The courier., 1902-08-02
Making ap f.
Passenger Grain

groomed coach what labor and pains
the railroad company and its employees
have taken to insure him a safe and
comfortable journey.
Some Of the main line trains and all
others that leave Lincoln on the differ
ent branches are made up in the local
yards. The regular passenger trains
run on schedule time and are governed
by time card, which is issued as often
as it is found convenient to change the
arrival and departure Of trains. When
a special or an extra is sent over the
road the orders come from the chief
dispatcher's office, and are inspired by
some higher authority. Otherwise
trains run by standing orders.
A baggage, express. mail and passen-
ger coaches are coupled to an engine.
The engineer and fireman sit in the cab
waiting for the signal to pull out. The
conductor in his natty blue uniform
and brass buttons stands, watch in
hand. ready to say "go" when time is
up. A neat-looking brakeman is busy
helping a fat woman. two band boxes
and a bird cage OF the platform.
The watch points to the hour, 1t is
time to be Off. The conductor darts
sharp look in the direction Of the cab,
gives a peculiar swing to his arm, the
engineer pulls open the throttle. the
big iron monster goes pun, pun" and
the train with its precious human
freight is gone.
The traveller saw or perhaps he did
not see a perfectly equipped train
placed at his service. He certainly did
not think Of the labor and time ex-
pended by willing hands to put that
train in shape for its journey down the
glistening steel rails.
A coach switched on some incoming
train or perhaps assigned to a regular
run is standing in the yards-if 1t be-
longs to no regular run H Il fh6re
awaiting orders. But this particular
coach is put in condition every trip,
unless sent to the shop for repairs. for
certain branch train. It Is now be-
ing cleaned and inspected. Two car
inspectors, hammer In hand, tap the
wheels looking sharply for flaws in the
running gear. The oilers. who come
next, raise the lids Of the boxes on the
wheels. stir up the waste and pour
from long can a part Of the contents
on the axle. While this is going on
other workmen are engaged in cleaning
the sides Of the car. The floor is
mopped. seats are brushed and the in
terror woodwork rubbed A man puts
fresh water in the cooler and drops in
a chunk Of ice. Somebody is busy
knocking the dust out Of the cushions.
The coach is now ready for service.
Down at the roundhouse an engine
is being overhauled on a short track
located in the building. A fire is built
under the boiler and steam generated.
Machinists are engaged in making nec-
essary repairs. When this is done the
big machine is run out onto the turn
table and placed on a short stub. The
wipers then appear with bits of waste
and begin cleaning the jacket, tender,
cab, pilot and brass work.
When all this labor is done the en-
gfne Is taken to the sheds and coaled
up. 1t is now in shape to go out on its
regular run. The engineer and fireman,
in response to standing orders, appear
clad in neat overalls and take their
posts in the cab. The machine starts
for the passenger yards.
Meantime the switch crew has not
been idle. The fussy little switch en-
gine is engaged in pulling the coaches
and cars intended for this train from
the side track to the one on which the
train is made I'M An the coo chos sJou