The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1904-11-07
THE CARE ENGINES NEED
THEY MUST BE 0ROoMED LIKE A
RACE HORSE.

Must Know HE Machine az the
Driver Knows HE Trotter.
Every one at ill familiar with rail.
roads has see the engineer dtsmount
from the cab, oil in hand, as soon as
the train has come to q stop at some
way station; has seen him walk slowly
about the ponderous machine. feeling
Of each bearing with his free hand as
he nils the cups with oil; e e him;
perhaps. tap a valve gently with q
wrench or examine critically some ILL
working air pump.
but how many are there in all the vast
crowd that enter the city daily at the
great terminals who can tell offhand
what becomes of the train when once
the cars are emptied of the passen.
gers? To be sure. they have seen the
cars on q siding out in the yard. They
know. perhaps. that q roundhouse 10 .
place where engines are kept when
not in actual use. But beyond this the
ideas Of the ordinary man are a bit
hazy.
As soon o. the passengers have left
. train that has just come In from .
long. dusty run. it is backed out into
the yard and the cars are get on on q
side track. Men go upon item at
once and begin to put them in readi-
ness for the next trip. The windows
are washed; cars freed from all filth
and dirt. seats cleaned, water tanks
cared for. and the lamps are put In
order. The more improved cars have
the gas system Of lighting, and on
these the tanks under the cars are fill
ed from the gas pipes that are laid
alongside the tracks for that purpose.
The locomotive. after leaving the
cars, proceeds at once to the round
house, where the ponderous machine
also receives . proper overhauling.
First of all the tanks are filed with
water end the fuel supply il ~replenish-
ed. Then . few puts brings the IRE
box above the ashpit, where the fires
r cleaned or dumped altogether.
The next thing II to stable the great
iron horse.
The roundhouse itself IL . most un-
inviting place. with its soot-begrimed
walls and smoky interior. These build
ings are all constructed on the same
general lines. low one-story structures,
generally built Of brick and semi-cir-
cular In shape. The centre Of the
circe Is the centre of the turntable.
Arranged along the inner side Of the
building is q line Of doors, each exact
" like its neighbor. Under each runs
. track Of standard gauge, giving the
whole an appearance not unlike q spi-
der's web, the centre of which is the
turntable.
The turntable itself consists Of q pit
walled with stone, across which is a
bridge free at the ends. but balanced
at the centre on q spindle. Rails are
laid across this, as IL it were . 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 . stop at the precise point
where the hundred tons Of steel bal
ances on the spindle that supports the
bridge. This looks like . delicate
task to the uninitiated. but It must be
remembered that the engineman
knows his machine - . driver knowt
his horse. He understands just how I
It viii behave under given circum-
stances, and governs himself accord !
ingly. It is seldom necessary for an
experienced engineer to throw the re-
verse lever IN orde: to bring his en-
CINE to . stop at tho proper place.
Once in position men apply their
strength to the bars that project from
the ends Of the bridge and begin to
walk along the brink Of the pit. Slow.
" the whole mass revolves until the
required track is reached. and then
the engine glides gently and smoothly
into the house. Some Of the more i'm
proved houses have power with which
% operate the tables.
A roundhouse In summer, when the
doors are all open. presents . splen.
did picture for q lover Of machinery.
For each engine Il backed into the
house. and. therefore. through the
one gets . view Of Z line
oe engines. each facing outward with
the numbers shining and headlights
cleaning In the sunlight.
Once within the house the emf.
neeris duty Il done. He has but to 20
b the once and report IN Z book pre-
nnroA AR the nurn0aa anv renalr. thet