The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-02-08
CENTRAL IS AGAIN BLAMED
NEW YORK RALLRO4D COMMIS- SIONERS' SGAIHING REBUKE.

the Tunnel Disaster Investigation- Censured for Allowing an IneXperi- enced Engineer to Run a Train Through the TunneI-An Open Tun- neI Recomm ended.
 Albany, Feb. 7.--The state board of decision to-day, regarding the recent disaster in the Park Avenue tunnel, New York city. The commission cen sures the New York Central company for allowing an inexoerienced engineer to run train through the tunnel It also recommends that at some time in the future the roof be taken off the tunnel, using bridges at intersection streets. However, in this connection it says that such a change would be in- tolerable unless electricity is sbstituted as the motive power for trains in the tunnel, and recommends legislation to allow such change.
 Among other things the report says; That the New York Central and Hud- son River Railroad company was grossly negligent of it's obligations to the public in putting an engineer of such limited experience and ascertained capacity as the engineer of the Harlem train, to be in charge of a passenger train, for operation through this tun- nel in what are called the rush hours
 The New York Central and Hudson River Railroad company has been neg ligent, derelict, and unprogressive in failing to take measures to increase its terminal facilities. at the Grand Cen tral station and yard, by such dlmen- sions as would reasonably keep pace with the yearly increasing traffic neces- sities of the lines entering this station.
 That the said railroad company has been negligent in failing to examine more closely into the qualifications of new engineers and lax in discipline in failing to hold engineers to accounta- bility for violation of the running rules in this tunnel. The board recommends:
 That the signal or train block in the tunnel between Twenty-fifth and Fifty eighth streets be abolished on all four tracks, and it's trackage added to the next northerly block, which extends to
 
 track and to Seventy third street on the outbound track
 That the signals on the bound tracks, now at Ninety-eighth street be removed to One Hundred and Second street, and on the outbound tracks from Ninety seventh to One Hundred and First streets; and further, that the To- cation of the cross owes tracks now at patxr n iph streets be changed to corresponding positions between One Hundred and First and One Hundred and Second streets.
 The board is of the opinion that the signals and cross overs are now too close to outbound trains emerging from the north end of the tunnel
 All distant and home lamp signals on inthe firemens side in the center tunnel are recommended to be placed on stan dards or spindles at a height of nine feet above the top of the rail, so that the lens will be on level with the cab window and that in the inside tunnels the lamp be raised to height of nine feet on the top of the rail.
 The board says the proposed increase of yard room and the separation of the suburban by carrying the suburban trains under ground from the tunnel, by a loop system to an independent sta tion and operating the local trains by the multiple unit electric plan, as wise plan, but that it will not be oper ative within two years.
 That temporary changes in the yard tracks, to be made on newly purchased property, be begun forthwith and com- pleted without delay,
 That the proposed underground sub urban traffic loop, the plans for which have been adopted by the board of di- rectors of the New York Central and Hudson Railroad company and which have been put in evidence before the board. be carried to completion with all diligence as soon as the necessary legis- lation is had.
 The board characterizes the exten- sion of the Grand Central station north erly. as having been an unWlse move If declares the number of trains run through the tunnel is necessary, be- cause of the demands of traffic. It also says:
 The time is not many years distant when even with the contemplated inn movements in operation, the increasing traffic of the great city and of this trl- rle railroad terminus will require en- large and better facilities. It may be here noted that possible ways of an ticipating this need are: (A) through the extension of the company's faclll- ties by establishing new train yard on the Long Island side of East River, or (B) by increasing and improving the company's existing terminal facilities on the west side of the city, in the vicinity of Thirtieth and Thirty-fourth streets and North River By this means perhaps all, or large part of the suburban traffic might be carried to this terminal and to that extent re- lieve the Grand Central station. The surface and elevated raods would quick lv extend their connections so as to make that terminus easily accessible and in any event the probable early advent of the Pennsylvania railroad to that part of the city would make such a terminal desirable, perhaps necessary
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