Behind the Locomotive—Looking in From the Cab.
Don't say to yourself so and so ain't my work and I ain't going to do it. Do whatever your hands find to do and do it with all your might.
A model engineer is distinguished by the fullness of his knowledge of the engine, and this must be learned while you are a fireman—not after you become an engineer.
He should love his work—the locomotive should be his hobby—and whatever contributes to enlarge his stock of information concerning it should contribute to his happiness. Unless he can feel that way, he should promptly step out of the cab and turn his attention to some other business, for he can never hope to make a good engineer.
On the engine is the only place where one can learn to be an engineer.
During the time the engine is under steam with a train, everything seen, heard, felt and smelt is capable of affording a lesson.
On the engine the eye is trained to distinguish different colors at considerable distances. If one is color-blind he cannot be a good engineer.
On the engine the ear learns to detect the slightest variation in the beats and knocks about the machinery—to distinguish the difference between the knock of an axle box and the knock of a journal.
On the engine the body learns to distinguish the shocks, oscillations, etc., which are due to a defective road from those which arise from a defective engine. The olfactory nerves became very sensitive so as to detect the generation of heat from friction before any mischief is done.