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THE VIEWS OF AN ENGINE
DRIVER.
An engine-driver of experience, on
feearing of e.le circumstances of the
Sccident, said, in the course of an in
¶erview:-"?I w?ould not like to ex
fress a definite opinion on various
utters itat suggest 'themselves to my
4ind until I know for a certainty
fthehehr ?he engine was run 'out of
ear' or not. However, I must say
is was practically -he .case of a
double engine performing a single
t$oist. The idea of the management
in using the engine that way was
evidently for the sake of expediency.
but still an element of danger exists
fn that there was not balancing power.
Once the engine got out of the con
rol of the driver he had little chance
indeed of regaining it. The double
a?lgine really held one cage as it
.ere, w'hich went up and down at pre
issey the same level in the two com
partments of the thaft. When under
ordinary circumstances one cage de
*cends whilst another cage ascends,
br, to u!e a common phrase, 'one up
*ind the other down,' there is always
* balancing power to assist a driver
in regaining control of his engine
when anything like the present case
Occurs. He has got more chance to
pick her up, because he has got tthie
weight of the other cage to help him.
- "A point worth enquiry in view of
t?is lamentable accident is whether
the engine was out of gear or work
kng in her usual capacity. . If a
double cylinder engine is worked- out
of gear she is like two separate en
ines with, of course, double brake.
each engine. That is a poinat of
some interest -for technical enquiry.
Suppose, for instance, she was out. of.
gear, there would be more chance
or an accident happening. The ropes
on the two drums would be to all
intents and purposes one rope, and
tie driver would hot have the same
balancing power at his command as if
one cage came up whilst the other
went doniwn. The handle or lever
slipped in an opposite direction to
that which the driver intended. He
had the steam on, and the
handle flew out of the rack.
The weight of the steam helped the
run of the rope dolwn the shaft, and
the speed of the descent would be al
most as fast as if the rope had been
cut. There could hate been no
balancing power to assist the driver
with his brakes. He could not pos
siibly make them grip.
"When an engine is centred the
slide valves are over the ports, so the
steam is practically cut off. Revers
ing the lever opens one of the. ports
a little bit to allow a small quantity
of steam through, which enables the
engine to come back or reverse a
shade. Then the handle is reversed
again, steam is whipped on to carry,
the engine over the centre, and the
driver can get proper control for a
hoist."
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