Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1907-06-12
GANG
Quick and Hard Work When a
Railroad SmaShup Comes.
THE ROUGH AND READY CREW.
They Board the Wreck Special and
Are SPeeded to the Scene of the Ae-
cident-The Rush, the Peril and the
Difficulty Of the Work They %.

Did you ever. hear OF the minute
men OF the breakdown gang-the fell
lows who are the rough and readies of
the line2 in the roundhouse or repair
shop you see them hammcring, rivet-
ing. perhaps running the drill press or
plate cutter. Then In rushcs the call
boy Not stopping TO get out OF Jump
err and Oyeralls. but grabbing their
caps. OF they run to the wrecker.
y bowlder fell on the track. The
switch handle was turned the wrong
way. 4 loose spike may have mis-
placed the rail- But it is not for them
to stop and learn how It happened.
The shapeless mass Of torn and twist
ed framework, which n few hours be-
fore people called train, must be at
lacked WIN chain and rope. bar and
aX-burned, If need be-to open the
way. for until they have performed
their duty the line Is blocked. and the
wheels Of perhaps n thousand ears
cease to turn. SO away goes the break
down gang At breakneck speed. Or
ders have gone ahead for 4 clear track.
and even the limited and fast mail
must take the siding until the minute
men have passed on the way 10 the
rescue.
You don't hear much abUut them IN
less sou are q r2ilroader. but the SUI
perinteadcnt the manager. perhaps
some of the directors, know them. Sc
lcctci from the veterans in the shcps.
they arc al round mechanics. but
brains IS well rs fingers are needed.
and man has to be quick witted TO
get into this gang.
IN the fifteen or twenty which make
UP the average crew you can general
~ find two or three little men: FOR
there are tight places in wreck where
they can do considerable work in prop
ping UP or loosening 4 part. crawling
into holes which no one else could
reach. The boss wreckcr tries To get
two or three left handlers also. rs their
services are valuable In hammering
away In corners where q right handed
man would be useless. Some Of the
best wreck!ng crews IN the country
include = number OF sailors. The half
bitches and other knots that only the
seomcn can make are of great service
In securely fastening lines 90 portion.
Of the wreck and TO the crane or To-
connective uscl IN pulling ii away. The
old salts arc familiar with the assist
ance that q combination OF pullevs VIII
give. for they have been taught IL or
/ shiphoard. while usually they are very
+ strong and why. Consequently q man
+ OF this Kind who Is cut Of q lob n
any timc can frequently So with III,
/ wrecking crew.
Their limited IS not much for looks
Like Che men. &c is also rouuh nm,
ready. Down 10y the division round
/ house or repair shop IL stands on
/ siding where Sc can take The line at
minutes notice. There IS nothing I'm
! usual IN its appearance except tn
( crane car which carries the heavy ar
/ tillcry OF this little army OF rescue
/ Two TAR three fat cars. q box car o.
so and ut the end passenger coach @
/ caboose make Up the train. but ever.
! article II carries. from the extra true,
wheels 10 the coupling pins. has bee,
I loaded with such care that every ma
I knows where 10 put his hands on wha
/ he wants. Usually the running goa
gets the worst Of IL IN wreck. So on
I OF the fat cars contains extra truck
and wheels 10 le substituted for III
( broken ones. Next u this car is place,
the big steel crane. which yarks masse
Of wood and metal about as thoucl
they weighed pounds instead of@tons
and IS capable Of lifting 4 fifty ton eu
Sinc.
Enter the box car and YOU sea
/ miniature lumber yard-square piece
/ OF timber all the way from m inch Z
4 foot through. They are wanted 10
[ propplnS UD the wreck3cc. which ma,
/ be holding down the living rs we'll q
the dead. These props may aid in saw
ing life. but they also are handy 10 hol
I UP coaches when the crew are putin,
wheels or other parts in place In on
/ corner are coils of rope an inch o
/ more thick. Boxes Of bolts and nut
/ and screws lie side by side On IN
floor. On the walls hang hooks. pul
/ leyS, saws and axes. Heavy stet
crowbarS are piled IN another corner
In short, this IS 4 repair shop an
/ storehouse on wheels.
Any old coach VIII do for the crew
/ provided its wheels and axleS ar
sound. Taking out some OF the seat
/ gives room for = table where tie mo
can eat and play cards if they DON
want 10 set q nap on The way. hut j
! they have time tor little sleep half
/ dozen wooden hunks round the side
/ give them a chance. Sometimes an en-
IS partiponed OF into galley whcr
+ they can make q pot Of coffee or fr
steak while ea route.
Such is the usual makeup of tn
wreck special" IS the railroade
terms it. When called into service.
big driver engine backs down 70 il an
( couples on. There IS 10 nced Of an
/ speed orders. Those are understood 4
advance. On the straight track III
/ man in the cab opens his throttle {
the last notch. and the telegraph POLE
at the side of the line fit ry - fas
( that they seem only Il dozen feet apart
7 Only on the shorter curves and on tn
/ down grades and bridges IS The tlrot
I tie again moved and the air put "a.
until ;he heap os ruins, from which o.
I often arise flames and smoke. conn
into view.
The first thing 70 Gni out is II any
ihing human Is underneath. Whcthc
dead or alive it must come out. an,
I the gang need no urging 1t the task
even if they hear no moan or cry t,
hasten their rescue. Then the next jOl
Is 20 clear tie trucks. Holding VI
trains for even FIVE or six hours means