The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-04
RAILWAY TIMETABLES.
A Cobweb of Silk Threads, ThickIy Inter
spersed with Pins.


Hartford Oouraut.
In the office of Superintendent Holbrook
OF the western division OF the New England
railroad, in this city, may be seen very in
genlous arrangement for showing the move
ments of the large number of trains of all
kinds Whichtpass over the line. 1t is sheet
of cardboard, about four and half feet long
and four feet high. At the top is the profile
OF the division, showing the grades between
this city and the Hudson river, and to the
uninitiated eye somewhat resembling an ele-
walton of cross-cut saw, with irregular
teeth, the larger teeth representing the heavy
grades at Terryville, Towantic and Reynolds
vile. The surface of the cardboard is ruled
IN both directions in India ink, the spaces
between the horizontal lines denoting the
distances between the stations, the names of
which are placed at the sides upon these
lines. The heaviest of the perpe molecular
lines divide the diagram into twenty-four
equal spaces. for the hours OF the day and
night. These spaces are further subdlyided
into half hours, quarter hours and five min
utes 1t will thus be seen that each of the
oblong spacee inclosed between the heavy
lines in each direction denotes not only
certain portion of the line, but also certain
length of time either during the day or the
night. Space and time are both accurately
blocked out.
Now for placing the trains upon this ruled
diagram. This is done by the simple agen-
cies of common toilet pins and silk thread.
Upon the New England railroad there are
the following classes of trains; Passenger,
through freight, local freight, foreign, and
working or construction. By foreign trains
is meant trains of another company, which
are run for longer or shorter distance over
the line of the New England road. For in
stance, Trains are run from Danbury to New
York, using the New England track to
Brewsters station, where connection is made
Al. NJ.
The New England road uses the track of the
Newburg, Duchess & Connecticut road from
Hopewell junction to the Wicopee, near Fish
kill, and the regular trains of that road APP
pear upon this diagram as foreign trains.
Each OF these classes is designated by diff
ferent color of silk thread, as deep red for
through passenger, yellow for through freight,
etc. Small elastic straps are also pressed into
use to represent foreign trains or others
which run but short distances
The manner of using these threads may be
concisely explained as follows 1t is intended
to represent through passenger train from
this city to the Hudson river, leaving here at
A. M, and arriving at the western terminus
at noon. Hartford is at the bottom of the
diagram. The bottom line is followed along
until it intersects the perpendicular line
which represents the hour of A. NJ Here
pin is stuck into the cardboard. AT the end
of the thread is a small leaden weight to hold
to follow the top line representing Fishkill to
a point where it intersects the noon perpen-
dicular line and insert another pin. Throw
the weighted ends of the thread over these
two pins, and insert few more pins along
the thread to keep it in position, and you
have an accurate representation of the move
ment of that train. Follow out this process
with regard to all other trains, and the card
board is covered with a network of many
colored threads, bewildering maze to the
uninitiated, but plain as print to the Of
fetal who makes it an almost continual
study Occasionally you will notice thread
which is deviated from its regular course by
an extra pin, and follows a horizontal line
for a short distance. This shows that such
trains wait at these stations length of time
indicated by the number of perpendicular
lines crossed.
1t will be.readily seen that this diagram il
a complete timetable of the road at any
given moment Whenever it becomes Deces-
sary to make changes in the movement of
trains, and to issue new time table, the
superintendent makes the necessary changes
of threads and pins, and from this diagram
prepares the copy for the printer. But
neither this diagram nor the printed time
table shows all the trains which pass over the
line. freight train is frequently divided
into two or three sections. So long as the
train is on time, however, these sections are
practically one train, each train being in
ceding one, except while ascending heavy
grades. Thus, by knowing into how many
sections the train is divided, the superintend-
ent can carry these additional trains in his
MIND when he consults the diagram, though
but single thread represents them all. Con-
struction trains also do not appear
But the diagram only serves as represen-
tation of train movements while all are
moving on time. If but one through train
gets behind time the whole system is disar-
ranged and when several trains are delayed
the combination of colored threads would
require incessant shifting to represent the
actual position of trains. Then it is that the
discretion and good judgment of the train
dispatcher are called into full play, and COM
plications sometimes ensue which render
the safe conduct of trains as great problem
as a skilfully played game of chess But
this branch of the subject deserves fuller
treatment than can be accorded to it in the
limits of this article.
VOUISVITNE,S CuTEE VrJDVcTRv