad when
the ride was over. 1t makes fellow
feel trembly like 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 a proper
ton of losses as the dead level roads of
the plains. But it takes man Of nerve
to pilot a train through some of the
wilder regions.
"a freight train is the worst, In that
II Is much heavier than a passenger
and is expected to make almost the
same time. All the heavy stock trains
going east, % to 30 cars, make passen-
ger schedule. A freight is so loosely
coupled as to be very unmanageable Mt
critical points. The stock trains are the
terror Of the engine drivers and all the
trainmen.
"a fellow isn't necessarily coward
when he throws up his job as engineer
over the mountain roads, after seeing
what the dangers are. Not one passen-
ger In 10000 would assume the same
danger. The position calls for absolute
ly steady nerve, and one who feels that
he is likely to get ratified is 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 safe. A man may be brave
and willing and all that, but these are
not enough. He must be sure and proof
against stampede. Such a man is worth
everything to the companies, and they
traat him like n Drjnce"-Butte Inter-