any further attention, unless the post should be broken in such a manner as to allow the center, or Aleck, pin and the front end of the equalizer to drop down on the axle. If this should occur, run the engine truck wheels up on blocks or wedges, which will raise the front end of the equalizer, together with the king bolt; the key can now be driven out of the top end of the king bolt, or the nuts removed, as the case may be, and the slack taken up with washers, after which the nuts or key may be replaced and the engine truck wheels run off the blocks.

13. Broken Center Post Guide Casting. In case the center post guide casting B should break, it will not be neces

run a pony truck with but one wheel on the rail in case of a broken tire; in such a case both wheels should always be raised.

15. Broken Wheel or Axle, TwoWheel Truck.-In case a wheel should break, it should be handled in the same manner as for a broken tire. In case of a broken axle, where the axle breaks outside of the truck box, the wheel at that side would naturally fall off and would probably result in a derailment. If the engine were not derailed, however, it would simply be necessary to raise both the end of the truck on the disabled side and the wheel on the other side to clear the rail, chaining the truck up to the

sary to make any repairs, as the engine can be handled safely to the terminal. This guide casting is simply a guide for the center post and is not subjected to any great strain, except when the engine is curving.

14. Broken Tire, Two-Wheel Truck.In case of a broken tire on a two-wheel, or pony, truck, both wheels should be run up on blocks or wedges so as to raise them sufficiently to clear the rail, and then chained up to the main frames, as shown in Fig. 6. At the same time a block should be placed between the top of the long equalizer N and the bottom of the main frames near the hanger P, as shown, in order to relieve the truck of its weight. It is not safe to attempt to

main frames, and also blocking between the top of the long equalizer and the bottom of frame, as shown in Fig. 6, so as to relieve the engine truck of all the weight.

16. Trailing Trucks.-Trailing trucks are of two general types, the swinging truck and the radial truck. With the swinging type of truck the side motion of the engine when curving is taken care of by the truck boxes being hung from the truck frame by swinging hangers, allowing the wheels and boxes to move laterally in the truck jaws. With the radial type of truck, swinging hangers are dispensed with and the side motion is taken care of by means of a radial bar or brace, same as used in connection with

a two-wheel, or pony, truck. With this style of truck the jaws in which the truck boxes fit are curved to a radius equal to the length of the radius bar. Failures to trailing trucks that might make it necessary to block up would be the breaking of a part of the spring rigging, equalizer, trailing wheel tire, wheel or axle, all of which have been explained in a previous paper.

Should the radius bar on either the swinging or radial type of trailing truck break, the end of the radius bar should be chained up to prevent it striking the ground, or else it should be removed altogether. In this case, it would allow the truck to tilt slightly in the jaws, but not sufficiently as to prevent the engine from being brought to the terminal with safety. If but one-half or one leg of the radius bar should break, it is advisable to chain from the trailing truck frame at the side where the radius bar is broken to the cross brace on the engine frame that forms a fulcrum for the end of the radius bar.

In case of a broken swing hanger or hanger pin, it will simply result in the frame coming down on the truck box and will not prevent the engine from being run to the terminal.

Some types of trailing trucks have the journal outside of the wheel, same as tender trucks. Were one of these journals to break off, the breakdown should Le handled the same as for those having inside journals, that is, both wheels should be raised clear of the rail and chained to the main frame, at the same time blocking over the back driving boxes so that the back drivers will carry the weight formerly carried by the trailing

truck.

Examination Questions and Answers. ENGINE AND TRAILING TRUCKS.

1. Q.-Are engine trucks necessary to guide the locomotive, and do they serve any other useful purpose?

A. As locomotives without engine trucks have been used successfully on foreign lines, and as switch engines are not more subject to derailments than are those having engine trucks, it would seem that engine trucks are not absolutely necessary, but they improve the riding qualities of the engine and save considerable wear to the driving wheel flanges when curving, besides the expense for renewal of engine truck wheels or tires

is not so great as for driving wheel tires. (Art. 1.)

2.

Q.-How many types of engine trucks are there, and what are they called?

A.-There are two types, the fourwheel and the two-wheel, or pony, truck. (Art. 1.)

3. Q. What kind of trailing truck is used directly under the locomotive, when of the Atlantic, Pacific, Prairie or Mikado type?

A. Such trailing truck is of the twowheel type. (Art. 1.)

4. Q.-What kind of trailing truck is used where the tender is rigidly attached to the engine, as in case of a Forney or double-ender type of locomotive, and the truck supports the tender?

A. It may be either of the two-wheel, four-wheel or six-wheel type, but when so used cannot properly be classed as a trailing truck, being more of a tender truck. (Art. 1.)

5. Q. What is meant by the total wheel base of a locomotive?

A. It is the distance from the center of the first truck wheel to the center of the rear driving wheel, or to the center of the trailing wheel when used. 2.)

(Art.

6. Q. What is meant by the rigid wheel base of a locomotive?

A. It is the distance from the center of the front driving wheel to the center of the rear driving wheel. (Art. 2.)

7. Q. If, in case of a hot journal on a four-wheel truck, it became necessary to remove and change the brass, how would you go about it?

