The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-06-14
GANG
u Hard Work When a
',...d Smashup Comes.
much AND READY CREW.

-. Rush, the Peril and the
!, a the Work They Do.
:, ever hear of the minute
~ =. breakdown gang-the fel-
!. are the rough and readies of
n the roundhouse or repair
!. zee them hammerlng, rivet-
.s.os running the drill press or
l,tsr Then in rushes the call
\, stopping to get out of jump
.reraIls, but grabbing their
they run to the wrecker.
rlder fell on the track. The
ssDdle was turned the wrong
hose spike may have mis-
~ rail. But it is not for them
and learn how it happened.
.ooloss mass of torn and twist
awork. which a few hours be-
.ole called train, must be at
I'm chain and rope, bar and
nod. If need be-to open the
!, until they have performed
q tbe line is blocked, and the
Il perhaps a thousand cars
,mrn. So away goes the break
,.ug at breakneck speed. Or
Z zone ahead for a clear track,
= the limited and fast mali
h the siding until the minute
Ne passed on the way to the
INIT hear much about them I'M
are a railroader, but the su-
udept, the manager, perhaps
the directors, know them. Sc
nom the veterans In the shops,
n all round mechanics, but
Is well as fingers are needed,
nan has to be quick wltted to
this gang.
fifteen or twenty which make
average crew you can general
two or three little men; for
\ tight places in a wreck where
/ do considerable work in prop
or loOsening a part, crawling
Is which no one else could
The boss wrecker tries to get
Tree left handlers also, as their
are valuable in hammering
Corners where a right handed
bid be useless. Some of the
Eklng crews in the country
humber of sailors. The half
ID other knots that only the
an make are of great service
aly fastening lines to portions
neck and to the crane or To-
fused in pulling it away. The
are familiar with the assist
ita combination of pulleys will
! they have been taught it on
ID while usually they are very
and wiry. Consequently a man
kind who is out of a job at
le can frequently go with the
Z crew.
limited is not much for looks,
Be men, it is also rough and
Down by the division round.
G repair shop it stands on a
where it can take the line at a
notice. There is nothing un,
Y its appearance except tire
ar which carries the heavy ar
Of this little army of rescue
three fiat cars, q box car OF
q the end a passenger coach OF
make up the train. bit every
y carries, from the extra truck
% the coupling pins, has beer
Win such care that every mar
Were to put his hands ON what
lS Usually the running geal
worst of 1t in a wreck, so one
lat ears contains extra trucks
els to be substituted for thu
as, Next to this car is placed
Neei crane, which yanks masse:
and metal about as though
aghed pounds instead of tons
apable of lifting a fifty ton en-
ue box car and you see {
e lumber yard-square pieces
. all the way from an inch Il
through. They are wanted 70.
up the wreckage, which ma!
ag down the living as well a
These props may aid in say
0ut they also are handy to holC
es When the crew are putin!
other parts in place. In on
y coils of rope an inch O
-1. Boxes of bolts and nut
,s~s lie side by side on tn
. me walls hang hooks, pul
W and axes. Heavy stee
ate piled in another corner
mis- is a repair shop ant
on wheels.
coach will do for the crew
rs wheels and axles ar,
IaAlng out some of the seat
y tor table where the mel
and play cards If they don
8. a nap on the way, but
ame for a little sleep half
1en hunks round the side
chance. Sometimes an en-
on into a galley wher
make a pot Of coffee or fr
While en- route.
ne usual makeup Of tn
Clal as the railroads
mnen called into service,
aglne backs down to it an
-. There is no need Of an