ady has a train in it; if the upper arm
is straight the "runner" knows that a train or obstruction of some sort
makes it unsafe to enter the first block, and if he obeys the strict
rules he must stay where he is until the arm is lowered At night, red,
white, and green lights serve instead of the arms: white, safety; green,
caution; and red, danger. Accidents have sometimes occurred because the
engineers were colour-blind and red and green looked alike to them. Most
roads nowadays test all their engineers for this defect in vision.

In spite of all precautions, it sometimes happens that the block-signals
are not set properly, and to avoid danger of rear-end collisions,
conductors and brakemen are instructed (when, for any reason, their
train stops where it is not so scheduled) to go back with lanterns at
night, or flags by day, and be ready to warn any following train. If for
any reason a train is delayed and has to move ahead slowly, torpedoes
are placed on the track which are exploded by the engine that comes
after and warn its engineer to proceed cautiously.

All these things the engineer must bear in mind, and beside his
jockey-like handling of his iron horse, he must watch for signals that
flash by in an instant when he is going at full speed, and at the same
time keep a sharp lookout ahead for obstructions on the track and for
damaged roadbed.

The conductor has nothing to do with the mechanical running of the
train, though he receives the orders and is, in a general way,
responsible. The passengers are his special care, and it is his business
to see that their getting on and off is in accordance with their
tickets. He is responsible for their comfort also, and must be an
animated information bureau, loaded with facts about every conceivable
thing connected with travel. The brakemen are his assistants, and stay
with him to the end of the division; the engineer and fireman, with
their engine, are cut off at the end of their division also.

The fastest train of a road is the pride of all its employees; all the
trainmen aspire to a place on the flyer. It never starts out on any run
without the good wishes of the entire force, and it seldom puffs out of
the train-shed and over the maze of rails in the yard without
receiving the homage of those who happen to be within sight. It is
impossible to tell of all the things that enter into the running of a
fast train, but as it flashes across States, intersects cities, thun