Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-09-19
RIDE ON A RUNAWAY TRAIN
A Nebraska Episode Pulled Up
from Days that Have Long
Gone By.
TRICK OF A sULKING CREW

TRICK OF A SULKING CREW |
II happened a good many years ago on /
a branch line Of tho Chicago a North |
western railroad in Nebraska, U. S. n.
but the recollection stil remains as fresh ,
In my memory as n the incident occurred !
only yesterday. This branch road left
the main line and took circular route |
through a rich farming district. return |
ing to tho main line again some lib miles !
farther west.
The train concerned was way
freight" which unloaded goods and did
switching at the several stations along
tho branch line The regular engineer on
the run had been called TO headquarters
IN connection with some trouble he had
been having with his train crow. had
Just been promoted to the position OF en-
gineer. and being on the extra list, Gas
sent over TO run his engine during his
absence.
Arriving there took the engine out OF
the engine house The brakeman came
along a few minutes later, and l backed
down into the yards. where no coupled
me onto the train we were 70 take out
Presently the conductor came along. and
after skiing me up with a suriy look
handed me my running orderA
Now. kid" he said. don't let any
Erass grow under this train today" BY
which he meant that was expected TO
make fast time between stations. l made
no reply, as / saw he was In an ugly
mood. and We presently pulled out OF the
station to begin trip that shall never
forget 20 my dying day.
We had not passed many stations be-
fore / began 70 suspect what the trouble
had been between this train crew and
Il cir engine-driver. II was In the days
before freight cars were equipped with
air brakes. and an our train was made up
wholly OF nonair cars, the stopping OF
tho train had TO be done by the applica-
ton of the hand brakes. I soon found out
that this crew was not very expert ~
settlng brakes by hand. and a. q conse-
quenco we ran past the depot at several
stations and had TO back UP, which u
very disagreeAble and takes UP n good
deal OF time. l did not say anything to
the Grew in regard to their laxity OF duty.
but made UP my mind to get along with
them az best I could for the short time
| should be with them.
Facing Unknown Trouble.
succeeded fairly we'll in the cireum-
stances. and when we reached the last
station next to the end of our run we
we're about on time. l sat leaning out OF
the cab window. watching for q signal.
When the last boz had been unloaded
the conductor shouted something at mo
which did not hear plainly, at the same
time giving the high ball" or signal 70
start We pulled out. and as l waa not
very familiar with the road asked my
fireman about a long steep grade we had
to descend before reaching our destinn-
ton. As We were nearing tho summit OF
this grade he told me the train would
run of itself from a large cut Just ahead
OF us, and a. we passed through II
shut off steam and tho train began to
coast down the slope. As the descent was
not steep at first we went some distance
before we attained q very high speed.
but presently our pace began to increase
rapidly, and I asked the fireman where
the train crew started to apply the brakes.
They should be holding us now" he
replied.
As we rounded a CURVE I looked back,
but could see no one on top OF the train.
Evidently the crew were oil In the ca
boose. This state OF affairs caused me TO
become little uneasy. applied the en-
CINE brakes. but they did not seem to
check our speed 70 any great extent I
then whistled for brakes. for things were
! getting I'm bad shape. We kept going
faster and faster, and my anxiety was
increased by the fact that down at the
foot OF tho grade, where we came out on
the main line. the switch would be against
US. and we should have TO stop and shift
II before We could proceed. To make
matters worse, the switch was OF the old
style 'short-raiI' kind, for In those days
we had no modern split-point switches,
which allow the wheels TO slip through
between them and stiil stay on the track.
II we did not stop before we reached this
switch, therefore, the train was sure TO
run off the ends OF the rails onto the
ground This switch was located at the
end OF a bridge about 100 feet long, which
spanned a creek bed some fifty feet boz
low. Knowing this. 1 thought II was
about time We were slowing down. in
stead OF gaining speed at every turn Of
the wheels.
once more whistled for brakes. Just
then we swung round a curve, and, look
ing back, the sight I saw was anything
but assuring. On the top OF the car next
to the caboose were the conductor and
his two brakemen lying flat down. holdinI
on to the run-board for dear life. This
strengthened my suspicious that they haC
let the train get beyond their control. ant
that 1t was now running away. BY thi
time we had attained a terrible speed
some Stirring Thoughts.
Knowing what was waiting 10 receiv
us at the foot Of the grade. my feeling
can be better imagined than described.
! looked out at the ground; Il was slippin
away from under US In blur. locke
back at the Jolting, swaying train o
freight cars behind me. They SCENE
like pursuing demons bent upon GU
destruction. Presently / glanced owe
at my fireman. / don't know how 1 ar
peared to him. but / never want to se
2 such q look OF horror upon any ones fac
Iagain. He was az white as chalk. and tn
expression on his face was suggestive {
death itself. Catching my eyes. he Gale
TO me. saying, I'VE are done forl"