The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-08-19
THE HUM OFF INDUSTRY.
The Machine Works Turning Ont
Work OF Every Class.

lTne Machine works Turning Ont
Work OF Every Glass.
Never in the history of Roanoke
have the Machine Works been in o
more prosperous condition than now.
New machinery has been added from
time to time until every department
is thoroughly equipped, and the shops
are prepared to turn out all work in
their line.
Last week the motive power turned
out Norfolk and Wastern consolida-
dion freight engine No. pa, class G.,
fifty-tive tons weight. This is the
forty-seventh engine of this class that
the works have built since they begun.
They will add three more shortly
No. 245 is receiving the finishing
touches, while No. gag is on the wheels,
and No. 2t7 ready for them.
The passenger depart nent is erect
ing two new secohd-class passenger
coaches, and overhauling five passen-
ger, one mail and one baggage car.
President Kimball's special car, old
No. /, is also being thoroughly over
hauled and repaired.
Three new combination cars-pas-
sengers, express and baggage were re-
ceived last week from the car works
at York, Pa, and are being inspected
preparatory to going on the road.
The freight car shop is a bee hive
and is building ten new freight cars
daily. These cars are much more
substantial than those built several
years ago. The trucks are similar to
those used by the Pennsylvania rail
road, which have sandwiched boil
ster-consisting of two iron bars
bolted between three oak strips-and
are supposed to be able to stand the
heaviest strains. The upper holsters
are made in the same manner. The
springs, which heretofore rested upon
plain planks, now have block rest
set in an iron bar which runs across
the width of the bar, and the wheels
in use now are about fifty pounds
heavier than those heretofore.
The cars are also strengthened by
the use of large arch bars and by adj
ditional length in the bearings of the
truss rods. These cars all have the
Wagner patent door, which, when
closed, fits into the side of the car,
thus making it impossible to be
ripped therefrom. They are rooted
with tongue-and-groove flooring over
galvanized iron, the old roof being
simply tongue-and-groove covered
with tin. The capacity of the new
cars is 10000 pounds, 10,0O0more than
the old.
There are now about 100000 feet
of lumber in the yards-more than
has ever been there at one time-and
the employees of the planning mill and
freight shops will hardly suffer for
lack of lumber for some time to come.
Work on the new paint shop is be-
ing pushed, and this addition will be
ready by the middle of September.
The storehonse is the largest in the
State, and the convenient and syste-
matte arrangement of its immense
stock, and the complete revolution nf
its management, which George L.
Frazier has effected in the short time
in which he has had charge of it,
speaks creditably for him.
The sanitary condition of the shops
is worthy Of mention. One of the
clerical force remarked that sit was
not surpassed by any other works in
the country The well-swept yards,
with q flower bed under an Office
window here and there TO relieve the
monotony of tracks and iron, present
quite pretty appearance.