Question 561. What are the dangers to which the runner and the fireman are exposed by their work on the engine?

Answer. Runners and firemen are not only exposed to great bodily injury or even death by every accident which may happen to their engine, but unless they are very careful to preserve their health it is quickly destroyed by the constant changes of the weather to which their position exposes them, and also by the effect of the heat of the fire and by the smoke by which they are often surrounded.

In order to protect themselves in a measure from the injurious effects of change of weather, smoke, cold, etc., frequent bathing and cleansing of the skin are absolutely necessary, and also the wearing of a woolen undershirt next the skin at all seasons.

The gases of coal which pour out of the furnace-door, if it is opened when the throttle is closed, have an especially injurious effect on the throat, lungs, etc. They should always see to it, therefore, that the blower is always started before the fire-door is opened, in order that these injurious gases, which have collected during a halt, may be drawn forward and up the smoke-stack by the draft.

The steady, loud clatter which the engine makes while running has an injurious influence on the nervous system. The runner should therefore endeavor to lessen these shocks of the engine as far as possible by keeping watch over it and keeping its parts accurately adjusted. In order to keep himself fresh and strong in his service, which is extremely exhaustive to body and mind, the runner must try to strengthen himself by regular, temperate living, and eating abundant nourishing food. The common use of strong drinks, which undermines the mental and physical strength of men, should be avoided by a person occupying the exhaustive and responsible position of a locomotive runner. If in ordinary life a drunken man is unfit for any simple work, how shall a drunken runner or fireman undertake the difficult management of so great, so delicate and so costly a machine as a locomotive? How can hundreds of men quietly trust their lives and limbs to such a man, whom no one can help despising? Rightfully, therefore, conscientious railroad managers place the greatest stress on the sobriety of the runners and firemen, and instantly discharge from their service those who give themselves up to a passion for drink.

Owing to the demands which their daily labor makes upon their strength and endurance, locomotive runners should be careful not to increase the drain by dissipation, irregular hours or overwork. There seems to be something about the power of endurance of the human frame analogous to the capacity of a bar of iron or steel to resist strains. So long as the strains do not exceed the elastic limit, that is if the bar recovers its original length when the strain is removed, it will bear millions of such strains without becoming weaker; but if it is strained so hard that it is permanently stretched, then comparatively few applications of the force will rupture the bar. In a similar way, if the strain or fatigue which a man endures is no more than he will recover from after the ordinary rest, he can endure an almost unlimited number of such strains, but if the fatigue exceeds his “elastic limit,” then he soon becomes permanently injured thereby. It often happens that an excessive amount of work is unavoidable, but when it can be avoided it should be by those who wish to preserve their health and strength.

In order to save themselves from great injuries, runners and firemen should always act with the greatest caution, and never rush carelessly into danger. They should never adopt the principle of foolhardy and thoughtless people, who by the consciousness of continual danger fall into the habit of carelessly “trusting to their luck,” etc. On the contrary, they should always face the danger with their eyes open and with the greatest conscientiousness. Many try to show great courage by scorning the danger, and some such even wish to meet a little in order to be able to show their pluck. These should bear in mind that they have a great responsibility laid upon them, and that it is not alone their own well-being or life which is at stake in case of any mishap, but that by their careless behavior they may wound or kill the helpless people who are committed to their care, cause incalculable misery by robbing families of their sole support and of their children; and bring great sorrow and mourning to their fellow-men. The thought of the curse and the despair of the survivors may give sleepless hours even to a locomotive runner who knows himself to have been without any fault regarding an accident; how much more must it be with him who cannot give himself this assurance? There are not wanting instances in which the runner who caused such an accident by his thoughtlessness, driven to despair by his own heavily-burdened conscience, went miserably to ruin.

Question 562. What requirements and duties should every locomotive runner fulfill?

Answer. Every locomotive runner should fulfill the following requirements and duties:

1. He should have an exact knowledge of the engine intrusted to him, and a general knowledge of the nature and construction of steam engines generally. Likewise, he should be perfectly familiar with the management of the boiler, the running of the engine, and the way of keeping the working parts in good condition; also, with the forms and peculiarities of the line of road on which he runs, the rules which govern the running of trains and with the signal system adopted.

2. Health and bodily strength he must have in abundant measure in his position, which is exhausting and in which he is exposed to all sorts of weather.

3. He should have a good, plain common-school education, and be ready at reading, writing and arithmetic.

4. He should always carry out exactly and cheerfully the regulations of the service, or the instructions given him by special orders from the officers over him.

5. Faithfulness, frankness and honesty, which characterize an upright man in ordinary life, and also the strictest temperance in the use of strong drink, he should possess in a high degree in his very responsible position.

6. He should have acquired a certain degree of skill in putting together and taking apart locomotives, and also in repairing separate parts of them. It is desirable that he should always be present when his own engine is taken apart, put together or repaired, in order that he may acquire a thorough knowledge of its condition and learn to understand properly the importance of its various parts.

7. In caring for his engine he must preserve perfect cleanliness and order, and in using fuel he must manifest the greatest care and rigid economy.

8. Whenever there is danger, coolness and self-possession are indispensably necessary, and any thoughtlessness or recklessness is to be strictly avoided.

9. Towards his superior officers his behavior should be respectful and obliging; towards those under him, patient and kindly, and at all times he should avoid profanity and all intemperate language. He should endeavor, as far as possible, to instruct the fireman who accompanies him and make him familiar with the construction and management of the engine, and should see that he does his work strictly in accordance with his instructions.

It is the fireman’s duty to follow the runner’s instructions strictly, and in case of any sudden disability of the runner he must stop the engine in accordance with the instructions given him, and then give the proper signals for help, until another runner arrives. In the meanwhile the engine is to be kept at a halt with all the usual precautions.

10. The runner should try to keep himself informed of the progress and improvement of locomotives by reading suitable hooks and technical periodicals, and when possible acquire some skill in geometrical and mechanical drawing, in order to accustom himself to accurate work and sound and systematic thinking.

Question 563. What studies should mechanics, locomotive runners and firemen take up, and what technical books should they read?

Answer. As already stated, they should know how to read and write their own language, and understand arithmetic and have some knowledge of geography. Every locomotive runner and fireman has a good deal of spare time, a part of which he can devote to study, and all of them, even if they have not had the advantage of early education, could by industry and perseverance acquire a knowledge of “reading, writing and ciphering.” The assistance of a good teacher should always be procured, if possible. With so much knowledge, some book on natural philosophy can be read to advantage, and then some book on mechanics. The following list of books is given, which the student will do well to read in the order in which they are named. It should always be remembered, however, that the mere buying of books contributes very little knowledge to the owner. It is the reading and understanding them which “increases knowledge.”

LIST OF BOOKS FOR MECHANICS, LOCOMOTIVE RUNNERS, FIREMEN, ETC.