THOMAS SHAKESPEAR'S DIARY
Anna Scott's Correspondence

Abrazadoras - clamps or a device that can perform this function such as a clamping bracket
Aceite - oil
Aceite para lampara - oil or spirit for a lamp (that provides illumination)
Aceitadores - oil cans
Barella dispusito - could be a small trowel, like one used for cement, but the Spanish word should be 'baretta'. The word 'barreta' also has a similar meaning. This could also apply to a piece of leather inserted into the inside of a shoe to make it stronger. The word 'dispusito' does not exist, can you confirm the spelling is correct?
Bronce - bronze (possibly used in a mechanical bearing)
Bronce Angolina - Here the word 'Angolina' means someone born in the town of Angol in the south of Chile. So this term probably means bronze made in Angol.
Bronce carro 4830 - possibly a technical specification for Bronze. The word 'carro' could mean a truck or a carriage. It may also refer to the connecting rods on the railway engine used to transmit the horizontal motion to the wheels.
Bronce Francesa - bronze from France
Bronce Inglese - bronze from England
Chabelas Ingles/ Americana - this may be 'chabeta' which means a split pin. Origin of the pin is either English or American
Embrazaduras - this is the action to cover something completely. It may refer to a cover of a piece of machinery.
Empacadura - this word does not exist, but it could be 'empaquetadura' which means something unconventional used to stop fluid escaping from machinery such as a rag.
Empaquedura - same as above
Gaucho de largo - the word 'gaucho' has two meanings. The first is a native of either Argentina or Uruguay. The second is good horse rider. The phrase could mean somebody from a place called Largo. This word also means tall.
Grasa- grease
Huaipe - cloth made of bundles of fibres (rustic). Strictly, this word is not Spanish but is more likely derived from the English word 'wipe'. When spoken, the pronunciation of the word 'huaipe' is almost the same.
Huaipe limpia - cleaning cloth
Maestranza - somewhere where pieces of machinery are manufactured
Pernos - either a bolt or a nut and bolt together
Pernos 3 inch 7 8 - bolts three & seven eighths of an inch in length
Pernos y tuercas 3/4 y 5 linea - the word 'tuerca' specifically means the nut. The other parts of the phrase could refer to the thread dimensions.
Perno de real - the word 'real' means either real or royal. The phrase could mean a specific or a large bolt or nut and bolt
Perno real angolina - this could be similar to above but from the town of Angol
Tapas - this word means either a lid or a blanket. It may also refer to the soul of a shoe or the collar of a shirt or coat. Another meaning is the cover of a book.
Tapas surdido - the word 'surdido' means to repair, so this phrase probably means a repaired blanket.
Tapas resnos - could this actually be 'restos' which means remaining.
Tornillos - screws
Tuercas - nuts
Tuercas medrabulgea(?) 5 linea - could this be two separate words ? 'medra' means to make progress with or to make better or bigger. 'bujia' has two meanings, either a spark plug as used in the engine of a car or the power of an artificial light. This phrase could be to do with the ignition of a machine.
Some of these words we have made a guess at. If you believe we have the context wrong then please let us know._

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From Colin Churcher

I have been thinking about the job that was done by Mr. Shakespear. He seems to have been completely responsible for maintenance on the railway at that location. He was doing track repairs and maintenance as well as repairs to structures such as water tanks for the steam locomotives but he also was carrying out work on the rolling stock as well. In Canada this work would be carried out by at least three specialists now, and even then, so he would have required a high degree of knowledge of a broad range of skills.
He seemed very preoccupied with his livestock and his garden so it is evident that he was pretty much on his own and had to feed himself. I have taken a look at the diary and add a few comments below. The Rancagua line is part of the main line which runs south to Temuco and on to Puerto Montt. It was, and still is, an important part of the spine railway network. It was electrified a little while later and was still electrified when I rode over it about four years ago. This is a wide gauge line and this part is in warm country which now has vineyards
Specific comments
1899 Oct 28 - Maestranza is a workshop. In this case it probably means the depot where he obtains his supplies. His telegram would presumably to obtain some materials he might have needed in a hurry
Nov 6 - A boleto is a ticket, in this case likely a requisition.
Nov 13 - he used "huaipe" a great deal and I can't find this word in the dictionary. I presume this is oil that is used for general maintenance, particularly to oil track bolts, splice bars (fishplates) and the moving parts of switches (points).
1900 Jan 5 - bolts and nuts would be for the track - securing the splice bars > >(fishplates). The arm that was broken would presumably be the pipe that would be lowered over locomotive tenders to fill them from the water tank.
June 9 - tapas would be a plate that covered something
Jun 18 - bronce - I presume this refers to bronze which could be a casting usedi in railway cars and locomotives as bearings. It looks as if he was changing a brass journal bearing on a car in the train. If so he was doing not only track and structure maintenance and repair but also was responsible for equipment maintenance. I have no idea what a bronce automatico might be.
Aug 4 - abrazadora de graneros - a mill stone for milling grain?
Dec 3 - only a few pieces left - this presumably refers to the old bearing which has disintegrated from the heat
1901Apr 1 - I don't know what a "perno de real" might be. This may be a piece of track equipment. A perno is a spike or bolt but spikes would normally be ordered by the sack. (see Jun 25)
Aug 14 - tuerca is a nut (presumably for track), aceite para lampara - lamp oil for signals. Barella - presumably a barrel.
Aug 22 - empaqueladura - a packet
1902 Mar 25 - tuerca de union. He refers to a special nut that was required for a railway car no. 4922 which I assume is a freight car or (wagon). It could be the nut used in truss rod freight cars although I am guessing.
Jun 9 - I love this - my Grandfather would throw lumps of coal from his engine when he was an engine driver. I have done this myself although I used to have more fun turning the water hose on!

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From Yelda Orellana

In Los Lirios there is not a building -it is only a cabin for buying tickets and it is recent. In Los Lirios is a large farm house 14 Km from Rancagua
Rengo is another place named in the diary and is between Los Lirios and Pelequen.
San Pedro is a mill near the train station, six blocks approx.

Railway stations to the South of Rancagua
Gultro place on the south side of Cachapoal river -5 minutes from the centre of the city
Pelequen 50 Km from Rancagua, nowaday is a typical place where stone cutters work pink stone
Angostura was a place where the train in that time charged water. Angostura is very near the Andes with the coast mountain for that it is named Angostura (Narrow)
Tapa =cover of the wheel or of the box
Maestranza = is a place where people work metals.
 

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