Providence Technical High School - Review Yearbook (Providence, RI)

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50 TECH REVIEW 1 am pleased to meet Miss Drew,” said Allan. “I was telling her what a chance I was taking by letting a fireman run the Flyer' to- night and what should she do but insist that I let her ride in the cab. I told her that you might object. Will she be in the way, Allan?” ‘‘Not a bit, Allan assured him. “Well, 1 guess Allan will look after you all right, Elsie. 1 must be going back to the President. West, I am depending on you, and then he grasped Allan by the hand again. Good-bye, Elsie, he said, and then he went back to the Special.” Good-bye, father,” she called after him. Allan helped her into the cab and intro- duced her to Jackson. He then brushed off the fireman’s seat, closed the window on the front of the cab, and made her as comfort- able as possible. Allan looked at his watch. It was 7:39. One minute more. He got up on his scat and waited for the signal to start. 7:40. 'l'he conductor swung his lantern. Allan opened the throttle a notch, another, and then another. The Gilt Edge Flyer had commenced her long journey. CHAPTER FOUR The Danger Signal The B. E. E. is a double iron” line. At Indian Head, two miles east of Canton, the C. I). E. joins the B. E. E. and runs into Canton on the latter’s rails. This has made Indian Head the chief despatching headquar- ters of the two roads. It was here that Allan would receive his orders for the long run before him, and, as the “Flyer approached the signal tower, Allan slowed down, while Jackson prepared to catch the orders on the hoop”. As the hoop slipped on his arm Jackson cried, Ix t her go, Allan. I ve got ’em.” Allan opened the throttle wider and wider until the train was fairly flying over the glistening rails. Then, and not until then, did he look at the orders which Jackson had handed to him. l’he orders simply gave the time at which the train was due to arrive and leave the different stations, and told where to take water. On a double iron” line, protected by semaphore block signals, train orders for fast passenger trains are hardly more than a mat- ter of form. Such trains invariably have a clear track during the entire run, and it is only when they run over a torpedo or come upon a red light torch that engineers have to exercise any great caution to prevent acci- dents. In case a freight train gets a hot-box and is stalled in the middle of a block, the red eye of the semaphore at the entrance to the block will show until that train has safely- entered the next block. It prevents any train from entering the block in which the freight is stalled and causing an accident. Sema- phore block signals have reduced the danger of collisions on double tracked roads to a minimum. The orders which he had received were the same as those he had read with Tom Burton for the past two years. The one purpose which they served was that of keeping the train’s schedule fresh in the engineer’s mind. The first stop was Cameron. Cameron is forty-six miles from Canton and the “Flyer” was due there at 8:29. It is a comparatively level road-bed all the way, but there is a very- sharp curve that has to be taken on the slow”. As Jackson proved to be a capable fireman, everything went well and right on the dot of 8:29 the (Jilt Edge Flyer pulled into the Cameron train shed. 'Flic “Flyer” was due to leave at 8:33. In this interval the conductor came up and read Allan’s orders. “Same old thing,” he grunted, as he walked back. Suddenly it occurred to Allan that Miss Drew was riding on the opposite side of the cab. He turned to inquire how she was en- joying the ride just as she exclaimed, This is just glorious, Mr. West!” “That’s what I think,” said Allan. Is this your first ride in a locomotive?” Yes, it is, Mr. West,” she answered. “I’ve always wanted to ride in one, but somehow father has always refused until tonight.” “Please call me Allan. I’m not used to being mistered.” said Allan. I will if you desire it,” she answered simply. Well, here we go again,” said Allan, as the conductor swung his lantern. 'File next stop was Chester, thirty-four miles from Cameron. The “Flyer” was due at Chester at 9:02. At 9:05' the Flyer” would leave Chester for a twenty-eight mile run to Eakeside Junction. Between Cameron and Chester tin road is nearly all up-grade, but with the throttle wide open old 1301 was eating up the miles.

