Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-09-14
THE RAILROADS.
Why the Southern Pacific Trains Are
Late.

=. r. Call.
Almost the entire rolling stock of the
Southern Pacific Company is now equipped
with automatic air-brakes of the newest
and improved character, Some time ago
the Directors of the Westinghouse Com
pipes with which the majority of the cars
were furnished were too small. At their
own expense they substituted for the
three-quarter pipe then in use one one and
half inches in diameter, which they be-
believed would be effectual in bringing the
heavie-t train TO a standstiil, no matter how
heavy the grade or how fast the speed A
few trials of the Few brake gave conyiuc-
ing proof that a mistake had been made,
and measures were at once taken to replace
the new pipes with ones of g smaller cali
Der. II has taken some time to do
this, however, and in the meantime
the railroad company has been COM
PEELED to run in the same train coaches
and sleepers with air brakes of different
sizes and patterns. In consequence, the
greatest care had to lie exercised in running
the trains. 1t was dangerous to make a
fast rate of speed, and il frequently hap
pened that the brakes did not answ er when
put on by the engineer. This has been
fruitful cause of delay, and now, that the
service has been rendered uniform, there is
every probability that better time will be
made, beth on the overland and on local
trains.
CAUSE OF DELAYED TRAINS
The new timetable of the Union Pa
cific," said General Superintendent Fill
more yesterday, :" is not a success. They
have not been once on time at Ogden since
It's adoption. | have instructed Superin-
tendent Knapp, of that division, in future
TO wait no longer than three hours for
them. Up 10 the present." continued Mr.
Fillmore, I'VE have lost u great deal Of
time in waiting for our connections, and it
hiss been stated that the delays have taken
place III our own read. This is not the
case.
The line of the Central Pacific in Ne
yada Is In excellent condition. 1t is laid
throughout, savein q few places, with sixty
pound steel rails, and the supeIintendeDts
and section foremen have been cautioned
to keep the road bed in the best condition
possible. We have never run any of our
heavy engines in Nevada. and conseduentlv
have not broken up the track there. The
Inc here trayerses plain, and, there being
no grade 10 speak OF, there is no necessity
for the use of consolidated locomotives
winch are only used on mountain grades
The locomotives III use ON the two Nevada
divisions are eight-wheelers, the lightest we
have.
THE PORT COSTA TRACK
" It must be taken into consideration bv
those who are making SO muoh talk bout
late trains, continued 3ir. Fillmore, that
Tor months past we have had the enthe
construction force OF the Pacific Improve
ment Company OF the double track between
Oakland and Port Costa We have had
practically to work on a single line psrtic-
ularly in the yards at Vallejo Junction,
where the space is too narrow to admit OF
the existence OF two tracks uaGl the re-
moval Of the big embankment The re-
suit has been that about $50 engines and
trains daily have been using this strip OF
track, and delays OF one kind or another
are inevitable.
The forest fires IL The Sjerras. too, have
also been a source Of delays. Time and
again we have had to put down temper
airy track to run our regular trains over,
permitting the lire-train to occupy The main
line. 1t would have been dangerous to
have taken any other course However.
Just SO soon as the Union Pacific makes q
change and succeeds in reaching Ogden on
time, our trains will also arrive OH sched-
ule."