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Safety Rule of the Month - History ArchivesMay 2021 Rule 2. You will look your engine and
tender over thoroughly at the end of
each trip. You will be held responsible
for the condition of the ash pan and
smoke stack, and will see that they are
in good order, so as to prevent the
escape of fire, that would be liable to
endanger the train or property upon
the line of the road. Rule 6. You will in no case allow the
furnace door to be opened for the
purpose of regulating the steam, but
will, in all cases see that the damper is
used for that purpose; as running with
the furnace door open is very injurious
to the tubes, and liable to set fires
along the road. Rule 10. You will in no case be allowed
to carry more than 125 pounds of
steam. Source: Rules and Regulations to be
observed by Locomotive Engineers in
the employ of the Central Pacific
Railroad Company March 1874.
Written by A. J. Stevens, General
Master Mechanic.
 WRECK OF THE FEDERAL AT UNION STATION 1953 We are often asked about the Wreck of the Federal at Union Station which happened January 15, 1953. The Federal was an express overnight train from Boston to Washington that became a runaway and crashed into Union Station 5 days before the first Eisenhower Inaugural. We have a detailed article on the incident you can read, as well as a YouTube Video about it by an individual who was there that day.  Photo from DCNRHS Collection | Make a tax-deductible gift
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Capitol Limited at Washington Union Station - circa 1959
 PRR GG1 at Union Station- 1964
 * Photo by Bill Hakkarinen
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