Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-03
WEDDING RAILWAYS.
Method Adopted fu southwest 10 "e'
Rid of the Troublesome Growth.

(Rai.road GazetteD
In the Southwest the railroads have a
large item of expense which finds no
place on the books of eastern companies,
this being for the removal OF weeds,
which grow rank and luxuriantly be-
tween the tracks, seriously impeding
rapid running. being crushed under the
wheels and making the tracks greasy
and slippery. Various methods nave
been proposed and tried to destroy these
weeds. but that finally adopted by the
Atchison. Topeka and Santa Fe road Is
to burn them by means Of an oil lame
This burner destroys the vegetation
between the rails and over a space OF
twenty-four to thirty inches outside OF
them. The outfit consists OF car made
OF iron, Of iron shields suspended under
the car and between the trucks. an oil
tank-car having a capacity OF 1900 gal
Ions and smaller oil-tank OF 800 gallons
capacity. strong enough to Withstand
pressure of seventy pounds a square
inch. This tank Is filled from the tank
car and air pressure is supplied FOR
forcing the oil to the burners. The car,
which is slxty-five feet long, Is
strengthened by connecting trusses at
each side and has a cab sheathed with
intended to be pulled over the road
by'a locomotive. The shield beneath the
car is thirty-two feet long, with aprons
at each side to retain the heat and to
prevent side winds carrying the flame
TO one side of the shieldt The forward
truck is protected by an auxiliary shield
fastened to the bottom of the lower arch
bars. When the fire Is started the shield
is lowered to within three or TOUR lncnes
of the rail, and the aprons then slide on
the ground When crossing bridges the
shields are lifted clear OF the rails,
twelve or fifteen inches, by means OF air
pressure from a reservoir acting through
a train of chains and pulleys. The oil
supply is also cut off in crossing bridges,
and the moment the oil valves are closed
the flame is extinguished and 1t Is as
readily renewed when the oil valves are
again opened. The oil is directed against
the. inclined under surface of the shield.
which retains sufficient heat to ignite
the oil. even after 1t has been smut OH
for half an hour. In crossing small Gull
verts and cattle guards the closing OF
the valve is unnecessary as the lifting
of the shield will carry the name high
enough to prevent any firing OF the tim
bers.
The compressed air for forcing the oil
through the burners and for lifting the
shield is supplied by two Westinghouse
air-pumps. these being sufficient to main
tain an air pressure of seventy pounds
with four burners in use. The amount
of oil required for each burner is about
eight gallons per mile. A light. crude
oil is preferred. Only few minutes are
required to get an effective neat after
reaching the place where the work is 10
no done, and after the first few minutes
ov.ortanra6 from the oil
dropping on the rails and making them
greasy. A gang OF four men follow
close TO the car to put out all ties hred'
hut II is the intention soon TO use steam
lets from the locomotive in extinguish-
ing fired ties. The speed with which the
car travels depends upon the KIND Oh
vegetation to be scorched. Early IN the
season. when weeds are tender and not
over five or six inches high, speed Oh
four miles an hour is practcable' where,
as. IL the track Is thickly coVereu
and matted with heavy. coarse grass. ,he
sneed must be reduced to two ana O
haIf miles an hour. Only the light blades
~ grass are consumed. the greater
mart being scorched, and while many
stalks appear quite green after the name
masses over them, in rev DAYS lhey'
too. wilt and die.
One curious and unexplained fact whlcn
has also been observed in connection
Nth forest fires is that new KIND OIL
vegetation appears after each burning
The cost OF operating the car ior
day of twelve hours is $50 so t hat
coyerinc thirty miles a day the average
cost per mile Is sl.6S. 1t is claimed .nI
oil consumed is a comparatively SINAI l
item in the total charge. the transfer on
one part of the road TO anothe.
and the use of locomotive prihsins
nm 10 the sum named.