Morris tribune., 1897-01-13
A MILE a WEEK.
Exploit of Locomotive In the Mountains
of North Carolina.

Exploit OF Locomotive In the Mountain
of North Carolina.
1t is not at all probable that w,
have as yet attained the maximum
in speed possible for locomotives
Efforts to break the record ar,
many. But there is a proposition a
the other end of that idea. A maxi
mum implies also minimum. NJ
effort is made to break the record
for that. There probably is no rec
ord, but there is a minimum. Few
who do much travelling have failed
of the experience of "a mile min
ute. A somewhat interesting triI
was once made by locomotive at 6
pace of a mile a week. 1t was 6
short run, only little over three
miles, but it took three weeks tc
make it.
There are few more remarkable
evidences of engineering skill, in
this or any other country, than the
climb of the Western Carolina rail.
road over the Blue Ridge noun
tains. The first trail through those
mountains to cross Swannanoa gap
was made by the deer and other
forest animals. The Indians follow
ed the path which the animals
marked out. The Indian trail be-
came the wagon way of the white
pioneer, and, with advancing civili-
cation ami settlement, the state
turnpike. Twenty years ago the
railroad was pushed along the same
general route. But men and horses,
wagons and oxen can go where d
locomotive cannot. To climb the
ridge an easier grade was impera-
tive.
From little station called Hen
rvs, for a considerable time the
terminus of the road, but now aban-
doned, to the top of the gap is a
distance of three miles in an air
line. By rail it is nine miles. From
the Round Knob hotel, two miles
beyond the site of Henlys, to a
point Just above Mud cut is a short
three-quarters of a mile by a noun
tain trail. By rail it is five miles.
The difference in elevation between
Henrys and the top of the gap is
], 700 feet, or rather more than 500
feet to the mile. The old turnpike
road between the two points follows
a fairly direct line, with an average
rise of about one foot in five. The
ascent at that grade, though posi-
BILE for man and beast, is impossible
for a locomotive without gearing.
When the line was pushed through
the mountains, 20 years ago, the
construction work was carried on
at both ends, from Old Fort west
ward upon the eastern side and be-
tween the gap and Asheville upon
the western side. AS the work pro-
crossed, an engine upon the western
side became necessity, and the
line upon the eastern side had only
reached Henrys. To suspend the
work meant long delay. An engine
must go out, and the problem arose,
how to get it there over the noun
tain. One of the lightest engines
on the line was sent in as far as
Henrys. From there to the rails on
the other side of the gap it was 80
miles, and all the way up hill 500
feet to the mile The track to the
top was but roughly graded There
were bridges and culverts to build.
It was decided to use the turnpike
road. By means of short sections
of track, the sections being taken
up after the engine had passed them
and carried forward to be replaced
for further progress, it was regard
ed as possible to effect the ascent
AS it was manifestly impossible
for any friction wheeled engine to
carry itself up so sharp a grade. it
would have to be dragged up by
other means. A long line of oxen
was tried, but the plan failed through
inability to obtain a uniform pull
from the team. There was plenty
of power, but it could not be made
to harmonic. Finally the large
crew of convicts by whom the road
was being built was set at work.
Ropes were run forward upon which
some 200 men in striped clothes
were set to pulling. Others worked
at the wheels with pinch bars, while
others stood ready with blocks of
wood to serve as wedges behind the
wheels, to hold every inch of ground
that was gained Almost inch by
inch, with a long pull and strong
pull and pull together, = this 30
tons of dead engine was dragged up
the mountain at the rate of mile
week.
Trains have been snowedin, bro
ken down and delayed, so that prog
ress was slow, but it is doubtful if a
complete engine was ever kept in
motion day after day for three