Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1905-01-28
IN THE ROUNDHOUSE
THE ATTENTION THAT is BESTOWED
UPON THE LOCOMOTIVES.
Constant and Careful Grooming Re-
Quired by the Great Iron Horses
of the Rail-How the Tires of the
Big Driving Wheels Are frightened.


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 filled the cups with oil; seen him per
haps 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
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 passengers?
To be sure, they have seen the cars on
a siding out in the yard. They know
perhaps that roundhouse is a 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
q train that has just come In from
long dusty run 1t is backed out into
the yard, and the cars are set off on
side track. Men go upon them at once
and begin to put them in readiness for
the next trip. The windows are wash
ed. cars freed from all filth and dirt
seats cleaned, water tanks cared for
and the lighting apparatus put in order
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 filed with
water and the fuel supply is replenish-
ed. Then a few puffs 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 roundhouse itself Is a most unin-
vitng place. with its SCOT begr1med
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
ranged along the inner side of the
building is a line of doors, each exactly
like its neighbor. Under each runs
track Of standard gauge, giving the
whole an appearance not unlike a
spiders web, the center OF which is the
turntable
The turntable itself consists of a pit
walled with stone. across which is a
bridge free at the ends, but balanced at
the center on a spindle. Rails are laid
across this. as if 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 1t to
stop at the precise point where the
hundred tons Of steel balance on the
spindle that supports the bridge. Then
the ponderous mass is slowly reyolved
until the required track is reached and
the engine is backed into the round
house.
Once within the house the engineers
duty is done. he has but to 90 to the
Office and report in book prepared for
the purpose any repairs that are need
ed, and he can go home, assured 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 go to work on 1t
at once. The attention that locomo-
tive receives on arrival at the round
house Is about the same that one
would expect to see bestowed upon
race horse. Wipers go over every inch
Of the surface carefully, removing all
dust and oil. Others drop into the pit
beneath the machine and wipe the run
ming gear. The headlight is carefully
cared for and the brass polished. In
fact, the whole machine is put in first
class shape in every way.
Throughout this work keen watch is
kept for any signs of broken parts, and
any found are repaired. The hundred
or more hues are cleaned by steam !
pressure.
An engine seldom comes to the house |
that does not need repairs Of some |
sort. The delicate mechanism Is con- |
stantly becoming broken, and unceas- |
ing attention is required.
One Of the most interesting Of all the |
repairs that are made in the round
house Is the tightening Of the tires on
the drive wheels. Each wheel is sur
rounded with heavy steel tire. These
occasionally work loose. and it be-
comes necessary that they be frightened
without sending the locomotive to the
shops.
To do this a stream Of oil Is fed au-
toms1cally upon the tire and allowed
to burn as it runs down. The result is
that the whole rim is soon circle Of
dame. This Is kept up for long time,
and the tire, being heated faster than
the wheel itself on account of the prox-
Unity of the fire, expands until the thin
pieces Of sheet iron can be inserted be-
tween the wheel and the tire. When the
dire has again become cold 1t contracts
and clutches the wheel hard and fast.
Tho cumbersome repairs, such as
QOWn WILL OAA'S "ASSAo cAN
replacing boilers, go to the shops,
where lathes. cranes and FORCES are to
be had. But all the minor troubles are
remedied at the stables" and the fore
man Of the roundhouse is responsible
for the condition Of the engines. He Is
the man to whom all look in an emer-
Igency, and 1t is he who must look for
ward and plan for the repairs in such
way as not to interfere with the regu-
lar operation Of the trains.-Boston
Globe.
Always Something Wrong.
Clerk - Please, sir. can l have
weeks vacation? Employer-Whats
wrong with you now? Clerk-Im going