The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1904-07-01
IN e 20 OHIO USE
EsATTENTIoN is BESTOWED
4 UPON THsSLoco si


Big Driving Wheels Are frightened.
Any one at all familiar with rail
roads has seen the engineer dismount
from the cab, oil can in hand. as soon
as the train has come to a stop at some
way station: seen him walk slowly
about the ponderous machine. feeling
of each bearing with his free hand as
he hlled the cups with oil; seen him per-
baps tap n valve gently with u wrench
or examine critically some il! working
air pump.
To any man all this is Interesting.
but how many are there il all the vast
crowd that enter the city daily at the
great terminals who can tell otfhand
what becomes of the train when once
the cars are emptieti of the passengers?
To be sure. they have seen the cars on
a siding out in the yard. They know
perhaps that roundLouse is 4 place
where engines are kept when not in
actual use. But beyond this the ideas
of the ordinary man are bit hazy.
AS soon rs the passengers have left
a train that has just come in from u
long dusty run it is backed out into
the yard. and the cars are set of on Il
side track. Men go upon them ut once
the next trip. The windows are wash
ed. cars freed from all tiith and dirt
seats cleaned, water tanks cared for
and tl:e lighting apparatus put in order.
The locomotive. after leaving the
cars. proceeds at once to the round
house. where the ponderoiis machine
also receives Il proper ovGrhallinG-
First of all the tanks are filed with
water and the fuel supply is renlenisl-
ed. Then Il few puifs bring the fire
box above the ash pit, where the fires
are cleaned and dumped altogether.
The next thing is to stable the great
iron horse.
The roundEousc itself is a most uain-
viting place. with its SCOT bcGrinle9
walls and smoky interior These build
ings are all constructed on the same
general lines. low. one story structures.
generally built of brick and semicircu-
lar in shape. The center of the circle
is the center of the turntable. Ar
ranged along the inner side of the
building is a line of doors. Ell ch exactly
like its neiShbor. Under each runs g
track of STANDARD gauge. giving the
whole an appearance not unlike q
spiders web. the center of which is the |
turntable.
The turntabIe itself consists of pit |
walled with stone. across which is 4 |
bridge free at the ends, but balanced at |
the center on a spindle Rails are laid !
across this. as if it We're part OF the
roadbed.
When the fires of the locomotive |
have been cared for the engineer runs
his machine upon the table. With deft |
hand at the throttle. he brings it to a
stop at the precise point where the
tons of steel balance on the
spindle that supports the bridge. Then
the ponderous mass is slowly revolved
until the required track is reached and
the engine is backed into the round
house.
Once within the house the engineers
1uty is done. He has but to go to the
office and report in q book prepared for
he purpose any repairs that are need
I'd, and he can go home, assured that
lis machine will be ready for him
when he starts on the next run.
The engine is now turned over to the
crew. who go to work on 1t
It once. The attention that locono-
i've receives on arrival Mt the round
,ouse is about the same that one
would expect to see bestowed upon
ace horse. vipers go over every inch
f the surface carefully. removing all !
ust and oil. Others drop into the pit
eneath the machine and wipe the run
ing gear. The headlight is carefully /,
AIRED for and the brass polished. In f..
act. the whole machine is put in first
lass shape in every way.
Throughout this work keen watch is (
ept for any signs of broken parts. and
ny found are repaired. The hundred {
T more iues are cleaned by steam E
ressure. 7
An engine seldom comes to the house +
hat does not need repairs of some r
3rt. The delicate mechanism is con- ,
family becoming broken. and unceas
lS attention is required. !
One of the most interesting of all the $
.pairS that are made in the round 2
ouse is the tightening of the tires on T
lie drive wheels. Each wheel is sur a
FUNDED with q heavy steel tire. These i:
OCCASIONALLY work loose, and it be- !,
>mes necessary that they be frightened
ithout sending the locomotive to the :,
lOpS.
To do this q stream of oil is fed au-
matically upon the tire and allowed "
burn as it runs down. The result is Il
lat the whole rim is soon circle of T
lmc. This is kept up for Il long time. a
Id the tire, being heated faster than O.
e wheel itself on account of the proN- =,
IT, Il, %I,<n< v,s,