IO6 ROUGH-AND-TUMBLE ENGINEER 



ic. We have also given you hints on economy, 

 and if you do not already know too much to follow 

 our advice, you can go into the field with an engine 

 and have no fears as t> the results. 

 How about bad bridges? 



Well, a bad bridge is a bad thing, and you cannot 

 be too careful. When you have questionable bridges 

 to cross over, you should provide yourself with good 

 hard wood planks. If you can have them sawed to 

 order have them 3 inches in the center and tapering 

 to 2 inches at the ends. You should have two of 

 these about 16 feet long, and two 2x12 planks about 8 

 feet long. The short ones for culverts, and for helping 

 with the longer ones in crossing longer bridges. 



An engine should never be allowed to drop from a 

 set of planks down onto the floor of the bridge. This 

 is why I advocate four planks. Don't hesitate to use 

 the plank. You had better plank a dozen bridges 

 that don't need it than to attempt to cross one that 

 does need it. You will also find it very convenient to 

 carry at least 50 feet of good heavy rope. Don't 

 attempt to pull across a doubtful bridge with the 

 separator or tank hooked directly to the engine. It is 

 dangerous. Here is where you want the rope. An 

 enpfine should be run across a bad bridge very slowly 

 and carefully, and not allowed to jerk. In extreme 



