Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-08-11
THE CENTRAL RAILROAD.
Car BuIIdIng-An Idea OF the Great
work Done I'm she shops In Macon

"Come, let me show you some sleepers
we are building for the fast schedule"
twas Capt. Willie Bass, Master Trans
portstion OF the Central Railroad, who ex-
tended the above invitation to a representa-
tive of the Macon Telegraph.
Crossing q labyrinth of tracks, we soon
found ourself within. lofty-roofed build
ing, the din of 8 thousand hammers and
other instruments Of noise sssailing our
ears, while our eyes were hdgety, scarcely
knowing from the many things to be seen
what to settle upon. Workmen we're nit-
ting about, some with hammer and saw +,
some with chisel and msllet, some with
paint and brush, and some operating ma
chimes Of such wonderful and ingenious
turns that you almost look for their brains.
We went through the supply shop with
its systematic arrangement. Here is to be
found everything that goes into the make up
of or use In locomotive or car, and so
well arranged that the smallest screw can
be as readily found in the Clark as head
light. One room In particular has every ap-
pearance Of q well-kept hardware store. In
this building is to be found the Office OF Mr..
James A Knight, who for years and years
has directed the woodworking department
of the shops. He has grown gray In the
service of the road, but there are many
years Of good work in him yet.
Having gone over the extensive hoorage,
in which we saw all the supplies used on
the rolling stock of this great road, from
oils and tallow TO boiler rivets, We pass into
the department where number OF work
men are at work on three new sleeping
coaches. These are mounted on benches
and are being built entire in the shops. The
shells are made Of the best seasoned Georgia
pine, and the interior work shows a combi-
nation of woods from the bright rich pine Of
Georgia to the Butternut root Of Maine.
The interior of the coaches show, In their
half finished state, the bracing and strength
ening that is shut out from view by fancy
woods, psneling, upholstering, etc. The
roof overhead is studded and braced with
iron ribs. The frame work Of the sides OF
the car show how well and how strongly the
work is done.
These coaches are six inches higher than
the Pullman cars. The interior arrangement
of berths, saloons, vestibules, linen closets,
ETC., is of the very latest design, and are
carefully supervised by Mr.. Knight, and
approved by and improved upon by that
genius of Vice President, Capt. W. G..
Raoul. The panels, window frames and
much other of the interior ornamentation
are of mahogany and butternut veneer. This
latter is q combination of seasoned white
pine and thin sheet of butternut root, called
veneering paper, cut of In three thin sheets
from the root of the butternut tree. 1t is
then glued to the pine and pressed by pow
erful presses and allowed to dry uniformly.
When done the two woods are so closely
combined that they are virtually solid
pieces.
This butternut is susceptible of a very
high degree of polish, and has the appear
ance of French walnut. This veneering goes
largely into the manufacture Of coaches, as
it gives q richness OF ornamentstion not to
be found in other woods, except rose OF
Spanish wood.
1t requires about six months to build a
sleeping coach from the bottom beams to
the upholstering; but a dozen coaches can
all be made at the same time. And it costs
trifie more to build than to buy; but the
homemade car is the cheapest in the long
run because Of its advantage OF durability.
1t will outlast a ready made car by several
years.
After the coaches are built they are trans
ferred to the finishing department, where
the painter gets In his little work and brings
his skill and taste into play. In short
while after entering this department the
coaches have trucks put under them, and
they go out upon the road for the public.
| The three coaches now in process Of con-
struction will be ready by the first Of Oc-
tober, when It is expected the fast schedule
| between Savannah and Atlanta will 90 into
effect, making the distance between the
two cities in eight hours.
Leaving the trio of miniature moving
| palaces to the skillful workmen, we go into
| the various wood and machine shops, all
busy in shaping out wood and iron for cars
and engines. 1t would require several col
umns to give anything like q full descrip-
ton, and as We haven't that much space at
our disposal we forbear. To go through
these different departments is indeed worth
the time taken up. The two ponderous en-
gines move q world Of pulleys and shafting
over several acres Of foorage. The princi-
pal engine is one OF the most perfect and
beautiful and powerful engines in the South.
Though Of enormous size, It is kept as clean
and as bright as any sewing machine, and
runs almost as noiselessly.
In the round house we counted thirty
four locomotives, some just from run,
some being oVerhauled, aud some awaiting
orders. Just think of the amount OF money
locked up In those engines Thirty-four at
10000 each! And then think of the thous-
ands Of cars, the millions Of wheels, tons Of
steel track and miles of road! And then
think of the army of men to be paid off
every MONTH Surely railroads are big
things.
After wishing devoutly to be owner of
the Central Railroad for just five minutes,
and thanking Captain Bass for his courtesy
IN showing us over so much, we aga sin
crossed over the labyrinth of tracks in the
yaId, and dotted down q note IN our note
book, and this is how we have written 1t