The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1851-02-06
REPORTOF
VIM. s. CAMPBELL,

Superintendent OF AUofaUe EoDer ana
Supervisor of Repairs, on The lille
gheny Portage Railroad, for the Ffs-
cal gear ending NoU. 80, 1880.
To the Board Of Canal Commissioners:
GENrLEMEN:-l forward 10 you al the
earliest possible moment a Report OF the
operations in the Motive Power and Re-
pair Department of the Allegheny Portage
Railroad during the fiscal year terminating
on the 3Oth day OF November. 1850.
MOTIVE POWER DEPARTMENT
Immediately after my appointment took
effect, | made thorough examination OF
the machinery connected with the road,
and found il required extensive repairs 10
be made before the opening of navigation.
appointed competent workman TO take
charge of stationary engines, with a sutfl-
Glen, number of men to put them in prop
er order, and increased the number of men
in the JohnsIown and Holiday ysbarg de-
pots TO have the necessary repairs made
to locomotives. Everything being in
readiness, the road was opened on the Sth
day of March, and has been conducted
from that time to the present without III
terruption. The machinery of the road
has been much improved during the past
q season. AT its commencement but one OF
the engines at each of the ten inclined
planes was in running order, the others
have all had general overhauling and re-
pair during the summer. and are now IN
good working order. New boilers have
been added to Planes No. |, 3, 4, 7, 8,
and 9. The best of the old boilers have
been repaired and put in at Planes No. 2,
and 10, making them all good and safe eX-
cept one set at Plane No. 8, which will be
furnished during the winter. New foun-
dations will be required for the north en-
gine at Plane No. 6, and for the south en-
gine at Plane No. 8, materials have been
prepared and delivered for the purpose.
new carpenter shop and locomotive she'd
have been erected at the Summit; also
new shed or extension of Hollldaysburg
depot for passenger cars TO stand in during
winter and for repairing boat trucks.
These Improvements, together with the
large amount Of repairs to locomotive and
stationary engines have increased the ex-
pendtures very considerable, as a much
larger force has been required to do the
work. The condition of the machinery
has been so much improved that slight re-
pairs only will be required during the
winter.
There are seventeen locomotives on this
road, sixteen of which are required TO be
in constant use. The Madison, Lancas-
ter, Washington and Mountalneet are all
old, light class engines, nearly worn out,
and but of little service. leaving only thIr-
teen to be relied on. This number is en-
,rely too small. The Board passed a
resolution authorizing me TO contract with
Messrs Norris, Brothers, for two first
class engines 10 be delivered before open
ing of navigation next spring, which have
done at a cost OF fifteen thousand and eight
hundred dollars. With this addition,
there will barely be enough TO work the
levels, without having any for. extras IN
case of accidents, which frequently occur:
10 provide against this exigency L would
think the purchase of another frst-class
engine necessary. There will also be re-
quired one new six-wheeled tender at
cost of one thousand and fifty dollars.
For present condition of locomotives, see
Statement No. l3.
was so we'll convinced of the practI-
cabiIity Of using locomotives on levels IN
stead of horse power, that placed loco
motive on the Summit level at the com
mencement of the business season; this
level has heretofore been worked by horsa
power, and the working IT with an engine
has been considered inexpedlent The
results of this change has been most salts
factory, as business has been greatly ex
pedited, and at a much less expense TO the
Commonwealth. Statement No. IA will
fully exhibit the proprety and importance
Of this change. The contractor for furn>
Ishing horse power on the level between
Planes No. 2 and withdrew his stock in
May, and have had it worked since thai
time by locomotive with the same graft
flying results. | am also making the ne
cessary arrangements so that one can be
placed on the level between Planes No. s
and @ next season, as horse power has
been used on it TO very great disadvanta-
ges.
Al the opening of the road there were
but twenty sets of trucks in running order;
these being old and much used, was
obliged to employ men at each end OF the
road to attend exclusively TO their repair
which has considerably increased the ex'
penses OF the truck system. They are
now, from being in constant use during
the season. very much out of order, bu
arrangements have been made and mate
rails prepared TO give them general re-