The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1903-05-30
Modern Railroad wrecking Crew.

''We give them clear track and sew
enty or a seventy -6ve-mil hour engine
and the wrecking master does the rest,
said the yardmaster, knocking the ashes
out of his pipe and leaning comfortably in
his old revolving chair. ''All the wreck
master knows is that at such and such
point on the road such and such a train,
with 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 main line quick as Providence
viii let him.
'sSee that siren sticking up just over the
roof of the engine house next to the re-
pair shops When that begins to bray
and squeal and screech three long, un-
earthly toots there is trouble somewhere
up the line. Ever hear one of those new
tangled whistles You d never know 1t
was turned on by the hand of man. At
night it would make your skin creep the
first time YOU heard it. But you re apt
to hear it for miles around, and that $
what it 5 there for-to collect the wreck
ing crew on run.
wherever there repair shop along
the line there you re sure to find wreck
inc train. The crews are picked men from
the shops, for reason I'll tell you pres
emily. It's hard life they lead and a
strenuous one, but they get paid well and
they like the work, just as | We yet to see
the first man in city fire department
who is not in love with the excitement and
uncertainty of his job. In time the strain
on the wrecker tells While the work
lasts it is heart-breaking, and men age
under it, and after ten years service on
the crew are rarely fit to continue in that
part of the service Every member of the
crew has to live within hearing distance
and running distance of the wrecking
train. During the daytime the men are
at work in the repair shops, and If any
thing 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 night and most wrecks
happen nightS-the men must be prepared
to tumble out of bed, to run through wind
and weather, and to be prepared to work
anywhere from twenty four to thirty SIX
hours without break.
HOW Tue CREW TRAVELS.
"a wrecking crew consists of sixteen or
eighteen men. which is exclusive OF a con-
ductor, pair of brakemen and the two
men in the engine The wrecking train
consists of only four cars. Everything
that would add to the weight of the train
without being absolutely necessary Is left
behind. The first car is the one IN which
the wreeking crew travels. In this part
of the country this car is not 50 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 II
the kitchen is located. \ cook accom-
panies every wrecking crew on the modern
railroads, Just as a cook accompanies our
long distance palace trains. Everything
of the best Is chosen for the wreoklng
crews meals during its long siege of work.
Ice is provided on which things that
should be kept cool are placed and con
tinually stock of provisions is on hand as
ready for instant use as the train itself.
1.-The rear section of this car Is fitted
up as living room No carpet Is on the
floor, but everything is put up in comfort
and shipshape Bunks are provided;
chairs and folding tables stand ready for
use. In short, everything that men want
when they require humoring to do good
work is ready and waiting for them. For
merly a wrecking crew depended upon
picking up its meals at neighboring
house, the railroad company footing the
bill. But the plan was unsatisfactory.
Wrecks often occurred at considerable
distances from human abodes, aud at times
the men had to 20 hungry As II Is now,
during the heat of summer-and no place
on earth is as scorching as a railroad track
in the middle of August--all wrecker
needs to do is to send for dipper OF iced
oatmeal water. and If 1t happens 10 be a
biting winters night, there Is seaidlng hot
coffee 10 put new life into the We ins Of the
frozen workers.
TOOL BOX ON WHEELS.
1.-The second ear of the train looks like
an ordinary box car, but Is really a huge
tool box on wheels. In It everything Is
arranged in order as neat as the silver I'M
PIGMENTS in high school girl first mani
cure set. You cannot mention tool that
might be required in wrecking but what
VOC will find it here, exactly in It's place,
where men can run in the dark and pick
up what they want without having 10
spend a minute to search for IT, Axes.
crowbars, shoyels, saws, picks, sledges,
hammers. blocks and tackle, ropes, chains.
lacks. and a hundred tools you never
heard of are to be found in the car
1.-The third car is an ordinary fiat ear
loaded with several car trucks Often in
a wreck the body Of car escapes damage.
and only the trucks are broken and beat
and twisted. 10 a case ike this all that
is necessary is to raise the body Of the ear
by means of jacks and to put a substitute
truck under it and couple it fast so the ear
NAV be hauled to the repair shop for per
manent fixing up. Besides, the fat 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 ear Of the train is the most
important of all It is the derrick car.
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