The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-07-15
A RAILROAD WkECKER.
ALWAYS ON CALL AND HAS The
RIGHT OF WAY.
When the Siren squeals and screeehss
the Crew Starts on a Run-Many
Wrecks Which the Public Doesn't
Hear About,


Hear About.
1--WE give them a clear track and
10 or a 75-mlle-an-hour engine and
the wrscklng master Goes the rest"
said the yardmasier, knocking the ash
es out Of his pipe aad leaning eom-
tor;ahly in his old revolving chair.
"All the wreclymaster knows is that Mt
such and such point on the road such
and such train, so and so many cars,
has been smashed. It's his business to
get to the place fast as steam can carry
him and to clear the man line quick
as Providence will let him.
See that siren sticking up just over
the rucf Of the engine house next to
the repair shops? When that begins to
bray ard squeal and screech three long,
unearthly toots there is trouble some
whore Zip the line. Ever hear one Of
those new-fangied whistles? You'd
no, er know IL was turned on by the
hand of man. At night 1t would make
your skin creep the first time you
heard II. But you're apt to hear II for
miles around and that's what it's there
for-to collect the wrecking crew on
q run.
"Wh .rever there's repair shop
along The line there you're sure to find
a wrcCking train. The crews are
picked men from the shops, for n rea-
son III tell you presently. It's hard
life they lead and strenuous one, but
they get paid we'll and they like the
work, just as I've yet to see the first
man in a city fire department who is
not in love with the excitement and
uncertainty Of his job. In time the
strain on the wr.cker tells.
while the work lasts It Ii heart
breaking and men age under II and
after 10 years service on the crew are
rarely ut to continue in that part of
the service. Every member of the
crew has to live within hearing dis
tance and running distance Of the
wrecking train. During the daytime
the men are at work in the repair
shops and If anything happens they
have merely to jump aboard while an
| engine Is made fast and starts on
mad race for the scene of the trouble.
But at highland most wrecks happen
| nights-tne men must be prepared to
| tumble out OF bed, to run through wind
and weather and to be prepared to
work anywhere from "a to &c hours
without break.
"a wrecking crew consists of 16 or
| Is men. which Is exclusive of a con-
ductor, pair of brakemen and the two
men in the engine. The wreckinS
train consists of only four cars. Every
| thing that would add to the weight of
the train without being absolutely nee
| essary Is left behind. The first car is
| the one in which the wreck.ng crew
travels. In this part of the country
| this car Is not SO important; but on
the long stretches of road in the west
the car is fitted up completely for the
| living accommodations of the men.
| The car Is painted red, and, In general.
is huge caboose. In the front part of
it the kitchen Is located. A cook ac-
companies every wrecking crew on the
modern railroads, just as cook ac-
companies our long distance palace
tiains. Everything Of the best is
chosen for the wrecking crews meals
during its long siege of work. Ice is
provided on which things that should
be kept cool are placed and continually
q stock of provisions Is on hand as
ready for instant use as the train IT.
self.
The rear section of this car Is fitted
up as a living room. No carpet is on
the floor, but everything is put up in
comfort and shipshape. Bunks are pro-
vided; chairs and folding tables stand
ready for use. In short, everything
that men want when they require hui
moring to do good work Is ready and
waiting for them.
"The second car of the train looks
like an ordinary box car. but is really
a huge toolbox on wheels. In 1t every
thing is arranged in order as neat as
the silver implements in a high-school
girls first manicure set. You cannot
mention a tool that might be required
in wrecking but what you will lind It
here, exactly in its place, where men
can run in the dark and pick up what
they want without having to spend a
minute to search for it. Axes, crow
bars, shovels. saws, picks, sledges, ham,
mers, blocks and tackles, ropes, chains
jacks and 100 tools you never heard OF
are to be found in the car.
THE third car is an ordinary fiat
car loaded with several trucks. Often
in a wreck the body of car escapes
damage, and only the trucks are brok-
en- and bent and twisted. In a case like
this all that is necessary is to raise the
body of the car by means of jacks and
to put substitute truck under it and
couple 1t fast so the car may be hauled
to the repair shop for permanent fix.
ing up. Besides. the fiat car is used
for taking home iron work and what,
ever is and is not worth saving, but
would look bad and suggestive lying
beside a railroad track.
The last car Of the train is the mos
important of all. II Is the derrick car
. | ',shic cor la built ayccntiOnaIlv ctrop u