The Republican journal., 1910-11-17
Driving a Train.
Engineer Tells of Thrilling Experience on
Road.


"How does it feel to run a mile-a-
minute train?"
A reporter put this question to a vet
eran engineer, who, at Sc, is completing
his goth year at the throttle of one Of
the finest through passenger trains in
the country, running from Cincinnati,
o., to the Atlantic seaboard. The old
fellow was making pleasure trip to
Chicago with friend, a conductor of a
Cincinnati Chicago "f yer"
''Feel!' he exclaimed in answer to the
query, MAN, that's the only time live.
When climb up on the high seat, jam
my cap over my eyes and reach for the
reverse bar I'm not the man you see
now. I've fed on the excitement so long
that Pm fiend for it nova regular
speed dope. Many night I've driven
my train-and made time, too-when it
was showing so hard I've had 10 run
ahead while we were taking water to see
if the headlight was still burning. NY
smoke and | couldn't tell it from the
cab-nothing ahead but wall of black
Sometimes we wouldn't know we were
moving, except for the tossing of the
engine on the track.
Ibid you know that an engine has a
hearth" he rambled on. You We seen a
doctor feel a patients pulse when he
wants to find out what's the matter with
his works? Well, that's the way we do
it, too. When we rush through the black
night, maybe with death just around the
next curve, We don't sit with our hands
on the throttle, as the engineers do in
story books. Reverse bar, that's it. The
reverse bars the engines heart. We
never let our fingers off it. 1t beats
with the engines life, and when any,
things wrong it beats fast or slow or it
Jumps beat, like an old guys heart
Then we know, we shut off Steam and
climb down to see.''
is it true that engines vary and men
get attached TO different ones?''
True. Course it's true. Engines are
just like women. Some are contrary all
the time and some are agreeable all the
time. Some smile and then put poison in
your coffee. Some you beat and some
you kiss. The old 39-latest type, big
gest made, one O. three-why, I'm mar
ried to her and l wouldn't give her up for
half my pay. I've had her three years
now. When she goes, I'll go too. -
Don't you feel the responsibility when
re pulling trainload of passengers?'
That's what 'th' old man asked me
once. 1 never stopped to think of it,
answered him.
'What?' he yelled, jumping up and
banging down his first. you didn't?
And why didn't your
" Cause if did I'd go crazy l told
him. There's only me and my smoke
in sight and when we're running through
fog or storm or snow | look across at
where he's shovelling coal, calmlike, and
say to myself; There's only you and
Danny here and Danny's going ahead |
with his work. Now you're going to do
the same, and you amt going to think
about anything else. You're going to |
bring yourself and Danny through, and
f you two come through the rest will !
follow 2"
''Did you ever kill anybody?"
The engineer stopped and counted .
slowly on his fingers. "Seven," he said.
And sometimes | dream about them
me in particular-a woman. She stepped
light in front of us from behind freight.
reversed and drew the air, but it didn't
10 any good and we cut her down as l
ooked. III never forget it.
81 could retire tomorrow if l wanted
% and draw pension until die. In IA
ears I'll have to quit, if l last that
ong. l know won't last long after
yard.
The interstate commerce act will not
lllow the engineer of an express train
o work more than 16 days in any one
month, the engineer explained. He had
worked his allotment of days early in the
Month and was enjoying a vacation in
,hicapo at the roads exnense