A.-Would first remove the cellar, place a small journal jack or a block canting against the end of the truck where the brass was to be changed, with the other end of the jack or block resting against a tie in the track, then move the engine until the jack or block straightened up, which would raise the truck off that wheel so that the box could be raised with a pinch bar, when the old brass could be removed and a new one applied. If I had no new brass to apply, would give that box close attention for the remainder of the trip by repeatedly packing same if necessary. (Art. 3.)

8. Q. What temporary repairs would you make in case one of the back jaws on a four-wheel engine truck should break?

A.-Would remove one of the bolts holding the jaws to the truck frame and

also the bolt securing the binder brace to the bottom of the jaw, and pass a long bolt through both. (Art. 4.)

9. Q.-What would you do in case one of the front jaws on a four-wheel engine truck should break?

A. Would be careful in backing up, especially over frogs and switches, and as there would be little danger of further damage when engine was run in the forward motion would proceed to the terminal. (Art. 4.)

10. Q.-What would you do if the binder brace, or stay plate, on a fourwheel engine truck should break or become lost, and the truck jaws were very loose on the frame?

A. Would tighten the jaw bolts as much as possible and substitute a piece of scantling or heavy board for the missing binder brace. (Art. 5.)

11. Q.-What would you do in case one of the springs or spring hangers on a four-wheel engine truck should break, allowing the truck frame to settle on top of the boxes?

A. If engine did not lean over sufficiently as to cause further damage or prevent the pilot from clearing the rail, would run the engine to the terminal without blocking. If, however, the pilot would not clear the rail or there was danger of the truck wheels cutting into the frames or cylinders, would raise the frame off the boxes by means of a jack or heavy block of wood placed canting against one end of the truck frame, the other end resting against a tie in the track, and moving the engine until the jack or block straightened up. Would then block between the top of the truck box and bottom of truck frame, or between the truck frame and the top of equalizer, then raise the other end off the truck and block in same manner. (Art. 6.)

12. Q.-How can light eight-wheel engines frequently be raised so as to take sufficient weight off the truck and enable you to pry the engine truck frame up off the truck box and block it?

A. By placing a jack or heavy block canting against the pilot beam, the other end resting against a tie in the track, and moving the engine until the jack or block begins to straighten up. (Art. 6.)

13. Q.-What would you do should both halves of the equalizer on a fourwheel engine truck break?

A. Would handle the case same

as

for a broken truck spring or hanger. (Art. 7.)

14. Q. What would you do if the frame of a four-wheel engine truck should break between the center casting and front pair of wheels?

A.-Would raise the main frame by placing a jack or a piece of tie or other timber canting against the end of the pilot beam, with the other end against a tie in the track, and move the engine forward until the jack or timber straightened up. Would then block between the main frame and the engine truck frame immediately over the wheels, so that the weight would be carried by the blocks instead of by the center casting, but before letting engine down on these blocks would also place blocks between the top of the truck boxes and underside of frame on the side where frame was broken. If no jacks or timber were available, or the engine was too heavy to be raised in this manner, would place blocks between the top of the front driving box and underside of frame on the side where the engine truck frame is broken, so as to take up all of the slack, and then run the front driving wheel up on a block or wedge, which would raise the main frame off the engine truck frame and allow blocks to be placed between the truck frame and the main frame. (Art. 8.)

15. Q. What would you do in case of a broken wheel on a four-wheel engine truck?

A.-Would run both wheels up on blocks or wedges so as to raise that end of the engine truck, and chain the truck together with the wheels to the main frame. While the wheels were still on the blocks would place a block or tie between the top of the engine truck frame and the main frame immediately over the good pair of wheels, which would allow that pair of wheels to carry all of the weight. Would then run the other wheels off the blocks or wedges and proceed. (Art. 9.)

16. Q.-What would you do in case of a broken axle on a four-wheel engine truck?

A. Would raise the end of the truck where the axle is broken, either by running the wheels up on blocks and wedges, if wheels are still in place, or by setting jacks or blocks canting against the truck frame and against a tie in the track, and moving the engine until the jacks or blocks straightened up. Would then chain

the truck frame at that end together with the wheels up to the main frame, and block between the top of the engine truck frame and the main frame over the good pair of wheels, so as to allow that pair of wheels to carry all the weight. (Art. 9.)

17. Q.-If, with the later type of four-wheel engine truck having a swing center casting, the entire cradle casting should break, allowing the front end of the engine to come down so low that the pilot would not clear the rail, and you got stopped without the pilot being torn off, what would you do?

A. Would raise the front end of the engine by means of jacks or by running the front pair of drivers up on blocks, and then blocking between the cylinder saddles and the engine truck frame. (Art. 9.)

18. Q.-What would you do in such a case if the pilot was torn off, and the lowering of the engine was not sufficient as to cause the engine truck wheels to cut into the frames or cylinders?

A.-Would remove the broken parts of the pilot and proceed to the terminal without trying to make further repairs and without blocking. (Art. 9.)

