The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-11-13

be given plenty of time to so from one
depot 10 another.
Now, the departure OF No. 8, the most
important train, having. been decided,
pin is stuck on the Kansas City line on
the diagram of the line that stands for
$50 O'Clock p. m. To 1t is attached
white thread. 1t is computed that this
train will, at the rate of twenty-four
miles an hour, reach a station 100 miles
away at about 1880 o'clock a. m. The
line of 1880 a. m. is found on the dia-
gram where 1t crosses the station line
a pin is placed there, and the thread
stretched thereto from the pin al $50
O'clock on the Kansas City line. Thus the
angle of the thread, which represents the
trains time at all points where stations
and time dimes cross, is established. At
certain hour passenger train leaves
the other end of the line and is treated in
the same manner on the diagram.
A fast freight having left the other end
of the line the day previous, the time hav-
ing been followed along the diagram by
black thread, crosses No. AS white thread
at certain station half way down the di-
agram, 1t is certain to delay the passen-
ger If the lines cross at certain point,
because of the superior time made by the
passenger train. So the freighrs thread
is DETECTED, either faster or slower to
meet the passenger train at another point.
the rules of the road Being that freight
train must be on a siding ten minutes be-
fore the arrival of the passenger This de-
Election of time is made by sticking pins
on certain time lines.
Now suppose the threads of these two
trains should cross each other between
stations. The black thread is then show
ed up so that it crosses the white thread
at a station. This may either Increase or
retard the speed. When this is necessary
reference is made to the profile of the road
on the right side of the diagram. If the
road between these stations Is compara-
lively level the time of the freight is in
creased from its rate of eighteen miles
an hour If on. the other hand. the pro-
file shows steep grade, the crossings of
the two threads is showed down a station
to give the freight more time to make the
hill, while the time of the passenger train
is not disturbed.
In the meantime the threads of the other
passenger and freight trains have been
started out from both termini at varying
hours. Each takes an angle based as was
that of No. 4 passenger on its running
time. In their course across the board
from their starting point to their desti-
nation the threads cross each other, each
making crossing with every opposite
running thread at some point. The white
threads pass and run ahead of the black
threads wherever overtaken on the
boards; the black threads always being
DETECTED from their time to allow the
white threads the right of way.
When an eating station is reached, at
which the train stops twenty minutes, the
time is preserved correctly by running the
thread along the time line until it reaches
the leaving time, where it again takes up
its angle down the line.
Each thread has a lead plummet hang
ing TO it which keeps 1t taut as it follows
its course over the pins stuck here and
there in the diagram.
When the trains have all been timed
from one terminus to another, and local
freights and plug" passengers have been
strung in the middle, the board looks like
an immense cobweb of hodge-podge, in
stead of geometric lines
Now comes the making up of the time
card.
The stations, with their distances from
Kansas City have been written on a sheet
of ruled paper and designated as "tele-
graph" regular stop" or flag" points
with water tanks and sidings indicated
Each train is numbered to the left and
right of the names of the stations and
all is ready tPtime the trains. The super
intendent starts out with Kansas City at
$50 p. m, then he places HIS finger on
the thread where Is crosses the next sta
ton line, observes the time lines, calls
the name of the station and the time
which is recorded. And so on, following
the angle of the thread to the very last.
One thread after another is so followed
until all are down, when the station time
is proved by figuring distance and run
ing time, and is almost Invariably found
to be correct.
The schedule time of tWenty-four miles
an hour includes all stops at stations.
consequently the actual running time Of
the train is much faster.
On great railroad system with double
tracks, hundreds of trains and numerous
branch lines, a complete change of time
is a monumental work. and the change
of time of a few trains makes a serious
disturbance.