Britain at Work
A Pictorial Description of Our National Industries

io/ RAILWAY ENGINEMEN AND THEIR WORK. ALTHOUGH the engine-driver is the most A familiar of objects, besides being one of the most responsible servants of the public it is possible to imagine, the ordinary traveller has but the vaguest idea concerning his training and duties ; while of his life off the footplate he may be written down entirely ignorant. In this paper we purpose dealing with every interesting phase of the engineman’s career—the term “ engine- man ” including not only drivers and firemen, but all who move and have their being among locomotives—and,since practice varies slightly with different companies, care has been exercised to treat the subject in as represent- ative a manner as possible. The engineman commences his career as a cleaner, and the candidate for footplate honour s must have attained sixteen years of age. Many companies enforce a height standard for cleaners, viz. that the latter must stand 5 ft. 4 in. ; while all insist upon a medical examination and sight testing operation. The term “cleaner” explains itself. Directly the engine is cold the cleaners, who usually work in gangs of four, the senior of them being known as the chargeman cleaner, get to work. They first rough-wipe the ma- chinery, which is mostly covered with oil, and with the oily waste, after they have clone everything else, clean the wheels. Of course, particular attention must be paid to the cleaning of the machinery ; and, in order to stimulate vigilance, a suitable reward is given for the discovery of any flaw. The satisfactory completion of the cleaners’ job is certified by the chargeman cleaner. When a cleaner has served three or four years he becomes a fitter’s assistant. Every running-shed has a staff of fitters, presided over by a foreman-fitter, who carry out ordinary repairs. Therefore, whilst serving a short apprenticeship with the fitters, the young engineman is able to pick up some technical knowledge of the ma- chinery, with which he is already familiar by sight. The next step is that of shunting fireman, which permits him to mount the footplate for the first time in an official capacity. His little engine, however, is only employed about the yard, darting hither and thither in quest of trucks, marshalling