The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-07-25
.G(REAT RAILROAD FEAT
1cas Ct i. the Most Remarkable Movements Of
Trains Ever Accomplished
At CHRISTIAN EnDEAvoR CONVENTION.
,Waen II Is Considered TINT Almost tho
Entire Distance Across Utah nnd
Nevada tho DiRiculiy viii DO I,eta
tor Water Was tho
Most Serious Problem to Face.

With THE arrival OF the last Christian
tSndeavor trains at Oakland, Col, there
was completed one of the most remarlaa-
ole movements perhaps ever accom-
oiiSned on single track railroad as
uncut to operate as that OF the Central
tactic. Nearly $4,000 people were trans
iefred from Ogden to San Francisco a
distance OF 800 miles, with but compara-
,NelE slight delay and without Il solitary
tecident to mar the progress of the
,~nristian host. General Manager Krut-
tsehnilt. of the Southern Pacific COM
'any, has furnished the following de-
iails of how the Christian Endeavor
Eraflic was handled:
Ihe movement OF excurs:onsts was
lrst felt July LIST, when the regular over
land trains delivered by the Union Paci-
NC ana RIO Grande Western at Ogden
were run In several sections. They car
rled the advance guard of the move
:nent. inc main army Of which reached
the Central Pacific lines on the evening
81 Juiy eth. pouring through in an al
most uninterrupted stream until the
evening of July Sth. Including regular
trains there were moved out Of Ogden
from the LIST to the Sth, scventy-four
trains. OF which fifty-nlne were special
Or sections Of the regular trains. The
+olil NUMBER OF cars moved was S3S
n an average Of nearly 12 cars per train:
nc total number Of passengers, 20, 500.
/ 80 per train.
The distance from Ogden to San Fran
:;sco is S33 miles. Over the first part of
-te railroad the trains had TO be lifted
Stotad height of $3.50 feet. or nearly two
'n!les.eVerticaly and within n distance
Of III miles having to be dropped down a
mountain grade with Il vertical fall of
,.Voo 1eet or nearly q mile and "a. half.
! ne question Of obtaining sufficient
Mater 1or The locomotives gave the Off
lsiais more concern than any other cues
non When it is considered that al
most the entire distance across Utah
and Nevatl the country is pra ctica]lv q
desert the difficulty will be better nm
aerstood. Many of the water stations
are supplied by gravity line from springs
IN the mountains Extra watchmcn
were detailed to go TO the heads OF these
iines TO prevent leaves chips or obstruc-
IONS OF any character from getting into
'Ae pipes At nll stations where the
water was procured from streams.
springs, or wells, extra bumpers were
put on with instructions to keen tho
pumps going night and day AT some
STATIONS where the supply obtained from
springs and wells was short, water cars
moved from other parts of the line. wer,
stationed to increase the supply. the
water being hauled from such stations
up and down the line Where tho sunnl,,
was ample
The most serious problem after. that NJ
watering the locomotives was that of
leedlnE the people. but the railroad ON
erals arranged with citizens Of Terrace.
t'iko. Carl!n, Humboldt Battle Noun
tain. Wadsworth, Truckee, Summit
Bluc Canon and Auburn to furnish
lunches. apart from the regular eating
houses. The companys forces were de-
taiIed to erect long counters or tables
IN the onel. air at which the meals could
be dispensed
UP to withn ten days OF the Fourth Of
July 1t was thought that the regular To-
comotlvcs on The Central Pacific would
DC able TO handle all Of the trains offered
bnt as the Fourth approa chcd and re-
DORIS were received from the East Of the
magnitude Of the movement, it was de-
termlnSd TO prepare for q movement
larger than the company was Warranted
III expecting from any OF the REPORTS
received. The arrangements were so
perfectly made that there would have
been nc difficulty In handling so per cent.
more trains than the company received
1t was at first intended to keen the
trains thirty minutes In time apart but
IN reviewing the plans offered by the off,
GERS TO move these trains, the time limit
was oVerruled and space limit sub
stituted. An order was issued blocking
me central Pacific road absolutely at
i2:oi a. m Of July 4th and forbiddine
any operator clearing his semaphorc
signal TO allow Il train to pass; his Office
until he had received word from ,ho
next telegraph station west Of him that
'hc last train in advance had passed him
and left the track clear