The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1902-05-26
BRIDGE MOVED
P. R. R. Accomplishes the
Greatest Engineering Feat
in the World.
fspeciaI to ZINC Jersey 60. NeHs.''l

Especial to THE Jersey City News =
NEW BRUNSWICK. May g. 1902
What experts said was the greatest en-
gineering feat Of the kind in the history
OF the world took place here yesterday
when the Pennsylvania Railroad moved
its 9e0-foot. six-span, doubie-track bridge
over the Raritan River a distance Of 1414
feet in the incredibly short time Of
minute and IS seconds. Not a train was
held up by the daring undertaking. and
from the time the rails were cut to make
ready for the moving Of the bridge to the
time when the rails were in place again
only 1914 minutes had elapsed
The reason for the removal Of the bridge
to a new position was the new track ele-
vation plan Of the railroad company.
These plans call for a bridge at a level 20
feet higher than the present one. Also
the new bridge Is TO be OF stone arches,
twelve in number 1t was to allow for the
construction Of this new structure that
the old one was shifted yesterday, to be
used pending the execution of the new
plans.
The preliminary work Of laying new
tracks throughout the city and Of extend
ing the old bridge piers southwark, so
that the structure could be slid in That
direction temporarily, has been going on
ever since March /. One of the difficulties
was that the SHIFT Of the bridge had to
be accomplished without interfering with
the train schedule. 1t was necessary.
therefore. to pick up the entire. structure,
weighing 2,eeo tons, and TO move it all in
one piece. When the crucial moment came
today everything was in readiness waiting
for the appointed hour. noon.
The last train bound for New York
passed over the bridge at 1903 O'Clock. and
just two minutes later forty trackmen.
working for a record, had cut the rails
connecting the bridge with the shore. At
2.l3 clock a whistel from no. 4 donkey
engine, where Master Carpenter George
w Mershon was in charge. announced
| the signal to get ready. Immediately
there was waving Of flags from men
stationed at the head Of each pier. and
at 1913 O'Clock a double blast from the
same engine started the pulling and snort
ing OF the battery of engines.
The instant the engines began to revolve
the giant structure moved as smoothly
: and promptly as if a nurse We're starting
a baby carriage. The first six sections
moved evenly, but standing on the bridge
ana looking down the track a startling
serpentine bend showed at Section Z En-
gineers Of the work ran toward the Sec
tion to find what had gone wrong, but be-
| fore they got to the place the section was
in place and the track on the bridge
stretched once again as straight as a
taut thread
AS the seven .stell-tales,' stood level. a
cheer broke from the crowd. and what
ever vessels had whistles footed approval.
No sooner was the bridge in position than
the track men laid down the rails and
made the connections re-est tabisshing COM
municatfon.
The first train went over the bridge
after the bridge had been novel at 12-4o
o'clock. It was long freight train. west
bound. The first passenger train crossed
at 1916 oeloek. eastbound. The work of
elevation win be rapidly advanced, and
| it is expected that in thirteen months the
trains will be running % the elevated
tracks.
Among the. engineers and experts pres
ent to watch the results Of the extraor-
binary feat were.-General Superintendent
F. L. Shepard, ]. T. Richards, engineer
Of maintenance of way; w c. Bowles.
engineer of construction; A. t. Mander
passenger tra.nmaster: H. T. Ross. chief
clerk of the general superintendent. and
L. H. BARKER. assistant engineer. all Of
the Pennsylvania Railroad.