Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-28

The blocks have all been clear along the Sem
ators right of way, the lights all green Those
train directors in the towers know how to keep
things open. AS much depends on their knowl-
edge and skill in making a fast schedule as OH
the skill and alertness of the man at the
throttle.
There's signal ahead which tells Eaton 10
slow down to IS miles an hour for Gross
over, to another track Then Conrad yel.s
CLEAR" again and the engineer eases back the
throttle
Foreman Beason looks at the gauges He
yanks open the freboX door and throws In six
shovelfuls Of coal while the fireman watches
him with grin. Takes me back to the DAYS
when this used to be my job" he said 1--WE
all get our start this way Engineer Eaton
pulls out his watch and looks at it. Three
minutes ahead" he says with a SMILE and YOU
can't mistake the pride in his voice. "It's
great game" says Conrad in my ear. His face
is bsaming. Man, there's a thrill to it," He
and Eaton are nearing the end of their run.
I'D like to be going on through"
WE'VE only been gone four hours and we're
almost at Manhattan Transfer. The first
crack train to make that run over the Pennsyi-
vania took 10 hours and is minutes to do it in.
That was back in 1873. The flyer made its first
A~AA oA cuiie 81 "a tuat year. An account or the
event IN The Evening Star the next day read:
p. r. r. Air Line to Baltimore, PHILADELPHIA
ana New York left Washington 8:45 pm
and its departure was witnessed by eoodlv
number OF persons. The train consisted of two
baggage cars, four coaches and two Pullman
sleeping cars. There were 80 passengers on the
tran and telegram from New York an
nounced their arrival there on time at TOO am"
The sky turns gray. Trains approach with
noA0lQhfS he csr TIL
like gems. They are rubies, emeralds. diamonds
we've shot past Elizabeth, N. J. We're only
lew minutes from Manhattan Transfer where
the 540l will shunt off onto siding and Weld its
place to its electric bfother for the dash through
the tubes. The big engine goes into the home
stretch with an added burst of speed She
pounds the rails with all her might. "Clear
block!' shouts Conrad for the last time. "Clear
biock!" echo Engineer Eaton and Foreman Bea-
son over the uproar
John Eatons fingers close over the brass
Westinghouse lever. Slowly, skillfully he
checks the terrific momentum and the Sena-
tor eases up to the platform and stops The
54Ol has completed its run. We had reached
the Transfer in hours and II minutes.
In less than 80 seconds sleek electric en-
CINE had been coupled on to carry the now
famous pride of the Pennsylvania under the
river into New York. and John Eaton's loco
motive was rumbling of toward the roundhouse
short distance away. What different steed
this new one was. Cool, clean, silent!
The cab which was really vestibule, instead
Of being on the rear end Of the engine. was
away up front. My seat-wa a comfortable one
with leather cushions and back, like the engi-
neers beside me. Instead of cinder-specked
overalls like Eatons, he wore black pants and a
white shirt open at the collar. Instead of 8
ragonnet gear and throttle and injector valves
and flock of gauges before him, he had only
a shiny air brake lever and a rheostat control
to grip in his white hand and two small indi-
Gators to claim his attention. Instead Of Fire