Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1886-04-01
GREAT UNDERTAKING
CHANGING THE GUAGE.
over $4,000 Miles of Track to be Changed
In two Days-How the Great Work
Is to be Accomplished.

over $4,000 Miles of Track to be Changed
In two Days-How the Great Work
Is to be Accomplished.
Comparatively few people have the re-
motest idea of what task the changing
OF the guages of the southern railroads
will be and the job appears a great deal
larger and nearer the impossible when il
Is determined to make the change in one
day. Over $4,000 miles of track are to be
narrowed down to the standard gauge.
On the day, OF days, of change the
force will equal not less than three men
to the mile. The organization for eight,
mile sections laid down i. as follows:
Four men drawing inside spikes, Smcn
driving outside spikes, men driving in.
side spikes, 3 men throwing rail. man
with 5-foot gauge pole car, man with
standard gauge lever car, 2 men extra. a
men total.
The changing of the gauge of the track
from five to four feet nine inches will be
done by moving one rail in three inches
without disturbing the other rail at all.
The preparations for changing the road.
bed will he commenced about one month
ahead This preparation will consist In
auzlng or cutting the tie TO smooth and
even surface with the rail and clearing
away any distractions even with the ion
OF the tie for space of not less than five
inches from the rail that is to be moved
IN, so that when the change is made the
bearing OF the track will not be destroy
ca, All spikes not absolutely necessary
VIII be drawn out beforehand The rail
is fastened to each crosstie by two spikes
one on the inside and the other on the
outside. All inside spikes will be drawn
except the spikes in every third crosstie
on tangents and every other tie on curves
By means OF a template to measure the
distance that the rail is to be moved a
great deal OF valuable time will also he
saved by driving the inside spikes before
hand. Inside spikes will be set with TEN.
plates IN every third tie, and will project
sufficiently above the surface of the tic 10
receive the base of the rail. When the
change actually takes place, therefore, all
mat VIII be necessary to be done will be
to draw the few inside spikes that have
been left to keep the rail in position,
shove the base of the rail under the
spikes that have already been driven on
the inside of the new gauge, and then Sc
cure it by driving in the outside spikes to
be drawn at leisure. The arrangement
will also save the necessity for measuring
the gauge and arranging bearing on the
day of the change.
Monday, May 81, and Tuesday, June l.
have been designated as the days for gen.
eral change of gauge. The following
lines VIII change on Monday, May /:
Louisville and Nashville, Nashville
Chattanooga and st. Louis, Memphis and
Charleston, Alabama Great Southern,
Cincinnati Southern railway, Cincinnati.
Selma and Mobile, Montgomery and Eu.
fula, Southwestern of Georgia, Pensacola
and Alabama, Florida RailMay and Nayi
CATION company. All other main lines
will change on Tuesday, June 1.
The change will take place on almost
every railroad south of the Ohio and Pc.
tomac rivers, extending over about 10, 1873
miles OF railway, made up as follows:
South Carolina, 1920 miles: North Caro-.
lima, 800; Georgia, LAB; Florida, 1,25O:
Alabama. 1,SO3 Mississippi, 776; Louis
lana, 313; Tennessee, ,sS6, and Virginia
0S1 miles.
me southern gauge has been an end
less source of trouble, expense and in.
convenience. and its abandonment has
for long time been regarded as Ger.
tainty, and all that was needed was for
some one road to start the ball rolling.
This the Mobile and Ohio did and the
others are prompt to follow suit. When
the work is completed all the important
roads in the United States will correspond
sufficiently to have the running gear
throughout the country alike and trans.
ferable everywhere.