PLAN No. 998. THE PASSENGER CONDUCTOR
The passenger conductor collects fares and supervises the passengers and train. He is responsible for the train orders as is the freight conductor. The physical requirements made upon him are normally light, but in emergencies, he needs to be physically sound. Formerly, passenger conductors who had lost fingers or even an arm or leg were frequent, but in recent years railroads have not wanted disabled men for this service, since they remind passengers of accidents. The passenger conductor needs to have a knowledge of trains and their time at meeting or crossing points, of the various sorts of tickets and script. He must make out various reports. If the railroads would place disabled men in this position, providing they were old railroad men who had been wounded in the war, this would be the best of all the positions in train work for an intelligent disabled soldier.
PLAN No. 999. YARD OCCUPATIONS
The train work in the yards consists of switching. The work of the yard fireman or engineer is perhaps somewhat less exacting than that of a fireman or engineer out on the line, but for the brakeman it is more exacting. The hostler is usually what might well be called an apprentice fireman, and so he must be as physically sound as the fireman or engineer. Yard conditions are so dangerous that disabled men would usually find their disabilities a handicap.
PLAN No. 1000. THE BAGGAGEMAN
The baggageman on trains needs to be physically strong, since he has to handle heavy trunks. He could sustain the loss of a leg or have too poor eyesight or hearing to qualify for other train work, if in emergencies he were not called upon to do the other train work. Since he is so called upon he must be physically as sound as a brakeman. He has some clerical work to do. Sometimes he is a mail clerk, express messenger, and extra brakeman. Little knowledge or training is required to fill this position—a strong man of ordinary intelligence could learn to fill the position in a few days. He must know the stations and transfer points. Wages are about the same as for brakeman.
Work Conducing to Train Operation
In the fifth group of employments, including those conducing directly to train operation, are found the pumpman, the men on the coal chutes, the freight handlers, the crossing guardmen, and similar workmen. In this group, the requirements are good health, a fair degree of strength, and knowledge of the occupation.
PLAN No. 1001. THE PUMPMAN
The pumpman may have defective hearing, but must then have excellent eyesight, since he should notice engine trouble quickly if he can not hear it well. If his eyesight is poor, he should have good hearing. The pumpman needs to have some knowledge of boilers and steam pumps, but ordinarily his work is not heavy, even when he has to shovel all the coal for the boiler.