19. Q.-Why would you do this? A. Because time is the main consideration in modern railroading. (Art. 9.) 20. Q.-With a two-wheel, or pony, truck what would you do in case of failure or breakage of one of the truck springs or equalizers?

A. As this truck carries but a small proportion of the weight of the engine, and such a failure would simply result in the truck frame on that side coming down on the truck box, would remove the broken parts in case they interfered and proceed to terminal. (Art. 10.)

21. Q.-In case one of the suspension hangers or hanger pins on a two-wheel, or pony, truck should fail and permit the cradle casting to drop sufficiently as to allow it to rest on the axle, what would you do?

A. If no jacks were available by means of which the cradle casting could be jacked back into place and chained up. or if the engine was so heavy that the cradle casting could not be raised by means of a jack, it might be possible to raise it and chain it in position by running the engine truck wheel on the side where the hanger or hanger pin is broken up on a block. When so raised would chain the end of the cradle casting where

the pin or hanger is broken to either the cross brace, through which the center post casting passes, or to the main frame. If unable to raise the cradle casting in this manner, would run the front drivers up on blocks or wedges so as to take the weight off the engine truck, and then pry the cradle casting up and chain it either to the truck frame or main frame. (Art. 10.)

22. Q.-What would you do in case the radius bar on a pony truck should break back of its connection with the radius brace, near the fulcrum?

A.-Would chain it to the main frame in order to prevent the truck from tipping or turning enough to result in a derailment. (Art. 11.)

23. Q.-What would you do if the radius bar on a pony truck should break ahead of its connection with the radius brace, close to the truck?

A. Would endeavor to go to the terminal, depending upon the radius brace to hold the truck in position. (Art. 11.)

24. Q.-Would it be necessary to make any repairs on the road in case the radius brace on a pony truck should break?

A.-No, as the engine can be run safely to the terminal. (Art. 11.)

25. Q.-Is high speed advisable in the cases referred to in Questions 22 to 24, inclusive?

A.-No.

26. Q.-What would you do in case the center post on a pony truck should break?

A.-Unless the center post was broken in such a manner as to allow the center, or Aleck, pin and the front end of the equalizer to drop down on the axle, would continue to the terminal, otherwise would run the engine truck wheels up on blocks or wedges, which would raise the front end of the equalizer together with the king bolt; would then drive out the key at the top of the king bolt, or remove the nuts, as the case might be, and take up the slack with washers, replace the nuts or key, and run the engine truck wheels off the blocks. (Art. 12.)

27. Q.-What would you do in case a tire should break on a two-wheel, or pony, truck?

A.-Would run both wheels up on blocks or wedges, high enough to clear the rail, and chain them to the main frames. At the same time would place a block between the top of the long equalizer and the bottom of main frames

near the hanger in order to relieve the truck of its weight. (Art. 14.)

28. Q.-How would you handle a broken wheel on a two-wheel, or pony, truck?

15.)

29. Q.-What would you do in case of a broken axle on a two-wheel, or pony, truck?

A. If the engine were not derailed, would simply raise both the end of the truck on the disabled side and the wheel on the other side to clear the rail, chaining the truck up to the main frame and blocking between the top of the long equalizer and the bottom of frames so as to relieve the engine truck of all the weight. (Art. 15.)

30. Q.-How many types of trailing trucks are there and what are they?

A. Two general types, the swinging truck and the radial truck. (Art. 16.)

31. Q.-What failures to trailing trucks might make it necessary to block up?

break?

A. Would either chain up the end of the radius bar to prevent it striking the ground, or else remove it altogether. If but one-half or one leg of the radius bar should break, would chain from the trailing truck frame at the side where the radius bar is broken to the cross brace on the engine frame that forms a fulcrum for the end of the radius bar. (Art. 16.)

33. Q.-What would you do in case a journal, either inside or outside, on a trailing truck should break?

A. Would raise both wheels clear of the rail and chain to the main frame, and at the same time block over the back driving boxes so that the back drivers may carry the weight formerly carried by the trailing truck. (Art. 16.)

Air brake troubles on the Air Line Railway during the past year, including all seasons, have been most undesirably numerous, and investigations have disclosed that most cases of trouble resulted from failures to observe instructions of the most elementary character in airbrake practice; instructions that have represented the main examination questions and answers on air ever since the common automatic and quick-action brakes first came into use, and that should comprise an important part of any railroad man's air-brake education today. The "old heads" are generally all right-those who started right years ago, and have since made it their business to keep even with the many improvements and the expansions in the air-brake sys

tem. The trouble now is generally with the younger engineers who have been promoted to running since the modern improvements to locomotive and car brakes were suddenly developed, a few years ago; they can talk ET and LT brakes in a convincing manuer, but many of them, just the same, are making out accident reports that plainly indicate bad air braking.

Cases? All right. During the past ten days two of our freight engineers were "at the bar of justice"-meaning an interview in the traveling engineer's office with the T. E., the trainmaster and the air brake instructor. In one of these cases a powerful Mikado type of engine with a comparatively light freight train had a "meet" order with another