The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1907-01-11
WHEN NO, 27O
RAN AWAY


engineer. THAT was back in the day
of the Jimmy coal cars n mandrake
i was runnin' extra at the time
not havin' been assigned to a reguls
engine yet. Hen Morris, an easy 60
In fellow, was the regular man OF
the 27O, n always contended tina
he was too easy with her. Engines
are just like bosses, you've got to lie
EN- know who's master.
'One night Hen Morris was taker
sick n l was called to take his rur
out. n we We're hardly started
through the freight yards before she
started up her tactics with me. | just
talked to her like Dutch uncle
Now, look here, you old scally
Wag, | says, you're dealin with nc
spring chicken this trip. You just get
down to business Or I'll pound the life
out of you
An, suitin' the action to the word
dropped her down in the corner N
put it to her for all was worth.
however, she didn't do any extra
work n Jagged n hung back all the
way.
"'Well, | says to myself, when we
get goin' down Pine Hill I'll just keep
the throttle open awhile n make her
go. The weight of this train behind
us will make her perk up a bit
"Accordin'ly, when we went over
the pitch at the top of Pine Hill l just
left her wide open N KEEP the steam
on full head till We were flynn down
by Coppers Crossin'. Then l thought
| I'd better shut off, as the 270 would
get pretty lively clip down the hill
now N l had no hankerin for goln'
down the bank OWN to exceedin' the
speed limit on the grade.
so l showed the throttle in to shut
off the steam. Imagine how l felt
when the 270 KEEP right on exhaustn'
just as if the speed was all to her
likin'.
"Somethin' had gone wrong in her
steampipe somewhere inside n the
valve didn't shut her off. So the 27O
had taken the bit in her teeth n was
goin' to see how l liked ridin' fast.
Here was pretty predicament
My engine goin' down Pine Hill under
a full head of steam with heavy
freight train behind her. 1t wouldn't
have been so bad If had not known
that Ras Cole was only about five
minutes ahead of me with a train of
coal jimmies.
Il attempted to put the reverse
lever in the back motion, but the
steam was on such a full head that l
couldn't bulge the thing, Then l gave
the high sign on my whistle several
times to let Ras Cole know | was
comm down the hill out of control n
it would be wise for hire to shake a
leg or he'd get spihicated.
I'm an almost incredible time we
swung around by the Gate station n
what / saw ahead made me wilt like
fat mans collar on hot day. Not |
more than quarter of mile ahead |
of us was Ras Coles train. Maybe |
that little caboose of his didn't look |
as big as summer boardin' house.
"Ras had heard my warnin' whistle
n was doin' his best. He was gain
in Roadway, but he wasn't in our
class. could figure out that We would
just about meet up with his caboose
around the ten degree curve below the
Gate.
'Ras' train was now goin' at a ter
rife speed, too, n it was question
whether either train would keep the
rails goin' 'roun' the sharp curve.
could almost reach the tail lights on
that caboose ahead. In a second |
thought we would be into them n |
would be rollin' down the embank-
ment amidst the wreckage of twisted
iron, coal n miscellaneous freight.
Then came an awful crash n I
thought | could feel my engine goin'
down the bank. But my engine KEEP
goin' N I could tell by the lurchin'
that she was takin' the curve all right
n true.
81 opened my eyes. The red lights
If the caboose had disappeared. In
he ravine below me l could hear a
,rashin, rollin' sound n see dark
shapes tumblin down.
Il realized what had happened. The
speed at which the train
ahead had taken the curve caused the
asst Is or 20 coal jmmies to jump I
he track clean, takin' the caboose
With them. just like string of boys
,layin' snap and whip. Thus when we
out on the curve Ras'
rain, by losn' those Is cars, had left
hat much space between me n death.
THE train ahead was movin' at ,
qual speed with me now n would
keep the Is cars distance be-
ween us. Under her full head of ,
team my engine was leapin n +
oundin' over the rails, n when she
ettled back from an extra severe jolt -,
he stopped exhaustin'. ;
'The terrific jar had shaken the 3
alive back on its seat again n shut !
IF the flow of steam. Ny heart re- -,
umed its normal beatin', as we we're
most down the hill now, n | soon had .
er under control. !.
They pulled 270 in the shops after :,