Never assume that because a "distant" signal and all the other signals are off the line is clear.
Every engineer should, as far as possible, not only see that each signal is off, but he should also cast his eye over the road in front of him to see whether it should be off. At night caution in the matter of signals is even more necessary than in daylight. Then the only safety lies in keeping a constant lookout.
You must know your road. It is not enough to know where the up grades lie and where the downs. You must know just how steep the grades are and their length.
Often signals are badly placed and cannot be seen until the engine is close upon them.
With this you have nothing to do. Engineers do not place signals. Doubtless if they did they would alter the position of many of them. All you have to do is to heed the signals, no matter how well or how badly they are placed.
To enter into a detailed description of signals until some universal system of signaling is adopted, would be but a waste of time.
You will have to learn all these things during your apprenticeship; they are matters upon which books can give you little help.
Presence of mind you must always have if you expect to become a good engineer, and courage, too—plenty of it. This brings us to our second head, which we will write
"Broke Down."
What to do when the engine has broken down?