Britain at Work
A Pictorial Description of Our National Industries

I 12 BRITAIN AT WORK. OVERTAKING A GOODS TRAIN. North-Western Company being regular hotels; while, if this is not clone, as is the case on the Great Western system, the rule is to furnish men with a list of approved lodgings, and to allow them is. 6d. per night, or, in the event of their going to a strange place, 2s. 6d. for each of the first three nights they spend there. In ordinary circumstances a driver, on arriving at his destination, takes his engine to the shed, turns it, fills up with water, and then rests until it is time for him to start home again ; but neither he nor his fireman may leave their engine without special permission. On his return home the driver hands over his engine to a turner, after which he goes to the running-shed office, where he makes out his returns for the day, reports any ir- regularity that may have occurred, and enters in a book kept for the purpose what repairs he thinks necessary. Here also he learns at what hour he comes on duty again. A driver has a different time with a train practically every day, in order to equalise turns and give him plenty of rest in between. Leaving the shed office, the driver proceeds to the time office, where he signs off, and hands in his keys. The duties of the engine-turner have already been explained ; but it should be added that it is he who takes the engine to coal, the amount received being booked to the driver. A few lines must now be devoted to the staff of a running-shed, which is officered by a foreman, a foreman-fitter, and several inspectors, the latter being responsible that the men and engines are ready to leave at the right hour and in a fit state. The staff itself consists of a number of skilled workmen, copper and brass smiths, etc., for executing repairs ; while in addition to the cleaners there are tube-cleaners, boiler-washers, lighters-up, and sand-men. The four last-named are as often as not enginemen who have failed to continue a footplate career owing to defective eyesight or inability to obtain a driver’s certificate. Every engine is washed out once a week. Previous to this operation the smoke-box has been cleaned and perfectly cleared of ashes, so that the wash-out plugs