The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-29
RAILROADLNG IN THE SOUTH.
IMPROVEMENT IN ROADS, EOUIP1tENT,
IND OPERATING MEIHODS.
PeCulr"riue. Of the Long. distance Service

! Peculinritics of the Long Distance Service
An Incident In the Lie OF Conductor
Overcoming DInicuitic- on the Way.
There seems to DO in railrondnG something
that pleases the fancy OF the American people:
and, tho country over the railroad man him
| self takes proper pride in his work The
| traveller in tho South may miss there tho
| double track or four-track road that he hes
seen leading out Of Now York. but he will meet
| RAILROAD men who arc alort, resourcoiul, encr-
| Retic, and effective and he will find railroad
| ing as n science and rs an art developing and
progressing in n satisfactory manner
On the main lines coal burning locomotives
are used almost exclusively and tho wood
burning engine, with it's funnel shaped CHM
| ncY, 10 rarely secen, cNcCut wuorN some branch
| road comes in from district whoro wood is
| abundant and SO near tho track as u be
| cheauer than coal, or whore orhIuS, tho road
is not yot profitable enough TO warrant the
with its hroad-toppel smnkcStnck, looks like
sturdy Old grandiathor como down rom tho
country In his old -iashiOnu1 clothes and bell
crowned beaver; and II you turn from that and
look along your own through train youl will
modern type, with n short smokcs'ack MS
straight ms a section OF stoNenile and wIthont t
were to 90 that way again year or two later
you might see nmlltnE IN the tram ho on tiS ~
the docilo monster that hauls tho express, and
learn TINT tho Wood burner had been soid
again to newer and more remote Snp r, 51Hn;
| preceded or kept pace with tho Increased iral-
| nc and the introduction OF the heavier rolling
| stock OF later years. and well-but ana ballast
ed roads that permit oil SAFE, iast, ana comfort
| able running have long ceased TO he a novelty
| in The south, On main lines the now brldEcs
that are put in arc usually iron or steel strue-
lures of the most approved design and the
| work generally Is of II substantial character.
On some connecting through lines in the
South the time made for long distances VIII
compare favorably with similar runs on NORTH
| ern ronds, but the ordinary running time for
mainline passenger trains is about twenty
| time. and they are run In "a business like man:
ner. including proper inspection and testing OF
| the air at starting anu division Joints Mhl!I9
| parts that are thnly settled where the local
train service. is limited. ON some lines Of
| to the areas Of denser population near ter
sminal points. This big road. for example, may
se day. 9p Sn thai o 3o' e9meS and inn
pressive outfit, made, up OF mail; baggage;
seepers, equipped for the through travel Tor
which it is primarily intended; and accommo.
are between the limits reached by local trains
| from terminal 2olns. Thus it may happen
fR rad @ %o YVES dosrn 70 ri p AVE- on %
cars. may see stopping at his station, not tho
whiazinG little local train that runs tGty miles
| are people who are practically neiGhhors. butA
big train that represents modern railroadng
| in its most comprehensive form, that makes
maybe n run Of five hundred miles or moro,
and that may have among its passengers men
London aud San Francisco. or course on
| these long runs there must no some points that
| are reached at uncomfortable hours.
| The train service OF one southern city of con-
| siderable size is by force Of circumstances SO
arranged that trains enc way Tor certain local
merclal traveller who finishes his work ut
nightfall will lose q days time ii he waits and
| half nights sleep II he takes the A. NJ. train.
but he takes it; The country is growing 50
| fast that the time Is approaching when 1t Will
pay to run more trains and at hours that VIII
| suit everybody.
tralnmen arc uniformed. On some roads col
| ored brakemen arc employed. They wear
their siyer.Iaced cap' with becoming dignity;
them do not always call the names OF tho
stations distinctly but this deficiency is al
sveness of delivery. Among conductors mot
In the south wqs one who, years ago was a
taken naturally to rliroading, and he runs
over long division of a great through limo in
manner. Another was an old Pennsylvania
rail at man. who has taken h WIN nm inc
Courtesy on tie part Of conductors is, the
rule, though sometimes. as in other parts OF the
country. their temper Is tested.
A conductor who had got half way through o
car came 70 a man who had no ticket ready.
Ticket" said the conductor.
u haven't any" was the reply
Who're are you goingY' asked the conductor.
The passenger named the place and the con-
was a wel!-dressod man. whose appearance
would indicate that he was a!o to pay bur 10
to get OIL " said the conductor, and he reached
for the bell cord. The brakeman came along
aued DO? The epa a Eot nn WWS AMI
started for the door but h. halted on he way
aud turmoil toward tho conductor. lie was, as
he continued, perfectly cool and unruillcd.
About three miles" said ths conductor.
and lot me OF ut the station
The conductor was man Of long, and varied
heard Of Yet he didn't show any outward
sign Of emotion; he, simply said in n low voice:
ner cold tormalty and certain indication Of
reserved strength. with possible intention If
led Tie s roraS rom rros @H has
with entire camnoss and dolbcration,, lie
turned ana walked away and as he stopped OF
tho conductor pulled the bell cord again and
In, practi teal rairoadlng tho Southern rail-
road man is active and progressive. A recent
indication ofthis was the work done in holding
ton over lines submerged in the districts COW
cred by the floods in the Mississippi vaIIoy A
US TemaTkabIo dspiny Of cnginoerinG xiii,
but simply as showing the common readiness
The Louisville New Orleans ami ToX9s Rail-
road, running from Memphis TO New Orleans,
New orean pII by wm MH%u r5 Y mS nGt Of
River rushing through the, Mia crcvasse.
The company ut once began building Il trcstla
TO carry its track across the flooded di-trlrt.
and the volume Of wator discharged becano
much greater and its current moro rapid,
and II was seen that the building OF
the trcstIo would involve n larger exnnnditurs
OF mon"y and take n much longer time than
was lgnay contempla' ed. Thcn tho en-
ginorrs located. above and below tho broak,
points on the line thnt could 10 defended
agGInst further ,I eneroaGhmcnt Of tho waters
to the bank OF the river. Al the end OF each
spur they moofed floating bridge such ms Is
used at ferry landings. and the tracks woro
laid out unon tho bridges. 4 big trnnsfcr
steamer had been brought down tho river ana