Nice refresher on this past bit of railroading. Answered a few questions I'd had about the practice.
There was another hazardous bit of this profession that cost many a hand, arm, .....life: The link & pin coupling. Once I saw this method of coupling cars, predominant in the 19th century, it was easy to project how manual dexterity was no more of a saving technique than sheer luck! Then, too, there apparently was no standardization, meaning there was a wide variety of links and pins, not all of which were compatible. Thankfully Mr. Eli Janney had a better idea....which became the standard early in the 20th century, refined to this day.
Yepper....surely took some 'cojones' to do this...
Study this picture. Think about what's happening...what's in motion, what's stationary. Left hand, right hand, footwork, footing, 'targets', timing, weather,.... Bad aim, bad grip, trip and/or stumble, speed/steadiness of the approaching engine/car, last second sneeze, cough, itchy nose, etc., etc.,??
No thanks!
Glamour job, indeed.
KD
