Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-16

The 9th street station is thronged with
travellers visitors and loiterers, wait
ing for the gates to open. while the
stream of people which has been filing past
the gateman at No. Is rapidly thinning
out One or two late travellers, with grips
humping against their knees. frantically
motion the conductor to hold the train.
In the meantime, the engineer and the
fireman are grooming their iron horse,
ready to start on it's 22S-mile journey to
New York The engineer. with his long
necked oil can. is lubricating the cylinders
and the drivers, while the fireman is tight
ening valve connected with thu air pump.
The engineer pauses, pulls out his watch.
a gift from the railroad company for faith
full and meritorious service. and says:
Two minutes Of"
The changing Of bells on all sides warns
the track walkers of the approaching loco
motives. The escaping air as the brakes
are released is like the signs Of mon
ster. There is spirit of restlessness in
the air. A trainman shouts to another In
strange words the orders for coupling the
cars The din of an incoming train echoes
loudly through the station, and then sud
denly subsidies.
The fireman gets into the cab Of the loco
motive and pokes the fire. shovelful Of
coal and then another rapidly disappears
IL
pressure is reduced, the draught is opened,
ana the rush of air can be heard as 4 draws
the heat upward
One minute of ten.
IT guess she's all right now" says John
Unglaub, the veteran engineer In charge
of Pennsylvania train No. 70. which runs
between Washington and New York every
morning.
"Only thirty seconds" replies Harry Red
miles, the fireman.
This young man will ride with us in
the cab today" the former explains, point
ing to a reporter for The Star.
.WeIl have to go some then" replied
the fireman with a grin. The engineer by
this time has swung up the steps, and the
reporter followed.
''If there's an engine that goes. it GER
tainly is old No. &c.," said the fireman.
From the platform the conductor gives
signal, the brakes are released, ana the
throttle Is opened. There Is a snort and
puff and another snort. But the rails are
slippery and the wheels do not hold. The
steam is shut off. Again the throttle Is
opened, this time more slowly, and the To-
connective moves.
Perched up in the f1reman's seat in the
cab, the reporter counted seven standard
coaches behind the engine. The train Is
now under way, and 1t Is moving past
switch engines, sidings, incoming trains
and street crossings, on it's way to the open
country. The fireman ceases ringing the
bell and feeds more coal into the crate.
The steam pressure jumps to 700 pounds,
and the desire for more speed Is about to
be gratified The engineer looks attentively
ahead, one hand always c1utching the throt-
tie AS he opens 1t wider and the objects
begin flying past the window faster and
faster. the reporter for moment mas
feeling of apprehension, sitting there In the
cab that is swaying heavily from side to
SIDE But soon courage returns, and the
scribe enthusiastically enters into the adj
venture-if such 1t may be called-imbued
with the madness of speed
The reporter learns that the locomotive
is of the heaviest type made, the most pow
erful and the most rapid, expressly built
for Limited" passenger runs. The tender
carries $4,000 pounds of soft coal and the
tank holds $500 gallons of water. One half
of the coal is to be used on the trip-six
tons Of coal in less than five hours But
there Is no time now for mathematical cal
culations.
The noise of the train increases, although
the novice in the cab Is growing accustomed
to it, and it offers little Inconvenience. Th>
train is on the trestles on its way out of the
city Below may be seen market wagons.
pushcarts, street cars and pedestrians. The
houses become fewer. They are, for the
most part two-story affairs and the train
is level with their roofs. Suddenly the
engine rushes into total darkness, the air
becomes chilly, daylight and sunshine have
been obliterated/ and even fresh air is not
to be had. The reporter chokes with smoke.
'Ha, har
He turns and in the glow of the fire sees
the fireman looking on with his pleasant
grin.
you wait" he says, there are more
coming"
When the tunnel is left behind the coun-
try begins to open up before us. In the dis
lance a red roof stands out in relief from
the green foliage. Over the Eastern branch,
with It's muddy and shallow waters. the
engine rumbles. and the eye sweeps farther
| and farther away. Foliage and trees and
hills meet the sight. We fly past a gang
| of laborers, for the most part Italians, who
are working dangerously near the train.
tearing up the ties which have rotted In
| the adjoining tracks.
The fireman pauses from feeding the in
| satiable, mammoth mouth before him and
| fills the lubricators. A shrill blast of the
whistle as the engine approaches wagon
road crossing vibrates through the air.
| The speed has been increased gradually
and the train is now making forty miles an
hour. Looking out over the boiler deck, q
dark spot il seen in the distance. Present
| ly 1t evolves itself into an approaching
| train. which passes with roar. and when
/ we look after 1t, 1t IL once more spot.
vanishing in the surrounding mist.
1 4