The Wichita daily eagle., 1896-11-17
MAKING TIMETABLES.
4 Change of Service Involves Much Con
pncatcd Work.

4 Change of Service Involves Much Con.
pncatcd Work.
The making of timetable ON rag
road is one of the most complicated ane
at the same time one of the most simpl,
things that comprise the duties OF ar
operating officer. Very few people ot
the thousands that patronize the rail-
roads out of New York stop to consider
the preparation, care and nicely that
must be exercised in arranging a
schedule for the movement of passen.
ger trains. Yet changes are constantly
occurring in train service, and these re-
quire shifting, as itwere, Of the check.
erboard, in order to meet public travel
and private facilities.
The big railroad companies usually
have as many changes in their time
tables as there are seasons in the year
and the preparation for these altera
tions in passenger train service Is at
tended with great care. Through trair
service seldom changes, except wher
there is an additional train put on. Once
in awhile there is change in the houi
of departure or arrival of through
train, in order TO accommodate connec
tions, but the railroads generally have
what is known as spring, summer. faL
and winter schedules. On eastern anc
western lines the summer season, par
ticularly at the beginning and at the
close, is the heaviest, while the south
ern lines do not begin their season until
late in the fall. Local timetables are
constantly undergoing changes, in or.
der to meet varying conditions, and
while this class of travel is not general.
ly profitable, it keeps the superinten-
dent busy in arranging his schedule.
Former Superintendent Voorhees,, Of
the New York Central, once declared te
a Mail and Express reporter that ioca.
trains were as rule Improbable and II
that statement is measured By the
trouble incidental to that character OF
service, it is decidedly true. On such
systems as the New York Central anc
PENNSYLVANIA local train service forms
one of the most important features OF
the passenger department. and while
the arrangement of the trains is ef'
fected in the operating department II
devolves ON the general passenger
agent to see that the changes are prop
erly promulgated.
The superintendent is usually the
maker of timetable. That is to say
he has in his Office q big frame on the
principle of blackboard. which il
marked by an arrangement Of pins and
thread. The stations along the line are
shown, and when there is a change to be
made he shifts about the pins and
thread after due deliberation and com
putation, keeping in mind, of course,
the distance between stations and the
other trains on the board. This sys-
TEN of making schedules is generally
followed on single track roads, and II
becomes quite an art 10 make correct
showing, because of the precision neces-
sary TO be made for meeting passing
and waiting for trains coming in an
opposite direction. On double-track
lines schedule-malling is easy, but IL is
q task which no superintendent is anx-
ious 70 assume except when it becomes
absolutely necessary.
From the superintendenrs ofiice is
issued the original schedule, and this
goes to the general passenger agents
Office, and that official notifies the trav.
cling public of the changes, IL any, IN
train service. e.-Detroit Free Press.