New-York tribune., 1902-05-26
MOVE 900 FOOT BRIDGE.
ONLY ONE MINUTE AND FORTY-THREE
SECONDS TO SHIFT IT II FEET.
THE PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD COMPANY
ACCOMPLISHES THE FEAT WITH
NO DELAY TO TRAFFIC.

NO DEl4A1 IL
New Brunswick, n. j., May - CSpeclal)-Ah
a,s;naerine feat which for magnitude and quick
execution has seldom been eqUalled was accom-
nlished to-day at New Brunswick by the rem
sylvania Railroad Company. The bridge cross
ing the Rartan River and the draw connecting
which spaDs. the Delaware and Rarttan' Canal
were moved fourteen feet and six inches in one
minute and furty-three seconds. The length OF
Tho bridge and draw is 900 feet. The bridge has
five spans each 100 feet long. and the draw span
is the same length. The allowance for expansion
is about six feet
The start was made at 12:10;30 p. m, mmedi-
ateIv after the 12:0S eastbound train whlch
was two minutes late, cleared the bridge. Bots
were removed and discOnnections made, ana at
a given sigral the structure, Weighing INV
tons began to slide easily and noiselessly onto
the new abutments In one minute and forty
three seconds the tracks were in their new posi-
tions. Connections at the ends were made and
the tracks were ready for service at lZI9
o'clock the entire work taking eight and hall
minutes.
There was not one seconds interference with
the regular railroad schedule, and at lz;-1
o'clock westbound freight passed. The hrst
passenger train crossed the bridge eastbound at
12:41 o'clock At the eastern end the new east
bound track connects with the old track at
distance of $50 feet. on the western eId. tne
former eastbound Is now the westbound track
and the new eastbound track completes the four
track system through New Brunswick, with
compare lively small strip yet TO be hnlshed'
about half a mile west of the bridge.
The feat is the most successful of its kind In
the history of the Pennsylvania Railroad The
preparations were begun about January J. new
abutments being constructed since that date at
each end of the bridge. The actual time taken
was less than the engineers expected The work
from it's inception has been under the personal
supervision of +. L. SHEPPARD the general su-
perintendent of the United Railroads OF New
Jersey division, and he was in charge To-Day
Many of the cOmpany's engineers and engineers
from other roads also present, some nav
ing come specially from Chicago. Mr.. Shephard
was highly compIimented on the success OF the
undertaking by President Cassatt OF the Penn
sylVania.
A similar undertaking. but of lesser magni-
tude took place about seven years ago, when
the Schuylkin River bridge was moved an
equal distance in fourteen minutes That was
done under the supervision of +. F. Brook now
general superintendent of the Philadelphia, VII
mington and Baltimore division. Another move
ment was attempted at Pittsourg a year ago
which, owing a mishap required seven hours
for it's completion. The present arrangement
Will last while the work of elevating the tracks
through this city is being done
The banks of the river. the toWpath. ana all
available space at either end of the bridge were
occupied with spectators and numerous boats
were out on the river. The people cheered when
the work done