Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 8, Issue 7 (November 1, 1933)

Moving Pictures

Moving Pictures.

The fireman watches the water gauge. While we climb it behaves itself, but, page 7 running down hill, the water drains to the front of the boiler and the gauge drops abruptly. Then the fireman turns on the injector which runs more water from tank to boiler. Meanwhile, he keeps an eye on the pressure gauge where the indicator fluctuates between 160 lbs. and 180 lbs. (the maximum). He opens the door of the firebox and we get a glimpse of a long flat glowing floor. In go two or three shovelsfull of coal, followed immediately by a belching of fumes from the funnel.

The engine is galloping, “wagging its tail” gently. The fireman fills a bucket and sluices the steel floor—to keep it cool. The driver says something unintelligible, to us; but the fireman uncoils a hose and sprays the coal in the tender. He explains that otherwise the dust would be blown back into the carriages; we commend these men for their thoughtfulness.

There is, to us, a spice of romance about these common activities. The driver raises his hand to a cord above his head
(Railway Publicity photo.) New Zealand's crack train, the Auckland-Wellington Limited near the end of its 426-mile run.

(Railway Publicity photo.)
New Zealand's crack train, the Auckland-Wellington Limited near the end of its 426-mile run.

and his action is answered by a long hoot from the whistle. Away down the track we see a toy station with a miniature signal pole in the foreground. The semaphore is down. A midget emerges from the toy building and fits the tablet to the tiny tablet-exchange appliance. We see him wave a small green flag. The driver sounds another toot, the building grows rapidly, the man gains in stature, everything rushes at us; there is a “click” and the whole scene has disappeared. But we have a tablet in our holder to prove that it was no illusion.

The picture is repeated, but loses none of its wonder to us, whose sight is unimpaired by familiarity.

We leave the engine with enhanced respect for the men in front; the men who carry responsibility, not lightly, but with the confidence born of usage and training. When we were young it was our ambition to drive a railway engine, and we realise that, in this respect at least, we have never grown up.

page 8