The life of George Stephenson, railway engineer - Lighthouse ...

36 XIFE OF GEORGE STEPHENSON. [chap. iv.
CHAPTER IV.
BRAKESMAN AT BLACK CALLERTON.
George Stephenson was now a young man of twenty years
of age—a well-knit, healthy fellow,—a sober, steady, and ex-
pert workman. Beyond this, and his diligence and perseverance,
and the occasional odd turns which his curiosity took, there was
nothing remarkabTe about him. He was no precocious genius-
As yet he was comparatively untaught, and had but mastered
the mere beginnings of knowledge. But his observant faculties
were active, and he diligently turned to profitable account every
opportunity of exercising them. He had still only the tastes
and ambitions of an ordinary workman, and perhaps looked not
beyond that condition.
His duties as a brakesman may be briefly described. The
work was somewhat monotonous, and consisted in superintend-
ing the working of the engine and machinery by means of which
the coals were drawn out of the pit. Brakesmen are almast
invariably selected from those who have had considerable ex-
perience as engine firemen, and borne a good character for
steadiness, punctuality, watchfulness, and "mother wit." In
George Stephenson's day, the coals were drawn out of the pit in
corves, or large baskets made of hazel rods. The corves were
placed two together in a cage, between which and the pit ropes
there was usually from fifteen to twenty feet of chain. The ap-
proach of the corves towards the pit mouth was signalled by a
bell, brought into action by a piece of mechanism worked from
the shaft of the engine. "When the bell sounded, the brakesman
checked the speed, by taking hold of the hand-gear connected
with the steam-valves, which were so arranged that by their
means he coiild regulate the speed of the engine, and stop or set