The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1902-11-06
New Central Pa
CifiC.

A writer in the Salt Lake Tribune
gives an interesting description of the
construction work now being done on
the Salt Lake division.
From Lucin to Reno line changes are
10 course OF construction which will
mean everything to the operating depart
ment. At present it is impossible to
give the official figures. as they will not
be known until the tunnels are finished
and all the work planned is carried out.
At present, however, the line changes
without the tunnels and those contracts
yet to be let represent over 325 miles of
new track between Ogden and Reno,
which will save eighty three miles in
distance, eliminate thousands OF degrees
of curvature and remove many bad
grades, thus reducing the time as well
as cost OF operating trains. Great fills
and cuts are features, and in completing
this work steam shovels are seen fre.
quently At four points n ar Wells,
Toano, Gartney and Halleck portions Of
the present line will be retained, as no
Improvement can be secured, and help
.ers will have to be maintained at two Of
these points for short distances; but in
all other cases the helpers will be needed
no longer, which will greatly increase
the available motive power as well as
reduce the cost OF transportation.
In Moleen canyon there are three fills,
on curves which are well built.
Along the Humboldt river can be
seen long stretches of new track. The
line through there will be almost entire
ly new, and what an improvement will
be over the present track, which, as is
well known, runs up hill and down dale
and twists around points of mountains
and in and out in following the course of
the river. The new line is as straight as
it can possibly be made. The river is
crossed irrespective OF expense and OBJ
structions 10 the shape OF hills, gullies
and mountains are passed through with
that indifference which is only known to
the modern engineer who is working for
the modern railroad magnate. The re-
duction in grades and curves is most
marked, while the Improvement to the
line can be seen at a single glance Of
even an inexperienced eye.
Through the mountains in this region
there are four tunnels being bored, a
total OF IL 205 feet. for the four. but they
will alone save many miles and curves.
For instance. the Vivian tunnel is near
Carlin, and 1905 feet in length. The
train on the present track passed by the
eas; portal at right angles and after
twisting and turning around "A horse
shoe, il passes the west portal. The
horseshoe is two miles long, but the tun.
mel is only 1866 feet long, so it can be
readily understood what saving it
will be.
All along the road the work is going
on. The whole makes the most impor-
tant series Of line changes yet under
taken by a Western road, and summed
up represents lioe across the Great
Salt Lake, four tunnels through the Pc
quop hills, high fills, deep, long cuts,
steel bridges set on solid masonry abut-
ments, concrete or steel culverts and
perfect track.
When the talked-of tunnel through
the snow-clad Sierras is cut through the
line from Ogden to Colfax will be second
to MOI in the whole region wet of the
river. On the whole it means that the
Central overland route is to be made in.
to one Of the most interesting of all lines
and it will not be many days until the
traveller can save six or seven hours be
tween Ogden and San Francisco.
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