The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1904-08-10
THE CARE ENGINES NEED
THEY MUST BE oRooMEp LIKE A
RACE HORSE.


chine In the Roundhouse--Englncsr
Must Know His Machine as thu
Driver Knows His Trottcr.
Every one at all familiar with rail-
roads has seen the engineer dismount
rom the cab, oil In hand, as soon as
he train has come to stop at some
way station; has seen him walk slowly
lbout the ponderous machine, feeling
,f each bearing with his free hand as
,e fills the cups with oil; seen him,
perhaps, tap 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
,rowd 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
ears 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 bit
hazy.
As soon as the passengers have left
a train that has just come in from q
long, dusty run, 1t is backed out into
the yard and the cars are set off on a
side track. Men 60 upon them 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
eared 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 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. Ia,
The roundhouse itself is a most un-
INVITING place, with its sootbegrimed
walls and smoky interior. These build
'ngs are all constructed on the same
general lines, low one-story structures,
generally built of brick and seml-cir-
.ular In shape. The centre of the
.irce Is the centre of the turntable.
Arranged along the inner side of the
building Is line of doors, each exact
y like its neighbor. Under each runs
track of standard gauge, giving the
whole an appearance not unlike a spi-
ler's web, the centre of which is the
Mrntable.
The turntable itself consists of a pit
vailed with stone, across which is a
bridge free at the ends, but balanced
1t the centre on spindle. Rails are
aid across this, as If 1t we're a part
sf 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
,nces on the spindle that supports the
bridge This looks like a delicate
TASK to the uninitiated, but II must be
remembered that the engineman
tnows his machine as a driver knows
his horse. He understands just how
will behave under given circum-
tances, and governs himself accord
ngly. It is seldom necessary for an
experienced engineer to throw the re-
'erse lever In order to bring his en-
CINE to a stop at the proper place.
Once in position men apply their
strength to the bars that project from
he 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
TO operate the tables.
A roundhouse in summer, when the
doors are all open. presents a splen-
did picture for lover of machinery.
For each engine is backed into the
house, and, therefore, through the
one gets view of line
Of engines, each facing outward with
the numbers shining and headlights
cleaning in the sunlight.
Once within the house the engi- |
neer's duty is done. He has but to go
10 the Office and report in book pre-
pared for the purpose any repairs that
are needed, and he can go home as
sured that his machine will be ready
for him when he stsrts on the next
run.
The engine is now turned over to
The roundhouse crew, who go to work
on 1t at once. The attention that a To-
receives on arrival at the