The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-17
WREcKING CREWS WORK
AN IMPORTANT BIT OF MECHANISM
IN RAILWAY OPERATION.
Give the wreckmaster a Fast Locomo-
tive and a Clear Track and He
VIII Do Surpriaing Things.
New York Times.

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. "AlI the wreck
master knows is that at such and such a
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
will let him.
See that siren sticking up just over the
roof OF the engine house next to the repair
shops? When that begins to bray and
squeal and screech three long, unearthly
sounds, you may know we've a smash up
somewhere up the line. Ever hear one of
those new-fang'ed whistles? You'd never
know 1t was turned on by the hand of man.
AT night 1t would make your skin creep
the first time you heard it. But you're apt
to hear it for miles around. and that's
what it's there for-to collect the wrecking
crew on a run.
Wherever there's repair shop along
the line there you're sure to find wreck
ing train. The crews are picked men from
these shops, for reason I'll tell you pres
entity. It's a hard life they lead and a
strenuous one. but they get paid well and
they like the work. just as I've yet to see
the first man in city fire department who
Is not in love with the excitement and un-
certainty OF his job. In time the strain on
a wrecker tells. While the work lasts IL is
heart-breaking, and men age under il, and
after ten years service on the crew are
rarely mt 10 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 IL anything happens they have
merely to jump aboard while an engine is
made fast and starts on a mad race for the
most wrecks happen nights-the men mast
be prepared TO tumble out of bed, to run
through wind and weather, and to be pre-
pared TO work anywhere from twenty-four
10 thirty-six hours without break.
"A wrecking crew consists of sixteen or
eighteen men, which is exclusive of con-
ductor, pair of brakemen, and the two
men in the engine. The wrecking train
consists or only four cars. Everything that
would add to the weight of the train with
out being absolutely necessary is left be-
hind. The first car is the one in which the
wreckfng crew travels. In this part OF the
country this is not so important. But
on the long stretches of road in the West
the car is fitted up completely for the liv-
Ing accommodations Of the men, The car
Is painted red, and, in general, is a huge
caboose. In the front part of it the kitch-
en- is located. A cook accompanies every
wrecking crew on the modern railroads,
just as cook accompanies our long-dis-
tance palace trains. 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 a
stock OF provisions is on hand as ready for
instant use as the train itself.
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
snipshape. B9nks are provided Chairs
short, everything that men want when they
require humoring to do good work is ready
and waiting for them. formerly a wreck
ing crew depended upon picking up it's
meals at a neighboring house, the railroad
company footing the bill: But the plan
S %ss dun n; Wrecks often oo-
man abodes, and at times the men had to
go hungry. As 1t Is now. during the heat Of
summer-and no place on earth is as
scorching as railroad track in the middle
or AuguSt-all wrecker needs to do is to
send for dipper Of iced oatmeal water.
and If IL happens TO be biting winters
night there Is scalding hot coffee to put
new life into the veins OF the frozen work.
ers.
TOOL BOX ON WHEELS.
''The second car of the train looks like
an ordinary box car, but is really huge
tool box wheels. In it everything is
arranged in order as neat as the silver i'm
plements in high school girls first mani
cure set. You cannot mention a tool that
might be required in wrecking but what
you will find 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,
crowbars, shovels. saws, picks, sledges,
hammers. blocks and tackle, ropes. chains,
Jacks and a hundred tools you never heard
of are TO be found in the car.
The third car Is an ordinary fat car
loaded with. several car trucks. Often in a
wreck the body OF car escapes damage
and only the trucks are broken and bent
and twisted. In 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 IL and couple il fast so the car
may be hauled to the repair shop for per-
manent fixing up. Besides, the fat car is
used for taking home ironwork and what
ever is not worth saving, but would look
bad and suggestive lying beside a railroad
track.
''1'he last car OF the train is the most
important Of all. IL is the derrick car.
This car is built exceptionally strong.
short, stout derrick built on ratchet turn
table stands in the middle OF the car. This
is capable of wonderful lifting power. Once
the little steam winch on one end of the
car begins to sdueal and puff. anything
derrick OF this description could raise an
end of the biggest locomotive ever built
and set 1t back on the rails as neatly as
you would set a chess figure on its proper
ALWAYS READY.
1.-The wrecking train stands ever ready on
a siding especially allotted to it, This must
not be used by any other train under any
conceivable circumstance. If a wreck &C.
ours the track must be clear-from three TO
five minutes being the time usually allowed
for crew to get under way during the
daytime. An engine ready TO haul the train
TO a wreck stands ever waiting. The water
tank in its tender is always full. It's coal
supply is a hesping tenderful Steam is
constantly kept up. and an engineer and a
fireman are ever ready TO jump 10 work at
a minutes notice.
LAS soon as disaster occurs the wreck
ing train is given the right OF way over all
other trains. At a speed ranging anywhere
from forty-five TO seventy-five miles an
hour the engine chases, shrieking her whis-
tie like frightened cat. The one object Is
TO get the track cleared. so the main line OF
the road can be operated No wreck ever
happens but what il piles over the main
line; that goes without saying, for II Is
within the law OF cussedness OF things. And
what IL means 10 have main line blocked
only an experienced railroader can appre-
ciate. There are the thousands Of cars hlleo
with perishable stun. A score OF freight
trains and coal trains are held up, many OF
their loads intended for outgoing steamers
that cannot afford 10 wait. Thousands OF
persons inconvenienced and put out
Many OF them miss connections which they
hoped TO make with other railroads.
ION top OF all this surface annoyance is
ganzed system. the trouble OF getting the
OIL mas oar- or mn In