The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-07-31
THE LAST RUN OF
Old NUMBER IS
Devotion Of Engineer to His
Locomotive
WHICH ENDS IN WRECK
On Mountain Division--iuman In
terest Story of Faithful Career
of Big Iron Horse Over
Sharp Curves

of Big Iron Horse Over
Sharp Curves
Gene Markham, big and good natured
on most occasions, was grouchy as he
oiled the old locomotive.
Its a dirty shame, I tell you," he
grumbled to Frank Holmes, his fireman,
ITO keep this old rattle trap on a noun
| tain run like this. Thrteen's good en-
CINE in her time, but she's earned a per-
petual rest"
go on" the fireman replied, you'd
cry all day If you took Thirteen away
from YOU
Markham paused to jab his long oiler
between the drivers before answering.
II would kinder hate to see her 60,
Frank. You see, she's wheezed through
these canyons and brunted up the grades
and coughed down 'em with me- in the
cab for so long it seems like she needs
me to be happy But all the same she's
got to go pretty soon.'
Got a valuable load today, haven't
WEI"
"Huh," Gene snorted contemptuously,
"old I. j. Morehead's private car Is
hitched on, If that's what you mean. He
makes me tired; he's 80 puffed up on
himself he can't think about the Grand
Junction-M innewanda run or care what
sort of rolling stock we have just so long
as we keep the old things going.
Hes too busy general managing" the
fireman laughed, ito bother about such
little things. Now, If the Old Man could
| have his way!"
TON Peterson's a good division super
ntendent,' Markham smiled IF he had
Morchead's place we'd see things doing
on the old D. and M. Oughter have it.
too" the engineer added under his
breath.
Frank had disappeared into the little
station when small man, dressed in a
mussed-up brown suit, approached and
watched Markham, meanwhile examining
the old engine with critical eye./
Pretty old tub, isn't she2'' he finally
asked.
Gene Strengthened up and glared at the
man.
"Old tub!" He spoke gruffy. Say,
what's the matter with you? She's only
10 years DID,"
"Whewp the man whistled, 1T didn't
|
pecially on mountain runs"
| "Huhp' Markham snorted, shed be
good for another ten years II the general
| manager had sense enough to follow the
| advice of his division superintendent
especially when It's one that knows more
| about rairoading in minute than he
| does in a year."
The stranger looked interested and
smilingly inquired what should be done.
| "Well," the engineer looked at the man
| carefully, and, satisfied by the scrutiny,
answered confdentially: well, to tell
you the truth, Old Thirteen ought to be
rebuilt. She's been carrying these little
one or two coach passenger trains from
here to Minnewanda and back again ev-
cry morning and night, with a freight
| train in between four or. five times a
| week, for IS years. Those thirty miles
| are Just a bunch of charp curves and
steep grades and the track amt as good
as 1t might be. Sometimes when we start
down the long Wammer grade l wonder
whether we'll be on the tracks or in the
river when we get to the bottom. All
| Thirteen needs, though, is about three
| months In shops and good man to fix
| her up. Our superintendent would do the
| job in fine style if the G. NJ would stand
| for the COST q
| The fireman reappeared and with a
grin said:
Telling him how the D. & M. ought to
be run, Gene? And what you'd do If you
| were President Howard?"
| While the engineer glared at Frank
and the fireman climbed into the cab the
| stranger asked why the superintendent
| didn't put another and newer engine on
the run.
"Haw, haw," Frank laughed "Say.
,tcfa he hoc
gihes up here in the last three years, but
Gene has sent 'em all back in a few
! months, all twisted out of shape and
pretty near useless. He couldn't keep
house without Thirteen"
"Shut up" Gene looked embarrassed,
and smiled sheepishly as he turned to the
stranger. "You see these other engines
were old and weren't built for this run
By the time they got used to the tracks
and the curves and bumps and jolts
they're all worn out Old Thrteen's
grown up with them and knows 'em to
a T."
The stranger glanced at the engine
number. looked over the dumpy, old
fashioned affair carefully, and asked:
Docs she live up to her manner"
you mean Is she unlucky?" asked
Markham. shaking his head Immediately,
"She may be unluclky for some folks, but
not for me- You see, l wasn't good for
much when Tom Peterson sent me to the
Minnewanda run-he was assistant d.
vision superintendent then. Minnewan-
da's little health resort over here in the
mountains" he waved his hand vaguely
toward the northwest. ut was a lot lit
tier then and the run didn't amount to
much-but neither did l."
The stranger leaned against the rear
drive wheel and waited in amused ex-
pectancy
WELL" the engineer continued, 1T
started on my first run half drunk, and
Thirteen threw herself Off the track
while We were rounding the curve at the
bottom of Wammer canyon. Nobody was
much hurt, but we ali got shook up, and
I never touched drop for seven months
Thirteen acted like a pet lamb all that
time and I thought she'd finished acting
up. But one night I started off with a
few too many drinks under my belt and
she stuck half way between here and
Minnewanda and wouldn't bulge for five
hours. That Strengthened me out and I
coexed her along the rest Of the way"
"She is unlucky, then" the stranger
commented
'Unlucl1y?" the engineer retored, you
call that unlucky? Why, 1t didn't take
Old Thirteen--she wasn't so old then
more than two years to fix me so l never
got drunk and didn't take half so many
drinks between times as I used to- No,
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