They all heard about it in letters from home. Workers at these railroad construction companies are employed for life. As long as you don't make mistakes and get fired, you can work until you're sixty.
After reaching the age of sixty, you can retire and receive retirement salary, which is 80% of the normal salary. But there are no bonuses and year-end bonuses. But that’s twelve silver dollars a year. Can be received until death.
They were all dumbfounded when they heard that there was such a good thing in this world. In the Ming Dynasty, no matter where you work, if you can't do it anymore, you will be fired naturally. If the employer is kind, he will give you a few small coins, but if you are not kind, he will be kicked out directly.
I didn’t expect Dashuai’s business to be so benevolent. When you work until you are sixty years old, the Railway Construction Company will pay you a pension until your death. I've never heard of publicly funded medical care or anything like that.
It can be said that it is an iron rice bowl, which makes them drool with envy.
In the past two days, five groups have arrived here one after another. At present, camp areas are divided, tents are set up, and camps are stationed in different areas. When it was our turn, we gathered out of camp and boarded the train back to Beijing.
After all, the train capacity is limited. There are only thirty tank cars per train, and a maximum of 1,500 people can be transported. The current capacity is still limited, with only six trains running a day. They had to go through multiple transportations to get back to Beijing.
At this time, a train was steaming on the Guihua Station railway track.
A 24-ton steam locomotive has been fired up, the boiler pressure has been reached, and it is ready to start.
There are four to five people in the cab of the train locomotive. There are three drivers among them.
A steam locomotive is driven by a driver, co-driver, and stoker.
The driver is mainly responsible for steering, checking and confirming driving signals, and comprehensively inspecting and maintaining the locomotive.
The co-driver and stoker are mainly responsible for the locomotive's fire-making, daily inspection of fuel supply, and liaison inspection during operation.
In short, the three of them are a team. They must each bear their own responsibilities and must cooperate with each other.
Because Yang Fan's train drivers were all trained in surprise attacks, and they were all seventeen or eighteen year olds. To ensure driving safety. A mechanic and an inspector were added.
In addition to the steam locomotive, this train is composed of thirty tank cars. Finally there is a caboose. ..
Caboose, also known as lookout car, is a work car hung at the rear of a freight train and used by the conductor. It is usually hung on the rear of a truck to keep an eye on the vehicle and assist in braking.
Yang Fan and Zhang Shize were sitting in the caboose, along with several senior officers from the Chinese Army. In the caboose, the middle part of the two sides is a protruding ear room with windows on three sides, where tables and chairs are placed for working and observation. In the front and back of the ear room, there are four bunk beds, which can accommodate eight people.
Because the conditions of the caboose were much better than those of the tanker truck, Yang Fan took Zhang Shize and several senior officers to sit in the caboose.
This is the first military train sent out since the opening of the railway. The departure of military trains must be kept secret and strictly managed. At this time, in order to transport Jingying, the entire railway was stopped for other passenger and cargo transportation. All stations along the route are closed under martial law. Unrelated persons are strictly prohibited from entering or exiting.
Yang Fan and Zhang Shize stood on the platform, watching the first battalion and the regiment headquarters of the first regiment get on the train. Then the military personnel in the army got on the bus. The first regiment serves as the guard force of the Chinese army and is responsible for maintaining security.
Yang Fan followed the custom of later generations. When the army takes trains, they all use tank cars.
Being a soldier is not about enjoyment. They are not arranged to operate sleeper cars or hard-seat cars. Straw and other weeds and hay are laid in stuffy tankers. There are fifty people in one car, and they have to make beds on the ground.
This stuffy tank truck has a raised piece in the middle, like a small pavilion. There are glass windows on all sides for lighting and ventilation. There was only one small window on either side, one foot wide and two feet high.
After they get in the car, they will lock the door and cannot get out of the car. If you need convenience, you can go to the platform where the two cars connect.
Each tank car is assigned an officer to be in charge, and he is the only one who can ask questions if there is a problem.
This train takes a total of 18 hours from Guihuacheng Station to Changxindian Station in Beijing. They must bring dry food and cold water. No one gave them food on the way.
This was the first time for these soldiers from the Beijing camp to see a train and locomotive. They all looked very surprised. Most of them are number one
I saw railways and trains for the first time.
They were amazed by these black steel carriages and shining steel rails.
"Brother Zhao, look at this road. It's really made of iron. It's shiny." Ma Xiaoping pointed at the rails and said. "This is good steel. How much does it cost?"
Zhao Yongtang was also stunned to see that not only the rails, but also the carriages were made of steel. This train probably weighed hundreds of thousands of kilograms. It was really an eye-opener.
"What are you doing standing still? Hurry up and organize the officers and soldiers to get on the bus." The battalion commander came over. Seeing that they were in a daze, he immediately scolded them.
As the soldiers got on the bus in groups of fifty, soon, the members of the first regiment and the Chinese army got on the bus.
"You are not allowed to get off the train in the middle. This is a military column. You cannot stop once you start. Remember this." The regiment leader shouted loudly.
"Remember." The officers and soldiers responded loudly. Because there were some loud noises in the car.
Yang Fan saw that it was almost done, waved his hand and said, "Screw the door shut with iron wire and drive off."
With that said, he took Zhang Shize and several senior officers and boarded the caboose. The railway personnel on the platform immediately closed the sliding door of the tank car, and then used pliers and wire to tighten the door.
The signalman waved a small flag to indicate to the driver of the vehicle that he could drive.
The inspector stood sideways outside the gangway, waiting for the signal. After seeing the signal flag, he turned around and shouted: "Brother Cai, the driving signal has been sent."
Cai Zhengwen is the main driver, Tian Yongguang is the co-driver, and Cheng Dadan is the stoker, that is, the coal filler. Take action immediately after hearing the news. Cai Zhengwen pulled the steam supply handle, and the stoker kept filling the coal.
The steam engine immediately started roaring and puffing, and the wheels began to rotate driven by the crankshaft and connecting rod.
This was Zhang Shize's first time riding a train, and he was also very surprised. He touched and looked around, and there was still a squeaking sound in his mouth. It's amazing that such a huge vehicle can be built.
"Hold on tight, there will be shaking when driving, don't fall." Yang Fan sat at the observation window and said to these curious guys.
Woohoo! With the whistle of the steam locomotive at the front, there was a bang and the whole car shook. Then it started slowly.
Zhang Shize and others were stunned. They almost lost their shit, so they cursed a few times and looked for a place to hold on. However, the train shook violently while driving, and then started to accelerate smoothly.
Watching the scenery outside the window keep going backwards. The train was clanking as I thought, vibrating and running faster and faster. Their faces were flushed with excitement, like children who had gotten a fun toy.
"Can I really go to Changxin Store tomorrow morning? Why do I feel like I can in a dream?" Zhang Shize asked Yang Fan with some doubts.
"Keep your heart in your stomach, you will be here tomorrow morning when you wake up. Then we will change to a small train and arrive at Jishuitan in half an hour. Just in time for the morning meeting, we can go to the platform to see His Majesty." Yang Fan looked out the window and said.
The morning meeting is open until noon, so I can definitely make it in time.
