CHAP. III. DUTIES OF BRAKESMAN. 33 



quently happens that the young workman about the 

 collieries, when selecting a lodging, contrives to pitch 

 his tent where the daughter of the house ultimately 

 becomes his wife. This is often the real attraction that 

 draws the youth from home, though a very different 

 one may be pretended. 



George Stephenson's duties as brakesman may be I 

 briefly described. The work was somewhat mono- 

 tonous, and consisted in superintending the working of 

 the engine and machinery by means of which the coals 

 were drawn out of the pit. Brakesmen are almost 

 invariably selected from those who have had consider- 

 able experience 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 approach 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 

 could regulate the speed of the engine, and stop or set 

 it in motion when required. Connected with the fly- 

 wheel was a powerful wooden brake, acting by pressure 

 against its rim, something like the brake of a railway- 

 carriage against its wheels. On catching sight of the 

 chain attached to the ascending corve-cage, the brakes- 

 man, by pressing his foot upon a foot-step near him, 

 was enabled, with great precision, to stop the revolutions 

 of the wheel, and arrest the ascent of the corves at the 

 pit mouth, when they were forthwith landed on the 

 " settle board." On the full corves being replaced by 

 empty ones, it was then the duty of the brakesman to 



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