Brakeman

I'm actually in your archives.

You guys interviewed myself and another conductor, Brakeman, about 20 years ago.

Oh, yeah.

Okay,

Most businesses do spend more money on the labor than even the materials they sell.

Well, in the case of the railroad, they certainly do.

They had an engineer, they had a fireman up in the cab, they had a head brakeman, a rear brakeman, and then a conductor in the caboose for a freight train anyway.

And that's a lot of money.

Len Vasco, big, stubbled, carrying his own lantern.

Brakeman, oldest rails in his veins, but lately he carried a ghost of something behind his eyes.

Maddy Renfrew was at the west end, fussing with the telegraphy box, fingers frozen, but still faster than any wire in town.

She saw me nodded, forced a brave grin.

But now I'm in a position to maybe do something about that.

And so the first thing is that the whole crew, engineer and fireman, and Brakeman and the conductor.

But we're back there on the train with the people.

We're expected to come in and help grease the engine and get it all ready for service.

15.

The Brakeman at Church.

one bright winter morning the twenty-ninth day of december anno domini eighteen seventy nine i was journeying from lebanon indiana where i had sojourned sunday to indianapolis i did not see the famous cedars and i supposed they had been used up for lead pencils and moth-proof chests and relics and souvenirs for lebanon is right in the heart of the holy land that part of indiana was settled by second adventists and they have sprinkled goodly names all over their heritage as the train clattered along stopping at every station to trade off some people who were tired of traveling for some other people who were tired of staying at home I got out my writing-pad, pointed a pencil, and wondered what manner of breakfast I would be able to serve for the ever-hungry hawk-eye next morning.

I was beginning to think I would have to disguise some leftovers under a new name, as the thrifty housekeeper knows how to do, when my colleague, my faithful yoke-fellow, who has many a time found for me a spring of water in the desert place, the brakeman, came down the aisle of the car.

Stottlemyre goes to the belt.

Here goes Brakeman.

The pitch inside for ball four.

So big Frank Howard jogs on down the first base.

Number 11 for the Senators.

The second hit off Jack Aker.

And with one out, a runner at first, Ed Brakeman moves in.

Hannon gets the windbreaker on down at first.