Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-10-05
OFF THE MAP.
Railroad Company
Ignores BrattlebOrO.

Grand Trunk Officials Have Made
Unsatisfactory Change in Freight
Arrangements---Sev Railroad
Men and Families Will Probably
Leave Town.
Much criticism has been heard the past
few days from leading shippers and bust
ness men of Brattleboro on account Of
an order by the Grand Trunk Railroad
company, which owns the Central Yer
mont railroad, for the withdrawal Of the
switch engine which is constantly employed
In the local freight yard. The unsatisfac-
tory freight service OF the past week has
also been a cause for adverse comment,
but the condition was probably due in a
measure to the extra amount Of business
caused by the Valley Fair. The switch
engine and force Of five men are employed
to place cars where they can be loaded and
unloaded and to place them where they
can be easily taken on by the through
freight trains, and shippers have looked
upon 1t for long time as an absolute ne
cessity. But in accordance with the policy
Of retrenchment which the Grand Trunk
has followed ever since the Central Yer
mont system passed into its possession the
order was given for the withdrawal Of the
engine Tuesday night.
The withdrawal of the engine would
mean that the switching would be left for
the freight trains TO do, and 1t was believed
that the trains would leave a large part Of
the work undone In order TO make their
time. With the prospect of confusion and
consequent loss of business q protest was
made by some Of the local shippers, and
I 20 A
bans to confer with the officials of the road
| and to see whether some equitable solu-
tlon of the trouble could be arranged. Mr..
Adams was assured by the officials that
the company intended to do the best posi-
BILE by Brattleboro, that the Brattleboro
business was valued highly, and that the
proposed changes were believed to be in the
| line Of improvement which would ulti-
mately result in giving the best freight SER
vice the town ever had. An order was
telegraphed to Brattleboro Wednesday
morning to continue the swltcher for the
present.
A new arrangement between the Boston
d Maine and the Grand Trunk Railroad
companies went into effect Monday, max
ing White River junction the northern
terminus Of the Connecticut River division
instead of Windsor. There are some in
conveniences in the new arrangement, but
until 1t has been given thorough trial 1t
is better TO suspend judgment. In fact all
the details have not yet been completed 90
that no one can tell now Just what the ser
vice will be. The New London train due
in BrattleboTo at $50 now waits At South
Vernon for the Boston & Maine train due
at lilo. The two trains unite and run TO
White River Junction, whereas the New
London train has heretofore stopped in
| Brattleboro. The train returns at 4 35,
| dividing at South Vernon, the second en-
| CINE going meanwhile TO Keene and back.
Thus far the combination train has been
accompanied to White River Junction and
back by both the Boston & Maine and
Grand Trunk crews, but 1t Is expected that
as soon as the Grand Trunk crew gets &C.
customed TO the run the crews will alter
nate.
Many of the Grand Trunk men whose
homes have been In Brattleboro, the north
ern terminus of the New London branch,
now have to run through to White River
| Junction. Among them are Conductors
j. I. Denning, Frank Thomas and Finch,
Engineers Frank Bolster, Charles Wheeler,
Charles Badette, NJ. S. Benton and Henry
Dimes, and large number of firemen and
brakemen. II. M. Whittier, master me-
chanic, has gone to New London, where
he will have a similar position. Conduc-
tor Carleton, who has run between Brattle-
boro and Windsor, will run between
| Springfield and White River Junction.
Yard Master Grady expects to 60 to
Palmer. A large number of transient rail
road men who spend a large part OF the
day in Brattleboro will no longer stop here.
The change means loss of not less than
$4,000 year TO this town. The trainmen
affected will not move from town at pres.
ent, but will wait until it is settled as To
whether the change is to be permanent. II
Is understood that Windsor will suffer Sc
verely by the change, the many railroad
men who live there going to White River
Junction.