There is no royal road to engineering any more than there is to any other honorable calling.
A position must first be obtained in the round house as general helper.
For a time the candidate must content himself with doing chores, cleaning up and any odd jobs which are given him to do.
At this stage of the game he must cultivate habits of observation, be an attentive listener and try to understand and remember the "engine talk," that is going on about him.
Everything he learns in this way is going to be of service later on.
For the first few months, unless he is fortunate enough to gain favor in the eyes of some obliging engineer, no one is going to stop to explain matters and he need not expect it. Nevertheless there are a thousand and one little things that he can pick up if he is shrewd, all of which will come in play later on.
When the locomotive is taken out watch how they do it. When it comes in keep your eyes open for points, and you will be sure to get them. When it breaks down and comes in for repairs then is the very time of all others to be on hand if you can and watch how they fix it.
Every day will bring its own information—the boy's work is to watch and remember, but he must not ask too many questions, and never any at improper times, unless he desires the ill-will of everybody in the yard.
By and bye he will be made an oiler, put to cleaning the big iron horse and other work of similar sort.
After a time he will slip into a fireman's job, and then he must understand that his chance has come. Now all depends upon himself.