, 1872-11-25

One Hundred and NiuetT-fire Niles OF
Track Laid I'M Twcnty=thfee Hours.
From. II. Jattro1t Post.
On Sunday, without the adghtdst delay Of the
passenger trains, the gauge Of tho Grand Iruns
Railroad, from satnia to Buffalo, distance OF
row. Mr. G. J. Brydge5, the hlanaging Director
Of the road, informed our reporter yesterday
that some months since it Was decided to Change
the gauge Of the road, experience having proven
the narrow gauge to be the best in 81 i. tespects'
especially those in New England, are nar7ow-
gauge, and this change will obviate much Of the
heretofore necessary de1sT and trouble OF trans
shipmeht Of change Of car-gEuge.
Once decided upon this change, and the prepa-
rations commenced m earnest. At the Car shops
a large force Of men was set to work nanhfac-
turing narrow-gauge cars, and 1Eeady 800 freight
and ten passenger cars have bedh completed.
These will be used on the Buffalo line, and the
passenger train that left this city last evening
was composed Of portion Of these ten passen-
ger coaches. A sufficient number OF harrow
gauge locomotives have also been procured to
operate the road from this city to Buffalo. In
fact, this line is now unusually weu supplied
with rolling stock, most Of which is entirely
new:
While the cars, locomotives, ETC., were build
ing, other preparations were being made else
where: Gangs Of men we're set to work all along
the line from sarnis to Buffalo, Ghe section be-
tHe9R DelIolI ana forL huron WIS
II asAaa eabstruatlas tla9"ssaEs ssR and dds's pg As ths
spikes that were socn to hold the insid5 1ange
Of the rails. This done there only remained
the drawing Of the present inside spikes, the
pushing Of the rails over to the newly driven
ones, the driving OF still others at the outside Of
the rails, and the gAuge Of the road is changed.
This great work VAS accomplished in less than
single day and night.
1t 6 o'clock, Sunday morning, the last train
on ths road was switched upon side-track at
stratford, st which hour 900 men, III small
different points. Tfe levers, with which the
spikes are drawn as easily and nearly as rapidly
as nails pulled with claw hammer, we're first
brought into play, and the spikes holding
rails pushed over to their new places, the spikes
re:driven, and slowly and surely the work went
On, hand cars following the gangs with provis-
ions, extrd tools, and everything that there was
probability would be needed. Each gang Of
men had q certain specified section Of ROAD to
work in fifteen hours; but for forty miles west
OF Buffalo about two feet Of snost had fallen On
Saturday, and this had to be removed with shoy-
els. At five o'clock yesterday morning, how
ever, the whole had been completed, and at that
hour 0he regular time on Monday morning)
train LETT Stratford for the west, and all other
trains ran during the day the sane as usual
Upon the main line no change Of gauge will be
made yet for two years, it being impossible to
Boomer Construct the immense number Of cars
and locomotives required to operate the Eeyen
hundred and eighteen miles Of continuous rail-
way between St1atford and Portland, to say
nothing Of it's hundreds Of branch lines. At the
expiration OF that time, hawever, it is expected
by the officers Of the road, that the gauge, both OF
the trunk lines and its branches. will be changed.
Meantime shift-gauge cars viii be used, the
change being effected at 8tratford, thus avoid
ing trans-shipment. To meet the present re-