New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-07-25
A WONDERFUL RAILROAD FEAT.


The Missouri Republican of Saturday gives
the following details OF the arrangements made by which
$40 miles the track OF the Ohio and Mesissipp Rail
road changed from six feet gauge to four feet nine
Inches Sunday morning last between daylight and IL
o'clock
The change OF gauge no Ohio and Mississippi Rail
road which r. f. proposed to CCc. tomorrow, will be-,
without EXCEPTION the greatest work OF the kind which
has yet been attempted. Preparations on the
undone facilitate the operation. The two lines OF
inner spikes marking tine inner gauge, have been driven
materials required by the worken Tomorrow have been
distributed BY special trains to every point where they
can possibly be needed. Even tie places where the
outside spikes to be driven in have been marked
and prepared beforehand by boring holes Ia which
Necessary after shifting tho a for liar TO place the
points OF the spikes In the holes AID man following
with heavy hammer will DIVE them home The saving
OF time by this simple arrangement 10 very material.
Tic gauge OF sdnga, curves, &C., has been long since
changed, and on many of em narrow gauge cars have
been pGccd ready for use the moment the chang Of
gauge is completed. At three shops belongirg 10 he
comIlny-one at East S. Louis, at Vineenncs, and
another Cochrane-2s locomotives have been reduced
TO the narrow gauge az an average cost OF $50 each
20 passenger cars, Including baggage Ina eXpie par
Tor night and sleeping cars AZ an average COst yer ear
Of $780, $50 freight airs. Including al elasie and 80 new
box cara, with outside car liatcfms, nave beA con-
tracted for
The force of laborers viii be distributed in gangs Of
eight men each milo OF road. There will be no cessa-
ton OF work from the hour OF COMMENCING 1t t' tho
charge Of gauge Is compel On M9nday m9TaS me
Louis and throughout the ddy the rolling stock ana
machinery VIII be distributed 10 tncr proper places, III
order 10 run oil trains on sciejue TINE OF ana h.'er
Tuesday next. In addition to the new ROLLINS stock
already referred to- the Company have puiclased 80 new
freight engines the Paltimorc L0conOuIo Horhr
Ehey have al been delivered and are Ia GOOD runalng
order. They have also purchased hye new passeis.r
ears OF "a improved description 1Aere nave YET 10
be changed from the broad 10 the narrow gauge a"ut
200 cags, including all classes, and I'll l0coho'ltcS'
One OF the most difficult problems to bc solved M Tue
whole operation has been the disposal OF thls iohis
stock until the completion OF the charge OF gauge ~
would never answer TO leave them anywhere bnt ~
places where there works established Tor cram ing
the gaHgcs and to collect them ut 2se shols Wed ne
To embarrass the operations In changing tue gauge.
Vincennes seymour COchrRe, and the Gravel pit were
M leneth selected az the temporary depots for tbs
broad gauge stock Tho Gravel PIT Is II mie west o.
Cincinnati, and chosen as tue prihclpa pace ior
storing tho broad gauge cars on account Vi 80
IL afforded in the way OF track room. nuilDer W
broad gauge wooden tracks Fave been an ny the pace
aud the have been run of on the I'LL tcy Gun DC
reduced to suit the change of track
The breadth OF the present gauge mas pec me
greatest fcuy the company has had 10 encounter IN
changing IT, IN an previous changes OF gauge therc mas
only been one lire OF rails 10 ~ hoycu' .he olil
precedent would be ~ move one line OF Ias 10 inches
toward the middle OF the track The eiect wound be TO
throw all the weight OF trains 10 one sac OF Dldges,
cattleeIr,s culyerts Iesles, &c &c thus Increasing
orcdTs While the iucOnveneneies reenting from rIch
change would have been extreme. The platforms at
all The stations on one side OF c rv,u Mou nv ueoh
sary either to extend them outward or 10 bring tAe
track in to tEem-entag heavy CNlehse, NUN Ios ,
Of time aad great nconyenlenee, W'eL ttiihs V ec
dord rnscrJigeabie II was therefore, deemed neoes-
sary 10 move the rails ana oIeii lches heaIer
Tie tadlle OF tho track each sle, ttus oNcCVilhs
All the difficulties referred IA, ana g.hS greater tvli9
r. ,be Track Having decided this plan nearly Ve
monIhs ago the officers OF the company we're instructor
10 make preparations for eHecIng .g ohanho ho
lures in connection with the chahse VIII DC ABOUT
Sl,GOO0f0