Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-16
TRIP TO NEW YORK
IN A LOCOMOTIVE CAB

dangling down begin to interest the re-
porter. The fireman explains that they
are "tell-tales.'' They are to guide the
brakemen on top of freight cars, and 1t
means he should lower his head. because
low, overhead bridge is near.
The sky, which for an instant has be-
come Of a lighter hue, suddenly darkens.
1t begins to rain, but the engine speeds
onward. meeting the shower with a full
head of steam. The drops enter through
the window and through the narrow door
with rarifying effect. The air and the wa
ter beating upon the face and hands are
delightful only they do not blend with the
coal dust which has settled upon the men
In the cab. Presently the engine energies
into dry atmosphere. but in the rear can
be seen the falling rain. The train has
run out of the shower belt.
To the clusters of trees are added corn
fields and huge advertising signs. in the
shape Of men, frogs, cows, cigars or pickles.
These break the monotony of the surround
ing country.
A number Of attractive rural homes come
of good housekeeping, and several boast of
pretty gardens with flowers and shrubs.
Fifty miles an hour! Then presently the
engineer calls out that we are doing mid
dim The fireman translates this to mean
that the train is covering asmile a minute
But the reporter Is not satisfied: he would
go faster. The mania for speed Is upon
him. Twice incoming trains pass with the
velocity OF a comet, to become indistinct
spots In the distance.
After passing Patuxent. the hunters para
disc, country road, well laid out and
clean, winds its way through the fields
pickers are busy asserting the tomatoes,
while others carry the product to a nearby
canning establishment. where they are la
beled ''The Pride Of Maryland
More pretty houses fla sh nv
Right"
This call from the engineer causes the
reporter to turn. The fireman pushes
lever in the tender forward and the splash
of water as 1t is scooped up and stored in
the tank can be heard. When the reser-
voir Is full the scoop is raised, and the
fireman again gives his attention to the
fire.
How much more interesting it is to ride
In the cab than in the parlor cars! In
the cab one sits near network of pipes
OF all sizes and shapes, surmounted by
valves and gauges and registers. All is
clean under coating of black paint, ex-
cept the working parts, which are heavily
covered with OIL Then, it is gratifying to
feel that one is leading the procession. In
the engine cab, too, one may enjoy the clear
vista of all that surrounds. The parlor-
car passengers get the dust and the cinders.
In the cab there Is all the fresh air wanted,
beating in on all sides. True, there is the
coal dust, but shower settles that i'm
mediately. The heat Is not noticeable, but
the odor of machinery permeates the cab
but, then, one doesn't ride in locomo-
tive with billed shirt and creased trou-
sers.
The country becomes more and more
natural limpid and noisy brook runs
westward at the bottom of an embank-
ment, and as the water goes over number
OF rocks 1t becomes diminutive waterfall
with spray flying everywhere. And not
far from the brook stands an old house of
gray stone. with its battered doors and
missing windows.
The Patapsco river is crossed. The OBJ
orator at the neighboring blockhouse has
sgnaled that the track is clear and No. 7s
PUSHES through at mile a minute. More
rain and still more rain is encountered
The country is already flooded, and one
more shower will not matter.
The engines speed is suddenly reduced
The painted signal directly over the track
stands out at right angles. The engine
stops, waiting for one of the wiaGs to fall.
train ahead blocks the way, and it is
fully five minutes before No. 70 is per-
mitted to start. train ahead always is
the clear track ahead signal is shown
the engineer pulls the lever out as fas as
1t will go. and the locomotive, obedient
to its masters touch, responds with a great
lurch forward.
Thirty-flve forty forty-five miles an
hour! No. that isn't enough. Faster and
faster the engine goes. leaving everything
behind In trying to make up for the lost
presently strikes a long stretch of level
track. Sixty miles an hour But that is
not the limit. At that rate the distance
between the Capitol and the treasury can
be made in fifty-eight seconds.
The five minutes lost time is made I'D,
but alas! speed again has to be reduced
The tracks. which at first were alternately
two and four. now diverge in all directions.
Box cars and fiat cars everywhere await
to be collected and made up into solid
freight trains. Huge rough stone or brick
buildings with high smokestacks appear on
both sides. Through the windows of the
! lodges groups of men and women can be
seen working over strange looking ma
chinery.
Soon the train enters the first half Of
that seemingly interminable tunnel on the
outskirts Of Baltimore. But the reporters
first experience in tunnels has taught him
a lesson. Instead of facing directly ahead
he turns, facing the rear. In this manner
he can enjoy the current Of fresh air which
sweeps through the cab and besides can
look about The walls of the tunnel are
damp and the glow Of the IRE shows that
they are frfghtfully near. BY extending
his arm outward the engineer could touch
the wall on his side. The smoke rolls away
with weird and fantastic effect The
burning cinders shoot upward like q minia-
ture pyrotechnic display. Presently q faint
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