Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-04-22
THE ONWARD MARCH

OF the BrattIeboro d whitehall Rail-
road---Extensive Improvements Are In
Prospect---IrOn Bridges and steel
Rails.
Probably few people are aware of the ex-
tent to which improvements on the Brat
tleboro d Whitehall railroad are expected
to be carried this summer, and probably as
few realize the amount of work already
done during the past two or three years on
this indispensable adjunct to the commerce
of Windham county. At no time since the
road was built has there been more hope
full future before it, and commensurate
with this prospect are the contemplated
Improvements. II the hopes of the COM
pAny are realized no less than three iron
bridges will supplant that number of WOOD
en- structures before another winter. One
of these bridges will span Winhall river
near Winhall station and will be l25 feet
or more in length. The material for 1t
has already arrived. AT the south end of
the bridge was a treste nearly twice as
long as the bridge but that was filled in
last year in accordance with policy which
the company still maintains. over Cobb
brook, between Jamaica and Winhall, is a
covered bridge about 100 feet long which,
it is expected, will be torn down although
it is still in good condition.
The most notable improvement OF all
will be the building of an iron bridge across
West river at the salmon Hole" in New
fame. near the Townshend line. The orig
inal bridge at that point was burned eight
or ten years ago and a new bridge was
built which was said to be as strong as a
broad gauge bridge. More or less trouble
has arisen from it, nevertheless, and its
displacement by an iron bridge would be
heartily appreciated by all patrons OF the
road The present bridge, which is about
200 feet long, is what is known as deck
bridge, that is. it is covered, with the track
| laid on top. The bridge is approached at
either end by a long trestle, one OF which
spans the highway, The trestle on the
Townshend end will be filled in, the other
one having already been filled TO the high
way.
Three iron bridges were put on last year
crossing West river at West Dummerston,
and at "Pratts," between Cobb brook and
| Winhall station. and the Dover branch al
| Williamsvile. Filling in was done at
! Wiliamsyile and West Dummerston. heavy
granite walls being required at the lat
ter place to hold the filling. These, with
|
near the mouth Of the river, constitute all
the bridges traversed by the railroad and
with the exception of the salmon Hole
bridge, The bridges torn down or about tC
be torn down were the original wooden
structures. There has been some talk Of
filling in the high trestle between Towns
bend and West Townshend, and if this i:
| done more masonry will be required in or
der that an opening may be left. through
which water may flow in the spring of the
year.
Within two or three years the old iror
rails have been replaced by steel ones from
| Brattleboro to about two miles north o
Townshend. This leaves about Is mie
or one-half of the road still equipped with
old rails, and it is expected that these will
be removed and steel rails put in thei
places during the coming summer. Larg,
quantities of new ties are now being laid
The way stations were all painted last fall
and during the past winter all the passen
ger cars have been newly painted.
All of these improvements are not ONLY
pleasant indications of prosperity, but the,
indicate desire on the part of the railroad
company that its passengers and freigh
may be transported with the utmost Sc
| curty.