Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1913-05-26
EXAMINATION CAR HERE
Railroad Men Being Examined and
Instructed on Book of Rules
and Regulations.

anu RegulatlOnS.
The examination car of the South
ern Pacific system is in the Ashland
yards, having arrived last Wednes-
day on its regular trip over the sys-
TEN. The car is in charge of Will
liam Nichols, chairman of the board
of examiners for the system, who is
assisted by Messrs. ]. S. Moore, H.
w. Bridges and r. S. Chase. The
car, which is known technically as
No. 11S, is equipped for the instruc-
tion and examination of trainmen,
dispatchers, operators, yard men,
etc, in the rules for the running of
trains and the Interpretation of sig
nails, orders, etc. The car and ex-
amining board are kept busy the
year around, it taking about two
years to cover the entire system
from Ell Paso, Texas, to Portland,
including the branch lines. By the
time one round trip is made it is
necessary to start out at once on
another
On the present trip the train has
run special most of the way from
San Francisco, stopping at nearly
every station to examine the tele-
graph and telephone operators at
each place as to their knowledge of
the rules governing their work.
While in Ashland the board is hold
ing two sessions each day for exam
ination and instruction. Sometimes
these sessions are both held in the
day time and sometimes they hold
one day session of about three or
four hours and one evening session
of about equal length, the hours of
the sessions depending upon when
the men are available, it being the
policy of the company to take the
trainmen, operators, ETC., when off
duty, so as not to interfere with the
work or to cause the men loss of
time.
The Tidings representative visited
I the car the other afternoon and
found it we'll worth the visit. 1t is
equipped perfectly for the work, hav-
ing models of single and double
tracking, automatic block signals
ETC., by which it is very easy either
to instruct a man or to have him
give a practical demonstration of his
own knowledge of the rules and sig.
nails and of his judgment as to what
to do in given instance.
The car is also equipped with I
stereopticon by which train order!
are thrown upon a screen for use il
illustration of and examination OF
problems regarding the running o
trains. There are also boards show
ing the proper and improper placint
of numbers on engines, and of sigma
lights on trains and engines. In ;
word, the car is fitted with ever!
possible equipment to facilitate tn,
work of training and examining tn,
men. The car will seat about 8,
men, but there are seldom that man,
in at time, especially at the small
er division points. The men are ais,
privileged to ask any questions the.
: desire and after nearly every clas
: men will remain to seek light OF
: some question that puzzles them, o.
upon which a difference of opinion
t has arisen in the past. The 'examin
/ alton board is the final authorit,
upon the Interpretation of the rule
; governing the moving of trains.
In addition to the instruction
: room of the car there is also al
office, together with berths for fou
men. The car is so equipped tha
it can be heated from the engin
when on a train, connected with tn,
: steam heat at the shops. where /
: happens to be stationed, or heate,
by an Independent heater. Th
same is true of its lighting system
: At Ashland it was connected up t,
the electric light system which light
{ the car shops.
From here the car goes to Rose
burg, thence to Portland, where i
will stay at least month. 1t is ex
pected back through Oregon on it
way south later in the season.