Before going to his engine an engineer should, for his own safety, as well as that of the public, visit the special and general notice boards and post himself fully upon the running of the trains for the day. By neglecting this more than one engineer has lost his life.
An anecdote bearing on this is related on good authority, as follows:
"By incessant rain a river had become so swollen that, owing to the rush of water, the spiles of a wooden railway bridge became shifted.
"The bridge was inspected, and one side of it pronounced to be dangerous. Arrangements were made to use only one track until repairs could be made, and notice of such arrangements posted in the round-house.
"The engineer neglected to visit the notice board, ran his train past the man appointed to pilot him over the break, got his train off the track, and was killed."
After the engineer has read the notices and made himself thoroughly acquainted with them, he may proceed to his engine—not before.
Inspection of the Engine.
When on the foot plate the first thing an engineer wants to do is to inspect his engine in every part.
Begin with the water in the gauge glass and ascertain its level and find out whether it correctly indicates the height of the water in the boiler by opening the lower cock in the usual manner.