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had to lay over at a certain place since another tum

(or train) would be taking the caboose a day or two later to another destination. Example: It goes irom Brunswick to Cumberland; has a layover, then is called for Keyser; is then called back to Cumberland; then perhaps a "turn" comes for Brunswick. Hence, a "home away from home."You may remember the old song which says "I'm the little red caboose behind the train." Red was the standard caboose color on the B&O but that eventually gave w~y to solid blue; Chessie System cabooses were blue and yellow. For the most part freight trains are now protected by electronic "end-of-train" devices, and are usually called "RED" for Rear End Device, or "FRED" for Flashing Rear End Device.

run. Bill Young spent 46 years and three monthsfrom age 19 - performing a part of this procedure. Dutch Burns was in this service 22 years. After being detached from the train, the engine was driven to the inspection pit by the engineer. He immediately went into the nearby shanty and filled out a work report for any repairs he knew were necessary for the engine. Then the inspector examined the engine and made out a work report. Next the hostler took the locomotive to the fire track and stopped over the ash pit, where the grate bars were opened and the fire was either cleaned or knocked out. To "clean" was to remove the clinkers; to knock the fire out meant to remove all the fire and the ashes and wash out the ash pan completely. This was done when internal work was ordered. The engine was then taken under the coal chute (unless the tender needed to be worked on), and filled with coal. Then the hostler drove on to the sand house where the sand boxes on top of the engine were filled. If further work was indicated by the report, the engine would be taken into the Roundhouse. The boilermaker fixed the grates and pans, inspected the front end, blew out the flues if they were stopped up, and repaired leaks in the fire box.The shop men would tighten up or replace brass fittings or connections on the driving rods if there was too much lost motion, and do other repair work. Fire was maintained in the engine unless internal work had been ordered, in which case, the corrections were made. After the repairs, then the light-off man would coal the firebox down, throw in a ball of burning waste, spray oil inside, and the fire was thus rebuilt in the engine. An engine watcher would take over as the steal!)- was rebuilt and keep adding water until the ste;im was built up adequately. The engines were 1$:ept in the Roundhouse until called. After being call~d, the engines were put on the ready track, set up for a wait of from 30 minutes to six or eight hourr before being taken out on the road again. Twenty to 30 engines were kept fired up all the time, some as long as eight hours before they went back out. When steam engines reigned, there were 1500 to 1600 men working three shifts; they were boilermakers and helpers, machinists and helpers, laborers (firemen and oilers) to watch the engines, pipefitters and helpers, and carmen and helpers. The Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) thirty-day inspection, or boiler wash," as it was called, was a much more intensive search for possible flaws that develop in anengine after a months' s use. This inspection covered everything in very fine detail. Wheels were tested for wear on the bearings.

S - Dutch Burns

W-MMM - BRH

THE B&O ROUNDHOUSE AT BRUNSWICK The first B&O Roundhouse in Brunswick was built in June 1891, an ironclad framed, semi-circular building of iron. A brick 12-stall roundhouse was built in 1907, and an extension in 1916-17 added the second half of the semi-circle. In 1927, jets were built out from the second semi-circle. The "house," as some railroaders refer to the Roundhouse, contains 16 pits, with rails that enable engines to be worked on from underneath. A few changes were made in the original construction. The metal doors pulled up by chains were replaced by wooden doors. There once were 19 pi ts; three were appropriated for offices and the "power house." Prior to this, the offices were outside in front of the roundhouse. The "power house" is no longer active. Future engineers start their training as hostlers at the Roundhouse. W-MMM

INSPECTING STEAM ENGINES Every steam engine, immediately after each trip, would be inspected and readied for its next

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