To keep the line open, the railroad affords every sort of protective device; it trains men for especial duties. Take the matter of wrecks, for instance. The railroader does not like to think of wrecks, but his methods for removing them must be prompt and thorough: the line must be kept open. Each year sees equipment increasing in size and weight, and each increase brings additional problems in handling wrecked cars and engines. Twenty years ago, the wrecking-equipment of most of the big roads was comparatively simple. It was generally built in the railroad's own shops. To-day 60-ton cars and 100-ton locomotives require something of a wrecking crane or derrick to lift them from the right-of-way; and the wrecking-train is a device thought out and built by specialists. These wrecking-trains are the emergency arms of railroad operation. They stand, like the apparatus of a city fire department, at every important terminal or division operating plant, awaiting summons to action. You may see the wrecking-train at every big yard, waiting on a siding which has quick access to the main-line tracks. It consists of from four to six cars--a tool-car with all sorts of wrecking-devices--replacers, blocks and tackle, extra small parts of car-trucks for emergency repairs, and the like. There are more of these extra parts--axles and wheels and four-wheel trucks on a "flat" that is fastened to the tool-car; and if this wrecking-train has a couple of miles of heavy traffic line to serve, there may be three or four of the "flats" with tools and spare equipment. You cannot have too many of those in a big wreck. The wrecking-train is sure to have a crane--a big arm of steel, compressed to come within the slim clearances of bridges and of tunnels, but capable of reaching down and tugging at a 100-ton locomotive with almost no effort whatsoever. And quite as important as the crane is the cook-car--generally some old-time coach or sleeper descended to humble service on the road. The cook-car has a rough berth and a kitchen; and you may be mighty sure that there is a good griddle artist upon it. You cannot expect a wrecking-gang to get into a twenty-four hour job without being pretty constantly provisioned while it is at work.