Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-01-17
DUTIES OF THE TRAiNMEN.
An Opening to Railroad Life Popu
lar With High School Boys.

practically all the most desirable
positions on the railroads today are
occupied by men who have risen from
the ranks, on my own division of a
railroad" a former signalman says in
the Youths Companion, Il have seen
the agent at a small station Work up
into a position Of auditor, at S. or
Sc a day.
''rhe young fellow who used to drag
the chain ami figure out angles and
curves on the track is now Superin
tendent of division. The boy who
used To play around thu. ears and twist
brakes just for fun i'll small yard
up country is now responsible train
master.
Il often wondered as l watched him
a play what he would one day do with
his earncstness and enthusiasm. The
telegraph operator at $1.25 a day.
who worked overtime without a muir
mNr, and held to miserable job with
grim determination. is now the gem
erql manager OF big system.
"Stul more interesting is the story
Of the water boy who became in time
Il passenger brakeman. one day lie
made Il mistake and derailed train.
He Went right into the office and con-
feSsed his negligence. Before long,
for hs honesty. he was promoted. Al
the age of 26 he was general ticket
agent Today he probably ranks first
in his line of business in the United
States.
"All these men work within a few
feet of each other in one railroad sta
ton. The building swarms with such
MEN. and when YOU come to look into
the matter closely YOU will be told that
i'll these and all other cases talent and
ability pave counted, but the main
characteristic of these men has been
their strict attention to duty and their
lifelong devotion and loyalty to the
interests of the public and the rail-
road.
During the last few years one OF
the avenues of employment on the
railroad that has become particularly
attractive is the passenger train ser
vice. The ranks of the trainmen are
now largely recruited from the high
schools.
40 begin with, he has to give an
account Of himself. The trainmaster
takes hold of him. He must answer
number Of questions in regard to his
nationality, his parents, his age, his
height his weight. Some of these
questions are very pertinent and
searching.
Are you crippled or deformed" Is
your eyesight or hearing defective?
Are you able to distinguish colors
Are you subject to any sickness or in
trinity" Are YOU temperate In your
habits? Do you use Intoxicating IL
auors? Do you ever gamble in any
way?
.If he passes Il creditable eXamina-
ton he takes his place on train per-
haps the following day. He works In
the middle Of the train in the care OF
an experienced conductor. who im-
mcdiatelv takes him in hand and
breaks him in. He receives Il time
table, his book of rules and special
notices.
For his first days experience he
receives about $2.25--not such bad
start for young man whose earning
ability is dependent upon the expert
ence and knowledge acquired in the
high school. His progress and en-
vironmcnt for the following SIN
months and indeed for the years tnat
are to como are still more interest
ing as study in social and Industrial
life. a..
Flew men in the service are so well
informed =. and so Interested in the
success and well being Of the boys IN
his department as the trainmaster on
my own division who had climbed
every step ofsthe ladder steadily ald
faithfully. When you listenetQ his 90