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TECH RKVIEW 49 CHAPTER THREE In If huh a lire man Becomes an Engineer “Come right in, young man, said the su- perintendent. “You are Allan West, arc you not?” Y'es, sir.” You arc fireman on the (iilt Edge Flyer? “Yes, sir. “How long have ou been on that job? “A little over two years, replied Allan. “Do you know how to run a locomotive? “Mr. Burton has taken a hand at firing nearly every day and then I have held the throttle, said Allan. “Well, the fact is, Burton has broken a leg and is laid up in the hospital. 1 just heard about it a few minutes ago.” “Why, who is going to run the ‘Flyer to- night? asked Allan. “That is just what 1 want to talk to you about, continued Mr. Drew. “I haven’t been able to find a man to run the ‘Flyer to- night as yet. ‘Billy Adams has the grippe. Brown has a broken arm. West, can you run the ‘Flyer’ tonight? Allan was too surprised to answer, but after Mr. Drew repeated the question he managed to say, “Yes, sir, I think I can.” “And so do I. cried the superintendent. “If I hadn’t thought so I wouldn’t have asked you. By the way, the President’s private car is to he on the ‘Flyer’ tonight. There will be five or six big stockholders and the President on hoard and the ‘Flyer has got to live up to her record.” “Who is going to do the firing? inquired Allan. “I have sent ‘Billy’ Jackson down. I think he will be just the right fellow. He has been firing spare. It is 7:09, he said, looking at the clock. “You have thirty-one minutes. I am going down on the ‘special tonight, so I will come up and see you a minute before you leave the station. 1 think you will find every- thing ready when you get back. Good luck to you,” and he grasped Allan by the hand. As Allan left the office it seemed to him that he was walking on air. He, Allan West, a poor fireman who had never even had a switcher of his own. was to drive the (iilt Edge Flyer. But Allan was one of those who go at a thing with all their might, no matter what the task may be. and he had resolved to keep the “Flyer” up to her record. Sure enough, when Allan got back to the engine, Jackson, a fine appearing young fel- low, was already there. Gee, this is a peach of a locomotive, isn’t it? was his greeting. “You bet it is,” replied Allan, proudly. “It’s the best on the division. “M y name is ‘Billy Jackson. What is yours?” “Mine is Allan West. I’m the regular fire- man on here. “And you’re going to run the ‘Flyer’ to- night? “Well, I’m going to try to,” replied Allan. “While 1 was fixing the fire here a few min- utes ago, the Master Mechanic gave me a notice ordering me to report to the Division Superintendent. When I went over, he told me that Burton, the regular engineer, was laid up in the hospital and said that he couldn’t find a man to run the ‘Flyer’ tonight. Then he asked me if I thought I could and I said yes, so here I am.” “Billy” whistled. “Gee. you’re certainly getting along all right! he exclaimed. “Well, we’ve got to couple up now. You keep your fire the way it is now and we’ll get over the road in fine shape. Maybe you don’t know it, but we’re going to haul the Presi- dent’s ‘Special’ with a bunch of ‘big guns’ aboard. I’ll do my best, replied “Billy.” They backed up a few yards and coupled on the eight Pullmans which were used on the ‘Flyer’ regularly. At 7:22 Allan got the green eye” and ran slowly down to the sta- tion. A switching engine set the President’s car on the rear of the “Flyer.” Allan climbed down from the cab, oil-cup in hand, and looked at the train. It was only natural that his heart should thrill with pleas- ure. There stood the proud locomotive. No. 1301, the eight shiny Pullmans, and the President’s “Special with its brass-railed ob- servation platforms. And he was the engineer of this train. What mattered it to him if it was for only one night? Allan went carefully over th? engine, oiling a bearing here, tightening a nut there, trying now this valve and now that. When he had finished his inspection, he looked at his watch and saw that it was 7:34. Six minutes more. He was about to climb back in the cab when he saw Mr. Drew and a young lady hurrying toward him. “Just a minute. Allan.” cried Mr. Drew. “I want to make you acquainted with my daughter, Elsie.”

