Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-01-09
THE RECORD
Of the Fa stest Track-lay.
ing Ever Done.
SANTA FE'S NEW TERMINAL.
Many Important Facts Concern
ing the Railroad World of
Southern California.

During the last four months fas
track-laying records have been tn
subject OF much discussion amon
prominent railroad men, and journal
all over the world. Some, who pre-
tended to know all about the matter
have denied that the record Of tel
miles. one thousand two hundred an(
twenty-four feet was ever made by
the Central Pacific Company in ont
day.
The HERALD's representative ha
long been acquainted with a gentle
man in this dity who was in charge
of the construction force that made
the above mentioned record, which
it is claimed, is the fastest piece O
track laying ever accomplished in {
single day.
Not long since this gentleman, who
is none other than Mr.. James Camp
bell, now Superintendent of the
Ballona Hatbor Improvement Com
AIDS representative and asked for the
details OF the work. In answer to the
question as 10 whether OF not he was
connected with the Central Pacific
Company at the time, Mr.. Campbell
said:
"Yes sir; l was in the employ
of the Central Pacific during the con
struction of that part Of the road from
Sacramento to Promentory. | was
, Division Superintendent, and the
eastern limit of my division was
always at the end of the track, as the
road was com pleted, and | was on the
ground all day at the time you men
ton, in tho discharge OF my part oil
the programme"
GLOW long were you at work, and
what was the exact distance laid ?"
owe were eleven hours at work and
we laid ten miles and two hundred
and twenty-four feet of track straight
ahead, and one thousand feet of side
track additional, in that time"
"What day was it"
"It was the Goth day Of April,
1867"
'"rhere has been much curiosity
as to how it was done, will you tell
me?"
Eyes, know there has been con-
siderable talk about how it was done,
and also, that it never WAS done, but,
as l said, I was on the ground and
furnished all the material, by trains
which were loaded, near the end OF
the. track.
each time that | went to the
front when the days work COM
menced, carried two miles OF ma
terial and was unloaded at once, and
brought back to the side-track, and
another train sent forward and 50 on,
until the work was finished"
owe had twenty small iron cars to
take the rails to the end OF the track
from where it was unloaded from the
trains. Each OF these cars were
drawn by two good horses, driven
tandem, the driver riding the rear
horse. Each car had four men to
handle it, as an empty car was al
ways taken off the rails in order to
let loaded one pass. These cars
were driven at full speed, and each
one was loaded with sixteen rails and
spikes and tish-plates sufficient to
fasten them down. The ties were
hauled by teams. There were eight
men selected to lay the rails from the
cars at the end of the track, and then
eight men handled every rail put
down, though there were eight others
ready to take their places in case OF
an accident"
During the forenoon we put in a
side-traek one thousand feet in length,
where placed the dining cars and
water train. AT noon all hands took
one hour for rest and refreshments.
Were there any prominent rail-
"Ies, Leland Stanford and Colonel
Charles F. Crocker were present all
day and witnessed the whole trans
action
l hal two large and strong side
boards made to mark the spot and
placed one at the beginning and the
other al the end OF the work. They
bore the words, "Ten miles OF track
laid in one day." Have you ever
been to the spot since?
eyes. Twelve years later l visited
the place and found the signboards
in good condition, and I hope the
company will protect them with as
much care as they will the road itself" /"
"Did it take much material?'
eyes, sir. it took quite a number of
carloaas: as we we're using eight cars
Of rails and ten of ties to each mile"
"This is the greatest feat Of track
laying in the world. Our organiza-
ton was perfect, though our regular
organized force for each days work
was only expected to lay five miles OF
track a day."
"Y pu are connected with the Los
Angeles and Ocean Railway Com
pany now are you not?"
Eyes, sir, l am."
"Then, Mr.. Campbell, taking into
consideration the short time it took
you 10 lay the above mentioned ten
miles Of road, how long would it take
you TO lay the road from this city te
Alametos Bay?" asked the HERALD's
representative, with laugh.
"Well," said Mr.. Campbell,
should say little less than nC
time"
REDONDO BEACH.