Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-09-24
News OF the Railroads.

A new depot at Barnard's road sta
tion Bridgton, is just completed.
Steel is arriving at the station al
Newport to be used to replace the rails
on the branch from Newport to Co
rnna.
l.. X. Vandine has resigned his po-
sition as Maine Central agent at Ellis
worth. His successor has not yet been
appointed.
An extension of the Kingfield & Dead
River Railroads.&c. miles in length from
Carrabasset in the direction of Eustis,
is contemplated for next season.
The freight house of the Maine Cen
trail at East Newport is undergoing re-
pairs The building has been raised
about two feet and a platform built on
one side.
The Maine Central Company has pur-
chased so feet strip at Wamkeag near
Sullivan, and will soon put in a side
track and possibly new buildings. This
station last week sold about $3.50 in
tickets.
Another new railroad engine for the
Boston and Maine was sent out last
works. This type of road engine is of
the largest size and with tender loaded
for business. The outfit weighs about
40 tons.
In seventeen days ending Sept. 20
the B. & A. carried about $4,000 bushels
of potatoes from Aroostook stations.
The shipments will soon be much larg-
er Prices are high-$l.4O to $3.50 a
barrel, compared with about SO cents
at the same time in 1896.
Track laying on the Limestone
branch of the B. & A. r. r., is pro-
crossing as rapidly as can be expected.
1t is said that the road bed is in ex-
cellent shape, when compared with the
average newly constructed road, and
that trains may be run safely over it
when it is completed without any bal
lasting being done.
Michael hurry of Caribou, recently
brought from Boston a crew of SO
Italian laborers engaged by him tc
work upon the grading and ballasting
of the Limestone branch of the b. & A.
The work will require all the fall to
complete. although it will be rushed
along as fast as possible. The length
of the branch is Is miles.
The conductors of both the Sandy
River line and the F. & M. road are al
ways obliging, says the Livermore
Falls Advertiser, which then proceeds
to explain as follows: The trains are
about as easy to stop and start as an
electric street car, and often passengers
wish 10 cut across lots to their homes
or to surprise the old folks at home
The conductors in such cases will STOP
at a convenient pair of bars or gateway
and the next moment will be speeding
along as before.
With the coming change of time or
the Maine Central and B. & A. roads
the American Express Company in thi.
division will institute a fast through
service which will be a marvel o.
rapidity and completeness. By thi'
new service express matter Leaving
New York at 10 o'clock on one nigh
reaches Boston in time to go east a
o'clock and to arrive in Bangor u
1926 that night. From Bangor expires!
matter will be forwarded directly owe
the B. & A. and will arrive in Caribou
that same night: thus from New Yorl
to Caribou express matter will be il
transit but "a hours. Such swiftnes
has not before been attempted in thi
State.
When a railroad company starts t.
lay 800 or 400 miles of new S5-pounC
steel rail as the b. & o. is doing. i
costs money for ties. spikes. splice bars
ETC.. etc. The B. e. o. has adopted
certain track standards, and according
to the book it takes 1887 tons Of So
pound rail for one mile of track. Tie.
are laid "a inches from center to center
making 2640 per mile. Four spikes PEI
tie calls for 80 kegs, or 10, 800 spikes
weighing 5000 pounds or three tons. II
each mile of 3O-foot rail are S52 com
plete joints, requiring 7O4 splice lar.
and l4OS bolts The B. & O. uses wha
is known as the Continuous Raj
Joint Splice Bar" which is supposed t.
prevent low joints, the bane of a track.
mans life.