ON A GOODS TRAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14835, 11 November 1911, Page 5 (Supplement)

ON A GOODS TRAIN.

THE ' DRIVER S EXACTING WORK.

There is one "side of railway work which thoroughly' deserves an article to itself, given in the Railway and Travel Monthly. This relates to the work o'i a goods train. For driver, fireman, and guard it is hard work. The frequent "shuntings" in and out of station sidings as trains are made up or trucks "dropped." are familiar to all railway travellers. The writer of the article describes it all as ho witnessed it from the foot-plate of a "pick-up goods train. We quote the concluding part of his story

"Whilst.watching the driver perform this shunting business, I could not help admiring the wonderful speed and skill ' with which the engine was started, a shunt made, the engine stopped, reversed, and started again, and it certainly proved to me that the driver of a goods engine which is fitted with a " pole"' reversing gear (similar to a signalman's lover) must be no weakling, for to continually pull and push the huge lever as well as to open and shut the regulator for each, movement, and in addition to apply and release the brake, whilst at the same time keeping the head almost entirely outsido the cab watching the liaud •. signals given by the shunter, forms by no means a task for any "ordinary " person; in fact, the whole of the driver's business fills me with admiration. To stand behind him on the footplate whilst running and to watch how he almost continuously gazes at the signals, sometimes through the look-out glasses, at others with head and shoulders exposed outside the cab, and at the, tame time to noti.ee how his .hands travel, apparently without effort, or him turning to look, to the regulator, sanding apparatus, blower, whistle handle, 'brake, reversing lever, or other of 1 the numerous handles within the cab, indeed gives one some little idea of tho wonderful and curious powers possessed by these men. In a corner, just in front of him, there is fixed a eight-feed lubricator, and at "Almost regular intervals he turns and glands -at" this to be sure that it is still passing the proper quantity of oil.. x

The feeding of the boiler with water, which is, of course, Awital matter to him, is apparently left to the fireman's care but I could not help but notice how every now and again the. driver's head is inclined and his gaze fixed, for a second or two, on the glass tube, within a brass-bound box of glass sides, in which is 'shown- the height of the water in the boiler. The steam pressure gauge also receives a share of his "awkward glances,", as the .fireman knows them, but these various surveys of how things are going on within the cab , are taken in such a quick, yet certain manner, „hat a stranger on tho footplate is apt to think that the driver is oblivious to all except tho outside" world, comprising the state of the.signals and track. This is by no means the case, for should the steam pressure not be properly maintained, a lubricator or injector cease working, or other such things occur, "a-kind of sixth sense seems to inform him instantly. His watch of the track and signals is quite a revelation to me, his sight seems as keen as that of a hawk, and I think, within myself, how marvellous it is that so few cases occur of signals being missed or mistaken, for they seem to "grow" at almost every few yards, and in all manner of queer places • but I digress. We are now awaiting tho turn of the disc signal, and as soon as this takes place we, start the homeward run. Hand signals exchanged, driver and fireman settle to their work again. Tho shovel clatters between tender and • firehole, and the steam soon hisses at the safety-valves. The injector is applied, and soon we are passing another busy section, but this we do not heed, for we are on our last lap. The driver has now taken a seat on the box at his side, and the fireman puts on more coal and the shovel is then put into the tender somewhat heavily, for all being well, this is his last round of firing for the trip. We are now rushing through a busy suburban station, and shortly a distant signal is seen showing red, steam is shut off, and brakes applied, and as we pass the, golf links and the cemetery our speed rapidly decreases. We have now almost stopped, and the signal changes to green, and we then draw slowly ahead into the marshalling yard which we left some ten and a-half hours ago. Almost as soon as we stop inside a shunter uncouples us from tho train, the fireman adjusts the head and tail lamps, and on receiving the signal off we go to the engine sheds. On arrival here wo aro met by the "relievers," who take' over the charge of the engino and do the necessary worn to " her" before " she" is put away in the shed. Thoroughly tired and dirty, I am glad to step off with the driver and fireman, who go to the office and make out their return sheets, on which various particulars ' are recorded of the trip- This finished, we make tracks for home and supper, myself holding a firm opinion that the enginemen of goods trains are worthy of quito as much consideration as those who aro engaged on express passenger work.