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TECH REVIEW 51 Great clouds of black smoke belched from the smoke stack, only to float away and be lost in the darkness. Jackson was working like a trooper. Would you like to run her, Miss Drew?” asked Allan. “Yes, I should love to,” she answered. Allan helped her across the cab and into his own seat. “And you must call me Elsie,” she whis- pered, as she sat down. “Put your hand on here,” said Allan, plac- ing her hand on the throttle. “Now you arc a real engineer.” He stood beside her for a few minutes and then went over on the other side of the cab. There was no use to deny it, Elsie Drew was certainly a pretty girl and she had asked him to call her Elsie! Get up here on your scat and keep a sharp look-out. I’ll fire a few minutes for you,” said Allan. “I'm not a bit tired,” said Jackson. “I don’t need a rest.” “Well, I guess you wouldn’t mind hugging that seat for a few minutes,” was Allan’s re- tort. “Well, remember it’s only for a few min- utes,” said Jackson. Allan had been firing only a short time when Elsie cried, “Allan! Allan! come here a minute. What is that waving its arms ahead there?” “Why, I don’t sec anything,” said Allan. “Well, 1 saw something big and black waving at us, but 1 don’t sec it now,” said Elsie. “Here, Jackson, I think 1 had better stay here a few minutes,” said Allan, as he handed hack the shovel. “All right, Allan. Say,” he whispered, “I’m pretty sure saw something waving at us back there.” In some respects railroad men might be called superstitious. Allan had heard of en- gineers who had seen strange signs and then either had been wrecked or had just stopped their train in time to prevent a wreck. What could that waving have meant? And then there came to his mind what the conductor of the accommodation train had told him about the bridge over the outlet of Millville reser- voir. This outlet was known as the Devil’s Creek, and the bridge over this creek had been the scene of more than one terrible accident. But now the train was approaching Ches- ter. Elsie, with Allan’s help, shut off the steam, applied the air, and brought the train to a stop in the Chester station at 9:03, one minute late. At 9:05 the conductor gave the signal to start. The “Flyer” was due at Lakeside Junction at 9:40, and as this was a stop for water, did not leave until 9:48. Allan stood beside Elsie as the train rushed on. Suddenly he closed the throttle, and cried, “Look! someone is waving us down. Jackson, do you see it? I did, but whatever it was, it’s gone now. Open her up again or you’ll have them up here looking us over. There’s a couple of trainmen looking to sec what the trouble is, already,” said Jackson. Allan opened the throttle again and the train soon pulled into Lakeside Junction, still on time. Lakeside Junction is a country sta- tion at a point where a short branch line con- nects with the B. L. E. It has a water tank and many trains stop there every day to take water. While the train was stopped here, Elsie decided that she had run the train enough, so she went hack on the fireman’s scat, and Allan got tip on his own scat. At 9:48 the train started once more. North Adams would be the next stop. North Adams is seventy-two miles from Lakeside Junction and the time for this distance is eighty-two minutes, making the “Flyer” due to arrive at North Adams at 11:10. From Lakeside Junction there is thirty-five miles of level track to the top of the “Devil’s Grade.” The “Devil’s Grade is fifteen miles long and at the foot of this grade is the “Devil’s Creek.” From this point the track is level all tin way to North Adams. Allan opened the throttle wide and kept it open. 'File train, running on the level track, was going at a mile a minute clip. The thirty-five miles to the “Devil’s Grade” were covered in almost as many minutes. On the grade the train increased its speed to nearly seventy miles an hour. Five miles of the grade were covered, then ten. In a minute the dreaded bridge would be crossed. And now Allan, peering ahead into the darkness, suddenly saw that same waving shadow. It was waving faster now. as if to sav STOP! DANGER! STOP! DANGER! Allan could stand it no longer. He would not go over that bridge until he knew it was safe. “Elsie! Jackson! Hold on for your life!” he screamed. “I’m going to stop her.”