THE LIGHTNING EXCHANGER

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8182, 25 July 1912, Page 9

THE LIGHTNING EXCHANGER

Said the porter in. charge at a wayside tablet station:

“Yes, those automatic tablet exchangers will pay for their cost in the lives they will save. I know what a boon they are, for I’ve worked the tablets in the 'arm-slings.' Ay, they were dangerous. All right for the man in the engine with a rail to lean against, but all wrong for the man on the platform. Why, if the driver loosed his hold of the thing just a fraction of a second too late the pull of the train would spin a man round and under the wheels as several men and boys were spun. Now, there was a driver on the express who ran here some years ago, and he was a terror. By the regulations he should have slowed down, but he never did, when passing a tablet station. With steam on, running down hill, he passed mp again and again at thirty miles an hour, and we never missed the exchange, though twice the leather pocket holding the tablet was Tipped off the arm sling by the momentum. I thought of reporting him, and then thought 'no.' A better plan came to me. Next time, be came yelling down the line I wasready. I got his tablet and he was just going to get mine when I twisted the handle and ho missed it. Well, that was an annoying thing to happen to the express train. He had to pull up, and even with the air-brakes the van was 100 yards away before he stopped. Taking my time, I walked up past the gaping passengers at the windows. He was leaning out of the cab. “What’s up with you to-day? "Nothing,’’ I answered, “I just want a chat with you. Do you never read your instructions ?"

"I do,” he says. "Well, why don't you slow to 15 when yon pass me?” "Why should I?” he asked. "Yon always get me. -You’re the smartest exchanger on the run, and we enjoy, passing here. “Then I don’t,” I answered. "I’ve got a wife and five kiddies, and I’m not keen on a sudden death. _ You can report me for this if you like, but whatever you do kindly take a pull on her when you‘come down next time, for 1m a living man like you, and you’re not giving me a chance." After that there was no more trouble. Kegular as clockwork he blew at the distance, and I could hear him take a pull on her, and it was all as sweet as a whistle after that. And then they got the automatic, which is just O.K. * —WILL LAWSON.