Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-06

III lays track repairs engines sufficiently to
allow them to be taken to the shop, builds
bridges, treStleS and dams, erects tempo
rary stations and telegraph lines and in
some cases repairs culverts and builds
water tanks 1t also transfers baggage and
passengers, takes care of the wounded in
wreck, and in some instances collins the
dead. The man in charge may also investi-
gate the cause of the accident and collect
evidence in case of future claims for dam
ages.
One of the largest jobs a wrecking crew
or force of crews has ever had to perform
IN this vicinity was the restoration of traf-
fc on the Pennsylvania railroad after the
Johnstown flood in 1891. The railroad was
swept away by the bursting of the South
Fork dam. Bridges We're DESTROYED trains
and tracks We're carried some distance from
the roadbed and the debris from the flood
covered everything in sight. In just eleven
days from the time of the disaster the
PENNSYLVANIA wrecking forces had put ev-
erythng in good working order They built
$500 lineal feet of trestle work from II to
- feet i'll height. and laid 10000 lineal feet
of main railroad track. exclusive of 5000
feet OF sidings, with their switches and
connections.
The work required heavy grading and the
removal of the debris brought down with
the torrent was immense undertaking
alone. This wrecking force rebuilt the tele-
graph lines and connected them with the
regular offices. To do this work and get the
line of communication open required the
sliiLSiHS oI elSHly-HNe miles OF wires.
water tank and pumping station We're in
stalled and a large number of derailed cars
We're retracked. Several heavy engines were
recovered and on their own wheels hauled
to the companys shops at Altoona for re-
pairs Besides the general offices of the
opening of the great trunk line there were
one engineer of signals, seven engineers of
maintenance of way, ten supervisors of
track. ten master carpenters two chief line
repair men, forty-two bridge foremen, 2S5
bridge carpenters, 100 shop carpenters
forty-one track foremen. three line foremen,
forty-efght liHemen and $50 track laborers
Inc total force employed in clearing up
this fearful devastation consisted of thir-
ty-nine officers and 1.196 men, No wreck
on that lire has compared in magnitude
with the one mentioned, but many smaller
ones have occurred that obstructed the
traffic CT the road for short time. A train
loaded with grain for export was recently
wrecked above Johnstown, and to speedily
Gear the track for the movement of the
business of the road the cars with their
contents, were set fire to and gotten out of
the way of the trains. The wreck occurred
at point where the cars could not be tum
bied over the bank and their contents re-
loaded, and the quicker and cheaper way
was to consume the obstruction
ordinarily great care is taken to save the
contents of the cars, and a Waterman who
Is generally one of the railroad company's
detectives, Is stationed at the wreck To
prevent any of the merchandise becoming
the prey of thieves Goods that are not
damaged by the wreck are forwarded to
the consignee and delivery made. In case
tney snow signs of the experience they have
mad claim is made by the consignee for
the loss in value. and this is investigated
by the railroad authorities and If a iust
| one, is paid. 'N''