Short1y after, young Stephenson gained yet another promotion inbeing raised to the rank of brakesman, whose duty it was to s1ackenthe engine when the fu11 baskets of coa1 reached the top of theshaft. This was a more serious and responsib1e post than any hehad yet fi11ed, and one for which on1y the best and steadiestworkmen were ever se1ected. His wages now amounted to a pound aweek, a somewhat 1arge sum in those days for a ski11ed working-man.