Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-05-27
NARROWING TIE GAUGE.
THE WORK OF CHANGING $4,000
MILES OF TRACK BEG UN.

busN Preparations hlbuE AhH A4AhN5 ~
all Roads-The Movement of Trains
During the Time tho Work Is in Pro-
Eress-Hsavy Freights this Week In
Anticipation OF ~ Crush Next Week.
The Central Railroad Company began
narrowing its gauge yesterday by
changing the track on the line from Au-
gusta TO Miilen. A dispatch received
yesterday afternoon by Supt. Rogers from
Mr.. VIM. NJ. Stevens, roadmaster. states
that his gang got through changing the
gauge on the Augusta branch of the Gem
trail, from Millen to Augusta, at O'Clock
in the afternoon. Mr.. stevens reports
that everything worked well, and only
three rails had TO be cut on curves.
Tomorrow the change will he made on
the branch from Griffin TO Cdrrollton. Az
the shops the workmen are as BUSY as
they can be preparing the rolling st0cA
for the new gauge. The same Is the case
in the Savannah, Florida and Westerns
shops. All the spare side track around
The Yards was changed a good while ago.
The longest piece is a stretch OF Two
miles from the yards out TO the Charles
ton and Savannah junction. AS fast as
the cars are changed they are run out TO
the junction.
sIDErRACKING THE CARS.
There are a hundred or so Of freight
cars sidetracked in the yards waiting Tor
use on Wednesday, but the most of them
are run out to the junction, where they
are out of the way. over on the west
side OF the yard there is long line OF
baggage, express, smoking, passenger
parlor and sleeping coaches. The line
starts at the north end OF the yard, near
Liberty street, and looks as If 1t was
almost m''e TO the other end.
Mr. A Eultnn neaiatant cOnprtu.
tendent Of transportation, pilOted NEWS
reporter all over the yards and through
the shops yesterday afternoon. Passenger
and freight engines of the feet inches
gauge are lying around idle until Tues
day. The Savannah, Florida and West
ern has recently bought twenty-siX new
engines, and two new Baldwin lOcomO-
tives just came in yesterday. They will
be used In the fast mail service after the
change.
All of the new engines are of the stand.
ard gauge, and no more will be forwarded
until next week. The masters Of trans
pOrtation Of both the Savannah, Florida
and Western and the Central, Mr.. Jack
son and Mr.. Starr, are having their busy
time now.
CLEARING Up THE ROADS.
All foreign cars are being returned to
the roads TO which they belong. All cars
belonging to the respective companies are
being received and sent to the yards for
change. All cars along the lines of road
are being picked up and brought in either
TO Savannah or are being sent to Macon
or Atlanta, on the Central, or to Way
cross or Townsville, on the Savan-
nah, Florida aud Western. For
once in his history the car
tracer Is being assisted by the compa-
MES which hold cars OF his road. AS
soon as the change is made, however, his
territory will be increased by over Is 600
miles, or more than half the circumfer-
ence Of this globe.
BIG UNDERTAKING.
it would strike one a. a tremendous
undertaking to attempt to change IN two
or three days the gauge on a railroad
from Savannah TO Pekin, China, suppos-
ing that the rails were built on an en-
bankment across the Atlantic. But that
is about how far the total lines would
reach il stretched out end to end in one
continuous line.
The only delays anticipated in the mail
service between Savannah and outside
points will be in the Southwestern and
Western mails. The Northern mail will
come in as usual from Charleston Tues
day morning on schedule time. No. 40,
the train carrying that mail, will also
carry the signal TO commence changing
on the Charleston and savannah. Work
will be taken up right behind it from the
time IT leaves Charleston.
BEGINNING THE WORK.
The two miles of track from the savan-
nah, Florida and Western depot to the
Junction cannot be touched until after
No. 40 comes in. which will be little be-
lore ! O'Clock Tuesday morning. From
the junction south, however, work Will
be commenced as soon as it is light
enough to see. The spikes are already set
three inches on the inside of the west rail,
so there will be no trouble about adjust.
ing the gauge. Every other spike on the
outside Of the rail will be drawn by Mon
day night, and new spikes Will be distrib-
uted aloLg the road keg to "A mile before
Tuesday morning. IL will not be neces-
sary to cut the rails or unbOlt tho plates
except on very sharp curves. One gang
OF men Will draw the spikes with crow
bars and rip up the track, while behind
them Will come other men who Will slide
the rail over, aud right behind them will
be men 10 drive the spikes.
BREAKING THE SCHEDULES.
The first train to leave savannah on the
Savannah, Florida and Western Tuesday
morning viii be the fast mail, and it is
not expected that II viii be detained here
more than hye hours, aud, perhaps, not
more than three. 1t may start out as
early as 10 a. m, and viii run through to
ring accidents, OF course.
The last passenger tram TO arrive in
Savannah from jacksonville, on the pres
ent gauge, will be the regular passenger
train, reaching here Monday night. The
nrst north-OOund train 10 leave Jackson
vile on Tuesday will be the schedule
train, which leaves there about p. m.
Inc asst mail gong out OF Savannah on
the central, on the present gauge, Will
leave at $40 a. m. Monday morning, May
81, and II viii run only 20 Macon. After
the departure OF that train all train SER
vice viii be abandoned until $40 a. IN.
"Wednesday, with the exception OF the
''ohoo fly train The last train from At
lanta ior savannah Will leave the former
city Monday morning and will reach here
Monday afternoon.
On Wednesday morning the regular
schedule VIII bee resumed
THE WESTERN TRAINS.
The "shOo Fly" a local passenger train.
No. 10, on the Central. viii leave Sayap.
nah on regular time AZ $40 p. m. Monday.
On Tuesday 10 will NOT run az an, hut will
be resumed 90 Wednesday. la anticipa.
ton Of the abandonment Of freight trains
for Monday and Tuesday, and for longer
ZINE On some OF the roads, country mer.