Engine-Driving Life - Hardcover

Reynolds, Michael

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 023878908X ISBN 13: 9780238789083

Publisher: Adams & Dart, 1968

Synopsis

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1881. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IV. THE ENGINE-DRIVER--HIS PROGRESS. Who are these? They are those who take charge of a locomotive engine when under steam with a train. They began as cleaners, and, advancing step by step, they attained the position of firemep, and still marching on through the various degrees of promotion, laying themselves out on this side and on that, cherishing and making much of whatever aptitude they found in themselves until the harvest of reward comes. On the foot-plate we see only, in the position of driver, a man who has reached the regulator through many vicissitudes, break-downs, collisions, explosions, dreadfully cold nights, and still more dreadful dangers, always moving amidst a ceaseless change of things, himself unchanged. If we were to sum up the conditions on which a man can command the regulator of an engine, it would read thus :--Miles to run, 200,000; coals to break up and put into the fire-box in their proper place, 3,000 tons; day work, 3 years; night work, 4 years; Sunday work, 25 days per year; innumerable hairbreadth escapes, eyes constantly on the roll, the mouth shut and the ears open, an iron constitution, a whistle in the lips, a warm heart, and an intelligent head, with the motto, "Wait." We see, then, on the foot-plate men who have been well drilled for the work, who can pride themselves upon having one qualification if no other--loyal servitude. Before they obtain charge, they have, as a matter of course, been scrutinised by those who have the welfare of the service at heart, and who THE ENGINE-DRIVER--HIS PROGRESS. 31 are desirous of bringing to the front such men as will tend to give satisfaction to the directors of the railway and to the public. The localities where such men are to be looked for are the foot-plates of the ex...

About this edition

• Publisher: Adams & Dart
• Publication date: 1968
• ISBN 10: 023878908X
• ISBN 13: 9780238789083
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 72