New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-03
MIXING UP 4 TIMETABLE.
THE MOVEMENT OF TRAINS PLOTTED OUT on
BLACKBOARD.

THE MOVEMENT OF TRAINS PHI w Wv a.
BLACKBOARD.
To the average man railway timetable IL .
more or les, perplexng thing, from which tho
desired Information can only be wrestel after much
careful study. Even when all seems plain sailing
little astersk often carries the traveller 10 mo
bottom Ct the page with dabooal glee, ana thers
informs him that the train upon which ne mas set
his heart runs only sundays. does not run
Saturdays, in some other way upsets MS pans
Railway men say that timetables are simpler
than they ten years sso. Americans nave
an advantage over their British cousins In this
matter, for no fearfully and wonderfully
compiled book exists this earth than Brad
shaws Guide" Where American would get
time table issued by the road upon which he wishes
to travel, an Englishman always flies to Brad
shaws.
The operation Of making up a timetable Is
comparatively simple one as pursued by most
roads AS a rule the passenger timetable IL
made I'D twice a year. for the summer and winter
seasons. In the general superintendent room in
the Grand Central Station there stands a huge
time board, which has made UP great many
tables for the New-York Central and Hudson
River Railroad. 1t occupies half one side or tho
room and extends from the floor to the ceiling.
Upon 1t are ruled vertically twenty-four heavy
black lines the space between each OF which
represents one hour Between these are smaller
black lines which cut the hour up into spaces Of
five minutes each the quarter-hours being green
and the halfhours blue. From the bottom Of the
board extending upward, the names Of all tho
stations the line printed along the side.
They are at varying intervals corresponding 70 ne
distance In miles between each station. From eaca
station heavy black line runs horizontally across
the board When table Is made up a pm .
stuck in the interval at the bottom OF the poar''
representing the exact time at which each ram
starts Another pin is placed the interval repre-
sentng the time at which IL will arrive A string
is then stretched from one pin TO the other' ana
represents the passage OF the train The points az
which the string intersects the horizontal lines
leading across the board from the different
stations represent the time at which ii will pass
each station.
Trains running into New-York are represented by
strings running from left right, and those gong
shown from right to left. Suppos!ng x IS
desired to start a train from New-lork al
o'clock which viii arrive at Albany by O'CLOCK
a pin is placed the 4 o'clock line at the bottom
Of the board and another the o'clock Inc
opposite Albany. All the horizontal lines cut oy
the string which stretches from pin to pin VIII
show the time of arrival at each station on ths
route. The faster the train the nearer TO
vertical is the string, while the slower II is inc
greater angle will the string make with the hori-
zontal lines the board. When the trans
all placed on the board 1t presents perfect
network OF strings Intricate as 1t appears,
finger can instantly be put upon the , time eoy OF
ments of all trains are thus shown Tor the WHO'S
twenty-fOur hours, and any discrepancy j. HI-
meiiatey apparent, such as trains running danger
ousy close together. go -
This simplicity only found roads with four
six tracks. Where there is only single track,
the board is much more complex AS soon as tne
tables shown the board, and eyerythnS
is seen be all right the results are
printed in the timetables. and the board is rare.y
used until another table is made up, Where there
Is only one track the strings are always kept on
the board, which H. in constant use.
Freight trains not often run on regular time
They generally sent out by the train d;s-
ma tcher as soon as they made up and tho
road Is clear. Some freghis are however, run
on regular time, while the others called extras,
have 10 get along when they can. s.detracking
when they would be in the way OF passenger
trains. 49, H.. 49,, -
All the calculations On the biz time board are
made upon the assumption that the tram travels
AT a uniform speed throughout When the rats
OF travel Is not the owing 10 heavy grades or
the like, allowances have 10 be made at thos:
points where the speed Is lesscnet The use OF
the board is not necessary when local. trans are
temporarily put or OF and II is fully strung w
only twice year.