The St. Mary banner., 1904-09-24
THE CARE ENGINES NEED
THEY MUST BE GRooMED LIKE A
RACE HORSE.


chine in the Observation-Disclosures
Must Know His Machine as the
Driver Knows His Trotter.
Every one at all familiar with rail-
roads has seen the engineer dismount
from the cab, oil in hand, as soon as
the train has come to a stop at some
way station; has seen him walk slowly
about the ponderOus machine, feeln3
Of each bearing with his free hand as
he fills the cups with oil; seen him'
perhaps, tap a valve gently with a
wrench or examine critically some i'll
working air pump.
To any man all this is interesting,
but how many are there in all the vast
crowd that enter the city daily at the
great terminals who can tell oifhani
what becomes of the train when once
the cars arc emptied of the passen-
gers? To be sure, they have seen the
cars on a siding out in the yard. They
know, perhaps. that roundhouse is
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 as the passengers have lett
a train that has just come in from
long, dusty run, it is backed out INTO
the yard and the cars are set of on
side track Men go upon them at
once and begin to put them in readl-
ness for the next trip. The windows
are washed; cars freed from all hlth
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 a proper Overhauling.
First OF all the tanks are filled with
water and the fuel supply is replenish-
ed Then a few puffs brings the fire.
box above the ashpit, where the fires
are cleaned or dumped altogether
The next thing is to stable the great
iron horse.
The roundhOuse itself is a 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 line of doors, each exact
ly like its neighbor. Under each runs
track of standard gauge, giving the
whole an appearance not unlike a spi
ders web, the centre Of which is the
turntable.
The turntable itself consists of pit
walled with stone, across which is
bridge free at the ends, but balanced
at the centre on spindle. Rails are
laid across this, as if it were a 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 a delicate
task to the uninitiated, but 1t must be
remembered that the engineman
knows his machine as a driver knows
his horse. He understands just how
1t will behave under given circum-
stances, and governs himself accord
ingly. 1t is seldom necessary for an
experienced engineer to throw the re-
verse lever in order to bring his en-
gine to stop at the 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
ly 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
to operate the tables.
A roundhouse in summer. when the
doors are all open. presents splen-
did picture for lover Of machinery.
For each engine is backed into the
house, and, therefore, through the
semi-circle one gets view of a line
OF engines, each facing outward with
the numbers shining and headlights
cleaning III the sunlight.
Once within the house the engi-
neer's duty is done. He has but to 90
to the ofice and report in a book pre-
pared for the purpose any repairs that
are needed. and he can 20 home as
sured that his machine will be ready
for him when he starts on the next
run.
The engine is now turned over to
the roundhouse crew, who 20 to work
on 1t at once. The attention that a 10.
comotive receives on arrival at the
roundhOuse is about the same that one
would expect to see bestowed upon a
race horse. Wipers go over eyery
inch Of the surface carefully removing
all dust and oil. Others drop into the