The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-08-03
A GIGANTIC UNDERTAKING.


We have heretofore noticed the gigantic
enterprise Of changing the guage of the
Ohio and Mississippi Railroads.&c. miles
long-from feet to four feet 8 inches
guagc to be accomplished in one day. This
change consummates continuous line of
Railroads, Of similar guagc, from Baltimore
to St. Louis. constituting the shortest unbro-
ken railway line of uniform guage between
the cities Of the Ohio and Mississippi valleys
and those of the Atlantic Scaboard This
great work was performed on Sunday, the
ed inst, aud is thus described by the Gin
cnnati Enquirer, Of the 24th
Long before Sundays morning sunlight
began to tinge the eastern horizon squads Of
men might have been seen gathering in a
continuous line Of three hundred aud forty
miles aloHg the route Of the Ohio and Mis-
sisSippi Railway An army of workers, two
the us and Ave hundred strong, mad been gath
cred to perform the gigantic task Of chang
ing the guage Of this extensive public thor
oughiare. The force in the employ Of the
corporation had been strengthened by about
eight hundred men, and each man was pre-
viously made aware Of his duties and station
ed at his post; thirty-fve brawny, eager toll
ers were apportioncd to distance Of five
miles, which constituted a section Upon
seven men the work Of transforming the cuage
of one mile involved. Aud thus with care
and exactness the plan had been previously
formed for the consnmmatIon Of a feat uu-
paraleled in the annals of engineering in
this country. The hour Of daylight began
to approach for the consummation Of the
scheme With the first -ay Of the sun word
was flashed along the line, ''Strike the first
spike, and simultaneous action began with
the command Some of the divisions, emu
lous to be the first to complete their allotted
task, had, in the stealth of the night and
early morning made steady progress and re-
| joced over their vigilant colaborers. From
! daylight through seven hours of incessant
| work, the hum Of the hammer went ont with
| profane echo over the still air Of the Sab
bath till at the close Of the last second, when
| the final lal had been laid and the last spike
driven to it's depth in the tough oak. Tho
long-chcrished project was a reality, and the
indomitabe energy of the workmen had maae
it SO in the almost incredible space Of seven
hours time.
To fully appreciate the extent Of the wor.a
it must be borne in mind that both rails fol
distance Of 34J miles are to be taken up
moved seven inches toward the middle Of the
track and then fastened down, making Csc
miles of rail to be raised aud relaid In or
der to perform this in one day, preparation:
have been going on for months. Two line!
of inner spikes had been driven making thu
exact position Of the new rail. Precauton
had also been taken to facilitate further it
swift performance by boring holes also fol
the reception Of the outer line of the hug
iron nails Every possible preliminary ha(
been performed with view to saving Of time
for the final effort It was only necessar,
Yesterday to shift the rail to the required pc
sition, already indicated, and the work of thu
hammer sent home the spike On many sid
ings and curves the gauge had been preyi
ously completed
But at the three shops Of the company, a
East St. Louis, Vincennes, and at Cocllrane
the hum of preparation had long since sound
ed Cars, locomotives, trucks, and the roll
ing stock possessed by the corporation was t
be changed and accommodated to the ncy
regime. In th, way twenty-eightss locomo
tives were reduced to the narrow gauge at
cost of So 500 each, fifty passenger cars, in
Guiding baggage, mail, express, parlor, nigh
and sleeping coaches, at a cost Of $40 each
while contracts have been made for 100 frelgh
cars and 3O5 new box cars. Forty new freigh
engines have been purchased from the Bait
more Locomotive Works and five new passer
ger cars of an improved and superb descrE
ton. All this has been done without an
disturbance Of the regular schedule OF train
or the delay Of single rain.
Of broad gauge stock there remains hftJ
four locomotives and upward of 700 cars ye
to be changed. These were collected In ten
porary dcpots at Vineennes, Seymour, Cocf
ranc and the Gravel Pit (l7 miles below tn
city,) where they would not interfere wit
the work of yesterday. They can there re
main until time is secured 10 reduce them
the requisite grade.
In 1859 the Ohio and Mississippi railroa
J was opened for public patronage. with i