Chapter II: Preface: To the Third Edition

I desire to thank the railroad world and the technical press for the kind reception they have extended to my book. The necessity for publishing the third edition within three months after the first one was issued, indicates that the book was wanted.

In the present edition I have corrected a few errors, and made some necessary alterations, that will add to the value of the book.

ANGUS SINCLAIR,

NEW YORK, April 6, 1885.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.
PAGE
ENGINEERS AND THEIR DUTIES 1

Attributes that make a Good Engineer.--How Engineering
Knowledge and Skill are Acquired.--Public Interest in
Locomotive Engineers.--Ignorance _versus_ Knowledge.--
Illiterate Engineers not wanted in America.--Growing
Importance of Engineers’ Duties.--Individuality of
American Engineers.--Necessity for Class Improvement.--
The Skill of Engineers influences Operating Expenses.--
Methods of Self-improvement.--Observing Shop Operations.--
Where Ignorance was Ruin.--Prejudice against studying
Books.--The Kind of Knowledge gained from Books.

CHAPTER II.

HOW LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEERS ARE MADE 11

Reliable Men needed to run Locomotives.--Early Methods
of making Locomotive Engineers.--Practice of raising
Engineers from Machinists and Technical-school Graduates
not found satisfactory.--Experience demonstrated that
Firemen made the Best Engineers.--Difficulties of running
Locomotives at Night, and during Bad Weather.--Kind of
Men to be chosen as Firemen.--Modern Methods of selecting
Firemen.--First Trips.--Popular Misconception of a
Fireman’s Duties.--Learning Firemen’s Duties.--A Good
Fireman makes a Good Engineer.--Learning an Engineer’s
Duties.--Conditions of Engine Running that vanquish the
Inexperienced Man.--Learning to keep the Locomotive
in Running-order.--Methods of Promotion on our Leading
Roads.--Nature of Examination to be passed.--Master
Mechanics on the Best Method of Educating Young Men for
Engineers.

CHAPTER III.

INSPECTION OF THE LOCOMOTIVE 30

Locomotive Inspectors.--Good Engineers Inspect their own
Engines.--What comes of neglecting Systematic Inspection
of Locomotives.--Confidence on the Road derived
from Inspection.--Inspection on the Pit.--Outside
Inspection.--Oil-cups.--Inspection of Running-gear.--
Attentions to the Boiler.--Miscellaneous Attentions.--
Reward of Thorough Inspection.

CHAPTER IV.

GETTING READY FOR THE ROAD 39

Raising Steam.--Precautions against Scorching Boilers.--
Starting the Fire.--Fireman’s First Duties.--Saving the
Grates.--Supplies.--Engineer’s First Duties.--Reaching
his Engine in Good Season.--Oiling the Machinery.--
Quantity of Oil that Different Bearings need.--Leaving the
Engine-house.

CHAPTER V.

RUNNING A FAST FREIGHT TRAIN 48

Running Freight Trains.--The Engine.--The Train.--The
Division.--Pulling out.--Hooking back the Links.--
Working the Steam Expansively.--Advantage of Cutting-off
Short.--Boiler Pressure Best for Economical Working.--
Running with Low Steam.--The Throttle-lever.--Management
of the Fire.--Conditions that demand Good Firing.--
Highest Type of Fireman.--Scientific Methods of Good
Firemen.--The Medium Fireman.--The Hopelessly Bad
Fireman.--Who is to Blame for Bad Firing?

CHAPTER VI.

GETTING UP THE HILL 61

Special Skill and Attention required to get a Train up a
Steep Grade.--Getting Ready for the Grade.--Working
up the Hill.--Wheel-slipping.--How to use Sand.--
Slippery Engines.--Feeding the Boiler.--Choice of Pump
and Injector.--Fall of Boiler-temperature not indicated
by the Steam-gauge.--Some Effects of Injudicious
Boiler-feeding.--Careful Feeding and Firing preserve
Boilers.--Operating the Dampers.--Loss of Heat through
Excess of Air.--Loss of Heat from Bad Dampers.

CHAPTER VII.

FINISHING THE TRIP 74

Running over Ordinary Track.--Stopping-places.--Knowledge
of Train-rights.--Precautions to be observed in
approaching and passing Stations.--The Best Rules must be
Supplemented by Good Judgment.--Operating Single Tracks
Safely.--Causes of Anxiety to Engineers.--Acquaintance
with the Road.--Final Duties of the Trip.

CHAPTER VIII.

RUNNING A FAST PASSENGER TRAIN 82

Average Speed.--Speed between Jersey City and
Philadelphia.--Requisites of a High-speed Locomotive.--
Making up the Fire.--Getting ready for the Trip.--The
Train to be pulled.--The Start.--Getting the Train over
the Road.--How the Engineer did his Work.--Qualifications
that make a Successful Engineer.--How the Firing was done.

CHAPTER IX.

HARD-STEAMING ENGINES 92

Importance of Locomotives Steaming Freely.--Essentials for
Good-steaming Engines.--Causes Detrimental to making
Steam.--Petticoat-pipe.--The Smoke-stack.--Obstructions
to Draught.--Choking the Netting with Oil.--Silicious
Deposit on Flue-sheet.--The Extended Smoke-box.--
Steam-pipes leaking.--Defects of Grates.--Lime, Scale,
and Mud.--Preventing Accumulation of Mud in Boilers.--
Temporary Cures for Leaky Flues.--Good Management Makes
Engines Steam.--Intermittent Boiler-feeding.--Too Much
Piston Clearance.--Badly Proportioned Smoke-stacks.--The
Exhaust Nozzles.

CHAPTER X.

SHORTNESS OF WATER.--PUMP DISORDERS 109

Trouble develops Natural Energy.--Shortness of Water a
Serious Predicament.--How to deal with Shortness of
Water.--Watching the Water-gauges.--What to do when
the Tender is found empty between Stations.--A Trying
Position.--Watching the Strainers.--Care of Pumps.--
How the Condition of Pumps can be tested.--Lift of
Pump-valves.--Keep Pipes tight, and Packing in Order.--
Sand in the Pump-chambers.--Delivery Orifice choked with
Lime Sediment.--Minor Pump Troubles.

CHAPTER XI.

INJECTORS 119

Invention of the Injector.--Trying to find out how the
Injector worked.--The Principle of the Injector’s
Action.--Different Forms of Injector.--A Heater-pipe
acting as an Injector.--Skill and Reflection Needed in
Repairing Injectors.--Care of Injectors.--The Most Common
Causes of Derangement.--How to Keep an Injector in Good
Order.--Curious Cases of Trouble with an Injector.--
Common Defects.--Care of Injectors in Winter.--Sellers
Injector.--The Nathan Manufacturing Company’s Monitor
Injector.--The Korting Injector.--The Hancock Inspirator.

CHAPTER XII.

BOILERS AND FIRE-BOXES 136

Care of Locomotive Boilers.--Factor of Safety.--Boiler
Explosions.--Preservation of Boilers.--Causing Injury
to Boilers.--Dangers of Mud and Scale.--Blowing off
Boilers.--Over-pressure.--Relieving Over-pressure.--
Bursted Flues.