The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1902-07-25
HOBOKEN 70 DOVER.
CONTINUED FROM FIRST Pace I

in the cab with shower of misty
spray. At Maplewood, the steam is
shut off and the again the air breaks
hiss. The compound curve is not to
be taken in any way but seriously,
and even at low speed the engine
rocks to and fro as if about to leave
the rails Soon this delay will be no
longer experienced, for the new cut
off embankment is nearly completed
Once around the last loop of the S
the track lies straight ahead for
mile to the Milburn station. The
throttle is all the way out, and 800
takes the Millburn hill without the
slowing up usual on heavy grade,
and comes into Short Hills with all
but one of the lost minutes gained
There is no chance to catch up any
more until Summit is passed, for the
grade to that place is steep and the
track winds about on the side of the
hill. From the cab window the view
is beautiful. Trees on every side,
almost meeting above the track. The
limbs and leaves toss up in the air
with the force of the draught from
the engines stack.
| At Summit the last two cars are
dropped and the tanks in the tender
are filed from the water butt. The
conductor comes forward with some
telegraph "fiimsy, - in his hand, re-
ceived from the operator. 1t is from
the powers that be at Hoboken, from
those who have the care and safety of
everybody who rides ON the road. The
instructions must be obeyed to the
letter, without fail. The message
says that stop must be made on the
siding at Denville to let the Buffalo
express pass. This means that addi-
tional time must be gained. The
throttle is open for a short minute
after leaving Summit and then the
| heavy train runs down the slope of
warning whistles for the Passaic and
Delaware junction and all the signals
show clear There is something awe
some in this part of the run. The
engine makes no sound save the fun
eral clang clang of the bell, and the
speed is constantly increasing. Ahead
is one of the worst curves on the
road, the Elkwood loop. Speed must
be diminished to take the turn, and
with it's power off the engine seems
helpless. Then as if to be treasured,
the air brakes begin their periodic
kissing. The engineer is leaning for
ward to catch sight of the Hall sig
nal. which is most hidden by turn
of the track around bluff. 1t shows
white, and the tracks are sound. One
more little curve and the leap is in
sight Again trees are on every side,
while right in front, like barrier
rises the abrupt height of Long Hill.
The trees open directly ahead and
show the Passaic river, track clings to
the side of the hill, and for an instant
| it seems that the engine is about to
leap from the abrupt ending of the
rails into the valley below. The tracks
turn sharply SO that one may look
back and count the coaches in the
rear The rail towards the valley is
banked so that it is foot and a half
higher than its mate. The engine
jumps to the turn with jar and it
seems that the wheels must leave the
lower rail. Then the air exhaust signs
out and the track is straight again,
running across the great arched
bridge above the river into Chatham.
| Gone minute late,'' the engineer
shouts above the noise of the steam
bursting from the safety valve.
Then 920 proves herself worthy of
the makers name she bears. She is
one of the last he ever made. The
stops at stations are more frequent,
yet time is being made up constantly.
With incredible rapidity the start
from the stations are made, and here
many a march is stolen upon the I'M
swerving figures of the schedule
maker. At Morristown the single
track begins, and there arc Run
Slow" signs~at regular intervals; for
the road is undergoing e-making
and regarding to conform with the
traffic requirements Ahead is gang
of laborers filing in rock ballast.
They are intent on their work under
the eye of the section boss, and 920
has to whistle several swear words to
make them move. Then there is
scattering to right and left. On time
at Denville, but there is siding to
be made and this always takes bit
! longer than the schedule allows. The
Buffalo train comes by, gliding with
little noise, forty five miles an hour.
White capped porters peer from the
windows and a brakeman waves
perfection of polished black and steel.
The engineer of 900 looks on with
disapproval,
| 'She looks pretty, ana can get
along all right on good stretches.
But I'd like to see her pull this load
and make all our stops. She couldn't
get away from half of them, and
would be an hour lade at Dover.
But then, l guess the old girl here
wouldn't want to take her job,
either.
The track runs in narrow cut for
away, and once more the tenderfoot
in the cab. is nervous. The track is
single and one cannot see clear
ahead for more than a hundred
yards or so. The speed is high
and when the way is so clear to the
main line junction the Buffalo Elk
press might we'll show envy. A
whistle for the signal tower and
sharp turn, and the Morris and Essex
division is left behind for the high
way to the West. We are almost in
the Dover station before the air is
used, and halt by the butt for a second
drink on the hard run. The engineer
looks at his watch.
"Twenty five seconds late. Not so